by A F Kay
All these Sub Roles were overwhelming. Ruwen hoped he could find a manual for them, but if they were as rare as Uru made them sound, he doubted he’d find anything. He refocused on the Temporal icon, and once again, the small amount of Mana he’d regained disappeared immediately followed by the Core pressure.
A number so large Ruwen didn’t think there was a word to describe it floated in his vision. The last twenty digits increased so fast they looked like a blur.
“Thank you, Rami,” Lir said.
“What is making that number?” Ruwen asked.
“It is referred to as the cosmic heartbeat. It is the vibrational count of–”
“Never mind. Do you have what you need?”
“Yes. But not all that I desire. Restoration of the Unnamed Temple has resumed.”
“Two things. First, can we give this place a name?”
“Yes. What do you wish to call this temple?”
Ruwen thought a moment and then smiled. “New Eiru.”
“I have made the update.”
“Thanks, Lir. Secondly, what do you desire?”
“While not necessary, our Resonance Offset would reduce the uncertainty and variability of my calculations.”
“What is a Resonance Offset?” Ruwen asked.
“It defines the upper and lower bounds of how tightly coupled we are to the Universal Resonance.”
Rami, can you iterate with Lir and make that understandable, please.
Two seconds later, Rami responded. That was far more math than I expected. So Resonance is the term used to describe fate. Any value over one thousand and your actions have almost no impact on the Universe. Even if you made massive changes, it wouldn’t affect anything but your own galaxy. A hundred is considered safe for large disruptions like time travel. But anything approaching ten means your actions are directly linked to the Universe’s desired outcome.
There is math for fate?
That’s what it sounds like.
“Lir, what was your Offset before? No decimals,” Ruwen quickly added.
“Forty-seven, which is the smallest Offset ever recorded. It was a source of pride that our galaxy had such an impact on the Universe, even if it made many things difficult or impossible.”
“Where do I find this Offset?”
“Under your Gravitational Role.”
Ruwen navigated to Gravitational and found Resonance under it. He focused on the icon, felt the now familiar pressure on his Core, and a number appeared.
Did you do something wrong? Rami asked.
I hope so.
Ruwen refocused on the icon, and the same number appeared.
“Uh, Lir. I got an Offset.”
“Excellent. Please convey the entire value. Even the decimal places have a significant impact. Perhaps it would be easier for Rami to tell me.”
“That’s okay. I can manage this one.”
Ruwen tried to slow his breathing as the implication of the value settled on him. It appeared what happened here would impact more than just Stone Harbor, Deepwell, and New Eiru.
“It’s zero,” Ruwen whispered.
Chapter 63
Lir didn’t respond.
“Lir? Did you hear me?” Ruwen asked.
“Yes. My apologies. Your input caused a brief neural cascade. I have recovered. Rami has just provided additional context for the years I lay dormant.”
“How long until you’re fully functional?”
“My Restoration is in progress. I expect the critical portions will complete in the next ten minutes.”
“Can we revive a few people then?”
“Yes,” Lir said. “Until a High Priest is assigned, I will rely on you to help restore me to full functionality.”
“Okay.”
The lid slid off, and Hamma helped Ruwen out of the container.
“Did it work?” Hamma asked.
“I gave the Temple the information it needed.”
“Is that a yes?”
Ruwen smiled. “Let’s go revive them.”
Hamma grinned and Ruwen quickly dressed. As they placed all the items back in his Void Band, he noticed she looked worried.
“What’s wrong?” Ruwen asked.
“He won’t remember me. What if he’s mad because I never looked for him? What if–”
Ruwen grabbed Hamma’s shoulders. “Slow down. Let’s not borrow trouble.”
Halfway back to the revival room, a notification appeared, and Ruwen opened it.
Ting!
You have completed the Quest – The Search for Truth (Part 3)
You have received 10,000 experience.
Ruwen closed the notification and looked at his experience.
Experience: 189,165/190,000
If the Bone Sculptor had summoned just a few more skeletons, Ruwen would be level twenty already.
Ruwen opened his map and pulled back again and again until he could see all of Uru’s Blessing. The area had more than doubled in size. Before, the blessing had ended a hundred miles south of Stone Harbor. But now a third temple had appeared on his map, New Eiru, and for hundreds of miles in every direction, Uru’s Blessing had spread.
When they reached the revival room, Hamma pulled her father’s name from the queue of the dead and assigned him a revival tub. Ruwen’s parents were next. It would take them two days to revive.
Ruwen held Hamma as they stared at the three lit revival vats. Soon all the tubs in this temple would be working.
The strips along the ceiling were all lit now, so Ruwen didn’t bother to activate Glow. As he followed Hamma up the ladders to the surface, he thought about his journey to get here. It felt like yesterday he’d excitedly walked into Deepwell’s Temple, confident of what his future held. None of it had worked out as he’d imagined, but despite everything, he’d still reached his destination.
Ruwen had found his parents. In two short days they would be back among the living, and the hard work of clearing their family name could begin. And while he took great satisfaction in reaching this goal, he was just as proud of other gains.
The days of flinching from a fight were over. Even though Ruwen’s life had turned upside down, he’d suffered through the initial growing pains, and then worked hard to embrace every opportunity to better himself. He had turned his body into a weapon and forced himself to become a leader.
The difference between the boy that had Ascended and the man Ruwen had become couldn’t have been more drastic. And even with what felt like impossible expectations, he felt confident everything would work out.
Sift’s whistling reached them as they neared the surface, and Ruwen smiled. He hadn’t been the only one to change. Sift had learned to whistle, Lylan had found trust, and Hamma had embraced her independence. As bad as their circumstances had been, they had survived by relying on each other.
Ruwen reached up and touched his right ear.
For the first time in a while, I’m hopeful, and I owe a lot of that to you.
Rami vibrated and Ruwen’s neck and chest warmed.
“There you are,” Sift said as Ruwen and Hamma walked into the large, well-lit room.
Ruwen stopped at the sight before him. Sift sat cross-legged near the opening to outside. Light spilled into the night and reflected off the Guardians that now circled the temple. Lylan sat next to Sift, and Shelly balanced on her lap.
Across from them sat Blapy.
Whiskers, in his eight-foot sentry form, had his head in Blapy’s lap. The little girl scratched the top of the cat’s head, and Ruwen could hear the purring from fifty feet away. Behind Blapy, in an orderly row like some sort of honor guard, were seven chickens. His Perception immediately showed him their info.
Name: Booming Hen
Deity: Miranda
Attack Type: Incendiary Explosive, Ranged
Elite Squad: Savage Seven
Level: 3
Health: 32
Mana: 0
Energy: 25
Spirit: 0
<
br /> Armor Class: 5
These were the chickens that shot exploding eggs at Ruwen in Blapy and had marked one of his many low points as he came to grips with his new life. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel embarrassed anymore. The reality was these chickens had been formidable opponents not that long ago.
Ruwen strode toward the group and faced the Savage Seven first. He placed a palm over his fist and bowed, just as low as he would for Rami, Sift, or the Addas. He spoke with sincerity. “The Savage Seven honor us with their presence. I am happy to see you again.”
The chickens all nodded their heads as they shifted from foot to foot. Ruwen looked down at Whiskers. “Traitor,” he whispered. But the cat, its eyes half-closed in pleasure, ignored him.
Ruwen looked up at Blapy and bowed again. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
Hamma sat next to Lylan and waved at Blapy. “Hi, Mira.”
Blapy beamed at Hamma and then looked up at Ruwen and frowned. “Well, I came as soon as I discovered the news. And now I have a terrible decision to make.”
Ruwen’s heart beat faster, and his mouth went dry. Anything Blapy considered terrible would likely be catastrophic for him.
“I’m still uncertain,” Blapy said.
Had she abandoned her secret alliance with Ruwen and Uru? Or worse, decided to work against them?
Ruwen tensed for the bad news. “It’s probably best to just say it.”
Blapy nodded and then looked over at Sift. “Dummy over there thinks he qualifies to be my favorite.”
Prepared for something awful, it took a second for the words to register with Ruwen. “What?”
Blapy looked back up at him. “You should have Hamma check your hearing.”
“This is about Sift?” Ruwen asked.
“Yes!” Sift said. “And you were there. Right after the scale quest. Blapy said I could be her favorite, except I couldn’t whistle.” Sift pointed to his mouth. “I can whistle now. Io agrees with me.”
“Blapy’s favorite? What does that even mean?” Ruwen asked.
Sift’s eyes grew large. “For one, Findley can’t hide the donuts from me anymore. And I can cut the line at the buffet. Also, all the syrup I want for my pancakes.”
“Who is Findley?” Hamma asked.
“The Chief Cook at the Black Pyramid,” Lylan said.
“This is about food?” Ruwen asked.
Blapy glared at Sift. “It is for that idiot. Most want the mark for the added pyramid tokens, and increased quality loot. But, well, you already know how he feels about those.”
Ruwen let the anxiety and fear of Blapy’s visit go, happy her appearance centered on Sift. Ruwen tapped his chin. “I see. This is serious. You have a tough decision to make.”
Sift’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.
Blapy nodded. “He’s demonstrated some skill with his whistling. But I feel we need one more test. Just to be sure he qualifies.”
Ruwen forced a smile down. “It should be something truly difficult to prove his worth.”
Sift looked at Ruwen in shock.
“Very wise, Ruwen Starfield, there is hope for you,” Blapy said. “I leave the final test to your judgment.”
Ruwen sat with Sift on his left and Blapy on his right. The sound of purring surrounded them. He snapped his fingers. “Some type of bird. Let me think of one.”
Sift looked relieved. Ruwen knew that Sift had studied birds when he’d been trying to learn how to whistle.
Rami, can you give me some rare birds from other places, ones that Sift for sure won’t know?
You are a terrible friend.
I know.
Ruwen listened to Rami’s list and then focused on Sift. “What does a scaley-sided merganser sound like?”
Sift’s eyes grew large.
Ruwen held up his hands. “Wait, no. That’s too easy.”
Sift looked worried.
“Oh,” Ruwen said. “How about a kakapo?”
Sift’s rubbed his forehead and looked like he might be sick.
“No, I’m sorry,” Ruwen said. “That one is flightless, so it might not be fair.”
Ruwen enjoyed Sift’s discomfort but decided to put him out of his misery. There was one bird Ruwen knew Sift would know for sure. He’d told Ruwen and Hamma the name when Bekka had used it at the mine to signal the other Observers.
“I guess I’ll just go with,” Ruwen paused, and Sift gazed at him intently. “A winter wren.”
Sift closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and the tension in his body visibly drained away. He pursed his lips and let out a light, cascading, bell-like whistle that lasted a few seconds. Ruwen had no idea if that sounded like a winter wren, but it did sound like Bekka’s call.
Lylan smiled at Sift and patted him on the leg.
Sift looked from Ruwen to Blapy to Ruwen again. “Well?”
“I have to admit,” Ruwen said. “Of all the male winter wrens I’ve heard, yours was the best.”
Sift grinned. “I was going for the hungry but also lonely call you sometimes here at twilight.”
Ruwen nodded. “You nailed it.”
Sift looked at Blapy. “Well?”
Blapy sighed. “I guess. You did pass the grueling exam.”
Sift threw his arm in the air. “Yes! In your face, Findley!”
Everyone smiled at Sift’s obvious joy.
The purring stopped as Whiskers fell asleep. Blapy continued to stroke the cat’s forehead as she looked up at Ruwen. “Well, since that’s out of the way, I guess the only thing left is for you to decide.”
“Decide what?” Ruwen asked.
Blapy smiled. “Where you want me to put the portal to Fractal.”
The End of Divine Apostasy Book 3
Epilogue
Tremine held his hands closer to the fire, trying to keep the chill mountain air from his bones.
“How about the Tipsy Appah?” Bliz asked.
“Please tell me you’ve never seen a drunk appah.”
Bliz took a sip of his cider and pointed at Tremine. “Good point. They’re mean drunks. Not a suitable name for a bar.”
Tremine shook his head. As long as he’d been alive, he felt like he’d only seen a fraction of what Bliz had seen.
Bliz spread his arms. “Pour House?”
Tremine considered it and slowly nodded. “Not bad.”
“Wish You Were Beer?”
Tremine smiled. “You need to think of a name that reminds people of the Dizzy Judge in Deepwell. Something that’s the same but different.”
“Same but different. Yeah, I like that.”
Bliz sipped his cider and looked up at the stars. “I’m looking forward to seeing that boy.”
“Me too,” Tremine said.
They sat in silence for a bit, and then Bliz snapped his fingers. “Pour Judgement.”
Tremine laughed and nodded. “That’s perfect. We’ll be there tomorrow, and I’ll drink to that.”
Thank you so much for reading this book. I hope my love for this story made it onto the page. If you wish to stay informed about the future books in the Divine Apostasy series, please join the newsletter: www.afkauthor.com/subscribe
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Appendix
Item QualityInventory Color
CommonWhite
UncommonBrown
FineGreen
RareYellow
SpecialOrange
EpicBlue
LegendaryPurple
Metals
Bronze
Iron
Steel
Titanium
Obsidian
Terium
ClassSymbolColor
WorkerHandsBrown
MageBrainBlack
ObserverEyesGreen
OrderHeartWhite
FighterBodyBlue
MerchantMouthR
ed
Fortifying Levels
Metal Levels
Lead
Copper
Silver
Gold
Gem Levels
Jade
Topaz
Sapphire
Diamond
Divine Levels
Angel
Archangel
Demigod
Deity
MeridianLocation
BodyHeart
Stone Right Leg/Foot
Order Spine
Water Right Shoulder/Arm/Hand
Light Head/Neck
Life Groin/Hips/Abdomen
Mind Brain
Air Left Shoulder/Arm/Hand
Chaos Torso
Fire Left Leg/Foot
Dark Organs
Death Intestines
Money
Copper
Silver (100 Copper)
Gold (100 Silver)
Platinum (100 Gold)
Terium (100 Platinum)
RankLevel
Novice1-9
Initiate10-19
Apprentice20-29
Journeyman30-39
Acolyte40-49
Disciple50-59
Expert60-69
Adept70-84
Master85-99
Grand Master100
Level StartExperienceLevel End
110002
23,0003
36,0004
410,0005
515,0006
621,0007
728,0008
836,0009
945,00010
1055,00011
1166,00012
1278,00013
1391,00014
14105,00015
15120,00016
16136,00017
