by Sain Artwell
“I wonder sometimes, what would the world be, if not for vestiges. To tame their power, one must be firm and cultivate a mind fit for raw dominance. Ruthlessness and strength are valued above all, as if our world was made to give birth to dragongods. Dragongods… I much doubt they care for us. To them, we are not even offspring, but seeds. A tree does not care whether thousands of its seeds perish. The few who do grow into trees won’t remember what it was to be a seedling. If once in a thousand years one matures into a dragongod, that is enough for them.”
“Kinda doubt stargods are any different.”
“We are tiny seeds in their cosmic war.”
“Think there are other places like the Great Den out there?”
“I like to believe so. There must be hundreds, if not thousands. Who can say how many are ruled by the dragongods, and how many by the stargods,” Alron speculated.
“Might be some other gods out there too. Perhaps even benevolent ones. Or worlds where wyrmkin don’t know of any gods at all?”
“Perhaps.”
Though the wyrmkin below did not see it, another offshoot of the newborn stargod stalked on a cliff above them. Its black mass spread out into a great number of webbed leaves, with which it began to fly after them. Alron stood and picked up a rock, dragonizing it to give it a hardened carapace. With an over shoulder throw, he cast the rock whirling through the young night. It zipped across a distance of over two miles and punched through the off-shoot. Safe atop their skysnake, the fleeing group of warriors and hatchlings never saw what happened.
Settling down on the edge, Alron glanced at the night above. Farmoon was still obscured behind the Nearmoon. Voidwalker was not yet in view, and the world was blocked from her eyes.
“Cowards behind the stars…” Alron whispered. An idea of such utter madness came to him that it left even Alron himself baffled. A low laughter rose from his breast.
“What are you two flirting about over here?” asked Fei.
She looked better, in a way. She’d refused healing. Solid fire similar to her azure burning heart now replaced her right leg at the hip, and left at mid-thigh. Likewise, her arms were made entirely of fire, as were many miscellaneous bits of her body.
“Nothing much,” Oqhizt said. “Watching some people evacuate, talking.”
“Mmm…” Fei slipped down, sliding herself beneath Alron’s arm. “Are we ready yet? Can we go kill her yet?”
“Not for many days. The wounds to my vis are deep.”
“And how vast will she be by then?” asked Fei.
“Going by the legends, and what we saw of Carrion Scourge…” Alron paused, regarding the current size of stargod-Yuvera. “…Half the size of Iceweaver, if no one rallies to halt her growth.”
“No one’s gonna,” Oqhizt noted matter-of-factly. “You basically killed everyone who could.”
Fei grumbled.
Alron let out a slow exhale.
“I’m not blaming you,” Oqhizt added quickly. “I would’ve fallen for her tricks too if I were in your spot.”
“Whatever. So, reading between the lines, am I hearing hesitation?” Fei asked.
“Flying in there would be a suicide right now.”
“We may not need to face her alone,” said Alron. “Stargods would not orchestrate such a plot, unless they were confident that this stargod-Yuvera could slay both Voidwalker and Corecrawler. But it seems they’re still afraid that Voidwalker might see her before the stargod’s maturity.”
“What are you suggesting?” Fei crossed her arms, intrigued.
“We call down the dragongods. This world is their breeding ground. They will protect it.”
“Alright, sounds reasonable. Let’s fly up there onto the Farmoon and have a chat.”
Oqhizt blinked. “Right… Won’t the gods fight in the heavens? Can we even fly there?”
Alron touched his chin, pondering. “I’ll admit the plan has some holes to patch. Without Yuvera or Mlevanosk by our side, I can think of only one soul able and willing to lend us aid: Sofi.”
“If she hasn’t been killed by bandits or beasts by now,” said Fei.
“Have some faith. The girl made it all the way from Blackmetal City to a battleship drifting in Ghostmist Reefs. She’s alive. I only hope it won’t take too long for us to find her.”
“Lovely! I was afraid I wouldn’t get to meet Mlev’s protege.” Oqhizt stood up, groaning as she stretched her naked muscles. “Nngh… Shall we, then?”
“Are your wings good enough?” Fei asked Alron.
“We won’t be swift, but if you and Oqhizt patch the holes, they should be enough to carry us.”
“Then let’s not waste time.” Fei became fire and took her place behind Alron. At the same time, Oqhizt turned liquid and merged with his body. Alron threw a goat hide cloak over his shoulders and dragonized it into a pair of wings. He picked up Apocalypse, and took off into the night.
***
Several days later, they were soaring amongst the ash clouds of Abyssmaw, scanning a landscape of open quarries and toxic geysers north of Blackmetal City. Or rather, former quarries.
“That’s not good…” Oqhizt grimaced.
“Should we turn?” Fei asked Alron. “We might yet have a chance to strike down Yuvera’s core.”
“No. We search for a few more days. If she’s nowhere to be found, we head straight for Carrion Scourge’s vestiges.”
Alron scanned the waste piles stacked high between the tiered quarries. Off-shoots from Yuvera’s main body populated the otherwise dead landscape, leaving behind veiny trails of starsteel and black mucus. The low boom of a cannon echoed from the north, some fifteen miles away. More booms followed at a steady rhythm.
“There’s your girl,” said Oqhizt.
“Let us hope.” Alron turned in a wide arc to head towards the noise. Beneath them, many of Yuvera’s off-shoots started shuffling northward.
Soon, they saw a queue of thousands of little lights snaking through wastelands of black salt. Firewagons, pulleys, and wyrmkin on foot formed a caravan a mile long and ten times the width of the road. A hundred small tragedies played out, as several large starspawn assaulted the rear.
Amorphous creatures engulfed armored firewagons with cannons on top. Wyrmkin abandoned their vehicles and possessions, running towards the front of the caravan. Members of some sort of make-shift militia shot unorganized volleys at the off-shoots. Though valiant, their efforts would not be enough. The front of the group, with many wounded and hatchlings among them, was slower than the starspawn.
“Think she’s helping them?” asked Oqhizt.
“Would she?” pondered Fei. “I think she might. She’s a good girl.”
“She would not endanger Mlevanosk’s legacy for a few thousand lives.”
“True. Let’s ask someone.”
“Lets,” Alron agreed. He spotted a likely leader—a winged man in a large suit of blackmetal armor who stood atop a firewagon and shouted instructions to the others around him. In one swoop, Alron crashed from the skies and splattered the starspawn the man had fought into tiny bits.
He froze, blinking.
“I am Alron,” said Alron.
“Alron the Great Destroyer…” gasped the man in armor. Those nearby backed up a step, frozen with dread.
“I could rightfully be called such,” Alron admitted, decimating yet another starspawn with an idle swing of Apocalypse. Fei and Oqhizt also destroyed one each, while Alron continued, “Yet I did not come here to slay you. I am hunting for a woman named Sofierov…” He described her short charcoal hair, corkscrew horns, and light gray skin of Blackmetal with scales covering her arms.
“I know no such—”
“The girl with arms which melt metal?” The man was interrupted by a wyrmkin, a mother clutching an egg and a hatchling no older than a year. “I saw her. Her blasted starsteel dagger almost killed us all when it transformed. She left before anyone else could evacuate.”
“Where did she
go?” asked Alron, turning his gaze to the mother.
She flinched, but spoke firmly. “If I tell you, will you help us?”
The armored man and several others staggered. One man whispered to the woman, and though Alron did not catch the words, he figured they thought her mad. Who else would dare bargain with him?
“We won’t,” replied Alron.
The mother frowned. “Please. They’ve caught us. We can’t escape.”
“This road leads to Grovemother’s Tail. The fields there are overlooked by an army outpost. If they are armed with starsteel, which will have transformed into starspawn, you will find yourselves walking into doom instead of refuge,” said Alron.
“Maybe, but it is our only hope.”
“She might be lying about knowing Sofi,” suggested Fei. “She’s doing it for her little ones.”
“With respect, Lady of Flames, I would not dare to deceive the Great Destroyer. By my unhatched son, I swear to tell the truth.”
Sofi did have a starsteel dagger, so that part holds true. I believe her. Alron inclined his head towards the mother. He lifted Apocalypse with one hand, and said, “What is your name, woman?”
“I am Natasja of no clan,” said Natasja.
“Natasja, I cannot shepherd your journey to Grovemother’s Tail, for I do not have the days to spare. Instead, I shall cull the starspawn from this region, ensuring the safety of your journey. Once done, I shall return, and you will tell me where I may find Sofierov.”
Negotiations done, Alron spread his wings, and took back into the air. The starspawn assaulting Natasja’s caravan were quickly dealt with. Alron climbed higher and surveyed the land. Hundreds of amorphous black creatures sludged over salt crystals and rocks, slowly encroaching upon the caravan. Alron set a course towards the largest concentration of them.
“This is nice,” said Oqhizt.
“What is?” Fei asked.
“Being helpful. We used to do that, didn’t we? Did you forget?”
“Yes, it truly warms my heart. Who wouldn’t wish to aid such precious little ones?”
“Fei, why the snark?”
“Because we owe them nothing.”
“Sure, but… Ah, forget it.”
“Focus,” said Alron, hefting Apocalypse. Blade first, he dove into a house-sized starspawn. Its semi-solid body exploded from the impact, scattering goop and fluid on the rest of its kind.
Jagged, like strikes of lightning, blood blades exploded from Alron’s body and shredded nearby off-shoots. Tendrils of soulfire burrowed through the creatures. Without a pause, Alron rushed towards the next group.
“Do you think so too, Alron?” Oqhizt asked after a few hundred off-shoots were slain.
“Hm?”
“That we owe nothing to the world. Kinda sad way to think.”
“And very true,” Fein insisted.
“Sure, you’re mad now, but… Say a hundred years pass. You’ve killed everyone and…”
Fei spoke over her, “Why dream? All it left us with last time were impossible longings, and lingering nightmares.”
“…their grand-hatchlings. Don’t interrupt me! We’re gonna live, dammit. What’re we gonna do after? If you want me to kick gods down from the heavens, you’re gonna need to entice me with sweet ass dreams!”
The hot anger of her tone left Fei speechless.
Alron cut open another off-shoot, and finished it by engulfing the creature’s body in a blast of soulfire. When he leapt towards the next, his feet cracked the ground. He had given the question some consideration. Thinking about how he’d come here made him chuckle.
“Yes. The entrails of a starspawn are truly hilarious,” Fei said dryly.
“Alron, don’t try to evade me now.”
“I would never,” said Alron.
“Right, what were you laughing at, though?”
“It occurred to me how I end up with so many women yearning for a cause beyond yourself. Mlevanosk, Sofi, Yuvera—she did what she believed right—and you.”
“Not me.” Fei sounded uncertain.
“Not you. You are my sole ally amongst the insane.”
They laughed, and killed several starspawn.
Oqhizt’s tone was straining, devoid of humor. “Still evading…”
“I shall fill your bellies with a dozen eggs each, and figure a way to keep all gods from meddling with my world or offspring. That is, if we can drive them out in the first place.”
He slew five more, and moved half a mile to another herd of off-shoots. Neither woman spoke a word, but he could feel them through the bonds. Both were vibrating with hunger, a yearning for the future.
Dawn had passed over and dwindled into an eve by the time their hunt was done. Alron stood once more before Natasja, who gave them instructions to follow.
“She stole a firewagon and drove straight for the wild cavelands of Choked Skull. Nothing but beasts in that direction,” Natasja said.
“Smart girl,” Fei remarked later, as they were flying towards Abyssmaw’s cracked skull.
Alron agreed. Avoiding civilization was the surest way to avoid starsteel. Hopefully Sofi had not underestimated the dangers of the wilderness, and prepared for her journey accordingly.
***
Sofi had underestimated the cavelands of Choked Skull big time! She hunkered beneath the backseat of her newly acquired firewagon’s cabin, and tried her best not to exist.
Outside the shut curtains loomed the black silhouette of an ashstalker. As it sniffed for her scent, the beast brushed against the firewagon. Tools clinked in her bag, and loose jars of pickled meats rolled beneath the seats. Sofi clenched her teeth and fists.
A case of ammunition rested on the opposing seat. It wasn’t made for hunting wild beasts, but with enough dragonfire, its bullet could penetrate light armor or thick hide. Problem was, she’d left her hand cannon by the rider’s seat on top.
“Grab ammo, run out, climb up, load, bang. Grab ammo, run out, climb up…” Sofi whispered the plan under her breath, rehearsing the steps mentally to build her courage.
Ashstalkers were quick, but they were also ambush predators. That meant they were weak to being ambushed back, right? Sound logic.
The beast placed its paw on the roof. Metal paneling groaned. If the creature grew frustrated, it might break the engine. Being stranded to starve in the wasteland would be a death even worse than being eaten alive. She had to act. Deep breath. Exhale. Now!
Sofi sprang from her hidey hole and grabbed the ammo. The ashstalker roared. Its claw shattered the window, but Sofi was already outside, climbing for the rider’s seat. The ashstalker bounded to circle the firewagon, appearing beneath her in a heartbeat. Its blunt fleshy beak opened, revealing blackness.
Thawp!
A prehensile spear-tongue had impaled the wagon in a spot where Sofi’s foot had been. Through the window, she saw glowing orange liquid ooze off the barbs on the tongue, melting through the cabin seat.
“Dratdratdrat…” Heartbeat in her ears, Sofi grabbed the cannon and a bullet.
Suddenly the firewagon jerked, nearly tilting over. Screaming, Sofi fell off, face-planting into the wasteland. She pressed the mask of her gun to her face and slipped the bullet in the chamber.
The ashstalker pulled its tongue free and leapt atop the wagon, unnaturally agile for being a colossal hairy crab. Its beak opened. Sofi trained her hand cannon at it, and blew fire. A black tongue flew at her faster than she could track. Pressure within the cannon reached a booming climax.
Ash billowed into a cloud next to Sofi’s head. The ashstalker’s tongue retracted as it staggered. The bullet had bored a hole through its open mouth, piercing the brain. The beast groaned once and slumped off the wagon’s roof.
Sofi breathed in relief. Then she reloaded her hand cannon for safety and surveyed the surroundings. Nothing but wasteland. No ashstalkers. No starspawn. Phew.
Though that wasn’t to say that something wasn’t out there, waiting for an opport
une moment to ambush her, underground or amongst the clouds. Sofi didn’t let fear creep under her scales. No point dreading things beyond her influence.
She set about butchering the ashstalker for its vestige and some meat. It wasn’t as if she could work for food for a while, not with all the chaos of starsteel monsters walking, and Alron supposedly still existing.
If he did. Sofi sighed, pausing to gaze at the horizon with a bloody vestige on her hand.
Air cracked with thunderclap. A scarlet comet crashed into the ground, kicking up a house-sized ashcloud. A shockwave swept Sofi’s legs from her. Before she fell, a hand steadied her.
“Greetings, Sofi. I come to you with a new offer.” Alron’s face emerged from the airborne ash. “Would you lend me your mind to help stop a stargod?”
“Oh, hello, Alron. Let me—” Sofi coughed up some ash. “—catch myself.”
“Pleasure to see you again,” said Fei, lounging on the curve of Alron’s wing. Someone new leaned over his other shoulder—a crimson Naputzeri lady with an imposing build and thighs like forge hydraulics. She had to be Oqhizt.
“Congratulations on being alive,” Sofi said, rubbing her throat. “Or revived. I heard a little bit about you.”
Oqhzt tipped her horned head. “Thanks. It’s neat being alive. Revival sucked, though.”
“Apologies, Alron,” Sofi said, regaining her bearings. “Of course I’ll help. But I fear my scrap pot of vis theory and artificing skills might fall short in terms of god slaying potential.”
“Fret not. What I need is help in figuring out how to speak with the gods.” He said it as casually as someone might ask you to swap the exhaust on their firewagon. Sofi couldn’t suppress a chuckle of disbelief.
“Okay, sure. Let’s go talk to gods,” she said. “Let me just grab my tools!”
In a couple of minutes, the high winds above the clouds whipped against Sofi’s face. She experienced the peculiar awkwardness of being the only one not able to hear full sentences over the wind, but Sofi didn’t mind. It was a blessing actually.
The last few days had been harsh. More than harsh. Exhausting! She might’ve mastered a vestige, but she still wasn’t some awakened master who could traipse through wilderness willy nilly.
