He squinted and scanned her quickly. “Well, Level Twenty-eight isn’t so bad yourself.”
She shrugged. “It was easy pickings after the water strike hit, really.”
Finn murmured his agreement, looking over the devastation that still littered the streets of Malvas. Although much of the water had receded, it had left behind the litter of discarded weapons, broken wood, rocks, and other rubble. The Malvanites were doing their best to repair things, and they had already built huge pyres outside the city walls to incinerate the dead.
“We won, but a sizeable number of them got away.” Diane approached the two Defenders, still wearing the same sullied clothing, even though many hours had passed since the battle.
As soon as Finn had slain Durzog, the effect was palpable across the pockets of troll fighters at the barricade. Every group of trolls, ogres, trollics, and zephyrs had been affected by Durzog’s death. They had been confused and frightened, and they’d all fled.
Finn looked at Diane and Rosa, and he knew that this was more than just one victory for one city. He remembered the War Chief’s words.
“The Asai of Time is after me. I’ve been declared a renegade against the Celestial Engines,” Finn said, his eyes looking across the city walls and up to the skies, where the clouds were serene, and the sky itself was an azure blue.
“Us,” Rosa stated firmly.
Finn shot a look at her, questioningly.
“Us. You’re not alone in this. And if the Asai of Time wants to pick a fight, then he’ll have the rest of us to face as well.” She offered her hand to him, and a moment later, Diane added hers.
“All of us, together. Blackwood has only ever been true to Malvas, and our alliance is strong. We stand with you against whatever comes.”
Finn was touched. He could never have dreamed of this commitment or loyalty back on Old Earth.
Then again, he had never faced enemies like this before. Elder Realms. Actual fire-from-the-sky gods. Finn thought of all the people he had lost from Old Earth, like Charlie who had been slain by trolls. How many more? All of those people who had been assimilated but would never have lasted the first week in this hazardous New Zone...
We’re being bullied, Finn thought. He looked at the people of Malvas, doing the hard and slow work of rebuilding. None of them had asked to be here, had asked for their worlds to be assimilated by the Asai, and yet here they were, building a future for themselves.
Bullies were the same everywhere, weren’t they? Even Kano, the gang leader from Old Earth, had sold his soul to become one of the Qlippothi in the assimilation and was pulling the same stunts he always had.
“You can never, ever give in to bullies,” Finn murmured.
“What’s that, champ?” Rosa raised an eyebrow at him.
Finn felt something stirring inside of him. A new sense of direction. Conviction.
“This entire game is rigged. The Celestial Ascension, I mean. You fight and crawl your way to the top through a tide of blood and guts, seeing those you love injured or die, while the Asai keep on reaping the rewards of our experience.”
Rosa was silent. Diane murmured, “What are you thinking, Troll-slayer?”
Finn wasn’t sure what he was thinking, not exactly. He hadn’t planned this new decision, but he knew how he felt. He turned and saw a small crowd of Malvanites approaching, along with Tobias and Sister Alharrow.
When he spoke, he made sure it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “We have been dumped into the worst of times, but they are ours. Ours to fight. Ours to win.” People looked up from their tasks, putting down their tools. “Malvas has won a great victory this day, and you have done it through your strength, your courage, and through friendship. Two Elder Realms amassed against us. They came here with the intent to pillage and destroy the New Zone, to turn us all into their chattel. What’s worse, we have found out that they did so with the explicit blessing of one of the Asai—the Asai of Time.”
There were mutters and gasps in the crowd.
“Yes, you heard me right. One of the gods themselves is against us! But I say, take heart! Look at what we have achieved… We won!”
There was a ragged cheer.
“We have shown anyone and everyone who cares to look, that it can be done. That the Asai can play their games, manipulating the realms against each other so they can reap their rewards, but not here!”
This time, the cheer was more heartfelt. A sense of pride was spreading through the crowd.
“My friends, we also know that the Celestial Order, the traditional training academy for those known as Defenders, has fallen. Who you see about you are those of the Elemental Lodges who chose to come here to defend Malvas. There is now no safe place for Defenders to train to defend the realms, to push back against the monsters.” Finn suddenly saw what he had to say. What he had to do. “I propose that we train the Defenders! I, as Premier of the Fire Lodge, would happily start accepting any of the proper ascended level to learn what I can teach. I say we become the new Celestial Order! We will look after each other, and we will welcome any who seek to live a free life from the Celestial Engines!”
There was a murmur of surprise, but also far more agreement than Finn had previously thought. That was probably because most people didn’t know just how extensive, cosmic, and far-ranging the engines actually were. They encompassed reality. A mini universe growing inside the old.
Rosa, Tobias, and Sister Alharrow knew what he was saying. The Lycan woman had pushed herself to Finn’s side and clutched his elbow with her crooked, aging hands. Her gray dreadlocks fell around her face as she hissed, “That almost sounds qlippothic, Finn. Be careful…”
But Finn wouldn’t be careful. He would be angry.
“We are not criminals! Or heretics! I admit that we have to advance, but can’t we do it through our honest labor? Through helping each other?! It is natural to grow in skills and grow stronger as you get better at things. We will help each other be the best we can be. We will show all of the realms just how you could ascend!”
There were claps and a roar of support this time, but Sister Alharrow was looking at him skeptically. “It sounds like you have finally picked a side, Troll-slayer. It sounds like you truly are a renegade.”
A Renegade. One of the underground group who sought to overturn the Celestial Engines—not to destroy them and take over, as the Qlippothi wanted, but to change the fundamental nature of the game itself. It was a renegade Asai, ‘the Warden,’ who had elevated Finn at the start of the assimilation.
Perhaps the Warden had seen what Finn would become. Perhaps the Asai had known and had set Finn on the course he would eventually take.
“A Renegade?” Finn shrugged. “This is a declaration of rebellion for all free peoples in all realms!”
At that, the crowd went wild.
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“Troll-slayer! Troll-slayer! Troll-slayer!”
“FINN! FINN! FINN!”
The crowd quickly started chanting his name, and Diane smiled indulgently, letting the people have their moment before she quieted them down with a calming gesture and turned to Finn.
“I see that it is now time. I had thought to offer you this before the battle, but now it is undeniable. Finn of Blackwood, Troll-slayer and Beast-slayer, Premier of the Fire Lodge, I would like you to become the Patron of Malvas.”
Patron of Malvas. Will you accept?
“Patron of the entire realm of Malvas, but that means tying your fate to Blackwood as well,” Finn said in puzzlement. He already had a personal patron in Sesuuk—that was why Blackwood was protected by Lamakai fighters—but Blackwood was tiny compared to Malvas. Did Diane know what she was offering?
Patronage.
A patron gathers experience from all beings, places, and realms under their care. If a realm or soul increases in level, then they receive a share of that reward. Patronage also means you can share any Ascension Path powers you have. Individual patronage agreements vary.
Diane was looking at Finn steadily.
“I will expect you to protect us, to come to our aid when in need, and to consider the people of Malvas along with your own survival.”
Finn nodded gravely. “I accept.”
You are now Patron of Malvas. Experience awarded.
There was a roar of celebration from the crowd as Diane raised Finn’s hand, turning to announce that they would have a feast tonight…after they had finished the work.
“I’m glad you said yes, because there is something else you should see.” Diane nodded toward one of the broken-open buildings along the main avenue.
Curious, Finn and the others followed Diane into the building as the crowd dispersed to return to their tasks, but what met Finn and his friends inside was a grisly sight.
It was the broken body of War Chief Durzog.
“I thought you would want the opportunity,” Diane said, nodding to the almost eight-foot form.
Finn knew exactly what she was asking.
Do you wish to loot the Level 35 War Chief?
Finn nodded solemnly, and his inventory started filling up with items.
You have received:
The Shadow Plate of Durzog (+10 Durability, +2 Strength).
Healing Potions x 3.
The Chaos Hammer (Grade D Treasure) +10 STR. Can cast Chaos Strike. Convert Health to damage.
Cloak of Invisibility (50 Mana to activate).
“Holy hells…” Finn held up the black iron hammer, watching as ugly purple energy sparked around it. He already had the Pyrrhic Blade, so he had no idea what to do with this. Rosa had the Staff of the Aethers, while Tobias had the Bedrock Shield. He turned to Diane, who already had a magical mace, but he offered it to her all the same.
“A token of our friendship,” he said.
The woman gave a small, proud smile and took it off his hands.
It was the very last items that appeared on Finn’s inventory that made him cough with surprise.
The Hearthstone of Zephyrus (1000 Mana)
The Hearthstone of Val-Nord (1000 Mana)
“What the…” Finn opened his palm, and the first Hearthstone appeared. It was a gleaming pink-and-red gemstone that spun slightly in the air before them all.
Zephyrus:
Elder Realm
Zephyrus is an aerial realm of decaying citadels and floating atolls over an endless storm. It is home to the winged Zephyr people, famed for their viciousness, piracy, and airships.
“Durzog had conquered the zephyr people. That’s why they were fighting with him!” Finn explained aloud, wondering what this meant. He knew it didn’t mean that they would follow him, or even that they had to obey anything he said. Still, he now held an essential piece of their realm, and that would give Finn a very important bargaining chip in the future.
Val-Nord:
Elder Realm
Val-Nord is the oldest mortal city in the Realm of the Ice Giants. It is home to the last humans and assembled mortals alive in that hazardous winter world.
Finn saw an image of massive black iron doors covered with twisted ironwork, set against a massive stone keep. Ice was caked over the doors, and the keep itself was built into the body of a vast, snow-crested mountain.
“The Realm of the Ice Giants?” A memory stirred within him of that life he had briefly touched in the Celestial Register. He had seen a hero from that place, about to battle against one of those titanic beings? “I don’t even know where these realms are!” Finn began, but he was surprised a moment later.
Level 30 advantages. You can use your Hearthstone as a celestial tunnel. Do you wish to travel to Blackwood, Zephyrus, or Val-Nord?
No… Finn shook his head. No, he didn’t. Not right now, anyway, although he knew that he had to get to the Earth Shrine to find a cure for his sister. After all, that was what all of this was about.
For a moment, Finn thought that everything was happening too fast. He had gone up another level with the liberation of Malvas and the defeat of Durzog, and now he was the Patron of Malvas, a lodge premier, and the holder of three realms.
Was this what it was like to be ‘winning’ in the games of celestial ascension?
He hadn’t even checked his experience awards yet and knew that the system would have updated them automatically by now.
As if reading his thoughts, Rosa stepped up to his side.
“You are strong enough, Finn. Or you will be soon.”
Finn nodded. Strangely, he felt clearer now. He knew what he was meant to do. To bring down the Asai. To bring down the gods themselves.
But first, he needed to save Esther.
“Sister Alharrow?” Finn turned to the Lycan, who appeared to already know what the Troll-slayer was going to say.
“We know where the Earth Shrine is, the Oldtree, and I believe that I can find a route to it. The journey will take a few days, through this zone, and then into the next…”
“Good,” Finn said, taking a deep breath. His heart thudded with a moment of anxiety. He had been gone from Blackwood—and Esther—for a long time. Long enough to defeat an invading army. Two, if you counted the undead at the Celestial Order as well.
“I’ll teleport whoever wants to return to Blackwood, where we will get Esther and journey on to the Oldtree,” he announced, then turned to Diane. “We also need to start building the Elemental Lodges, too… Malvas still has a lot of space, wouldn’t you say?”
Diane grinned. “Indeed it does. The city still has whole districts uninhabited, with what appears to be ruined temples, courthouses, halls, and courtyards…”
“Perfect for the lodges,” Finn said, seeing that the other Elemental Premiers—those who had joined him—had gathered nearby.
Mico was the first to speak. “I would like to be by the sea anyway. It will make good training for my people.” She smiled wickedly, and Finn shuddered to think how harsh she was going to be on them. The Water Path was still a complete mystery to him, and he wondered if he would ever get used to it, given his own chosen Path of Fire. Even so, he couldn’t deny its power.
Oumare Sangare, Earth Premier, also agreed that Malvas would be a good fit for the new Earth Lodge, given its extensive city.
That only left Air and Fire. For Fire, Finn chose the burly Torg to be the acting leader of the lodge. The young man nodded, his ragged black hair waving over his mahogany features.
“I’ll see that it’s done, Premier,” Torg said. Wasting no time, he turned and left to start choosing a perfect site.
As for their diminutive Air Lodge, there was only Rosa Lux who could speak for them. She quickly spoke with the other thin, robe-wearing initiates, who permitted that the rooftops of Malvas would suffice. They elected Rosa as their premier until such a time as one of their number would take over.
“Not all of us were given the opportunity,” Tobias complained ruefully. He smirked at them when they looked at him. “Not that I really mind. It looks like a lot of work, and I have enough to manage with my family and the two of you.”
That only left Esther and Blackwood.
Finn reached for the medallion that connected him with Sesuuk. “I’ll ask Sesuuk how she is doing and let him know to prepare her for a long journey…” He used a small bit of Mana and raised the medallion to his face.
“Finn Callahan! You must come at once. Your sister is in grave danger. Her condition worsened, and that idiot of a mayor wants to imprison her, or worse,” the snake-man’s words hissed back at him.
“What?!” Finn couldn’t believe his ears.
“She killed someone. She cannot control the qlippothic energy. But I can. Follow me to the Lamakai Realm, to my realm, where we will have an opportunity to not only empower your sister but also empower ourselves with one of the greatest treasures the entire Celestial Engines hold!”
Finn shook his head. He didn’t understand what he was hearing. He felt the embers of his anger catch and light again.
“You’ve taken my sister to your home realm? I thought they hated you, that you were exiled from there! Why have you taken Esther?! Will this heal her?!”
“Your sister is not ill. She is evolving. Only I can guide her through this transformation, and only once we liberate the Prism of Fire, the very essence of the Asai of Fire himself!” Sesuuk rasped.
The connection abruptly cut off.
“The Prism of Fire?” Finn whispered. He had recently held the Prism of Shadow, one of the key parts of the Asai of Shadow’s strength, and had unwittingly used it to infect the Celestial Register.
The prisms were shards of the Asai themselves, just as the register was a shard of Time. They were key sources of an Asai’s power… He had been used by one Asai to irrevocably weaken another using them.
Is this the game now? Is this how you fight against the gods?
Finn had thought he was winning, and that he understood how to play these games of celestial ascension, but now it seemed like the rules had suddenly changed.