Dao 4 Chapter 18 (Patreon)

Yesterday's post was accidentally released at the wrong tier. Apologies to everyone. It has been corrected, but if you didn't get a notification for the edit, you might have to go back and read chapter 17.

Whoops did it again. Fixed.

Dar was standing up, pacing inside the cave. The blizzard had gone on for three days, and he was tired of being cooped up inside.

It was starting to feel like it would never end, but he’d decided he was done waiting.

His body had finally healed from learning the grand dao, and that meant that he had a dao of storm to try out. And he’d already decided on how he wanted to first try to use it.

Unsurprisingly, none of the girls wanted to join him in his maiden voyage of trying to use the storm dao to fly. Neko had run away and hid when he’d even suggested it.

Stepping up to the edge of the cave, Dar pulled the storm in and wrapped it around himself while activating the dao of light on his body.

His storm dao pulled him up into the air, but as soon as he exited the cave, he was caught up in the storm and blown about.

It was just too chaotic.

Dar ripped the storm apart and wrapped it around himself as he tried to right himself in the swirl.

He struggled to get control of his trajectory. The storm flung him about a few more times before he finally steadied, floating in the air with his clothes whipping about.

“Okay. Don’t be sick.” His stomach was protesting being tossed about.

Dar took a few deep breaths and gathered more of the storm behind him. Then he flung himself, riding on a gale up to Frost’s Fang.

Dar smiled to himself. Generating a storm as big as the current one on his own would be challenging, but using the currently raging blizzard made flying completely doable.

Dar picked up speed and flew higher, past the craggy trail that wound up the side of the mountain and straight up into the storm clouds as they pushed up against the mountain. The peak of the mountain looked like it was piercing the heavens the way it went up past the clouds.

Dar flew higher and higher, finally spotting his ultimate goal.

Glittering at the peak of Frost’s Fang was a jagged palace made of blue ice.

Dar pulled more of the storm up through the clouds and used it to fling himself at the base of the palace.

Wind whipped about him and the gale screamed in his ears as he realized he didn’t have the best way to land.

Improvising, he wrapped himself in the dao of hard and gathered as much of the storm as he could in his hand, throwing it before him as he landed.

It was a definite crash landing, and Dar was wishing he’d thought about the landing sooner. But, he survived. Dar groaned, pushing himself up from the ground as a frosty spear was shoved in his face.

“Identify yourself.” A gruff voice demanded.

“Darius Yigg, I’ve come to see The White. Sorry, my flight is pretty crappy.” Dar got up to his feet as two rabbit demons wrapped in thick furs continued to point their spears at him.

“Never heard of you.” One of the demons said, squinting at him.

Dar was glad they hadn’t. If they believed the same rumor as the other demons, he probably would have had to attack The White’s guardsmen, which would definitely not go over well.

Wanting to get some credibility, Dar pushed on his inner world and out popped Valdis. 

“Death!” The other demon hissed and switched their spear to point at the valkyrie and then back at Dar, unsure who to threaten.

“I thought you said they liked you?” Dar teased Valdis.

She snorted. “Please. I said they respected me. Fear is a great way to earn respect. Step aside little demons or you’ll die. I have a message for The White, and it won’t do to delay it.”

“The White does not just accept guests.” The first sounded exasperated. “You can’t just barge in whenever you please.”

Dar grabbed the spear pointed at him and twisted it out of the demon’s grip before tossing it aside. “Well I’ve been waiting on my formal invitation, but it hasn’t come yet. So, we’ll just have to crash the party.”

“This should be fun.” Valdis smirked and stepped around the other wary guard.

Before them, the frozen palace stretched out. It felt more than a little villainous  with its tall spires and sweeping structure. The whole place was enchanted to the teeth; it even had glittering lights that glowed from the inside.

There were a few demons and spirits that scuttled about, darting in and out of doorways. The frantic movements could have been usual, but Dar got the sense that his passage was causing a stir.

“Stop.” A spirit rushed in front of Dar. “I don’t know what you want, but I can tell you that just barging in on The White is the best way not to get it.” The panicked woman sighed in relief when Dar actually stopped.

Dar waited for a moment to hear what the woman suggested.

Breathing like she’d just run a marathon, the woman heaved a few times before standing up and dusting herself off. “The White will allow you to dine with her this evening.”

Dar blinked a few times and turned to Valdis for her opinion.

“Lilith always sent word magically before she arrived, and we normally did discuss whatever was happening over a meal.” Valdis shrugged. “I guess it can't hurt?”

“How long will it be?” Dar asked. He’d traveled a long way, and he wasn’t feeling especially patient.

“An hour or so.” The spirit was relaxing. “We were already preparing. Can I know who comes to see her majesty?”

“The Black Knight and Valdis.” Dar didn’t lie, but he wanted the association with Lilith that using the name would imply.

“Of course.” The spirit bowed. “Please, follow me this way. We have a room that you can enjoy. Do either of you need anything for the cold?”

He shrugged. “Valdis?”

“I’ll be fine.” She didn’t seem to enjoy the cold, but she could at least function within it.

“Great. This way.” The spirit led them forward, constantly checking over her shoulder to make sure we were still behind her.

She was a timid creature; Dar wondered what her spirit was. “I notice a lot of spirits up here.”

“Of course.” She opened a pair of double doors. “Here at the peak of Frost’s Fang, mana gathers in high quantities and the concentration of a limited set of dao creates several spirits a year.”

Dar paused. “You were born up here?”

“Yes. I’ve ventured off the mountain before, but I always return.” She bowed after they stepped through the doors and closed them behind them.

Dar walked over to the ice blocks that vaguely resembled furniture. Somebody had spent enough time among humans to pick up their sense of design, even if it was made from ice.

Dar walked over and picked up an apple from the bowl. It was frozen solid with little spikes of ice sticking out from it.

Dar held it in his hand and heated it as the ice melted off and it became soft enough for him to bite into even a little mushy. “Sit. Want me to warm some food?”

Valdis looked at the sparse fruit bowl, raising an eyebrow. “I’d prefer something from your maids.”

Dar pushed Amber out.

“Milord?” Amber appeared with a knife in hand, but after doing a slow sweep of the area and determining no threat, she went down into a curtsy.

“Can you get Valdis and I some jerky and cheese? We are waiting to talk to The White.”

“At once.” She slipped back into his shadow.

Valdis came and sat next to him on the frozen couch. “So, how was flying?”

“Great.” Dar lied.

Valdis watched him for a moment before she burst out laughing. “I bet you were like a chick shoved out of its nest too early. Don’t forget I saw where you landed. That looked like a pretty big indentation.”

Scratching the back of his head, Dar let out an awkward chuckle. “Okay. So it was a little messy. But I got here in one piece, flying through a storm.”

The valkyrie rolled her eyes. “So how is it going with the life dao?”

“I have the nine lesser dao and one of the greater dao. I just need two more greater dao and then I can try to form the grand dao.” Dar updated her. “It is really a matter of time, and we both know I don’t have a lot of that at the moment.”

She clicked her tongue and pulled out a knife from a sheath under her skirt to play with it. “You know, we could just fuck. For the fun of it.”

Dar couldn’t lie and say there wasn’t some appeal in it, but he also knew that it wouldn’t be as casual as she was implying. “I get pretty attached to my dao companions. I’d need to know you want to actually give this a go.” Dar was blunt.

Valdis was worrying her nails with the knife, cutting off the ends probably more than she needed to. “Why does everything have to be so serious with you? Can’t you just live a little in the moment?”

“Odd thing to hear from the spirit of death.” Dar turned to her and leaned closer. “Most people when faced with death look for deeper meaning in life.”

“Yeah, I get it. And I know, I’m a spirit of death. But there’s not much that is actually going to make me dead. But Lilith died. She left me, and I had to figure out the rest. Everybody leaves. One day you’ll leave. Death just, surrounds me. Literally. It’s just easier this way.” Valdis wrinkled her nose at him and went back to trimming her nails.

Dar studied her, feeling empathy for what she’d been through. Lilith’s death had shaken her, probably more so than all the other death around her. 

But one of her statements made him want to probe deeper. “Not actually kill you? You got some pretty good cuts on you in that fight.”

“Oh. I can stave off my own death. Sometimes in a fight I’ll let someone pierce my heart to take their head. I’ll heal eventually. I just have to keep my dao active to keep myself from dying.”

Dar paused, not quite sure what to do with that information. “So, you think you are immortal, and the rest of us are fragile creatures prone to dying.”

“You aren’t fragile, but you are certainly more prone to dying. Especially with how you throw yourself around lately. I understand why your girls worry.” She put the knife away, realizing she didn’t really have any nails to cut. When she turned to him, their lips nearly brushed.

But Valdis wasn’t a shy one.

She noticed and only smirked, leaning a little closer and tempting him.

For which he was sorely tempted as he stared into her green eyes.

What was the real problem with just having a little fun? Valdis was consenting, beautiful and it would help both of them grow stronger.

Her lips quirked up as if reading his hesitation and urging him forward.

Dar licked his lips and started to lean forward.

“Dinner is ready early.” The door opened up with a bang and Dar broke from his moment, happily pushing it all to the back of his mind.

“Great.” Dar shot to his feet. “Just great. Come on Valdis.”

The Valkyrie looked a little stunned but accepted his hands and let him pull her off the couch and into the dinning room.

“The White will see you both.” The spirit stopped short of the door and let them go through first.

There was a long table set out in front of a woman who had a huge rack of snow white antlers that rolled back from her brow.

She was tall, maybe even taller than Dar, but she was sitting and waiting for them.

White furs draped off her shoulders and Dar thought there were gems on her skin, only to realize there were small patches of near translucent scales.

“Welcome. May I ask where Lilith is and why I did not receive the customary note telling me of her envoy’s arrival?” The White didn’t mince words.

“Lilith isn’t with us. We came on our own.” Dar wasn’t going to start their conversation with lies. She wanted answers, and he’d give them as best he could. “I needed to speak with you.”

The White touched a glass of wine that had been served in a frosted glass and took a sip, savoring it for a moment before putting it down. “And why should I listen? Lilith has earned my respect; you have not. Besides, you hid in your black armor the rest of the times you came here. Why are you not wearing it now? Has Lilith cast you both aside?”

Valdis stepped forward and bowed to The White. “Lilith is dead.”

A frigid wind swept through the room, chilling Dar to the bone even through his dao. “Who?” Her voice boomed.

“Herself.” Dar supplied quickly, hoping to calm down the suddenly violent celestial demon.

The White startled and looked to the side with a frown. “Impossible. She would never. Lilith has always been one to maintain the balance of everything.”

“She sacrificed herself for a way to end the Mo for good.” Dar supplied. He knew that while the care of his village was his primary goal, The White’s goals would align more with Lilith’s. And in the end, he hoped they could be accomplished together.

“Interesting.” The White studied Dar. “And how does her death accomplish that?”

“Through me.” Dar left it vague, hoping to get an invitation to explain more and keep The White’s interest.

His plan worked.

“Very well, my apologies for the blunt nature of my questions, but I had to make sure you are worthy dinner guests. Please, join me. Sit, eat, and tell me more of this story.” She gestured to the open seats, and a few spirits darted to pull out the chairs.

As they sat, The White continued. “I’d like to hear of Lilith’s sacrifice first, but after that, I would love to know why Karn is running around telling the world that you eat ancient races for power.” The White took a sip from her glass, her eyes turning slightly colder.

Dar nodded. “There’s a reasonable explanation, I promise.”

“We’ll see. Now, tell me your story.” The White sat back, and more spirits darted in to serve food onto their plates. Dar took a glance down, glad to see the food wasn’t frozen, but he waited to eat. His job was to sell The White on his needs.

“To start, you should know that I have no memory prior to this summer, including our previous encounters. Lilith brought me back to life and sacrificed herself in an exchange.” Dar started.

“Interesting. Valdis, you supported her even in that?” The White raised a manicured eyebrow. She was beautiful in a surreal way.

“Yes, she made me swear on my dao before we started. She reentered a cycle of reincarnation, taking Dar’s place so that I could free him.”

Dar waited until The White nodded before continuing. “After coming back, I spent a good bit of time around Bellhaven, dealing with some of the struggles that the city put on the ancient races. I even founded a village to protect those that were willing to come with me and start a new life.” Dar sighed. “But you should know that what Karn has said is not entirely untrue, although it is not as predatory as it sounds. Lilith created something inside of me that I believe is unique to this world. I can now consume devils and take their dao strength. That includes Mo.”

The White let out a frosty buff of breath. “From your words, you have already accomplished this? You’ve killed Mo?”

“Three times.” Dar confirmed.

“I’ve seen it.” Valdis added. “He ate the living storm just outside of Toldove.”

“They have to be weakened enough for me to be able to consume them.” Dar clarified. “But I’ve also consumed a giant spider mo and an earth giant.”

The White frowned. “A spider mo? I don’t think I was even aware of it, or maybe it moved recently from another’s territory.” She tapped at her lips for a moment before dismissing her thoughts. “Regardless, I must see this for myself.”

Dar nodded, expecting she wouldn’t believe such an impossible thing to be true at face value. “I would be happy to show you.”

Dar picked up a piece of meat from the table before starting to work the meat off the bone with a fork and knife. Taking a bite, he let the conversation lull for a moment before bringing up the other reason he’d come to see her. “There are other troubles I’d like to bring to your attention, created by Kindrake. They are going to war this spring, and they are going to try and pull from my village of ancient races.”

The White waved her hand. “Karn advised me to withdraw support to Kindrake. That includes all of the ancient races there. I have yet to send a note to the capital, but that can be done. Compared to your ability to permanently destroy Mo, it is but a small errand.”

The White’s attention clearly turned back to the topic that interested her. “Tell me, he said you grow stronger when you consume ancients. Then are you growing stronger as you consume Mo?”

Dar knew her question was a sensitive topic. All of these celestial demons were concerned about who was the strongest. He did not want to pose a threat to The White.

“Not exactly. My ability to learn new dao along their dao path grows stronger, but my actual abilities still require time to hone.” Dar explained.

Valdis was sitting quietly between the two of them.

“And this power was given by Lilith to a human?” The White asked, but Dar noticed that she didn’t seem surprised.

“Yes. Are you not surprised that I’ve begun a dao path?”

It was her turn to frown. “No. Humans are nothing but the smartest ape. Why would you be denied the dao path when other animals possess them? That your kind possesses an unmatched greed and destructive nature makes you unlikable, but it doesn’t change the potential.”

Dar wasn’t sure what to do with her statement, but he was more frustrated that he couldn’t really dispute it based on what he’d seen in the world. “I like to think I’m better than that. Besides, I’ve taken on a small group of dao companions.”

The White’s eyes shifted to Valdis who held up her hands. “Not yet.”

“I see. So, you wish to go after these Mo? That was Lilith’s quest, so it makes sense. But from the sound of it, you will continue to grow more and more powerful over time. You want help with your current issue with Kindrake, and to protect your village, but it is not currently in my best interest to allow you to grow far more powerful than me. What will you do once the Mo are all gone and you are powerful enough to protect your own village?” The White pursed her lips.

Dar shook his head. He needed a way to convince her he wasn’t going to work against her. “What do you want me to say? I feel like there's…” Then he realized what she wanted. “You want me to swear on my dao.”

Her response was a simple smile as she waited.

Dar looked over to Valids, who shrugged. Some help that was.

Though he might be stronger than The White one day, he needed her help and if he truly didn’t have any ill will against her, there shouldn’t be any problem with swearing on his dao.

Dar stared down at his hands as he tried to think through a full statement he was comfortable promising. “I Darius Yiggs, swear upon my dao that I will continue to focus on hunting the remaining Mo and protecting my village. I will not instigate or participate in attacks on spirits or demons unless my life, my mission to hunt the Mo, or those I care about are put in jeopardy. Should you or any other attack me, I will defend myself.”

The White leaned back in her chair and sipped from her wine. “Now you’ve given me a promise not to harm my interests. What do I get out of helping you?”

“The end of the Mo?” Dar hazarded. He realized that had just been the starting line.

“You were going to do that already. I want your dao.”

Dar froze, and it had nothing to do with the cold in the room. The White was asking him to be her dao companion, and he knew that the offer would be considered a high honor by so many. He didn’t want to offend her, but Dar barely knew her, and so far, they hadn’t exactly hit it off.

Valdis jabbed Dar in the side, giving him a warning look. But Dar had no idea how to interpret it. So, he went with his gut.

“I only become dao companions with those that I have developed a deeper relationship with.” Dar bowed his head. “It is in my nature to only share something like that with those that I love.”

The White blinked several times. “You are rejecting me as a dao companion?”

“Yes. Politely, until I know—“

The White threw her head back, laughing.

Before Dar could try to say more to smooth over the moment, the doors into the dining hall slammed open and Karn’s rough growing voice roared into the room. “Get away from her!”