Spellheart 10: Chapter 8 (Patreon)

“Dean, meet our newest Demigod,” I announced. I didn’t hide the pride in my voice.

Tivana stepped forward to join us, and the aura of her new Demigod powers wrapped around her like a cloak.

Dean’s eyes widened in genuine surprise, his usual playful demeanor giving way to a moment of sincere astonishment.

“Tivana? Is that really you?” He circled her as he drifted lazily in the air. “You’ve always had this innocent, untouched beauty about you, my darling little granddaughter. It’s amazing that you’ve managed to ascend to Demigod status all on your own. Remarkable!”

“Thank you, grandfather. Though I’m not really little. Or even young anymore.” Tivana shuffled in place for a moment, blushing at her ancestor’s praise.

Dean turned to me with a glint in his eye. “Theo, aren’t you impressed with how she achieved this monumental feat so quickly? She must have broken some records. And I'm sure she did it all on her own too.”

Tivana coughed. “Well, Theo provided me with some... stuff.”

“Ah, potions.” Dean nodded approvingly. “Normal, everyday potions harvested from plants and monsters. That kind of thing.”

“Yeah...” I coughed as well, suddenly feeling as embarrassed as Tivana must have been. “Well, it was definitely something drinkable.”

Dean laughed. “Ah ha! How lucky I am to be able to trust my best friend with my pure, innocent, and talented decedent.” He kept laughing entirely too long.

“Yep. Very lucky...” Tivana and I exchanged a look at Dean’s willful obliviousness.

It wasn’t really as weird as it sounded. In biological terms, I was as old as Sam and Dean were. But I’d been in stasis for more than four hundred years, so in terms of experience, I was more on par with Tivana and Illiel’s generation. But it still made things a bit awkward when I learned that the two of them, along with the rest of Deania’s royal family, were all descended from my old friend.

Dean clapped his hands together, his laughter still echoing around us. “Well, now that our party of three Demigods is here, it’s time we set off. The Primordial World awaits, and I can’t wait to show you off to your mother. By the way, I heard she banished you to go make her grandchildren with some cruel, violent, evil, barbarian north of Deania. You can ignore that little banishment. If she asks, tell her grandpa told her you could.”

Tivana now realized the same thing I had a while back. Dean knew what was going on but willfully chose to deny it anyway to mess with me. Tivana wore a small, proud smile on her face as we took flight.

I left a message for Mac telling him we were heading to that party we discussed.

[I saw Dean teleport in and figured that was what that was about. Enjoy your trip. Your women and vassals shall be completing plenty of missions in your absence.]

When we arrived at the teleportation array, we inserted the necessary zeal crystals and initiated the process. The world around us shifted and blurred, and then we emerged in the capital of Deania.

I couldn’t help but remark on how the reconstruction efforts as we walked through the once-again-bustling streets. It wasn’t quite as busy as before the wars and golem attacks, but there was still life in this nation.

I’d handled many of the big infrastructure projects myself, but the little things like roads, sewage systems, houses, and aqueducts had been done by either the locals or my own children. There were many moving parts in the city, and this was the first time I’d seen all of them working together again.

“They’ve really turned things around here,” I observed.

Dean, however, seemed more concerned with the absence of a particular monument. “It’s better than it was. But my statue is still missing,” he lamented dramatically. But moments later, he perked up again. “But you know, this is my chance to erect a new one, even grander than before!”

“Alright, but this time, I demand that your new statue be wearing pants.”

“You like to spoil all my fun...” Dean grumbled. “I enjoy having the square filled with adoring and worshipful beautiful elf women. I hardly have the time to see to them all myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy giving them the chance to fantasize.”

Our next stop was at the portal to the Primordial World on palace grounds. We found Sam and Queen Lyanva already waiting for us as we approached.

Queen Lyanva even looked regal despite the mountain of luggage she was sitting on top of. It looked like she’d packed away half the palace in those things. She gave me a scrutinizing gaze as we approached.

“So, have you made me any grandkids yet?” she inquired with a raised eyebrow. Her gaze shifted to her daughter. “Tivana, dear. Are you doing that thing I taught you? You can get more seed out of a man if you grab them by the balls and--“

Before Queen Lyanva could finish speaking, Dean clapped his hands over his ears so loudly it made a sonic boom. The wave of air knocked leaves off of trees.

“Monster hunting, monster hunting, I love monster hunting! La la la la la!” He chanted in a loud voice. “Alright, we’re all here. No time for small talk. Let’s go!”

For a man with a mind as dirty as a sewage plant, it was strange he really couldn’t handle the idea of his adult children and grandchildren inheriting similar proclivities. Both Queen Lyanva and Tivana definitely got their tastes from him.

“I guess we’re heading in. We don’t want to get separated. You know how the Primordial World can be weird about time and stuff,” Sam said.

He stepped forward and followed Dean through the portal.

Queen Lyanva would struggle with her massive pile of luggage, so I waved my hand and pulled it all into my Dimensional Storage. “I’ll hang onto that for you. Let’s go.”

“Oh, what a handy son-in-law you are! I hope Tivana is holding your interest in the bedroom? Has she broken out the kinky stuff yet, or are you still going vanilla?” Queen Lyanva asked, sounding innocent all the while.

Suddenly, I realized that maybe Dean had the right idea after all. Some things you just didn’t want to talk about with family. I rushed into the portal after Sam and Dean.

***

We materialized in the Primordial World, a realm that defied mundane reality.

A vast expanse of floating islands greeted me, many of them teeming with life as they drifted through a vast and endless azure sky. The only thing that ruined the breathtaking image for me was that I knew many of these islands were probably made of the dried dung of massive Kun Peng space whales. I was probably standing in ancient dung.

“Make sure you avoid any sticky brown puddles. It might not be mud,” I whispered to Tivana as she stepped through behind me.

The trees here were colossal, exuding immense power and presence that even my Demigod senses registered as formidable.

It was an instant reminder that I was no longer in a world where everything felt like cardboard to my power. I wasn’t sure if I’d break my hand by punching one of those boulders, but I wouldn’t try.

Sam explained our route as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. “The party is being hosted by a venue in one of the iterations of the Elven Star Dominion. We’ll need to travel back in time a few thousand years, then jump over to an alternate reality next door if we want to make it there intact.”

His casual tone made the extraordinary path we were meant to take sound like driving down a highway.

I couldn’t help but raise both eyebrows. “Alternate realities? Time travel?”

He shrugged, amusement on his lips. “Welcome to the big leagues, Theo and kids. Being a Demigod means stepping into the big leagues. Oh, and if we bump into any Immortal Ascendants, just keep your distance. Be polite, but be on your way as fast as possible. Most will be fine with just that.”

“Most?” I asked.

“Well, some of the female elven Immortal Ascendants can be touchy. But there are enough powerful ancient humans in the Primordial world and the time of the Elven Star Dominion that it shouldn’t be too big a deal.” Sam shrugged, still speaking of extraordinary things as though they were normal.

Our journey across the Primordial World took us from one floating island to the next. Sam led the way while we traveled, though Dean kept well away from his daughter Lyanva and me. My mother-in-law kept trying to talk to me about sex with her daughter, much to Tivana’s embarrassment.

I made an effort to stick to sightseeing. That wasn’t much of a challenge, considering how much more of the Primordial World there was for me to see. A trip that had taken me hours at the Sorcerer realm while hauling around a bunch of Wizards now went much faster. I could jump from one island to another, and the misty areas between islands couldn’t harm me.

Within a few minutes, I spotted that familiar town we had visited during our last adventure here. The one we’d ultimately traveled back in time to fight the Timeweaver Spiders on to find Sam and Dean. I didn’t point it out since Sam and Dean no doubt had unpleasant memories of that place.

As we journeyed deeper into the Primordial World, Sam pointed toward a distant island. “That’s our stop,” he declared. To me, it appeared like nothing more than a floating rock. But as we drew closer, a door set into the side of the hill came into view. Perhaps what we were looking for lay beyond, but somehow, I doubted it.

A thick layer of dust on the door made it seem like it hadn’t been opened in centuries at the soonest. But here in the Primordial World, time and space weren’t as ridged as I was used to.

We landed smoothly on the island, and Sam immediately stepped forward to press a hand against the door. His fingers moved along them, tracing out glowing symbols that hadn’t been there moments before. It must have been some sort of password because the whole door shimmered with bright light when he was finished.

Suddenly, the dust was gone, and the door seemed brighter and better in some indiscernible way. The same was true for the rest of the island around us. There had been a flash of fate zeal around me and spatial zeal. It had been so fast that I’d hardly managed to sense it at all. I regarded the door with newfound respect.

That thing had to be the product of a master Demigod enchanter. Or, more likely, an Immortal Ascendant.

The door opened, revealing a wide, hollow chamber. The entire center of the mountain had been removed to make way for a vibrant market. It was like a slice of downtown New York City at night. There were flashing billboards and bright lights painting the landscape in a kaleidoscope of bright colors.

For a moment, I thought I might be back home, but the lights were products of magic rather than technology. Still, it was clear that whatever civilization had put this place together was head and shoulders above what I was used to in the Ten Thousand Worlds. The design spoke of a post-industrial society rather than a medieval agricultural one.

Dean turned to the rest of us with a grin as he walked backward through the door. “Welcome to the Elven Star Dominion,” he announced, eyes gleaming with excitement. “Ever wanted to see what the true elven empire was like before its fall? Well, everything’s possible! Including a brief trip to this little slice of history.”

“We’re in the past?” I asked with surprise.

Dean shrugged. “Yes and no. This is an outpost the Elven Star Dominion established for merchants to buy and sell here in the Primordial World. It’s like that town you visited, but this one is a little more developed.”

“It sure is...” I said, eyes wide as I scanned the sprawling metropolis within the mountain. It was like being in the middle of one of those mega malls.

But if I looked surprised, Tivana and Lyanva were gawking tourists. The two of them stood with their jaws hanging open as they stared at the sights before them.

“I’ve never seen so many people in one place. What kind of city is this?” Tivana asked, glancing between Dean and me with wide eyes.

“A real one,” Dean replied with a grin. “Watch your step. And watch out for pickpockets. You won’t find a single soul below True Mage here. Don’t think you’re invincible because you’re a Demigod now, either. You’re stronger than average, so we won’t get mugged. But that doesn’t mean someone won’t try to reach into your pockets.”

Queen Lyanva looked troubled. I imagined it had been a long time since anyone dared try to rob her.

“You especially,” Dean said as he looked straight at me. “I’m sure Sam already warned you about the elves of the Elven Star Dominion. They’re kinda bitchy and domineering, and also they really want your vitality. Watch out.”

I nodded in understanding. I’d been around grabby elves before. It would be a little like my time after emerging in the Hearthwood.

We made it partway through the sprawling undermountain market when someone finally started tailing us. I pointed them out to Dean, who nodded as he saw her.

“Yep. High-level Sorcerer. Seems like a rougher sort, too. You can take her, but she might not realize that if she thinks you’re a brand-new Demigod. Some Elven Star Dominion fighters are strong enough to cross ranks even at the Sorcerer threshold, and being able to fight a Demigod is a big boon to their reputations. She might try to pick a fight with Tivana or Lyanva. Or maybe even you, Theo. You all have the feel of recent breakthroughs. These streets are patrolled, but most of the law enforcement will only be in the middle Sorcerer realm. Still, if she’s smart at all, she won’t pick a fight on the streets.” Dean ignored the woman and kept walking.

To me, the sight of what could only described as a Sorcerer-level thug was baffling. Outside of the Primordial World, she’d reign as a queen of a large nation. At least, that was what would happen in the World of Sanctuary and Serenity I was fond of.

But here she was, dressed like some sort of pimp with a thick gold chain, fur coat, and a gaudy smile. Behind her, a small crowd of Wizards who all looked like cheap knock-offs of her wandered the streets like troublemakers. They were still watching us, but they were keeping their distance.

“Here’s the terminal. We’ll be getting a dimension shift here,” Sam said as he pointed to a large room built into the row of shops inside the mountain. This one was larger than the others and had a bright shine to it like they were used to welcoming a higher class of customers than what graced the rest of the marketplace.

“Identification,” asked a Sorcerer-level teller shortly after we entered. She didn’t seem at all surprised or intrigued at the presence of five Demigods.

“Those three are new, but here’s mine.” Sam presented a crystalline card from his pocket. The teller took one look at it and then waved him aside. Dean presented an identical card and was soon waved aside as well. The teller waved a hand at the three of us who remained, though.

“They’re with us,” Sam repeated.

“I heard you,” the teller replied, still sounding bored. “But if they don’t have identification, I’ll need mana signatures. One moment, I need to grab the scanner.”

The teller swiftly departed, and we stood in line, waiting patiently.

“How absurd. Why can’t they just look at my face and recognize me?” Queen Lyanva shook her head.

I shrugged. “There are many ways to change your appearance. They’re probably worried about imposters. Or Timeweaver Spiders.”

Sam and Dean tried to rejoin us, but the moment they stepped past some invisible line, a wall of force appeared before them.

“Damn, security is tighter than I remember.” Sam tapped on the barrier.

“It sure is...” Dean remarked as he leaned his shoulder into the energy barrier. It bent but didn’t break.

The teller showed no sign of returning, so naturally, that was when the people tailing us decided to approach.

“Well well... look at what we have here. A couple of tourists?” the leader of the Sorcerer-level leader of the band asked. She was tall for an elf. Taller than me, in fact, and broader in the shoulder as well. She had to be an elven body cultivator since no elf could get that large naturally. There also seemed to be something wrong with her. Her head twitched from side to side, and she was frantically itching her throat and arm as she spoke to us. “The name is Valanda, and these are my friends. Perhaps we could show you around the market? There are plenty of interesting sights to see. But you’ll want some tough ladies to watch your back, so nothing bad happens to you. What do you say?”

Her eyes briefly skimmed over Tivana and Queen Lyanva, but I was clearly her target.

What was this, some sort of Sorcerer-level junkie? I’d seen potion addicts in the capital of Deania, but usually, the Deanian Queendom was pretty good about treating them. We’d tried to mimic those policies in the Hearthwood and, thanks to mild applications of mind magic, had an even greater success rate than they did.

But maybe the Elven Star Dominion, for all their power and advancements, hadn’t come to the same conclusions yet?

“Thanks, but no thanks. We’re on a tight schedule.” I gestured to Sam and Dean behind the barrier to include them in our group. I tried to be as polite as Sam and Dean had instructed earlier.

“Oh, come on. You guys are new here, I bet. Live a little! There’s so much of the Primordial World to explore. You know, I never would have made it past the Wizard realm if I hadn’t come here...” Valanda said, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly and laughing a little too long. “I know people don’t think much of the orcs, but they’re not bad if you get to know them. Some of their exercises are kinda nice. There’s a fisticuffs ring down the street. You humans like that kind of thing, right? Come on, I’ll show you. Just hang out with us a little while.”

“Again, thanks, but no thanks.” I held up my hands as I glanced behind me. Where was that teller?

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Okay, no small talk. I’ll be straight with you. I need a hit. Just one hit of that sweet, delicious, creamy goodness! I gotta have it. It’s been way too long. I’m going crazy here, human!”

I had no idea what this crazed druggie was on about, but from the bloodshot look in her eyes and the way she opened her mouth, it made me feel like I was a tasty rabbit caught in the eyes of a wolf driven mad by hunger. Law and order or no, this woman was willing to do something crazy.

As she continued to press her case, becoming less and less coherent all the while, Tivana stepped up with an expression of thinly veiled annoyance. She pried the elven Sorcerer’s hand off my shoulder with a swift and decisive motion.

“I’m afraid my man here is far too busy for something like that.” Tivana glared at the big Sorcerer.

Valanda glared. “Come on, I bet you get it for free all the time. All I want is a taste. Stop hoarding it all. Hoarder! She’s a hoarder!”

Before the big Sorcerer could start a fight or shout even more incoherently, the teller returned.

“Golems, remove the vagrant from the premises,” the teller said.

Suddenly, two chunks of a wall near the entrance opened up, and a massive pair of hands reached out. There was something enormous hiding within those walls. In fact, it looked very similar to the Planetary Defense Golems I’d uncovered in the Hearthwood while exploring.

One of those hands grabbed the big Sorcerer around the waist, then tossed her out the door. She let out a startled yell as she went flying. The other golem hand swept her followers aside like a row of bowling pins.

“Now, where were we?” the teller held up a glowing gun-shaped item and pointed it at all three of us. A blue light swept over us, feeling much like getting poked by a needle to my senses. The energy sucked up a chunk of my zeal, which went into the gun. “Alright, the rest of you are free to go. You can pay at the Dimensional Transfer station that way.”

Over the next hour, I felt much like I was at the airport, especially when Sam tried to get them to accept his expired frequent dimension hopper rewards points. Unfortunately, try as he might, he couldn’t get them to go through. We ended up paying the full price out of Sam’s pocket.

I would have pitched in, but I didn’t even know what the currency they were using was called, let alone have any of my own. I’d have to see if I could sell some items to buy some since, just walking down the street in this place, I’d seen hundreds of items that could help me and the Hearthwood. Even the cheap trash here would be plenty good for True Mages back home.

The five of us boarded a large capsule altogether, then someone outside pulled a lever, making the world shimmer and shake. It felt familiar at first, and it took me a while to realize what it was. This was exactly what The Wanderer had felt like when it had taken us to the World of Sanctuary and Serenity.

That meant inter-dimensional travel was possible with The Wanderer if only I could unlock it. There were more rooms to be unlocked, certainly, but how did I go about unlocking The Wanderer’s full features? I had always sensed that it was capable of much more than it let on.

“We’re leaving the Primordial World and entering an alternate version of the World of Sanctuary and Serenity where the Elven Star Dominion never fell. It’s quite a bit different than you’re used to. Come on,” Sam said as he led us out of the capsule and through a similar facility.

This one was much larger than the one we entered, with a truly sprawling complex within. There was even an exit out of the Primordial World right in the same building. From there, things started to return to normal.

“Trees. Roads. Shops. It doesn’t look so different,” I commented as we all took flight. Then we rose higher, and some of the landscape looked familiar. “Wait a moment. I recognize that coastline. And those rivers.” I turned to whirl on Sam, who had a smile on his face. “Is this the Hearthwood?”

Sam grinned. “I knew you’d like this year’s venue!”

<Author's Note>

Been playing through Elden Ring lately. Struggled a bit with Margit, but he was fine after exploring and leveling up. Pretty neat game overall. Anyway, if giant creepy finger monsters start appearing in 20 chapters, you'll know where they came from.

Though now that I think if it, it might be funny to have someone accuse Theo of being maidenless. He would enjoy proving them very wrong.