Chapter 38 - Weaver of Lies

788 I.C, March 14, Karashak: The Vortex, Night

A shudder woke me from what felt like a nightmare. My muzzle ached with the sensation of strained muscles, my fists were clenched to the point that they tingled from lack of circulation, and my eyes felt full of sand. It made me wheeze through clenched teeth as I blinked and tried to make sense of the world.

The green storm of the vortex raged in the distance, but the sky had grown dark and the air frigid. I was in the desert, but it was night, and every nerve in my body tingled with the presence of flux that poisoned it.

I could remember Aeternus but the impact of his words seemed difficult to swallow. My mind wanted to blame it on a hallucination, yet as my hands relaxed, I realized that I was holding onto something. I looked down, and resting in the middle of my palm was a small blue crystal. It seemed like little more than a trinket yet I could feel it reverberating within the aether, waiting, like a cautious scorpion ready to deliver a lethal sting.

I don't want this fate... Pushed and prodded like a puppet...

The flux in the air burned, it radiated from the vortex like tiny daggers digging through my body. It forced the thoughts from my mind as I felt my heart tighten. There was no time for self-pity.

I stumbled onto two legs, felt the world spin, and stumbled as a metallic tinge touched my tongue. For a moment I figured the outpost had been nothing but a trick, but the presence of crumbling walls and toppled roofs were indicative that there had once been something here.

Step by step I stumbled about, searching the ground, looking for some sign of the others. The aether was of little help as it bristled like an angry fire. My paw hit something heavy and a clatter could be heard. I stopped, looked down, and watched as sand trickled away to reveal the remains of a ribcage.

This was an outpost... Aeternus said others had tried to study the vortex...

He killed them... But why? For his own amusement? Or because they discovered something?

I moved past the remains, marched forward, and my eyes caught something moving in the distance. Sitting on his knees next to a concrete wall was a large creature with white fur. He rocked back and forth as if having gone insane. I walked up to him, crouched next to the ground, and leaned in to get a look of his eyes. Icy blue, irises the size of pinpricks, staring at nothing.

He's definitely caught in Aeternus nightmare...

I reached out, touched his shoulder, and said, "Clyde."

Clyde snapped to attention, gritted his teeth in an instant, and his hands shot out to grip my arm. His ears clamped to his head and froth bubbled through his teeth as he froze in place, and dug his claws into my arm.

I weathered the pain and spoke, "Clyde. You're back in the real world... It was just a nightmare. OK?"

Bubbling froth dripped from his muzzle as the grip eased a little. Moments later he blinked, glanced beyond me, and whispered, "W- whe- where are we?"

"Karashak, within a ruined outpost, the real one this time," I said.

The grip on my arm tightened once more as Clyde focused on me, "You were... Everyone were gone. I was alone... All alone. No matter how far I walked the corridors just kept repeating. It was a maze... I thought I was going to die in there..."

I grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled at his hand to ease the pressure, "It was a nightmare, now get up. We need to find Talwin."

Clyde clung to me as I pulled him up and kept searching.

"My skin burns..." Clyde murmured.

"That's the flux, keep an eye out because we need to get out of here as soon as we can," I ordered.

As we walked I felt Clyde tug on my jacket, "Avery... Over there."

I stopped, looked at Clyde, and saw him staring at something to our left. A quick glance revealed a half buried corpse that-

I blinked, inched closer, and noticed that the half-buried corpse still had fur that fluttered in the wind. Clyde straightened up as we walked closer, crouched next to the body, and took a closer look. The clothes were mostly torn, but as we tipped him over it became obvious that it was a coyote, and the scent settled that it was Talwin. My hands touched his chest, and within seconds I could feel the beat of his heart.

"He's unconscious," Clyde observed.

"The stronger the mage, the harsher the effects of flux," I said and eased Talwin into my arms.

Clyde looked at me and I could see the question on his lips, 'then how come you're still awake?'

I dismissed it before the question could be asked, and pulled Clyde close, "Stay tight, I'm transporting us out of here."

There was no hesitation as Clyde embraced us both, held tight, and rested his head against my shoulder. It took focus, power, and almost a minute to erect a shield and flush out enough flux, but it worked.

Once done I forced the aether to bend, and tore through it.

788 I.C, March 14, The Pierced Veil: Tower, Night

I had expected myself to experience rage without boundaries, yet as I found myself in the tower, surrounded by the others, there was little more than an emptiness which made it feel as if my insides had been gouged out.

Clyde had fallen unconscious once we returned and he now clutched my leg in his sleep. Talwin remained in my arms, slouched against the bed, while drawing shallow breaths. The wood floor was caked with sand brought along from Karashak and a strange metallic tinge lingered in the air.

I pushed the lingering thoughts out of my head and focused on Talwin.

His powers as a mage had grown, more than I had ever hoped when I first saw him struggling at the farm. That in itself was something which wasn't supposed to be possible. One could learn to wield the powers given to you through birth, but never move beyond it, such were the rules of this world. Yet...

My hand cupped his muzzle from below, and I angled his head. He still looked like a coyote, wild textures in his fur, slim snout.

I used my thumb to ease his lip open and focused on his canines. There was a rather clear line along the teeth, yellow, exposed to the elements for many years, and new sparkling white at the bottom, signaling growth. A gulp followed as I shifted him a little and realized that while I had grown, so had he, and the once skinny coyote had become... tougher.

My eyes widened a little as hints of red began to grow along my hands. Magic seeped from me, formed tendrils and poked at Talwin like slithering snakes. A quick glance at my chest revealed that the Star was shining once more, and the entity within me hummed with content. To be used, whether for good or bad, it didn't care. The troubling thing was that using it was becoming easier, almost unconscious, and my curiosity made it poke at Talwin.

It filled me with a strange sensation, as if something beckoned to me, yet I feared the path out of fear that I would lose control, or even worse, become like the Master. It only raised more questions, was I already like him? A creature of hatred and jealousy, forged into a weapon strangely enough meant to set the world straight.

The entity within me hummed with the same simple mindedness as usual.

There's power? Use it to your delight. There's a threat? Crush it and consume the remains.

Maybe that's what the Master is? Knowing only base instinct...

Curiosity remained, and as my mind pondered the aether bent to my will. The glow brightened, tendrils pierced Talwin like ghostly daggers, and the world seemed to shift as if covered in rolling fog. Talwin became like Clyde during the operation to sever him from the Master. Transparent, and glowing with the outline of the aetheric presence that lived within him. The threads that made up his life were the strongest in his mind, grew from there like a wiry mess, connected with the heart, and spread outward from there.

Something didn't belong though, it was clear even with a cursory glance. Fibrous vines were intertwined in his essence, coiling, and merging. The hue was different and its presence pulsed in a different tune from his own heart. I glanced at my hand, watched the red essence coiling with black tar, and saw the same beat.

It's me... It flows from me and changes him from within...

There was a sudden tug on my hand, and a gentle groan escaped from Talwin. It snapped me out of my focus, and with the blink of an eye the world returned to normal. Talwin's eyes fluttered, he gritted his teeth, and his hands clutched me with the same desperation that Clyde had. Suddenly he snapped awake with a gasp of fright and pushed back as if fighting an assailant.

"Talwin?" I asked out loud and kept his arms in check.

The sudden struggle abated in an instant, his eyes snapped to focus on me, and he stared as if caught in coiling terror.

I weathered the sensation of his claws digging into my arms, and forced a smile, "Talwin, you all right?"

Talwin's eyes darted back and forth, locked on Clyde for a moment, and then focused on me, "Is... Is this real?"

"It's real. The vortex messed with our minds, but I found a way to bring us out of it."

Talwin still held tight, glanced toward the window, and stared for a few moments as if trying to gauge what was real.

I inched closer, "Feel the aether, Talwin. See if something feels amiss, that should tell you whether this is real or not."

Talwin's focus slowly shifted to me once more, and he gulped while staring. Seconds passed until he blinked and seemed to sigh out of relief.

I was about to speak when he suddenly let go, lunged forward, and snapped hold of me. Within an instant his head was buried against my chest.

It caught me by surprise for a moment, but I eased back enough to embrace him, "Talwin..."

"I'm sorry," A whisper murmured from Talwin.

"Hmm?" I hummed in wonder.

"I'm sorry," Talwin answered, stronger, and higher.

I raised my brow in confusion, "You're sorry? Why? If anything I'm the one who brought us into a situation none of us were-"

Talwin's claws pinched my back a little while he angled his head upward to glance at me, "I lied to you."

My confusion only grew as I glanced down at him, "How so?"

Talwin held me tight, "The coyotes, you saw them as well, didn't you? Or was the whole outpost just a figment of my imagination?"

"There was an outpost there, and there were once researchers there, the coyotes came afterward but they were likely caught in the same thing we were."

Talwin was silent for a moment, "I don't follow..."

"Aeternus, the one who once ruled over the necromancers, he was within the vortex. A mind trapped within a place that borders the aether and our reality."

Talwin eased back and blinked in wonder, "Are you serious?"

I nodded, "He's been tampering with the world ever since the Master double crossed him, but unlike the Master he only wants his suffering to end. At least, that's what he claims."

"... What does this have to do with the outpost?"

"I'm not sure... There's a lot about it I don't understand. But the vortex seems to catch impressions of everything around it. More than impressions... Minds, imprints, and so on. It could be that the coyotes we met are the husks of people that once lived."

Talwin blinked, "They knew things... About me, about us. Things they should not have known."

"Aeternus, or the vortex itself, peered into your mind and toyed with you like a nightmare. Clyde was caught in an empty maze, all alone..."

Talwin made another loud gulp and eased back, "So that's what he feared..."

My hands reached for Talwin's, caught them, and held on, "What was it you were saying?"

Silence followed as Talwin stared back, blinked, glanced away, and murmured something.

It made me lean onto the bed with a smirk, "What? Changed your mind?"

Talwin drew a deep breath and dropped his gaze, "Remember what I sounded like when we spoke of coyotes long ago? Well, I'm clearly not as peace with my own species as I claimed to be."

"How so?" I asked.

Talwin looked at Clyde's sleeping form, "Clyde wasn't the only one with a nightmare. The coyotes blamed me for their fate, and used the guilt I feel."

"Guilt?" I asked.

Talwin exhaled slowly, "The hatred people feel for coyotes runs deep... Even when people have forgotten 'why' they still manage to resent us. Coyotes these days wreak havoc wherever they set up their camps. My parents were caring and took pity on me, but one can't forget what they worked with long ago. Driving coyote tribes off their land, and killing those that resisted. My memories of it are hazy because I was so young, but even I can remember the questions my father asked me."

"Questions?"

"Seemingly innocent ones with a darker purpose in tow... Asking names, movements of tribes... For all I know I may have helped them wipe out hundreds."

"So the coyotes should have been allowed to do what they wanted?" I asked.

Talwin looked up, "No... Of course not. But does that mean that it was right for me to help in a slaughter? Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Either way, I feel guilt whenever I see another coyote, because I was lucky enough to be adopted."

"Survivor's guilt?" I asked.

Talwin shrugged, "Perhaps, or..."

"Yes?" I asked.

Talwin pondered, "Clyde still believes in your race. That your corruption only stems from the Master. He fights for you, but he also fights for the wulfkins as a people. Could I... Should I do the same for coyotes?"

I squeezed his hand, "Maybe, but we have enough on our hands at the moment. Don't you think?"

Talwin looked up, "Yeah, I mean... I wasn't about to run into the desert and try to teach them a better way. I was just... I can't help but ponder these things at times."

I bit my lip, "Aeternus revealed what wulfkins are."

Talwin's ears perked, "Oh?"

I chuckled to myself, "We're bodyguards. Magically modified, a curse that infests living creatures and changes them."

Talwin blinked, "That doesn't sound like what you've told me of wulfkins."

"Only because the Master meddled with us and drained everyone of so much magic that the curse couldn't do its thing. When I took the Star from Everwinter all of that changed. In other words, all the ones who were still human probably started changing."

"So they're all wulfkins now, no more slaves?" Talwin asked.

"The curse is slow and it progresses over time as you're exposed to wulfkins," I said.

Talwin stared as if still not understanding the hint. It left me silent as I watched him while still holding his hands in my own.

A minute later Talwin brought one hand to his abdomen, and gently tugged at his pants, "Have I gained weight?"

I nodded, "Yes."

Talwin's ears flattened a little, "I'm not fat, am I?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, "No... Talwin. You're not fat."

A moment's smile flashed across his muzzle before he reached up with one hand and motioned toward his back, "I noticed something a few weeks ago."

"Oh?"

Talwin glanced toward the mirror, "The fur along my back... It has a lot more black in it than usual. It's like a stripe running from my neck all the way down to tail."

I was hesitant, "Talwin... Do you realize what I'm saying?"

Talwin eased back and sat tall, "I'm turning into a wulfkin, aren't I? That's why my powers are growing as well. You trained me so that I could defend myself, but these days I can set a room on fire if I want."

I gulped, "Yes... I had no idea this is how it-"

Talwin's voice was sudden as he interrupted me, "I don't care."

It made my heart skip a beat as I felt my tail tense up, "... Meaning?"

Talwin blinked a few times, "Is it going to change my mind? Make me a feral beast snarling at everyone?"

"... No. But wulfkins are prone to rage... We have to learn how to deal with anger from a young age."

A curious smile grew on Talwin's muzzle as he raised his brow to look at me, "Trust me, Avery. I may not explode in rage like you do at times, but I've known my fair share of anger, and how to deal with it."

I wanted to smile, but fear held it back, "I trust you... Talwin."

Talwin raised one arm, shoved his nose into the fur, and sniffed, "I thought I smelled like a wulfkin even after I took a bath. I blamed you for it, but..."

"Are you angry?" I asked.

Talwin blinked in wonder and looked at me, "No... Listen, if I turn into a wulfkin, then so be it. If anything it'll make us... Clyde included, more equal. I don't mind."

I tipped my head a little, "Are you just saying that... Or..."

Talwin leaned closer, and stared me in the eyes, "Because of what I said about the coyotes? I'll still keep my heritage even if my body changes. Besides, if what I've experienced so far is indicative of what's coming, then I'll like being a wulfkin, including sparring with Clyde."

One less burden on my shoulders...

"I love you," I whispered.

A sly grin and a quick kiss on my nose followed, "Love you too."

788 I.C, March 15, The Pierced Veil: Garden, Midday

knock knock

I turned around, glanced toward the back entrance of the guild, and to my surprise I saw Cyrus observing me with a feline smirk.

"What?" I asked.

Cyrus stepped out and the wooden floor of the balcony creaked with every step. His spindly tail sway behind him as if his mind was brimming with excitement. Strangely enough he kept silent, walked up to one of the wooden supports, leaned onto it, and merely watched me in silence.

It made me frown, "Talk, or leave, because I'm not in the mood for company."

"I noticed," Cyrus mused.

I drew a deep breath, "What do you want, Cyrus?"

Cyrus smirk faded as he crossed his arms, leaned back, and spoke, "You left your report, finished your plate, and then you rushed out here, seeking the solace of your own thoughts."

"Yes?" I asked.

A smile began to creep into Cyrus expression once more, "The others are still talking about it like mad. That tiger, Archer, is scared he's going to start growing a wolf's muzzle."

"Only if he shares my bed for a few years," I said.

A quick chuckle followed as Cyrus nodded, "If your 'condition' is adaptable enough to even work on felines. The coyote empire were quite focused on improving their own race, and Aeternus no doubt used it on warriors that were physically impressive, but crippled when it came to wielding the aether."

"Perhaps," I said.

Cyrus shrugged, "Anyway... I've seen enough of you to pick up the signs that you're hiding something. The others are going to notice it as well, but for now they're too caught up with what you revealed."

"But you aren't?" I asked.

Cyrus stuffed his hands inside his pockets and smirked, "It's simple, debating things with the others is unlikely to reveal something new, but talking to you... The only one to have met a living god, Aeternus."

I felt my lips twitch, "He's anything but a god."

Cyrus chuckled once more, "He ruled the necromancers, and Antaloria consider a rival god."

"Antalos was nothing more than a puppet controlled by the Master," I said.

Cyrus smiled in amusement, "Yes, but don't say that too loudly, lest you want to make an enemy of the Temple."

I glanced over at Cyrus, "Duly noted."

"... You're avoiding the subject, Avery," Cyrus said.

"Which would be?" I asked.

"The reason you're standing out here, tense, angry at something, when you've just been handed a plan to destroy the Master," Cyrus said.

I clenched my teeth for a moment, "What if there's a price to pay for the Master's destruction?"

"You mean the effects of the vortex? We'll adapt. But you know that, so that's obviously not what's bugging you," Cyrus answered.

I bared my teeth, "You're so smart, Cyrus. But what is it they say? Curiosity killed the cat."

Cyrus pushed off the support he was leaning on, walked closer, and tipped his head as he stared into my eyes, "I'm not scared of you, Avery."

It welled up from my subconscious, but as I stared at him I could feel the aether constricting around him, ensnaring his throat. It took Cyrus a moment to notice, but the cheeky grin on his face faded as he felt the pressure of a vine wrapping around his throat.

"Maybe you should be," I said.

Cyrus eyes widened while his hands reached up to clutch his throat, "You expect me to believe that after all the trouble you went through to save me, you'd- Hurk-"

The aetheric vine around his throat tightened until his voice cut out.

I stared at him, and the growing panic in his eyes while he clawed at the aetheric presence, "Have I made my point?"

Cyrus tail twitched while a wheezing sputter escaped his short muzzle, "No- Do it then! Kill me! Erk!"

I frowned, "You're annoying, you know that?"

Even in panic, Cyrus smirk returned like a flash.

It took little more than a thought to release the spell. It made Cyrus legs buckle as he hit the floor and gasped for air. Tears trickled down the auburn fur as he made a few coughs and then glanced up, "What price, Avery? What did Aeternus ask for in return for his help?"

"He didn't ask for anything... It's simply a matter of fact of what happens when the vortex collapses," I said.

Cyrus reached out, supported himself against the wooden beam I was leaning against, and eased himself up on two legs, "G- Go on?"

I crouched a little, leaned in, and glared into his slitted eyes, "If you tell anyone, I'll eat you, cat."

Cyrus smiled for a few moments, seemed to realize I was serious, and made a weak nod, "Deal."

I whispered, "My life force relies on the vortex, just like the Master, when he goes, so do I."

Seconds passed, Cyrus clutched his throat, stared, and then blinked, "Oh... damn."

A growl rumbled in the back of my throat, "Do you see why I might be a tad fucking upset?"

Cyrus leaned back, and nodded, "I do... I do. I... Hmm..."

"What?" I asked.

Cyrus glanced toward the guild for a moment, and then focused on me, "According to what you told us, Aeternus could open small rifts like the vortex at will. Can't you do the same thing?"

I sighed, "Uh huh, and feed it a constant stream of victims to keep it open? Forced into becoming like the Master."

Cyrus scratched his head, glanced into the distance, and murmured, "Good point."

A minute passed, and Cyrus opened his mouth once more, "How about-"

I filled in, "Destroying the Master but leaving the vortex open? Same problem. Vortex still needs to be fed and according to Aeternus it'll be nigh impossible to kill the Master without severing the vortex."

Cyrus crossed his arms, "All right... That won't work either."

"I'm screwed. I came this far, and now I have to sacrifice myself like the hero of some fucking fairy tale."

Cyrus looked over at me in surprise, "Come on now... I'm sure there's a way around this."

"There's not, at least not one I can think of," I said.

Cyrus face me and his shoulders seemed to slouch, "That's not like you, you know."

I shrugged.

Seconds passed before Cyrus whispered, "Hey... Listen."

I sighed and threw him another glance, "What?"

Cyrus lowered his head for a moment, and then looked up as if having thought of something, "Why did Aeternus tell you that? That you'd die? If he'd kept silent then you'd have done what you were asked and died without any doubt."

"Because the Master may have used that truth to throw me off balance," I said.

Cyrus smirk returned, "And... What if there's more to this truth? What if Aeternus told the truth, but not the whole truth?"

"I know you're trying to give me hope, but it's not-"

Cyrus raised one hand to stop me, "It's not some speech to cheer you up. See it more like a gut feeling, that in this world, with the powers that be, the truth is often very difficult to pin down. You may have a life force originating from the aether, but who says we can't jury rig something in this world to take its place?"

Another sigh followed, "I had that idea as well. But if I do that, then the Star will stop working, and our plan is rendered useless."

"You're still not getting it, Avery," Cyrus said.

"Getting what?" I asked.

Cyrus motioned to me with both hands, "If you accept what Aeternus says as the one and final truth, then you are doing exactly what he wants. You lose before the battle even started. Don't fall for such a trick."

"... Not a speech to cheer me up, hmm?" I hummed.

Cyrus lowered his hands and sighed, "Do what you will. But I'll look for a way around this, even if you won't."

"Why?" I asked.

Cyrus stepped back, "Why? That's simple. It's interesting, and it'll keep you from making the choice to damn this world, no matter how slim that is."

I raised my brow, "Such faith in my good side, I'm impressed."

Cyrus chuckled, stepped toward the guild entrance, and smirked, "Also, the others are likely to have my hide without you around, so there's that as well."

788 I.C, March 15, Everwinter, Evening

Aranor, aide for the lord-general, stepped out of the tent and glanced up. The skies of Everwinter were a dismal sight, dark gray, with frozen flecks of water trailing through the air. The cold made him clench his teeth but he forced himself not to shiver or make himself appear weak.

He looked to the right, gazed upon the distant mountain range, and the dark castle of Everwinter. A giant crater could be seen next to the castle and within its depths one could still see flowing magma.

On the fields leading up to the castle were soldiers gathered into tight formations. Contingents of battle-mages assigned by the lord-emperor himself, shielded by legions of battle hardened slaves ready to die for a greater purpose. Aranor allowed himself the hint of a smile, the path to Everwinter had offered little resistance apart from a few towers, groups of undead, and the annoying cold.

The smile faded as his gaze fell upon the army next to their own. Thousands of infantry stood ready, each equipped with what their craftsmen called 'rifles'. Crude devices, using explosives to propel a metal slug down a pipe, sometimes exploding in a blast that tore limbs apart. They were the anti-thesis of the elegance inherent in magic. One could even hear the coughs of disease ravaging their ranks, ignoring the health offered by the aether. Fools, idiots.

A frown formed as an annoying thought rose to the surface: The spreading rumors of a weapon that could pierce magic as if it was wet paper. Karashak had had known of it for years, and it had even forced to Lord Emperor to cease his public appearances. It was a disgrace...

The crunching noise of trampled snow made Aranor look to the left. On the trail leading up to the tent were a group humans guarding what looked to be Talos, high-priest, assigned to lead the Antalorian army to destroy the Master.

Aranor sent a thread of aetheric energy into the tent, poked one of the guards, and listened as the guard stepped out and leaned in, "Yes, Lord Aranor?"

"Talos approaches, inform the lord-general," Aranor whispered.

"Yes, my lord," The guard whispered and disappeared into the tent once more.

The Antalorian guards divided as they approached and let Talos take the front.

Aranor nodded in Talos direction, and flashed a subtle but friendly smile, "On the lord-general's behalf, I bid you welcome, Talos of the Antalorian Temple."

A tired and harsh stare met his welcome as Talos forced a smile, "Thank you... Now step aside, my business is with the lord-general alone."

Aranor inspected every inch of the man's body, from the wrinkles marking his age, to the frost that bit his cheeks. Usually the representatives of the temple carried plenty of trinkets and ceremonial garbs, but Talos seemed to value utility before fashion. As such the man was shielded by heavy leather armor fitted with patches of fur where appropriate. There was also a presence tickling the aether, and it only took a moment's focus, to sense the magic crystals woven into the armor. There was something else as well, a giant rifle slung over the man's back.

It made Aranor bare his sharp teeth, "Cultured, as usual. Not to mention the armor you wear, I'm sure its magic serves you well... Talos."

Talos expression was like a rock, "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

A huff followed as Aranor stifled a chuckle, "Indeed... The lord-general will-"

Aranor's attention shifted with a sudden chill that made his tail stop. Everwinter was infested with a dark presence, but something new had just entered the picture. Chilling in a way the simple cold couldn't achieve, a miasma that seemed to pull at the light of the sun like ink in water. It loomed across the horizon, and something was approaching with haste.

Talos blinked in confusion, "Is something wrong?"

"Prepare your army, Talos. The Master is making a move," Aranor said and looked toward the distant forest.

Talos looked to a guard next to him, and flicked his hand. The guard uttered a hasty 'hup', turned in an instant, and began to rush down the hill.

As the guard ran, Aranor could action rippling through his own forces. Battle-mages were ushered into action by the presence on the horizon and the legions of slaves were shifting formation to face the threat. They had no need for the strict and slow hierarchy of the humans, each mage was to the lord-emperor, but they were still individuals serving the empire as a whole.

Aranor glanced back at the tent, it was silent, calm, and the lord-general saw no need to emerge.

It was a good sign...

Aranor joined Talos side and stared toward the woods that bordered the plains of the castle. A split second later a creature emerged. It was quick, loping on all four, almost bouncing along the snow and ice covered boulders.

"What... is that?" Talos murmured.

Aranor couldn't help but lean closer to the edge. The beast was big, almost twice the height of a human, with a body the size of a wagon. It's form seemed twisted for some reason, like a giant grub with flesh that glimmered of black and blue. Each jump the creature took made its body shift and rock as if morbidly fat, yet it remained swift like a snapping cobra.

Shields bloomed like bubbles as the battle-mages raised their defense while arcs of light signaled the formation of offensive spells. The humans meanwhile raised their swords and shields in formation while riflemen took to every raised boulder and platform.

The mages struck first. Bolts of lightning darted between the shield bubbles, grew in strength until the air glowed like burning magnesium, and then arced toward the encroaching creature.

A loud thump was heard, a blast of light cloaked the creature, and a large cloud of steam billowed up. Yet, a split second later the beast darted from the now freezing fog, untouched by a blast that should have turned it into ash.

Aranos glanced at Talos, and caught a moment's smirk. It made his whiskers tense as he bit together and looked to the mages. Large boulders started lifting into the air, but the humans acted first. A series of crackles boomed across the area as rifles were unloaded en masse. A glimmer of arcs danced along the creature's frame, yet nothing more happened.

This time the look on Talos face revealed a hint of worry, and Aranos felt the same as he clenched his hands. Wulfkins had an alleged immunity to magic, but at the cost of not being able to wield magic on their own. Yet here was a creature displaying properties of both.

The boulders prepared by the mages were too late, and the creature reached the front lines. From a distance it looked like a cannonball shot at a group of infantry. Snow and blood scattered into the air like a mist, bodies hurled through the air. The beast rampaged through the forces as if they were nothing, and its fattened body blossomed with what looked like tendrils.

It didn't take long to see where it was headed: Straight at the hill they were standing on.

Aranos looked over at Talos, "Your men are dead, I'm going to order the mages to crush the creature with boulders."

Talos raised his hand and motioned at the path being cut by the creature, "The creature is cutting a path to us, we'll deal with it."

"Hundreds of bullets must have struck that thing, don't be a fool," Aranos said and gritted his teeth.

Talos reached back, grabbed hold of the rifle along his back, and hefted it into his arms, "Fire upon my men, and you'll be the first one I shoot, cat."

I'd like to see you try... Impudent insect...

Aranos tail twitched as he struggled not to grin like a maniac, "Pray tell, how do you plan of dealing with it? Magic bullets... Perhaps?"

Talos glimpsed at Aranos for a moment, "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Let's put you to the test, shall we? And let's see if this new weapon of yours is as powerful as they say...

Aranos clasped his hands, stepped back, and took up position next to the tent while Talos raised his rifle. The noise grew, screams filled the background, and the lumbering sound of a nightmare approached.

It grew easier to see the creature as it climbed the hill. Patches of a furry hide still clung to the beast's twisted body, and the implications sent a chill down Aranos body. His impression of it only darkened as he watched the creature propel itself forward with the help of fleshy tendrils that continued to sprout along the length of its body.

The eyes of the creature were frenzied, seeking only one target and purpose. Staring, glaring, scrambling as it caught rocks and dirt to propel it faster and faster. The trail disappeared in the monster's wake and its eyes locked on Talos.

It had almost reached the top when its twisted mouth opened like a budding flower. Jagged teeth lined the inside and from the depths of its cavernous stomach there was something... alien. It was mesmerizing to watch as the monster rose, bare its inside, and reveal a writhing hive of creatures that glimmered like jellyfish in the ocean. In that moment, Talos fired his rifle.

A thunderous boom shook the air, and pellets of blue crystal left the pipe in a blast of fire. A crackle of light and magic danced across the skin tight shield that enveloped the beast. A guttural scream followed. The beast writhed in pain, shook as if trying to shake off the pellets digging into its body, and lost its balance while doing so. Ice cracked, snow gave way, and the beast slid back with a scream that sent the flaps of its mouth twitching.

Talos was already reloading his rifle when-

Aranos stumbled back, a spatter of something warm and red hit his face like mist. He blinked and hit the back of the tent as he realized what had happened. One of the tendrils had shot out, pierced Talos midsection, and jutted out of his back like the end of a giant spear. A surprised gasp could be heard as Talos rifle hit the ground, and the beast rose once more.

Something was happening to the wounds where the bullets had entered. They blistered, swelled, and with audible pops they burst to release their contents.

With a sudden tug Talos body was hefted forward, and the massive beast opened its maw once more. Flaps lined with teeth snapped hold of Talos body, chomped down once, and with a gulp Talos was gone. It made the belly of the beast swell, and with a flash of luminescence the whole beast shuddered as if overwhelmed with a burst of pleasure.

"Enough," A voice whispered from the tent.

Aranos eyes glanced to the side, and he saw a hand reach out from within the tent. It was a massive hand, black pads, golden fur, and the curved white claws of a lion.

The aether gathered by the lion's paw. A rune formed, and grew in the form of geometric shapes mingling with one another. Aranos leaped to the side, hit the ground, curled together, and pushed his head against the snow.

As the beast turned to look at the tent it was too late. The spell triggered, and a portal opened. It was the equivalent of opening a transporter placed within a pressurized metal furnace.

Fire, molten slag, and steam burst out like the flame of a torch. It melted the frozen landscape in an instant, and baked the monster. The shrill scream of the beast was washed out in the roar of expanding steam and boiling metal. Whatever magic that protected the beast was overwhelmed in an instant, and the flesh of the beast was forced to face the full power of the attack.

Seconds later it stopped, the portal collapsed, and a cloud of steam rose high in the air.

Aranos shook as he glanced back, the heat had made his backside numb, and the scent of burned fur made him worry about his tail. To his horror he was faced with the remains of the beast. Cooked flesh baked with jagged pieces of hardening metal, melting fat that burned as it dripped onto the ashen ground, and a bared skull that glowed red from the heat it had been exposed to. To his surprise some tendrils still writhed like the severed parts of a snake.

"Aranos," A familiar voice said from within the tent.

Aranos ignored the pain in his backside, jumped up on two legs, and bowed his head in direction of the tent, "Yes! Lord-general!?"

The flap to the tent opened, and a massive lion eased his head out. His expression frowned at the cold while he raised one hand to aim toward the mountains.

Aranos blinked in wonder, glanced back, and focused. Rising above the mountain was a massive black obelisk. It floated through the air, buffeted by a cushion of green magic along its base.

"This battle is lost, we shall return to Karashak," The lord-general said.

Aranos gulped, "Yes... My lord."

788 I.C, March 16, The Pierced Veil: Tower, Morning

A rush of hasty footsteps made me look toward the stairs. Robert the Fox ascended within moments, and quickly turned his attention to me.

"Ah, good, you're here!" Robert exclaimed and marched toward me.

"Yes, I am. You bring news?" I asked.

Robert stopped outside reaching distance, took a few deep breaths while his chest heaved a little, "Yes... The Executor of Dracwyn has agreed to a meeting and we have little time to spare."

"And Fletcher?" I asked.

Robert panted for a moment, and held a hand by his chest, "Fletcher is still at the castle, keeping an eye on things."

I rose, reached out to the aether, and nudged Talwin as well as Clyde through it, "Are you all right, Robert? You seem awfully winded."

A surprised grin flashed on Robert's muzzle, "I'm good, just a bit winded from running here."

I raised my brow, "You ran here? From the castle? Why not use the messenger stones we got?"

Talwin and Clyde appeared by the stairs while Robert kept smiling, "You'll see when we get going... There's a blimp waiting for us nearby."

I blinked in surprise, "A blimp? One of the flying machines?"

Robert nodded with excitement, "Yes."

Could this be a trap?

I observed the old fox with caution, "You could have stayed at the castle and contacted us, you know? We could even have transported in if you gave us a code."

Robert shook his head, "The Executor and his staff aren't stupid, and yes, I know what you're thinking."

"Oh, and what would that be?" I asked.

Robert glanced back at Talwin and Clyde for a moment, "Being lifted that high in the air will disable your powers, which is why I'm here. Because I doubt any of you would get on one without a hostage. I am that hostage."

Clyde frowned, "Doesn't explain why we need to get on one to start with."

Robert looked back at me, "There's no way you'd get through the castle gates without a thorough examination. The Executor might be influential, but even he can't order castle guards around without rising suspicion. Same thing goes for the codes which have been on lockdown ever since they started suspecting that the system was rigged somehow. The blimp is the only way in, and only because it's one of the Executor's pet projects."

"What outcome are you hoping for with this meeting?" I asked.

Robert's ears perked in surprise, "Cooperation, of course. If the joined armies fail to stop Everwinter, then Dracwyn and you are the only forces that are left. Besides, you were eager to see what Dracwyn had to offer, weren't you?"

I am, and our deaths are unlikely to serve his interests in any way...

I nodded, "Very well, Robert. We accept, and you'll serve as our hostage."

Robert smacked his hands together and smiled, "Good... Very good, then let's be on our way."

788 I.C, March 16, Dracwyn: Residential District, Midday

Robert spoke as he guided us through a slim alley, "They've got these docking stations all over the city. Small, hidden, no guards, only a locked door."

"Makes sense, extravagance draws a crowd," I said.

Robert stopped by a wooden door, fished a key out of his pocket, and unlocked it with a click, "The blimps draw plenty of attention, and when everyone is busy looking at the sky..."

The door opened and I glanced inside to see a slim stairway that ascended at a sharp angle. The blimp couldn't be seen, but the steady thumping noise of propellers signaled that it was somewhere above.

"Are there a lot of guards on the blimp?" I asked.

Robert shook his head, "No, and this crew known how to shut up and not ask questions."

I glanced back at Clyde and Talwin, if it wasn't for their size they'd be difficult to recognize thanks to the camouflage. Talwin's fur was pure gold and combed to look shorter, while Clyde's was a mess of brown and white.

Talwin glanced at himself for a moment, adjusted a bow tie and stretched his dress shirt a little, "Looks good, right? Even if it's awfully tight."

Clyde merely made a low growl and squirmed a little from the suit clinging to his own body.

"All good?" I asked.

The two nodded, and I focused on the stairs, "Let's go."

The staircase kept winding for a while but we eventually ended up in a shuttered room with a single door that rustled from the wind outside. Robert moved past me, walked up to the door, removed a latch, and the door swung open. Attached to a small platform was an extended metal bridge connected to the massive base of the blimp. The ropes that anchored it in place sung and groaned while the heavy thump of the engines beat like drums. A scent of burning oil filled the air as I approached the door and looked out.

"It's huge," Talwin whispered behind me.

Robert eased past me, strode onto the bridge, and glanced back with the smirk of an excited child. I followed and let my eyes wander the massive airship. There were two engines in front, two in the back, and their massive propellers gently rotated. The engines had no presence in the aether, yet they worked, and were no doubt powered by the thick bundles of wiring and piping that led to the main compartment.

As I stepped onto the bridge there was a buzz in the aether. It made me look toward the rear end of the main compartment, yet I could see little more than metal without any windows to speak of. I feigned ignorance as I kept walking, but took the opportunity to poke and prod the ship with a few aetheric threads. The mere presence of magic made the anomaly in the rear compartment sing as if it was a giant tuning fork.

Robert held open a door to the passenger compartment and spoke, "Welcome aboard the Zephyr."

I stepped up to the door, realized that it was a tad short, and was forced to crouch as I stepped inside. The others followed in quick succession while I glanced around. The compartment only had seating for six people and while the windows offered a good view it still managed to feel cramped, especially as I could feel the tips of my ears touch the ceiling.

On each end of the compartment were doors. The one leading to the front had windows which revealed a busy steering compartment with loads of gadgets, dials, knobs, and large valves. Several furs and humans were moving about while speaking and using hand gestures to relay messages. All of them wore suits in pure black adorned with varying strips of gold that seemed to dignify rank.

The door leading to the rear section had no windows, seemed made out of pure metal, and I suspected that it was quite locked.

Robert shut the door behind us and it only took moments before a female fur peeked out of the steering compartment and spoke, "All clear?"

Robert looked back at the female and nodded, "All clear, captain."

The captain shut the door, uttered a few muffled orders and motioned upwards with her hand. A rumble shook the blimp and I felt myself twitch in surprise. Out of instinct I grabbed one of the seats and watched as the anchoring ropes let go.

It filled me with an odd sensation, the city moved, the ground under my feet no longer felt solid, and the blimp began to drift. A moment later the engines roared to life and the blimp began to rumble as the engines revved up. Clouds of black smoke puffed from the engines, but quickly dispersed in the wind as the acceleration grew.

The unease inside me only grew as another sensation made itself known. The aether, it was fading... Growing weaker by the second. One moment I felt steady but nervous, in the next I saw stars tingling in my vision as if I was going to faint.

"Avery" Talwin asked in wonder.

I brushed past him, slumped into the nearby seat, and leaned against the window.

"Avery? You all right?" Talwin asked and touched my shoulder.

Did I make a mistake? For someone like me... is a disconnect like this the same as death?

I struggled to look up, and I caught sight of Talwin as if staring through a deep tube. It felt difficult to speak, and as I tried it made me realize that I was like a construct without energy, paralyzed, barely breathing.

"Something wrong?" Robert asked.

Talwin glanced back at Robert, "I don't know... I can't say I'm feeling well myself, but Avery, he's..."

I listened to my own heart, and focused on the entity within me. It was anguished, worried, panicked even, yet as the seconds passed it began to relax, and as I listened it fell asleep. I felt the same urge, to sleep, rest, and preserve energy. But sleep didn't come, and while my heart beat slowly, it felt steady.

Talwin leaned closer, "Avery, what do we do? Do we need to land? Answer me?"

I focused, forced myself to act even as my fingers tingled, and squeezed his arm, "I'm fine."

Talwin leaned even closer, brushed up next to my ear, and whispered, "You're clearly not. Can I help?"

"No," I whispered.

Talwin eased the cuff of my shirt back, dug through the thick fur, and felt my pulse.

I don't like it... Being the weak one... Coddled like this...

My vision fluttered but I forced myself to sit up, leaned one arm against the seat, and forced a smile, "I'm feeling better now... Relax, Talwin."

Talwin kept his eyes steady on me and his hand held tight, "OK..."

Robert sat down in the seat behind me, "Mages aren't a fan, but I haven't seen them react like this."

I threw Robert a glimpse, ignored it, and let my eyes focus on the windows. The situation made my mind feel hazy, yet I felt as if there was something obvious which had eluded me. I just needed to figure it out.

"What's in the rear compartment, Robert?" I asked.

Robert blinked, "The engine room, I presume?"

I whispered, "There's something akin to a giant aetheric tuning fork back there. Why put it inside a flying mechanical contraption that can't possibly use magic?"

"I... don't know," Robert answered.

Clyde leaned close and whispered, "Is it causing this?"

I shook my head, "No, and don't do anything to raise attention."

Think... They wouldn't put something in here without a clear purpose...

The tuning fork requires the blimp to be docked... Or... Ah!

A cable... A really long cable... Like a grounding rod used to divert lightning...

My gaze moved along the windows and I noticed something attached to the side of the ship. A massive spool of thin metal wire.

Lower the wire... Anchor it to the ground, and the blimp can use the aether... But for what purpose?

All the blimps we've seen move about, thus the function it serves is not regularly used...

An aetheric tuning fork... Most likely a massive crystal of some kind... An amplifier? A signal?

A... A shield? A massive shield? Big enough to cover all of Dracwyn...

If I wanted to shield the city without building an array of tall towers, then that's how I'd do it...

Now the question is... Can I use this somehow?

A sudden lurch and a loud clap made the blimp shake. In a near instant I felt a surge of power flow into me once more. The aether blossomed, my heart thumped, and the entity within me woke from its slumber.

"Feeling better?" Talwin asked.

I looked around, noticed that the surroundings had changed, and found myself looking at the tall towers of a giant castle, "We're here?"

"At Dracwyn castle, yes," Talwin said and nodded.

The door to the steering compartment opened and the captain from earlier walked out. She approached Robert, leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and flashed a brief but warm smile.

Robert made a humble nod and smiled back, "Thank you."

Moments later she returned while Robert opened the main door and motioned to the outside, "Welcome to Dracwyn castle."