Chapter 36 - Blessing (End of Book 1) (Patreon)

Echo smiled and stood up, shakily being supported by Fumi, "I hope we'll get compensated for this surprise performance."

Pomentar nodded and escorted the two away from the pedestal as Slate passed by them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the final event…I, Professor Slate, bring you the fireworks of Fantasia!" He raised his hand and all the flames that were hovering above coalesced into his grasp before changing to various colors and shooting up into the sky; burning pinpricks that eventually faded to darkness.

The audience waited with bated breath.

Ten seconds…

Twenty seconds…

Thirty seconds…

And then the fireworks went off. Enormous explosions blanketed the entire night sky. Cascading torrents of sparks lit up the sky overhead, crackling and whistling, as animals both mythic and mundane were formed from the flames and sparks. A tapestry of biology; as the shining zoo tramped across the darkness, fully replete with sounds.

Slate walked over and smiled at Echo before looking up into the sky, "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's pretty," Fumi said, her eyes glued to the sky above.

Slate chuckled, looking at Isaac. "I'm going to do what I said."

Isaac nodded “Go ahead."

Slate turned and passed a hand over Echo, and he felt warmth settle into his body, "I give you The Blessing of The Artificer."

Slate reached into a pocket and pulled out a small, fractal gemstone that was clear save for the speckles of prismatic starlight within. “This is an Aether Shard. It is what made us New Gods,” he stated gesturing between himself and Isaac.

Isaac stood up and stared daggers at Slate, "What in The Void are you thinking? I said, 'Nothing too crazy'! We talked about this! And you’re giving him an Aether Shard!"

Slate gave a glowering look back to Isaac, "Trust me, Isaac. Have I ever led you astray?"

Isaac muttered and sat down, grumbling out, "...No." He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, “You gave him a shard from our stash…Selena is going to be pissed off.”

Slate slipped the shard into Echo’s hand as he pointed at Fumi and another wave of warmth surged into her, "And to you, The Blessing of The Flames. No longer will flame harm you, and you may regain Quintessence by consuming fire."

Fumi bowed slightly, "Thank you, Professor Slate."

Echo bowed as well, "You're quite generous for just meeting us, my sincerest thanks…but how does my Blessing work?”

Slate sat down and a small flash of Heat pulsed from him as the floor of the arena rose and took shape - becoming a loveseat, "Take a seat, enjoy the show, and I'll explain."

Echo guided Fumi over and the two sat down, cuddling together, and staring up at the display in the sky as Slate explained the process of Artifice.

Magic items acted the same as those from games such as Dungeons and Dragons – which surprised Echo because Slate referenced that exact game. They had to be made from or with Adamantine, and generated their own minor reservoir of Quintessence that, unlike Brightsteel which stored that power, could not be tapped into. Instead, those magic items would cast a pre-designated spell a set number of times per day upon activation. That, or they had a minor, persistent effect.

More importantly, he explained what artifacts were. They could be almost anythingthat the crafter envisioned. They were able to replicate any god’s Domains – the stronger versions of Affinities, and the possibilities were endless. Only Echo’s imagination limited what could be made with it.

Slate kept going, describing the process in detail. It was the same as crafting a spell, but instead of willing it to manifest immediately, the crafter focused on putting the spell into the object.

He waved a hand, and the fireworks above began to shift from the menagerie of animals, changing to create a gorgeous display of abstract colors and patterns.

Echo nodded as he leaned back with an arm around Fumi, "I think I understand…but…why give Fumi and myself these Blessings?"

"There is a plan for all of us; or rather, several plans. Fate and destiny are not written - but to one such as myself, a God of knowledge among other Domains, I can see the many paths that spiral out into the future. The multitudinous possibilities. You two could change the world…I am hoping that if you end up changing it for the better-"

"-Stop filling their heads with ideas,” Isaac interrupted. “Let them enjoy being simple adventurers. They've gone through a lot already. Don't use them in your schemes."

Echo couldn't help but ponder his words.

Change the world? I mean, I suppose if we got strong enough, we could. But-

He looked at Fumi who was enjoying the display up above.

I just want to be with her, and experience the joys this world offers.

The four sat there, enjoying the light display before the final lights winked off in the sky an hour later. Slate stood up and approached the pedestal with Isaac as Pomentar joined them. He snapped his fingers, and a fiery orb illuminated the platform.

"Thank you, one and all. Please come by for regularly scheduled events!" Pomentar bowed and gestured to the two Gods.

Isaac stepped onto the pedestal, "It has been a privilege to be here. Remember, if you need help, whether rich or poor, come to the Guild Hall. We'll help you." He stepped aside as Slate stepped up.

"Thank you for coming and celebrating the arts once more. Enjoy your evening and may the fires of ingenuity and progress never go out."

The flaming orbs snapped out of existence as the crowd cheered and clapped. Due to his Darkvision, Echo could see clearly as Isaac and Slate exchanged brief words with Pomentar, though he couldn't tell what they said due to the audience. Pomentar left out of a tunnel on the arena floor as Isaac and Slate walked over to the two.

Slate stared at Echo, his expression stern and no longer jovial. "Here are two warnings; do not make artifacts lightly. Second…do not attempt to use an Aether Shard to become a God like us. With all the alterations to your biology…even a God of knowledge cannot know what would happen.”

He looked at Isaac, "We must go and meet with him. Now."

Isaac nodded and a pulse of Heat flowed once more as a jagged tear in space ripped open behind the two of them. He stepped through the rip in space and waited on the other side.

Slate smiled at the couple, "I hope you two continue to evolve and grow. You could do much good in this world, and maybe even on other worlds, despite your sinister origin story."

The two exchanged glances. "Thank you, Slate," they said in tandem.

He waved a hand dismissively, "Don't mention it."

He stepped through the rift in space as it snapped shut, leaving Echo and Fumi alone on the loveseat in the arena, underneath the starless sky. Three moons were visible overhead, providing illumination to the world in a dim glow.

Fumi looked at Echo with resolve and determination glinting in her eyes, "A few days’ rest. You make us magic items. We go hunt monsters and get stronger. Find my clan. Hunt and kill Tiberius."

The Evolution Instinct surged within them.

Breed...

They stared into each other's eyes.

Evolve...

They ducked into one of the training rooms and locked the door behind them.

Tiberius walked through the tunnels, booted feet clacking against the stone floor. Austere and serene, a perfect place for rumination. His tunnel network was shaping up to be the perfect new lair.

Of course, Tiberius wasn't the type to just sit around and think. Why think when you can act?

And so, he entered a large, circular chamber where several examination tables containing bound Gori and Ogo, chained, and gagged. Muffled screams sounded out through the chamber, and many thrashed about trying to escape the chains.

"Ah, my beautiful new subjects. You are going to become part of something greater. I do hope you enjoy getting along. Especially since you’ll have to work together."

He held up the Mimic Cube as the multi-colored sparks flared out. The slightly depressed floor began to flood with black goop. It congealed into a large circle before increasing in mass, rising up and over the various, screaming bodies.

Tiberius licked his lips in anticipation.

A blue glow flashed near his head, and he looked sideways as a contingent spell went off.

He waved a hand covered in brown light as a flat panel opened next to him. "Ah, my two wayward experiments. What are you discussing now?" He waved his hand once more and audio began to emit from the floating image.

"-get stronger. Find my clan. Hunt and kill Tiberius."

His two experiments he lost but desired to retrieve.

He grinned even more broadly as he saw the Evolution Instinct activate within them, as they ducked into a room.

He watched them engage in a passionate embrace, frowning slight as a golden glow limned them for several seconds before fading – unheeded by either, as they were too lost in love or lust. Tiberius could never tell.

A golden glow? Perhaps a monster they ate.

He chuckled, "You're coming for me, eh? I think you'll find the homecoming to be quite…surprising.” He began cackling madly and turned around as the goo had finished its gruesome work.

A horrific amalgamation of corpses, seemingly woven and stitched together without seams.

The various mouths opened and gasped before a wail of pain erupted.

Tiberius walked up and placed a hand on the creature that shuddered, "There, there. It's all right. You're so much more beautiful now than ever before."

He pointed down the passage, "Go and get some of your friends.” The amalgamated monstrosity shambled down the passageway, roaring in pain and rage, as it went to abduct more of its own kind.

Tiberius turned back to the floating image and put a hand to his chin, pondering.

They have grown.

If he wanted to get into Malvir's good graces, he had to ensure that they grew even more powerful. But he couldn’t make it easy on them.

Adversity builds character, after all.

He had to make more monsters. Flood the region with them. Give them a good meal. Fuel to evolve.

"Malvir! Witness my creations! My interpretation of your will is right!"

Only whimpers and pleading reached his ears as other subjects were slowly brought out of the cages nearby by his monstrous servants.

“You'll evolve to feed my ultimate, wayward creations.”

I'll make them into monsters who can devour the Gods.

The two monsters made their way out from the arena, hand in hand, as they returned home.

Fumi had felt love before. But this was entirely different. She felt wholehearted devotion to Echo.

And she could see it in his every look, his little smiles sent her way, the determination that he protected her with.

He loved her too.

But a regret panged within her heart. A desire to find out exactly what had happened after she was captured.

What had happened to her Clan?

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