132: Voidlands (Patreon)

Zora led Vir through the maze of tunnels, away from the Undercity, descending as they went. Vir rightly grew anxious as they descended deeper into the bowels of the earth. Vir’s history with deep, dark places hadn’t exactly been stellar—first with the Prana Swarm, then again with the Narapazu.

It was almost as if the realm’s most horrifying denizens claimed the abyss as their territory.

And yet, the well-lit hallways told a different tale, as did the dozen checkpoints they crossed.

As if this maze isn’t enough…. Vir thought. He’d given up on memorizing the tunnel network’s layout after the twelfth junction. Not only did it stretch far and wide, there were several layers as well.

He pitied any poor souls who gained access to these tunnels; they’d die of dehydration long before they ever found an exit. That was assuming they somehow entered the Undercity in the first place.

They walked for so long that Vir began to suspect Zora had lost her way, but the steadily growing levels of prana told him otherwise. The air remained devoid of it, as usual. But the ground? Vir couldn’t recall if he’d ever seen such density in his life before.

Zora eventually halted in front of an unassuming door.

“Through here,” she said in her gravelly voice.

Vir followed, expecting to enter another tunnel, or perhaps a small room.

What he found was an enormous domed cavern, easily stretching six stories in height, and nearly that in girth.

The bare rocks were well lit, with non-magical light going all the way up, highlighting the enormous contraption that sat in the center of the room.

Having seen Valaka Amara and the Hiranyan Vimana, Vir immediately recognized the cylindrical device as Imperium technology. Its blue-white rings spun faster than the eye could track, but what stunned Vir was not its physical appearance, but rather its pranic signature.

At the very top of the device, Earth affinity prana flowed into it, along with a smattering of other affinities. Life, Water, Wind, even Lightning was present in trace amounts.

How can those affinities be present in the ground? That makes no sense!

Then he spied the dozens of holes in the ceiling. Like a honeycomb, hundreds of tiny holes had been drilled into the earth.

Holes that lead to the surface!

Vir doubted the Order had the means to pull off such a feat. Which meant it was the Imperium’s doing.

But while the top of the device was surprising, the bottom was downright shocking. Prana exited out the bottom of the enormous cylinder, but there was only one affinity—Earth. All the other affinities had disappeared.

It’s converting prana!? Vir thought. He’d never have guessed such a feat was possible. So that’s why the ambient Earth prana density is so high. But wait, if it can convert those affinities… Does that mean Ash prana can be converted as well?

“Behold the Pagan Order’s greatest weapon. The Prana Siphon sucks prana from the air and deposits it into the earth. Not on a local scale, but a regional one.”

Regional? No. No way…

“Then,” Vir whispered, barely daring to ask. “The Voidlands… are your doing?”

“Did you know? The Voidlands were once called the Voided Lands. Voided by this very Artifact. Since the Age of Gods, this device has siphoned prana. Eventually, anyone who knew of its existence died off, and now, people believe the Voidlands to be a natural phenomenon. Helped along by our own misinformation, of course.”

He could scarcely imagine such a feat. Riyan once mentioned that strong mejai acting together could drain the prana from a battlefield. But to do so for an entire country? Once again, the might of the Prime Imperium left him in awe. To have attained such great heights… Vir genuinely wondered what they were like.

What calamity could have brought down such a powerful civilization?

Vir wasn’t sure if he truly wanted to know.

“But… why? You’re starving your people of prana. How can that be of use to your people?” Vir asked.

“Have you ever wondered why the Kingdoms and Empires leave us alone?” Zora asked. “Why they allow us to raid their countries and steal their demons?”

“They allow you to?” Vir asked. “Wait. Does that mean… Do they know of the true nature of the Order?”

Vir doubted such a big secret could be kept from other nations. No matter how good the Order’s security was, leaks were bound to spring.

“They know, yes,” the gangly Ghael replied. “Though it is a tightly kept secret among royalty.“

Why would they… Oh.

“Nobody likes demons,“ Vir said. “By allowing you to steal them, they avoid having to keep them in camps.”

Or kill them off, Vir thought, his stomach growing queasy.

“Some demons become slaves. Those are the lucky ones. Or the unlucky ones, depending,” Badal muttered. “Most die, some violently. But genocide isn't a great public image for a country. Even if we are just demons.”

“Sheltering and feeding demon prisoners burdens the country. They neither wish to commit mass murder, nor are they keen for demon slavery to become too widespread. Not after the demon uprisings and rebellions of the past. They have learned that their despicable practice works best in moderation. With our agreement, we rid them of this problem while allowing them to maintain their image.”

“But why would they just let you to build your forces?” Vir asked. “Isn’t that dangerous for them?”

“We can’t hide who we are from the other kingdoms, but we can deceive them, to an extent. They all believe the Order to be a pranaless dumping for demons and nothing more. They see the Upper City, and they content themselves knowing we are no threat. Yes, Upper City residents live well, but there is no army there. No danger. Without prana, we are nothing. Or so we have them believe.”

“And the reason they don’t come to destroy you is because doing so would give them a demon problem. They’d have to figure out what to do with all those demons they’ve sent to you for so long.”

“Not quite,” Zora said. “Were they to invade, we'd simply slip into the shadows, infiltrating their society. Then they would have assassins wearing human faces, living in their midst. I can assure you, the thought terrifies them. With the Pagan Order exerting influence on demons throughout the Known World, we can keep such behavior to a minimum."

“Interesting. So they think the benefits of sending demons your way outweigh the downsides.“

“Yes, but insurance is always welcome. The Prana Siphon ensures no mejai can siege our lands. Only warriors with Talents, but they would not have mejai support.”

“And you have your own Talent warriors,” Vir replied. “It’d be really hard for them to attack you. Really hard.”

Without magic, countries would lose much of their offensive combat potential. Talents were powerful, but A and S tier magic could kill hundreds or thousands in one go. Without that, their invasion would become a painful siege.

“We survive by making our downfall difficult for our enemies. Both during the invasion, and after,” Zora said.

It’s genius, in a way, Vir thought. Not only would it be a pain for the invader, resulting in a large loss of life, but there’d be little benefit in doing so. In fact, there would only be downsides, since the Order actually provided the other countries with a valuable service. 

Where the Rani Queendom ensured their security by supporting large parts of other countries’ economies, the Pagan Order was more like a porcupine—more hassle than it was worth to kill.

Vir stared up at the whirring contraption that blazed brightly. He still couldn’t believe something like this actually existed, or that it continued to function many millennia after the fall of the ones who built it.

“So the prana in the Undercity. Is it because the machine’s effects don’t reach that far down?”

Zora nodded. “One could call it a weakness, but it is one we’ve exploited. The machine converts prana in the air to prana in the ground.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have a portable version of this, would you?” he joked. With one of these, he figured crossing the Ashen Realm wouldn’t be nearly as dangerous. Without their precious prana, Ash Beasts would prose far less of a threat. He’d beaten several of the weakened monsters on his own, after all.

Zora’s expression sagged. “All attempts to study it have ended in failure. Whatever means the Gods used to build this device, it is beyond us.”

Figures.

Acting on a whim, Vir relaxed his control over his body’s prana, allowing some to leak out.

If it can convert affinities… can it convert Ash Prana too?

If so, it’d open doors for him in the future.

He watched as the tiny motes of prana drifted through the air. But after a moment, it became clear that they weren’t being sucked to the top like the other affinities. The device had no sway over them.

Vir shook his head and sighed. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy.

“You’ve taken a great risk showing me this,” he said. “Why?”

“Consider it a show of good faith,” Zora replied. “The Pagan Order’s reputation is not a good one. While it is a deception—a carefully crafted facade—no doubt you’d have reservations about us.”

“But you’ve given me a home. You’ve shown me this secret. You must want something in return. Nobody does any of this out of the good of their own heart.”

Badal squeezed Vir’s shoulder. “There are no strings attached, friend. Truly.”

“However,” Zora began.

Here it comes, Vir thought.

“We would be overjoyed if you aided us.”

“Aid, how?” Vir wasn’t averse to helping the Order out, so long as it was for a noble cause. He disagreed with their callous disregard for the value of human life, though he could understand where they were coming from. Humans universally hated demons. There was bound to be some resentment.

Even so, they had confided in him. And… they were the only bastion of demonkind in the Human Realm. That was worth celebrating. It was worth protecting. And yet, something continued to bother him.

When Tia had first shared her hatred of demons with him, he hadn't known what to make of it. Were demons evil? Or was there more going on?

There was definitely more. While the Pagan Order's disturbing talk of purging humans was a good reason for her hatred, that was a secret, and they'd done nothing of the sort yet. Rather, demons were intelligent and behaved much the same as humans did.

It was more likely to be an empty threat to force their enemies to reconsider messing with them. Vir had doubts whether they would truly go through with it. At least, he hoped.

“Some members of my party believe demons are... feral. That they go around slaughtering humans. Even razing villages. They say demons can't be reasoned with. Why? What's giving them that impression?“

“Humans are quick to hate,“ Badal began, but Zora interrupted him.

“No. They are right to think as much. Long ago, when the Pagan Order first started raiding other countries to bring slaves home, we had something of a civil war. One faction wishes to lay low until we amassed enough power to force the humans to respect our sovereign right as a nation of demons. Other... held more extreme beliefs. 

“The moderates won, and the other side fled, forming splinter factions in Matali. They prefer shock and fear to cow their opponents. While these tactics have their uses, they must be used carefully, at the right time and place. Our Matali brethren believe otherwise, I'm afraid. They feel they must return the wrongs they've experience a hundred fold, and that no amount of savagery is enough.“

“Are they really extreme enough to be labeled as feral?“

That was the part that confused Vir the most. Tia seemed to think some demons akin to Ash Beasts.

Badal exchanged a strained look with Zora.

“Some of them grew weary of living in human lands. Some sought the Demon Realm.“

“So they brave the Ash?“

“Indeed. Most perish. Some might even have made it, though we wouldn't know. The ones who return are... addled. Not quite right in the head. Unfortunately, that only makes them even more aligned with the Matali demons' ethos. They become their champions, more often than not. Suicidal maniacs who behave more like animals than intelligent creatures.“

“When these demons come into contact with humans,“ Zora said, “the result is often disastrous. We do what we can when we find  them, but...“

“There aren't many of them. But there are enough to be a problem. We think Kin'jal helps them out in secret, to destabilize Matali. Allows them to cow the country into submission and hasten their downfall. Won't be surprised if Matali ends up part of the Kin'jal Empire some day soon.“

Vir fell silent. The demon situation was turning out to be far more complex than he'd initially thought.

“Demons are stronger than humans, on average,“Badal continued, “but there are more of them than there are of us. Every brother and sister rescued bolsters our cause. Especially those slated for death row.”

Vir’s stomach sank. “When? Where?”

“Kin’jal, and tomorrow, in the dead of night. Fifty of our captive brothers and sisters will lose their lives. The males and children will be executed. The females will suffer worse than that unless we act. Our raiding party could use an experienced warrior. Especially one so experienced in stealth and subterfuge like yourself.”

Vir clenched his fists. The thought of those like himself being subjected to such cruel fates made his blood boil.

“I—”

“There’s no obligation, friend,” Badal said, squeezing Vir’s shoulder. “We’d love to have you, but you’ve only just arrived. Even otherwise, we’d never demand that anyone join us. It’s risky, and there’s a good chance some of us won’t make it back. Think it over.”

Vir nodded. “Thanks. I’ll do that.”

Truthfully, he was about to agree. But mulling it over wasn’t a bad idea, either.

“As Badal says. We are always short of help, and we would reward you greatly for any aid you could give us. But there is no obligation. We invite you here with open arms. Simply as you are.”

“T-thanks,” Vir said. If he was honest, it felt good. A warm, comfortable feeling ballooned within his chest, and for the first time in his entire life, he felt like he belonged. Like he’d finally come home after an arduous journey.

Tears began to stream down his face before he realized it.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “I… do you mind if I head to the surface? I have a lot to think about.”

“Of course,” Zora replied. “Badal will show you the way.”

The Undercity, while a safe haven—perhaps the only demon haven in the Known World—was still a strange environment. One Vir might grow used to, but for now, he longed for the crashing of the shores and the sight of stars overhead.

“The plan is to fly in with a fleet of Acira,” Badal said as they ascended back to the surface. There were several exits, and not all led through the Undercity proper. “They’re being held in a fort in the southwestern countryside, just east of the Endless Plains. We sneak in, break them out, and leave. No bloodshed. Hopefully.”

“How many of us?” Vir asked as they ascended a ramp.

“With you? We’ll be fifteen. Need space on the Acira to bring our brothers and sisters home. Having someone with your skill-set would be a huge boon, if I’m honest.”

Vir fell silent. His skills would be valuable here. Dance of the Shadow Demon could get him into places inaccessible to most, and his other abilities ensured he could hold his own if it came to combat.

“Well, here we are,” Badal said, opening a door that led out to the castle grounds. “Sleep on it. And explore the city. Both parts. I’m here if you need me.”

Vir nodded as he reapplied his face paint, then left the man behind.

Soon, he found himself on the Promontory west of the castle grounds, at a park that overlooked the Runean ocean. The same park his guide had taken him to just hours earlier.

Here, he’d hoped to find solitude, but instead found the park filled with people, despite the late hour.

And among them was a group of three. A man and two women. A blonde and a brunette that looked all too familiar.

Vir approached them from behind.

“Uh, Tia? In Adinat’s name, what are you doing here?”