153: Akh Nara (Patreon)

NOTE: Welcome to Arc 5! Very curious to hear your thoughts on this section - it underwent a bunch of edits since I wasn't happy with the 1st version.

Also got a poll coming up, so stick around for that!
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Vir’s mind went blank. Of all the words Cirayus just said, one in particular filled his head, drowning out all the others, but before he could ask, Maiya beat him to the punch.

“Sorry? Did you just say Prince? As in… royalty?”

Vir shook his head. “There must be some mistake.”

Cirayus gave a pained smile. “There was no lie in my words. You are royalty, Sarv—er, Vir. I assume that is the name the lumberjack bestowed upon you?”

Vir nodded. “Ekavir.”

“Ekavir,” Cirayus repeated. “Bravest of the Brave. A good name.”

Vir had always suspected his birth name was something else, but to hear it… Sarvaak?

“So that’s my real name,” Vir whispered. He’d never meant the words to leave his mouth.

“The name bestowed upon you by King Maion and Queen Shari Garga, yes.”

King? Queen? His parents. His real parents! For the longest time, Vir had wondered where he’d come from. Who he truly was. He’d given up on those answers until he reached the demon realm. And now, just like that, he had them.

My real parents! Wonder what they’re like.

After losing Rudvik, he never thought he’d have the chance to call anyone ‘father’ again. Let alone ‘mother’. The mere thought of it made his head swoon.

“Maion and Shari. My parents, do they live in the demon realm? Do they know I’m here?”

They must have been worried sick. Did they think him dead?

Cirayus’ smile fell. “I am sorry, Ekavir. You cannot know how much I wish to say ‘yes’. You cannot know how much I miss them. They… perished, shortly after your birth. Maion was my closest friend of many, many decades. And a good man.”

Vir’s heart threatened to seize.

No. No! How? Why!?

The flame of hope in his chest extinguished just as soon as it’d lit. It was cruel. Beyond cruel.

A spark of hatred lit in his chest as Vir cursed the gods. What did Fate have against him? Ashborn, Prana Scorned, losing Rudvik, Apramor, and Aliscia. And now this?What had he done to deserve any of this? Why did—

Maiya threw herself around him, embracing him in a deep hug. She said nothing, and she didn’t have to. Her presence alone stopped that dangerous train of thought in its tracks.

Vir squeezed her waist and met her eyes. I’m okay.

He wasn’t, not truly. Maiya’s intervention helped, but it’d be a while before he came to terms with this revelation. Still, the last thing he needed was Maiya worrying about him. Not when she already worried so much.

“I fled here with you and a few other brave souls who volunteered to protect you,” Cirayus said quietly. “I’m afraid I’m the only one who survived.”

“I see.”

So people died for me. All to bring me here.

Vir wasn’t quite sure how to process that second bombshell, so he changed the topic for now.

“What… er, what is Garga? Is that a country?”

“My liege, I know you have many questions, and I fully intend to answer them.”

My liege? Vir couldn’t believe such words were being used to address him. Him! Of all people. He was the prana scorned Ashborn outcast. Viewed with suspicion, and sometimes hatred. How could he be a prince? It was all so very wrong.

“However,” Cirayus continued, “this is neither the time nor the place for such a conversation. Your demon friends will wake shortly, no doubt wondering where you are.“

“How do we know we can trust you?” Maiya asked.

“You can’t, lass, though you are right to worry. What you can trust is my strength. If I wanted you two dead, I could have killed you a thousand times by now. I haven’t. As young Ekavir here said, I haven’t even scratched you. That’ll have to suffice for now.”

“It’s okay, Maiya. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who delivered me to Rudvik as a baby. Which means he risked his life to bring me here to the Human Realm.”

“If you trust him, that’s enough for me,” Maiya replied, throwing him a concerned look.

She’s still looking out for me. Even after all this time.

“Thanks, Maiya,” Vir replied. “For everything.”

Maiya smiled sadly, shaking her head, as if to say it was nothing.

“Let’s head back for now,” Vir said, preparing to pick Maiya up. “I don’t want Badal and the others to chase after us. I’ve made them worry enough.”

But before he could hoist her, he found himself being lifted by one of the giant’s hands.

“H-hey!” Maiya cried as she squirmed in the air beside him.

“Dance of the Shadow Demon is a useful ability, but your version is heavily limited in its range. Better let me to carry you,” Cirayus said, placing them on his shoulders.

“We’re going to ride on you?” Vir asked in disbelief.

“We are?” Maiya said, her hesitance obvious.

“Children love it!” Cirayus laughed. “Relax a little, and you might, too, lass!”

Maiya recalled how high Cirayus had jumped and blanched. “Can you, erm, start slow?”

“For a friend who risked her life for young Sarvaak? I’m happy to oblige.”

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere,” Maiya said, flushing.

Cirayus shot her a doubting look. “Here we go!”

The giant leaped into the air, soaring far higher than even what High Jump could do. From there, his steps only grew longer and higher.

This is incredible! Vir thought, glancing at his friend on the giant’s other shoulder. Her knuckles were white, but he’d seen that look in her eyes before. She was enjoying this.

What had taken them a half hour took Cirayus a mere handful of minutes, and they soon found themselves back in the forest, where Cirayus landed lightly atop a branch, rather than allowing himself to fall to the forest floor.

“Hard to orient yourself on the floor,” he said. “From here, you can see exactly where you need to go.”

“I don’t get it,” Maiya said, staring at a branch that could never have supported his weight. “You can make us light as well?”

“Anything I touch. Directly or indirectly.”

“But I don’t feel light? I feel the same as normal.”

“Aye, you would. I’ve made your entire body lighter, including your clothes and armor. You’d certainly feel that if I hadn’t. But go to pick up an object when you’re this light, and you’ll see what I mean. Would be near impossible.”

Vir couldn’t wrap his head around how the ability worked. Logically, it made no sense, though prana seldom did.

“How do you use it in midair, though? You lightened your weight to ride the Acira, didn’t you?”

“Observant. Good. Aye, I did. Balancer of Scales consumes both Life and Earth affinity prana. Doesn’t work half as well in the air, but I can manage.”

The more Vir learned about its nature, the weirder it became. It was more like a hybrid of a Talent and orb-based magic. And there was nothing he knew that consumed multiple affinities at the same time.

Cirayus must know so much about the workings of prana, Vir thought, eyes twinkling with glee. Until now, no one he’d met knew more about prana than Vir did. Perhaps now that would change.

What breakthroughs would he have under Cirayus’ tutelage?

Whatever doubts Vir had before about entering the Ash evaporated then and there. With the giant beside him, he doubted even Ash Beasts posed them much threat. 

But what about Maiya?

Vir's eyes rested on his childhood friend. A friend who'd just become far more precious to him. Could he really leave her now?

If what Cirayus said was true—if he was a prince—then he absolutely had to visit the Demon Realm.

Not visit… return. Home. But then, why did Cirayus brave the Ash to bring me here?

People had perished to ferry him across the Ashen Realm. All of whom were likely powerful warriors. Why would they sacrifice themselves like that? What was Cirayus fleeing from?

Vir agonized over the choice that loomed over his head.

The Order’s Acira came into view, along with a half dozen black-clothed forms, arranged neatly on the ground.

Vir jumped off the giant’s shoulder and knelt next to Badal.

“Badal. Badal! You alright?”

The demon’s eyes slowly opened. “What happened? Vir? Why are you here? I told you to escape!”

Then he noticed Cirayus, and he shot up in a panic. “You!”

“It’s alright, Badal. He, uh… he’s actually on our side.”

“Did you hit your head? He tried to kill you! He attacked us!”

“What was I to do? You wouldn’t listen when I told you I meant no harm,” Cirayus said with a shrug, rocking Maiya, who remained perched on his shoulder.

“Who would believe such a blatant lie!” Badal fired back.

“It’s true. He was testing me, believe it or not,” Vir said. “He’s… well, I’m not sure yet, but he’s not an enemy, at least.”

“Accept my apologies for rendering your group unconscious,” Cirayus said, bowing his head and clasping two fists in two palms.

“This is difficult to accept,” Badal replied slowly.

Vir laughed. “Believe me, you don’t even know the half of it.”

One by one, Badal’s group woke up. Vir feared he’d have to repeat his explanation again and again, but a single order from Badal silenced any reservations they had, proving just what consummate professionals they all were.

“Does this mean you’ll be alright?” Badal asked after ensuring his forces were all uninjured. He kept a wary eye on Cirayus the entire time, as did his Order forces.

“I think I will be. Think I might be better than ever, actually.”

“That is both a surprise and a relief. I admit, I understand none of this, but it’s not my business to pry. All I ask is you return safely to us one day, brother. Whether it be a week from now, or a decade. You will always have a home here.”

“Thanks, Badal. Truly. I’ll never forget what the Order’s done for me. And I do intend to return,” Vir said, locking eyes with Maiya. “I swear it.”

“Then I shall be off. We’ve another raid tonight, and the men could use a rest. More brothers and sisters to liberate.”

“May Yuma be with you,” Vir said as Badal mounted his Acira.

“May all the gods be with you, friend. Though I fear no amount of blessings will lessen your hardship,” he replied.

The Order Acira took to the skies moments later, their scaly black wings flapping heavily. Then they were gone, the forest’s peaceful calmness reasserting itself as birds chirped and chipmunks poked their heads out of the ground. Few would guess a fierce battle raged here just minutes earlier.

Cirayus sat down and cracked his neck.

He really enjoys that, doesn’t he? Vir thought it was an intimidation tactic at first, but now understood it to be more of a habit. Perhaps one that was centuries old. Though Cirayus looked like the sort of demon terror who might raze villages and eat babies, Vir wondered whether that was merely a carefully crafted facade. Cirayus was powerful—obscenely powerful—but he’d not only spared Badal’s fighters, he hadn’t even injured Vir, let alone Maiya. All his taunts had been bravado, nothing more.

And yet, he didn’t even bat an eye when he caved in that mejai’s head. The question is… what does he want from me?

“This place should be safe enough, shouldn’t it?” Vir asked. “We’re a ways away from where you fought that mejai.”

“Well, that depends. What would you wish to know?”

“Everything,” Vir said, staring up into the giant’s eyes.

“Everything!” Cirayus replied, laughing. “How many days do you have, lad?”

“As many as it takes.”

“Aye. But we do not. That mejai I killed was sent by a certain Hiranyan princess. When he fails to check in, she’ll no doubt send more forces. They communicate daily through an orb.”

“Honestly, I can’t believe they sent you,” Vir said. “I didn’t think they’d venture beyond their borders like this.”

“They sent a giant demon and a mejai with no Hiranyan markings,” Maiya said. “Only Cirayus might’ve betrayed the truth if captured, but I suppose the mejai figured the subjugation collar would’ve prevented that from ever happening.”

“The man was a fool,” Cirayus scoffed. “Not only did he consider me an ally, he placed far too much faith in his Artifact. His overconfidence was his undoing. But I digress. That princess is not the type to give up, lad. She’ll send more forces, mark my words.”

Maiya nodded. “I can see that. I thought she'd hesitate to send you here to Kin'jal, but I guess I was wrong. By using mercenaries, she gets to avoid risking Hiranya's reputation.”

“I’d rather avoid the attention,” Cirayus said. “We'll have to hide for the time being. And hope they can't track us.”

The way he said those words gave Vir pause. Could Hiranya track them somehow?

“What do you suggest?” Vir asked.

“Your name is Maiya, yes?” Cirayus said. “Know any safe places nearby, lass?”

Still perched atop his shoulder, Maiya regarded the giant slyly. “Why’d you think I would know?”

“You seem like you’ve a solid head on those shoulders. I figured you’d have some relevant information. Unlike young Ekavir over here.”

“Hey!” Vir retorted, but found himself unable to retort. It was true—Maiya had forged far more connections and had a much better grasp of the geography than he did. Not to mention any clandestine Kin’jal outposts only the princess’ confidante might know of.

“Kin’jal maintains several safe houses in Matali lands. The nearest one should only be an hour from here, with how fast you travel.”

“Guide me,” Cirayus said, scooping Vir up.

Maiya looked around to orient herself, then pointed north. “That way.”

— —

The safe house wasn’t so much of a house as an underground cellar, its entrance camouflaged so perfectly by vegetation that it would be utterly impossible to find. Unless, of course, one knew to look for the signposts that identified it.

Maiya did, but even then, it still took an hour to locate.

Maiya hopped lightly onto the ground and dusted off her armored skirt, opening the trapdoor.

“Might be a tight fit for you, Cirayus.”

The giant waved away her concern. “I’ve spent the last sixteen years cooped up in a jail cell barely large enough for a regular human. I can deal with short ceilings.”

Vir flared Prana Vision, but found nothing of note inside. “Looks safe,” he said, entering first.

There wasn’t much—a table, a couple of chairs, and a rudimentary bed along the far wall. Next to the table was a shelf with some furled maps, dried food and jugs of water, and a couple of mid-grade steel talwars and daggers. The barest essentials for what a Kin’jal spy might need if they ever found themselves in hot water.

“Not even a single orb in here,” Maiya muttered, lighting up her Magic Lamp, casting its warm glow upon the room.

Vir and Maiya took a chair, and Maiya brought hers close beside him. Closer than usual, he noticed. Cirayus sat cross-legged upon the floor. Thanks to the giant’s height, he came nearly to their eye level.

“We should be safe enough here, for the time being.”

Vir took a deep breath. This was the moment he’d waited his entire life for. The moment when he’d finally learn the truth of who he was. “Let’s start with how I ended up here. Why did you flee the Demon Realm? Why’d you risk everything to bring me across the Ash?”

Cirayus’ face hardened. “To truly grasp the weight of the events preceding your birth, we must start at the beginning. With the prophecy of your birth.”

“Prophecy?” Vir asked. “Demons can see the future?”

“Some, yes. Our seers and soothsayers. One of their kind, a woman by the name of Greesha, prophesied the coming of one who would usher in a new era for demons. A demon born within the Ash. The Akh Nara.”

Vir’s eyes widened.

Cirayus pointed at Vir. “You.”