She nodded through fresh tears. “You did. But it’s okay. I love you too much to let a single bout of madness stop me.” She squeezed him close. “I forgave you the moment I sensed the pain in your soul when you cried out to me. And when I feared your doom at the hands of those awful, horrid spiders...” She shook, tears streaming freely down her cheeks. “I was sobbing with relief when you finally broke free.”
Val winced. “Julia...”
She swallowed, stroking his cheek. “What you did to that soldier was awful. But even when he was pleading for his life, I was sickened by the horrific things those soldiers had done to that fragile little clan. Pushed to the brink of extinction. By monsters.” Julia sighed. “He was just an enlisted man following orders, guarding his post, with no control over the madness that went on. He would have died the moment he acted against his masters. The moment they even sensed vague disgust turning to hostile intent. But he could have left in the dead of night, it’s true. Given up everything, broken his oath, and become pariah. He could have fled.”
Val grimaced, looking away.
Julia’s gentle hand forced his gaze to meet her own. Her smile was sad, but not judgmental. “I guess what I’m saying is that there are no easy choices, no black and white. What you did, what the guard failed to do… all shades of gray.”
Val sighed and nodded, kissing her brow.
“Promise me one thing?”
Val smiled into Julia’s eyes. “Anything.”
Julia swallowed. “Be willing to forgive anyone else who survived your wrath?”
Val frowned, closing his eyes.
“Not everyone who commits acts of horror can appreciate just what they are guilty of, til after the deed is done,” she whispered.
Val forced himself to meet her gaze, and it suddenly all clicked into place.
Why she had hidden herself from him even when her psychic shout had tasted not of fear, but of deepest longing. Why she alone was here today, the rest of Guild Ottalaus conspicuously absent. The fear he had sensed underneath her desperate ache to hold him again.
She hadn’t been afraid for herself, but for another.
“Sometimes, Val, dying is the easy way out. The coward's way out. Finding the strength, the courage to live with bitterest regret, to somehow make amends… sometimes that takes more strength, more courage, than suicide ever will. Just having the strength to look in the mirror every day, hating what you see, desperate to find a way to redeem yourself. Sometimes that takes a hell of a lot more courage than a bullet to the head.”
Val couldn’t help chuckling bitterly at that.
Knowing exactly how it felt to walk in those footsteps.
Balanced on the precipice of oaths and understanding, Val elected to say nothing.
“He thought it was just an exploration mission,” Julia whispered after a timeless moment. “By the time he understood what the stakes were, just how ruthless and jaded his so-called friends were, it was already too late. The Dominion and his former companions had all played him for a fool, and the horrors of what happened next are now his burden to bear.”
Julia flashed a sad smile. “He’s skilled, Val. You wouldn’t believe how skilled he is.” She swallowed, as if afraid of his response. “He was heading back, looking like a gunslinging vigilante in that Tower series I loved to read as a girl. Honestly, Val, I don’t think he cared if he died at that point. He was going to take down as many of those bastards as he could. But it was already too late. Every Dominion soldier was already dead, the players involved long since left. The only one left he could kill was himself.”
Val let the words wash over him, holding his tongue.
Julia flashed a sad smile. “Did you know he had our pictures? There are million credit bounties on all of us, now. The ‘inner circle,’ supposedly. Even though they’re just sketches, several of them are frightfully accurate, especially the one of Yin.” Julia swallowed. “He gave them to us with that devil-may-care smile. Said we had to be careful, he didn’t think the Dominion was playing by the rules anymore, so neither was he.”
Julia flashed a bittersweet smile. “He could have shot us all dead in an eyeblink. His guns work even in high mana zones, Val. Real guns firing real bullets that can tear right through the thin reflective armor Dominion soldiers favor. Maybe Highlord battlemesh as well. Most of our tech equipment was fried. Only Chris with his odd, wonderful skills, was able to keep the veli going. Right then? That kid had every advantage. And all he did is gaze sadly at the forests and fields passing by.”
Val gazed into her eyes and smiled. “I love you, Julia Petrovsky.”
Her face lit up with a matching grin. “I love you too, Valor Hunter.”
He gently kissed her lips. “Nothing more I want than to hold you in my arms.”
Julia paled beneath her smile. “But you’re the hidden jack on the board of a game so terrible that all our pieces could be knocked off in a heartbeat. And you have wildcards to reveal, and enemies to destroy.”
Val nodded. “I do. And not a second to waste.”
Julia lowered her head. “I hope you don’t think...”
He kissed her fiercely, passionately. She gasped, melting against him. “And not a single precious second was wasted in your arms. But if I delay any longer...”
Julia swallowed, jerking a nod. “I can tell how tired you are. Rest when you can,” she said, smiling softly into his eyes. “Be safe.”
Val swallowed, gently stroking her soft, tear-stained cheek before racing out the room and down the spiraling staircase as fast as his legs could take him, encasing himself in pristine dwarven armor a heartbeat after jerking on trousers and shirt, wasting not another second as Christine called out to him, sensing the grains of sand already slipping away.
And when they ran out…
All his dreams would crash to oblivion.
And there his father was, beside the gate, favoring Val with the strangest smile.
Val didn’t hesitate to give him a hearty, careful hug, smiling into the older man’s eyes. Powerfully built, looking just like Val had before he had reforged himself into someone who looked as Jordian as he did human, his mother’s features finally showing themselves, for all that he still looked like his old self. Or an idealized version of his old self, at least, and younger than his twenty-odd years. And if he looked younger… his father looked fantastic. Hardly a day over thirty.
Val smiled. “You look good, dad.”
His father grinned back. “As do you, Val, what I can see of you in your armor.”
Val smiled, willing his helmet away. His father’s eyes widened, clearly impressed.
“Remarkable. Beyond remarkable. Tattoos on your brow? Skillfully made, but I didn’t think you were the type.”
Val grinned. “Think of them as magical runes, hence the soft blue glow if I don’t muffle them. If I let my hair grow, it will cover them perfectly. And speaking of magic, you’ll note we have this ridiculously potent magical tower at our disposal. Who knows, dad, you might want to see if you have a knack for magecraft.”
He laughed at his father’s bemused expression. “I know. Not your engineering specialty, but if you’re at all interested in a pseudo-science, you could always study under Gregor. You’d be surprised how much alchemy is like chemistry, save of course for the arcane energies you also have to balance in the formulations.” Val’s eyes suddenly widened. “Crap. That reminds me...”
His father smiled, handing him a leather satchel full of red potions. “I took these from Gregor. An excuse to bid you farewell.”
Val grinned, the contents of the satchel safely stored in his rift in an eyeblink.
“That, son, is beyond impressive.”
Val nodded. “Dad, do you remember the Yamato?”
His father frowned, before his eyes widened and he gave the slightest of nods. “That show was a childhood favorite. I used to enjoy watching it with you and your brother. Faith, on the other hand, was never one for ship battles in s
pace.”
Val couldn’t help smiling in reminiscence. “Yeah, that’s true. She used to love studying history, didn’t she? Said actual real-life tales were far more interesting than fantasy, and you could better understand the nature of people and the mistakes they were doomed to repeat, if you read up on the past and all the secrets it holds.”
His father nodded. “Strange, how things turned out, isn’t it?”
Val chuckled softly. “And wonders we thought consigned to fantasy, including battles in space, may not be so far-fetched after all.”
His father’s eyes widened at those words.
Val grinned, clapping his father on the back with his hug before stepping away. “Sorry, dad. I have a deadline, and the consequences of missing it are beyond awful. If you see Mom before I get back… tell her I love her.”
His father smiled at the thought of seeing Hanna once more, as Val had intended. “Farewell, son. I know you’ll do what needs doing. Just remember you have people in your life who love you.”
Val swallowed, jerking a nod, blinking back the sudden sting in his eyes. “Likewise, Dad. Be well,” he said, giving his dad a final salute before jumping through the gate once more.
47
“The wave function collapsed in just the right way. The reality that finally manifested has the Victrix in pristine condition, and Falinnborg is intact as well,” Val said before the assembled dwarven council he had been rushed before, Arilius and Astmar gazing at him with warm approval as their advisors whispered animatedly between themselves.
Val swallowed as the excitement intensified, the whole city having seemed on edge, gazing at him so intently when he had jumped through. He could only wonder how his last bit of news would be taken. “But, um… that’s not all.”
Ava was by his side, smiling brilliantly, Avelina sleeping in her arms. She had all but wept for joy when he had returned, Val sweeping her up in a hug and holding their daughter close as they had raced for the council to share the news. Ava squeezed his hand, flashing him a proud smile.
Arilius grinned. “It is fantastic news, grandson. Better than we could possibly have hoped for!”
Astmar flashed a rare smile. “You did well, Valor. Much as I had hoped you would. When do you think we can begin jumping through?”
“Right now, actually,” Val assured. “But you might find the situation vastly different from what you're expecting.”
Arilius raised a polite eyebrow. “So long as the Dominion remains ignorant of the treasures inside, we shall overcome, grandson. I assure you.”
Val winced. “Right. Well, it’s not anything you have to overcome, so much as… greet.”
Arilius blinked, the murmured voices fading as all eyes turned to Val. “Greet.”
Val nodded. “It isn’t just the ship and the city that are in perfect working order, Arilius. It’s the people too.”
The entire council broke into heated dialogue, gazes of awe and disbelief sent Val’s way.
Astmar’s gaze was almost apologetic. “Forgive the question, Valor. I have sensed my daughter’s worry. She knows that your mind has been haunted by ghosts of the past, from time to time.” Val winced at those words, even as Ava gave his hand an apologetic squeeze. “And no shame to you for that. Let me simply ask… are you sure?”
Val smirked. “If you have any doubt, come with me and jump through. Then decide for yourselves.”
And in very short order, they did just that.
And very little got done for the remainder of that day as dwarves wept and greeted each other as if witnessing mutual miracles. Val couldn’t help but feel a tremendous sense of sweet joy upon witnessing so many tearful reunions, more than slightly embarrassed by the constant looks of awe and wonder sent his way. Yet the sour twisting in his gut was like an alarm bell ringing. He could all but sense the clock ticking down to their doom.
Hidden Questline: Will You Save My People? V Complete! You have bent causality itself to bring not just a prototype battleship, but an entire city and all its citizens back from the brink of oblivion! The surviving dwarven population has increased 10-fold, making its chances of achieving galactic supremacy that much greater!
Experience earned!
But your daughter’s tribe still stands upon the precipice of extinction, where the slightest mishap can send them hurtling to oblivion, you by their side!
A dreadnought controlled by your enemies rules this system, just one component of a massive empire poised to crush any who dare resist them. What will you do to turn the tides of fate that would see your revived cities blasted to oblivion once more?
Eventually, Arilius and Alastman came by to where Val and Ava were standing, admiring the gleaming battleship now being fitted with priceless Valorium-reinforced plates, Avelina laughing gaily at the energy and excitement filling the vast chamber.
“A beautiful child, you have, Ava, daughter of Astmar.”
Ava grinned. “Thank you, King Alastman. I am grateful Phoebe saw fit to bless me with life, love, and a child of my own.”
The king of Stridborg beamed in approval. “If your father and I may whisk your husband away, dearest Ava, we will do my best to return him to you in short order.”
Ava grinned. “Very well, Your Grace. My Avelina is quite content to gaze upon the shiny golden ship.” Her beautiful eyes gazed longingly into Val’s own. “I will see you soon, husband.”
Val flashed his wife a heartfelt smile, their communion free of words, but somehow deeper. She knew and understood the passionate, chaotic life he led aboveground, and found the women in his life worthy, hoping his future sons and daughters would serve as allies who would help to protect their dwarven sister and her kin from the perils of the Dominion.
And she knew he would keep his oath. Within the dwarven realms, he was hers, and hers alone.
“Lead on, Your Grace," Val said, soon finding himself in an isolated control room gazing down at the ship from windowed chambers high up in an adjoining building, Astmar’s gaze grim. Solemnly, he handed Val multiple golden cubes. “The duplication was successful. And the Dominion is just as corrupt as we remember.”
“Thank you,” Val said, pocketing the cubes.
Arilius flashed a bitter smile. “Truly, things are proceeding better than we could possibly have hoped. But we still have a major problem. What is to keep Overlord Caligula from striking us down during our window of vulnerability, once we dare to announce ourselves?”
Astmar nodded. “And what’s to keep him from sending scouts to warn the entire Dominion of our reemergence, so those fanatic monsters will join in unison to wipe us out?”
“The dreadnought will be a problem,” Val admitted. “But as for preventing us from being blasted to oblivion by a fleet of Dominion ships, I’m going to work on that right now.” Val stumbled, exhaustion flooding him, the weight of a level-up already too long denied leaving him suddenly dizzy in this momentary calm before he embraced the storm once more.
Arilius’s concerned gaze met his own. “Are you alright, grandson?”
Val tried for a reassuring smile. “Yes, grandfather. It’s just...the weight of who I am, how I grow, I can’t fight off exhaustion any longer. If I don’t rest soon, it will be bad.”
His concerned brow furrowed. “Well then, best we get you and my granddaughter squared away.”
King Alastman smiled. “I would be honored if the hero of our city and his wife were to make use of my personal chambers, for so long as they should wish it.”
Val blinked, sensing the honor he was being bestowed, heightened all the more as both kings dipped their heads in unison.
“For the hero of both our cities, I do agree,” said a bemused Astmar. “Come, Val. Let’s reunite you with my Ava, and let you get the rest you need."
Almost before Val knew it, he was smiling into Ava’s beautiful blue eyes as she tucked him in warm blankets, kissing his cheek, holding him close, their daughter sleeping so peacefully between them.
“R
est, my husband,” Ava soothed. “As much as I ache for you, few things give me more joy than just watching you and our Avelina resting peacefully.”
Val nodded his gratitude, touched to be taken such tender care of, having energy for one last smile for his beautiful little girl before he was swept up by tides of exhaustion and knew no more.
Val blinked, lurching upright to his feet, his worst nightmare realized.
“Ava, Avelina?”
His heart began to pound. Of his wife and daughter, there was no trace. Brilliant lights had been replaced by a crystalline glow coming in from a broken window, illuminating a room filled with grimy stone and the remains of ancient furniture so brittle that it crumpled to splinters and dust at his touch.
“Ava?” His voice was now a soft whisper, for there was no sound, not even the tread of automatons outside the window he rushed to get a glimpse of.
All he saw were endless ruins.
No signs of life, no buildings emitting the soft warm glows of dwarven lights.
Desperate eyes turned to the engineering district, certain he would hear some sound, some trace of light, of life, knowing the dwarves he had rescued should have been hard at work, everyone desperate to finish a ship that he sudden feared might have been no more real than a dream.
A delusion.
As he dreamed up a life less pathetic than his own, playing the hero, not the deluded fool that had gotten Sten, Halvar, Gregor, and Elise butchered to spiders and folly.
There had been no lost colony of dwarves.
There had been nothing at all, save the bitter fruits of failure. Of cowardice.
Running and fleeing when his friends had needed him the most.
Val knew it was madness, all his memories this past year being so visceral, but even when he fled the building and stepped outside, the delusion did not end as he gazed at endless empty streets and the ruins they held.
There was nothing but ancient signs of devastation and tragedy. And if he listened really hard, he heard the faint scurrying of giant spiders.
Oblivion's Crown Page 60
