Chapter 21 - Cruxia (Patreon)

Did I hear that right?

Echo wasn’t sure, so he looked over to Fumi. “Say again?”

She turned to face him. “I love you.”

Echo stood, stunned.

Fumi giggled, “You’re supposed to say it back.”

I’ve never…

Echo had a few relationships in the past, but never to the point where they were saying that. It caught him off guard. But he felt a pull. An inexorable connection. The golden flash flickered across his vision once more.

He pulled her close, staring into her eyes. Those gorgeous, green pools that he could lose himself for hours in. “I love you, too.”

Evolution Instinct hit them both.

Breed…

Evolve…

They sprinted back to the Guild Hall, to their apartment, past Narya who went “Fwah?” at their sudden intrusion and locked the bedroom door behind them.

Rickard was handed a massive hammer and pointed towards a cloaked figure who was laid out upon a single enormous rock.

“I must kill them?” Rickard asked hesitantly.

The angel nodded, “Not just anyone.” It went over and ripped the hood off.

Rickard nearly dropped the hammer. “Mom?”

His mother, whom he hadn’t seen in many years, was there. Unconscious, a look of bliss on her face.

The angel pushed her head down into the stone, “She worships Umbra.” It pulled her sleeve up to the shoulder and showed the mark of the dark goddess. “She must be killed for her crimes. Slandering the name of our lady of righteousness. Prostitution. Selling intoxicants. Theft. The list goes on.”

Rickard felt his hands go slick as his grip on the hammer faltered. “But…she’s my mo-”

The angel towered over him, “What is a mother to your Goddess? How can the love of a mother compare?” It stood aside. “Kill her, and prove your devotion to Lux.”

Rickard walked forward, slowly, inexorably, and felt his mouth go dry. His vision narrowed as a flood of memories from his childhood came back to him – before he joined the Lightbringers. His long hours spent toiling in the field to provide for his ill sister. The sense of reward he felt when providing for her.

He didn't care about his mother, she treated him horribly. But seeing her brought back the memories of his dear sister, whom he loved.

He was standing next to her but hesitated to lift the weapon. “I don’t think I can.”

“Do you want the power of your goddess?”

Rickard nodded as tears streamed down his face.

“Do you want to be her chosen avenger?”

Again, a nod.

“To rid the world of evils?”

He was silent.

The angel whispered in his ear, “To kill that monster, Echo, who insulted your Goddess? The one that caused all your precious Sacred Swords to die? The one who dared wear the bright lady’s divine metal? He ate your friends.”

Rickard felt rage – blinding rage. The angel’s words were the truth.

He hated Echo.

His mother was a sinner.

There was no doubt, Umbra’s mark was on her skin.

Heretic.

He lifted the hammer, feeling justified rage course through his veins. Anger at her for neglecting him - and all thoughts of what his sister might think left his head.

He swung the massive weapon.

The two went into town and gathered some supplies for the journey. Echo insisted that they buy full-on adventuring kits. Fumi was patient but he could tell she was itching to travel.

After storing their supplies inside his pocket-dimension ring they went through the door in the Guild Hall that led to the closest city to their destination - Crux Gamma.

As the two exited the set of double doors they were greeted by an environment that looked quite different from Saint's Hold. Inside, Echo was extremely happy.

Finally! A proper fantasy town.

The Axan people were walking about their daily business in a populous city center, and their scales ran a whole rainbow of colors denoting their position and familial dynasty. Additionally, several snake-people were running around. They were not dressed as nicely as the Axan.

Right, I read about those.

Crulon were a subservient race that Lux made to serve the Axan. They were colored in all manner of unique hues and took after serpents of various types.

Fumi nudged him and gave him a slight smile, "Ready to go?"

Echo nodded, "I'd like to see the ocean. I haven't had the chance yet." He knew from looking at maps that Crux Gamma was located on the coast, near the Trackless Sea. That, and his Feral Senses heightened smell brought the odor of brine to his nose.

Fumi began pulling him towards where a sign pointed at where the docks were.

It truly felt like a medieval city and an active one at that. Whilst there were mostly Axan and Crulon, there were plenty of folks from other races. Most of the non-natives in the region were quite obviously involved in the seafaring trade. The density of that population grew greater and greater as they finally rounded a corner and Echo gasped.

Down the avenue, some enormous jetties and docks extended for several kilometers in between the city walls and the smaller sub-town that developed along the coast itself. Massive sailing vessels of all constructions were moored or docked, and a vibrant trade culture was apparent.

What caught his gaze the most and elicited such a reaction was the color of the ocean.

"It's…clear…"

Fumi nodded, "Until you get six kilometers out." She leaned on him and smiled, "I went that far once. Aqua's water elementals turned our ship…and sunk the other as a warning."

Echo nodded and continued to gaze in awe as he activated Far Sight and saw a cascade of color from all the fish and ocean life. "Are there other continents out there?" He hadn’t seen any in Last Light Temple when Kalinor was showing him the globe of the world.

Fumi shook her head, "...No one knows. You can't go up too high, Caeli's elementals kill you. Same with too deep - Terra's will kill you." She looked up at him and grimaced slightly, "...They warn you before they do."

It's like people are trapped on this continent. What could they be hiding?

"There could be other continents out there. I doubt anyone alive has had a view from orbit." He looked over at Fumi and smiled. "We should travel everywhere. I want to see all of it. All of this Fantasy world. With you."

Fumi nodded, "We have forever."

The pair of monsters dashed north through the city.

Echo insisted that they try to practice maneuvering on different types of terrain, and seeing as most of the structures were slanted, tiled roofs - this turned into a fun training opportunity.

Fumi was more naturally talented with the control she had over her body and the two turned their departure from the city into a game of tag. She was acrobatic and graceful, performing flips and tightrope walks across the tops of the slanted roofs.

Echo, on the other hand, was just focusing on not slipping. It seemed that raw stat superiority only slightly compensated for natural or trained talent. So he was 'it' for most of the chase, but there was a moment where Fumi slipped a little and he was able to catch up to her and tag her.

They were laughing as those in the streets below looked up in confusion, slight panic, and a little shock. People running across the roofs were not common. And the pace they were traveling at, combined with the manic laughter, was quite peculiar.

The two paused their game/training as they alighted on the main defensive walls of the city. Several Crimson Scale Axan ordered them to stop and the two complied, sitting down on the crenellations and panting slightly.

The city wasn't nearly as dense as Saint's Hold, but it sprawled much more. That, and they weren't used to this type of training. Echo felt his legs starting to burn from the exertion. He massaged his calves and thighs while Fumi stretched.

The two enjoyed the views of the ocean to the south and the plains to the north which were covered with purple plants in neat rows - almost like fields of lavender. Echo held up the quest slip showing their authority to travel unhindered, and inquired with one of the guards nearby, “What’s in the fields?”

"Treska." The guard explained that it was a medicinal herb when distilled, and a light intoxicant if smoked after drying.

"Is it a unique export?"

The guard nodded.

Fumi tapped Echo on the head, pulling him out of the brief conversation. He nodded and thanked the guard.

Then the two jumped off the fifteen-meter-high wall and began racing across the fragrant fields.

The ground flew by under their feet. Fumi wasn't quite as fast as Echo in a pure sprint, but they settled on a nice pace. Their speed was hampered because they were running across fields and rough terrain - so their pace was not as fast as the journey from Tiberius' lair to Drekhold. The soft loam was a welcome change from the hard roofs.

They passed many Crulon in the fields who appeared to be slaves; dressed in rags and severely malnourished. They were being watched by some yellowish-colored Axan; some of whom were mounted on strange monitor lizards.

Fumi explained. "Lux made two races during the Reforging. Axan, Crulon. Crulon serve."

"She made people just to be slaves?"

Fumi nodded, "That's how it's always been."

"I like her even less.”

Fumi shrugged. In her culture, servitude was a punishment for criminals or those who lost in Unofficial Clan Wars. She looked around and he did see a pained expression on her face, "We never treat them like this...This is barbaric." As she spoke the two slowed down only to witness a Flaxen Scale Axan pull out a whip and begin beating one of the Crulon who had fallen.

Echo immediately activated Alacrity, dashing faster than sight could follow to the side of the Axan, pulling the whip out of his grip.

He deactivated the Ability and watched the Axan's face screw up in confusion before he noticed the figure standing next to him.

"Eh! Who are you?" He took a few steps back in surprise.

Echo grinned cruelly, "I'm just a monster." He glanced down at the Crulon and could see his leg was sticking out at an odd angle. "What good does it do to beat someone with a broken leg?"

Fumi joined him as the Axan huffed, "He's faking it! And I don't have to explain myself to a Human."

Echo hit him with the whip eliciting a yelp of pain, "I told you, I'm a monster. Not just some Human." He looked over at Fumi, "Thoughts?"

Fumi walked up to the Axan who by now had come to terms with the fact that he was completely outmatched by the two in front of him. He looked around before pulling a whistle from a chain around his neck. As he began to put it to his lips Fumi swiped it from him.

"You bitch! Give it ba-"

Crack.

Another yelp of pain as Echo hit him again with the whip, drawn into a fury at his disrespect for Fumi.

"Don't-"

Crack.

"You-"

Crack, the whip stung again.

"Say that-"

Crack, the Axan was whimpering on the ground in the fetal position.

"To her."

He ripped the whip in half and threw it on top of the cowering slaver. Echo had hit him with the flat of the whip, so it left some large bruises but was not all that painful. Not compared to the tip, which would draw blood and even break sinew and bone.

Fumi drew her katana and the Axan squealed with fear. She spoke with deadly assurance, "We should kill him.” Her green Quintessence began to spill out of her form as her anger rose.

Echo put a hand on her arm, calming her. "It would just get this guy in trouble." He gestured to the Crulon who was watching with wonder and fear at his rescuers.

Fumi nodded and sheathed her katana before wheeling around on the Axan and delivering a swift kick to his stomach as he passed out from the pain, rolling several meters before coming to a stop.

Echo went to the Crulon and glanced him over, "Looks like it's broken. I don't have anything to fix it, but I can at least put it in a cast with support so you can work." He frowned and glanced at Fumi.

We should free them.

"It's the way of things here," She replied as if reading his mind. All around them, the other Crulon had stopped their work to see the commotion. One of the other Axan was on his way over on one of the large lizard mounts.

Echo pulled some firewood from his pocket-dimension. "Transmute Substance." He created a firm, supportive cast for the Crulon and used his Bulwark Ability when he moved the bones to the correct position. The pain wasn't anything compared to what he'd gone through, so he ignored the discomfort. The Crulon looked completely shocked at the lack of pain and stood up shakily, wincing slightly as Echo deactivated the Ability.

"Thank you." The slave picked up his small sickle and went about his work once more.

Fumi walked over to the Axan slave driver who was on the ground and tied him up with the broken whip.

The two took off once more, racing North. The fields rapidly disappeared behind them as they left the well-kempt farmlands and entered a wild, untamed wilderness.

The sun began to set, and they set about looking for a camp, finding a small dell in a field that offered some cover. They set up camp.

"I know you wanted to free them," Fumi said as she sat next to the fire, one arm around Echo.

Echo nodded, "We don't have a place to take them. Starting an uprising isn’t something we can do right now.

She nestled into him, "You have a good heart."

"Thanks," he ran his fingers through her hair. "It's gotten me into trouble before. You know about my past life, but there's one thing I didn't tell you." She looked up at him as he continued, "I never told you how I died."

Fumi put a finger to his lips, "Don't say it if it makes you sad…I don't like you being sad."

Echo grabbed her hand and smiled softly, "It's okay…You should know."

He described the events of his death.

"I'm glad I did what I did…I get to live in this fantasy world. I got to meet you,” Echo’s voice broke a bit with emotion.

Fumi squeaked with satisfaction before going quiet. "We could try to end it.”

“End what?”

“How they treat the Crulon.”

Echo nodded, “It’s a worthwhile goal. But first things first, let’s finish this Quest. Maybe we can convince the Queen to end it.”

Rickard sat in a chair, strapped to the ornate, white stone as his angelic protector continued to intone sermons.

“Blessed be the Lightbringers, who bring the justice of our Goddess upon undead, aberrations, and monsters.”

“…Blessed be,” Rickard repeated dully. He had been subject to this fanatic reinforcement for several hours, confined to the chair as he followed along with the scriptures. His mind was dulled by the rapturous divinity of Lux’s realm.

“Blessed be Lux’s chosen, who smite the wicked.”

“…Smite…wicked…”

“Who slay monsters.”

“…Slay…”

The angel stood in front of him, “Who do you serve.”

“…Lux…”

He. Was. Chosen.

And all this ire, this overwhelming rage, was directed towards the one who besmirched her divine name. Who dared intrude on her sacred temple and spill blood. Who had attacked even more of her followers as they tried to enact her divine edict.

Echo. Monster. Kill.

He was lost to divine purpose. Fanaticism and zeal removing his sense of self.

The morning came abruptly, and the two monsters roused themselves. Echo broke down their campsite and returned the earthen hut to the ground. The two set off once again and came across the Heartwoods. Towering beyond the forest far to the north lay the Duskfall Range, and beyond, The Dead Scar.

They exchanged glances as the same thought went through their heads.

Something is waiting for us in there.

Echo reached into his pocket dimension and readied his sword and shield. Fumi unsheathed her blade as they cautiously approached the trees. They could hear the crunch of twigs in the undergrowth and the smell of damp fur and mildew reached their nostrils.

The two stood thirty meters from the forest edge and waited. The wind blew in and rippled some of the trees and Echo caught a glimpse of whatever was hidden from them. All he saw was a patch of yellow fur. "Any idea what it is?" He asked Fumi.

Fumi shook her head, "We kill it. We see if we can eat it." She sheathed her weapon and performed an Iaijutsu horizontal strike, yelling as she did so. "Spatial Sever!"

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