Anima: A Divine Dungeon Series (Artorian's Archives Book 6)

by Dennis Vanderkerken

  When for a moment they did, the thoughts that they should continue… stopped. Their steps halted along with the cessation of their purpose. Artorian considered that it must be difficult to be a creature without needs, lacking higher thought. What does a creature like that even do, aside from remain at rest?

  He then considered prodding them, but that might be exactly the kind of dangerous stimuli that would set A-rank nine creatures loose on his tail. A whirring sound came to his attention and… the array! With his attention resuming function, he took a step forward only to feel his momentary sense of panic melt away.

  Without Tatum around, Halcyon had quickly recovered all her self-confidence. The arms-crossed chosen was also directly applying her regained moxy to the problem, having taken her Dreamer’s words as a suggestion rather than merely praise.

  She was staring down the inconsistency in the array with an impassioned solidity. In doing so, her golden lines pulsed with metallic energy. Cy’s active Aura stifled the waves that emanated from the array as it tried to… Artorian could only describe the sight as the array attempting to spontaneously evolve. Her general Auric pressure felt like one of pulsing certainty, and Artorian had to admit even he felt more secure and stable from the sonic pattern of the pod call she repeated.

  Halcyon put the array in its place just like any other member of her pod that was being a brat. Artorian had been on the copper with his earlier statement. She did have this in the bag, and by Cal, she was a natural! He would have needed to study what was going on in that messy spellform before he stopped anything, to make sure he didn’t cause accidental harm.

  Halcyon experienced no such thought process. She saw a newborn act out of line, and snapped it to attention. Getting the newborn right back under the protective fin of the pod. With her calls strong and confident, the entire array shifted, folding into itself as the spell format rearranged itself under the orca’s natural guidance.

  Like Essence seeking a purpose, the array was trying to figure itself out, lashing out where it was uncertain. Instead of bouncing against Tatum’s chalkboard methodology, it instead found the guiding fin of a mom. Halcyon’s heavy, repeated pulsing became louder as she sent pod calls across the rippling surface of the puzzle array. Artorian just crossed his arms, watching the display as the array slowed.

  What was he looking at? A pattern? Was this a… creature, or a spell effect? He supposed he could try Invoking the pattern, and see what happened. Wouldn’t that be incredibly dumb? Surely only a fool would try that.

  He flicked his arm and did it anyway. “Oops?”

  Halcyon glared over her shoulder as she heard a sucking *fwop* of space collapsing together. Her Dreamer flashed a big, toothy smile. Keeping both his hands behind his back, hidden from view. After a long minute, there was no… visible change to their surroundings. His arms dropped, face squeezing into Tibbin’s expression as, to his partial sadness, nothing further happened.

  Under the orca’s judging glare, the old man sauntered off. She had it all well in fin anyway, and he was just going to keep finding distractions. About an hour later, Artorian stood on the precipice of Tatum’s boring little corner in Hel. The Incarnate’s chosen home-base structure reminded him of a butcher’s shop. Surely, just overseeing the place for a little while could not be that bad? Everything may be several ranks higher than him, but—

  *Honk*.

  What was that? That was a strange noise.

  Artorian leaned forwards to peer around the bend, and saw a skeletal creature with a large bill peering back at him. Just the head poked out from behind the large spotted rock. As if to affirm he was real, it honked at him again.

  “Must be one of Tatu—”

  *Honk Honk Honk*!

  “Oh sweet crackers and toast!” He remembered now! This was one of those goose monstrosities! Bolting for safety, Artorian glanced over his shoulder mid-stride to see the bill about to bite him in the butt! What? How was this thing so fast! This wasn’t f—

  *Ow*!

  “Shoo, shoo! Get!”

  Chapter Six

  Days later, Artorian was so very happy to be out of Hel. Abyss-blasted death-honker. His posterior hurt from all the bites! Rubbing it dejectedly while pouting with a thick and stuck out lower lip, he sighed while Halcyon shot him side-eye. He got what he deserved as far as she was concerned. She was happy to be spending time around her Dreamer, but he was as rambunctious as a fledgling. “No need to give me that scowl, Cy. I probably learned my lesson.”

  His grumbles didn’t go unheard.

  Yuki cleared her icy throat as she waited for their attention. Her graceful form stood on the rainbow path leading away from the teleportation platform, while the freshly arrived duo remained turned the wrong way. The path Cy and Artorian looked at led down the mountainside, to the realm of mortals. The administrative business was on the mountaintop. Still, it sounded like there was a story here. She’d get the details out of Cy when they had a moment. “What lesson might that be?”

  The Administrator jumped and turned on a copper, hand swiftly pressed over his heart from the startle. “Crackers! What is it with people scaring poor old Artorian today? Did I not do enough of that earlier?”

  Only after turning did he notice Yuki had a companion. The rocky critter sat stoic on her shoulder, tiny arms crossed. “Oh, Yuki, it appears you have a friend. Who’s the strong lad?”

  The lady of ice moved her hand at the mention, rubbing across the Rock Squirrel’s head with a single digit. She seemed proud of him. “This is Hulk. We see eye to eye on how to handle people that try to live by the swagger, to be the bigger bragger. He makes them stagger, and I do so enjoy writing the tale.”

  Halcyon gently applauded the lovely rhyme, which visually made Yuki happy. Even if her expression didn’t change one iota. The squirrel shot Artorian the stink eye, and the old man didn’t want to step so much as a toe into that puddle of trouble. “Right. Well. I sent a heads up, but I don’t see Odin around?”

  Hulk turned his tiny head, glaring down below the cloud layer at the mention of the number-one ranked unpleasantry. Pulling a nut from a tiny, personalized satchel, Hulk tore a chunk from it, gnawing on the bite while his accusatory gaze deepened. Yuki moved her shoulder a fraction of a millimeter, and they shared a look.

  Hulk nodded, unceremoniously shoved the food into his maw, and bounced off the bridge to fall towards the depths below. Off to go check if Odin was actually doing his work, instead of having a good time in a mortal mead hall somewhere.

  Yuki smiled, in a good mood thanks to the squirrel. “He’s no-nonsense. I adopted him shortly after discovering Odin’s particular history with the species. The results are… noteworthy. Come. There is much to do and I no longer wish to see you gawk. You may be my Dreamer, but you are worlds away from good standing. Not you, Halcyon dear. You’re a sweet snowdrop and I’m thrilled to see you.”

  The giantess turned pink in the face. Covering her eyes with her hands, she again turned away while making a high-pitched peep. Cy, please stop being so adorable. On second thought. You be as adorable as you want. Artorian managed to not say the thoughts out loud, but his wrinkles spoke volumes to betray his feelings. An icy atmosphere clamped around his ankles, and it spurred him into motion behind Yuki. “Yes, yes. Coming, coming!”

  The trio passed several ostentatious structures on the way to the main drinking hall, and Artorian was surprised that Yuki was taking them there. He’d expected somewhere quieter.

  At their approach, the massive Valkyries gave the visitors a respectful bow, their weapons raised to form an arch over the trio. The story of the Administrator was decently known, but they all visibly showed immense respect to the snow lady. Anyone who could keep an Odin-sized pest in line was deserving of the highest seat at the table. It was easier to die gloriously in battle than it was to accomplish that feat.

  When the mead hall’s horn sounded, the occupants loudly barked with pomp and furor. Whatever warrior had fallen in the
realms below would be heralded as a champ… Oh, mountains above, it was the Jotun. A call rang out from the occupants inside. “Quick! Hide your mead, straighten your helmet. Wipe the stains off your shirt and stand in line at attention!”

  A flabbergasted Artorian couldn’t believe the sight of several dozen A-ranked powerhouses scrambling. Falling over each other to cease their quibbling and boasting just to stand at attention in a neat row. Their helmets were pressed to their chests as they stood, forming a clear path for Yuki.

  Artorian looked at her with incredulity. “What did you do here?”

  Yuki’s response was flat. “It is impolite to boast, Dreamer. I did nothing worth mention.”

  Several of the mead hall’s common flock paled at the reminder, a shade of panic crossing their half-drunken cheeks. The Administrator wondered if he’d accidentally unleashed some kind of end-boss on this poor, unsuspecting realm. Surely Yuki couldn’t have frightened them all? Sure, she was a little cold around the edges, but this response was extreme. Were those A-rankers shivering? They were holding their tongues tight, and drunken mirth in check. Just what ‘mention’ was she on about, and why did he want to know so terribly much?

  A collective sigh of relief rolled through the hall when they passed under an exiting archway, leaving the space behind. The occupants were out of sight, but the strength of their exhale made a gust of wind roll against their backs and shoulders. The merriment resumed shortly after, tankards refilled from massive vats.

  Artorian addressed it. “I take it you’re just not going to tell me why an entire realm is shivering in their panic boots at the sight of you.”

  Yuki didn’t pause her stride. “Nothing harmful. They’re… expressive. I merely wrote down some of their antics, and distributed it amongst the populace below. It is a surprisingly effective deterrent when a newcomer attends the hall, knowing stories of their most humiliating and embarrassing moments. If they want to be seen as mighty, proud warriors. Well. They better act like it.”

  Halcyon and Artorian shared a look. Yuki was one scary lady. “Right. Well… This was supposed to be a realm check-up, and I needed to talk to Odin about willingly being canted when the time came. Where are we headed?”

  The snow lady pushed open a gate made entirely of heavy mercury bars. Artorian instantly recognized the open space as a cultivation hotspot. Frost and cold swirled here, as the location was positioned just right for the wind to chill this spot perpetually below freezing.

  Yuki motioned to the small alcove of ice. “Here. I wanted… well. I say want, but the correct word is needed. I am entirely stuck on my cultivation progress, and don’t know where to turn.”

  Artorian understood now why she’d pulled them away. “You didn’t want anyone to know you needed a hand. Well, I can’t say I didn’t expect this. Cy, dear. You’re likely not going to follow the next few hours of explanation, but you are by no means rebuked from the lessons I’m about to give. Even if they’re not that useful for you.”

  “This… does give me an important opportunity to ask you a question, Yuki. If, say, I don’t know. The world were to end. Would you want to call it a good life, and pass with old age? Or would you…?”

  A cold finger pressed to his lips, shutting him up. Yuki’s voice was usually fairly frosty, but currently it was arctic. “Stop. How heartless can you be? Cy is here.”

  The snow lady glanced at the giantess, but the visual response from Halcyon had her hesitantly pull the cold finger away. “Cy? Tell me this crass fool did not…”

  Halcyon slowly shook her head. “Zelia told me, and already gave me the entire rundown in a private mental conversation. I know the details, as I’m sure you do as well. Given your snappy response to our Dreamer. I appreciate you wishing to protect me from painful information, but I already know. It’s merely our Dreamer that doesn’t have our answers.”

  Artorian felt confusion. Just how much gossip went on behind his back? From the sound of it, seamstress-levels worth. He didn’t get a chance to ask, as his chosen cut in with a need to speak.

  Halcyon placed her large hands on his shoulders. “There’s a reason I asked to… eat a lot. On this trip. I need to grow stronger to endure, yes? Especially when I plan to stick around. I know I am not constantly sharp, like Yuki. Or have things as well in claw as Zelia does. Still, it is our decision to make. You keep your realm as such. The choice you give us is rare, compared to most of the other realms. They do not adhere to that idea. I have also been told that being a chosen instilled in us an innate sense of loyalty. I don’t know if this loyalty is forced, or whether we gravitate to it naturally. I have had long, difficult talks with Yuki already. I believe it is natural…”

  Yuki finished Halcyon’s dwindling words. “While I believed it is forced. Though, the tethers have not attempted to latch onto me. They merely wait for my will. I had expected you to attempt to encroach, and demand greater control of me. You have not so far, and that gives credence to my own decision.”

  The snow whirled around the cold lady, stilling when she finally settled on her choice. “Like Cy, I choose that I will… stick around. As sleet you can’t get off. Though our reasons differ vastly. I initially considered asking for a cultivation technique, in trade to stay. It isn’t my… as the residents here would call it. Style. I do not barter. I do not trade. I do not beg. I do not bend. I make my choices, and listen to a memory I know is not mine. Yet it speaks loud, and I keep it close.”

  Artorian remained silent. It hadn’t been right to speak, or interrupt. So he did not. In the temporary lull, he asked a question of his own. “What memory might that be, dear?”

  Yuki cocked her head to the side, closing her eyes as it played in her mind. “The only choice worth making is the choice I will not regret.”

  When her eyes opened, light flickered behind her irises. “It speaks to me, as some of your memories speak strongly to the other chosen. I know I haven’t been kind to you, Dreamer. I know I have been harsh, and especially cold. It took me months of doubt to even consider if I wanted to ask for your help or not. Because if I asked, it would mean that an important part of me had decided to actually trust you. My cultivation was my life, once. Though those memories are blurry, the feeling remains.”

  The Administrator took a moment to do what he was good at, and organized the information. “I understand. So before I had a chance to ask, Zelia slid in with the hard news. You’ve clearly had time to think and talk it over, and you’ve decided that even though it’s going to be a rough journey, you’d rather stick it out, and see it through with me? Can I be honest and say I expected both of you to choose a gentle, normal end?”

  Halcyon squeezed his shoulders. “And leave your fledgling self to haplessly flop around like a beached fish? Someone needs to keep an eye on you. You’re no good on your own. You were your best self when surrounded by a great number of souls. Do you remember our original pod, in the beneath? I know you didn’t speak whale, but the great majority of the pod adored you. I bet you don’t even understand why. Just know they did.”

  Artorian felt touched. Both in the emotional sense, but also because to his surprise, Yuki’s hand wasn’t cold when it took his, taking over the conversation thread. “I choose to carry on, because a story should be told in full. Not awkwardly ended midway. I can’t say I like you, because you have some personality traits that truly rub me the wrong way…”

  Yuki hesitated, experiencing a strong recollection from a set of memories she kept reliving. “However… There was a moment, when a light pulsed from a mountaintop. There was a journey you went through? Know it or not, your chosen experience such travels as well. Or at least, I did when the memories welcomed me, and I welcomed them in turn.”

  She turned to face him fully, her hands atop one another. “I thought of you as a heartless thing of cold. A hapless Ancient that does as he pleases without regard for the rest of life. Yet, you wrote experiences and stories that you had carved on your heart. In those moments, I fe
lt both your joy, and the pain. I understood why you don’t want a civilization on Jotunheim, and why you try not to involve yourself deeply with those on the ground. Why you silently watch as you stand in the sky, and sit on your mountain. It hurts.”

  The old man felt his jaw clench. Oh… how insightful his chosen were. With their sympathetic access to some of his core values and memories. He managed a sad smile, and moved his hand so hers laid between. “I’m sorry, my dear. I know there is much that I… should have done. I couldn’t, as you said, make the choices one will not regret. Sometimes, there are no good choices, and you are guaranteed to regret the outcome of whichever path you did not take. I’m afraid I don’t have a response, aside from a gentle thank you. Thank you, both, for choosing to stick around with an old fool that’s nothing but trouble.”

  His chosen hugged him.

  Again, something he hadn’t expected from Yuki. His arms quickly swung around her when she made an unexpected gasp of pain. Artorian hurriedly held her up as she accepted a previously denied sympathy, having received an answer to a question that had bothered her. She chose to commit. The sun sigil formed in platinum on the back of her hand, and her Mana strengthened several steps as she accepted her role as a chosen.

  Now that he had her so close, Artorian could see her cultivation progress. It was abysmal. What was that awful triskelion spiral in her center? He hadn’t seen a technique that weak since Maccreus Tarrean flaunted it during the Fringe days.

  Artorian reflected on what he’d just thought. Oh, how far he’d come. He was impressed by it back then. When Yuki managed to steady herself, her irises shifted coloration, adopting a solid platinum hue as the connections stabilized. “You’re alright, my dear. You’re alright. Why don’t we sit for a while? I think we can definitely do something about that cultivation technique of yours.”