Chapter 473 - The Ideals of a Knight

I don't usually have so much fun at the start of a new book. Usually I'm a bit burnt out by the end of a book and trying to figure out how to get the next one going but this one's really clicking for me. Hope you like the chapter!

Standing outside the ruins of the black-stone temple, and in the wilds of a forest of a different land, they stared out at the distant island city. The details were barely visible it was so far away, even to Hump’s enhanced eyes, but he could just about make out the towering buildings. He wondered how long it would take them to reach it. There had to be a dozen floating islands between them and it. Somehow, they’d need to find a way across, but that could wait. For now, they had a lot to talk about.

“Well that was interesting,” Hump said, breaking the silence.

“Interesting?” Bud’s face was aghast. “I feel like the world was just turned upside down and thrown at my face.”

“That’s certainly another, more extreme, way to phrase it.”

“How do we even go on from here?” Bud said. “Lord Loften is an enemy of the Pantheon according to him, but to me he is a member. A member before my very eyes.”

“For a start, I think it’s time for us to accept that the Pantheon isn’t all we’ve been led to believe,” Hump said.

Bud turned a dark look on him. “Now isn’t the time for trying to be funny with blasphemy. I don’t need to hear it right now. Not after all this.”

“Now’s exactly the time. It’s a fact, Bud. Fact. You don’t have to believe the Book of Infinite Pages, or Owalyn, or the warlocks, or Godfrey. Loften himself has been exiled to another world. That alone is enough proof that things are not as we were taught.”

“It could mean anything,” Bud said.

“Exactly. The one thing it can’t mean is that the Pantheon taught in Alveron is real. At the very least, the Twelve is more the Eleven.”

“I think what Hump is not so delicately attempting to say is that there’s more going on than we know,” Emilia cut in. “And we can’t just base what we do on blind faith.”

“What else is there?” Bud asked. “Faith is what brought us here.”

“Fact,” Hump said. “The fact is, Loften himself has come before us and told us he can get us home, but to do so we must first free him. That’s enough for me.”

“But… he was exiled,” Bud said.

“You’re being a mud-headed fool,” Celaine snapped. “And that’s not you, Bud. You don’t need to abandon your faith to know this is what we must do.”

“Only I don’t,” Bud said.

“We can only work with the information we’ve got,” Hump insisted, trying not to let his frustration show. “Loften is our way home. Next time he shows up, perhaps we can get some proper answers, like where in the world the other gods are.”

“Or maybe which world,” Celaine said. “Considering Loften’s here, maybe they’ve all spread out.”

“Or they’re all in the Path to Heaven,” Emilia said. “Another thing I’d like to ask Lord Loften about.”

“We need to make a decision, and it needs to be unanimous,” Hump said. “If you don’t want to do this, you need to give us a good reason.”

Bud looked conflicted. He looked at Dylan. “What do you think?”

“The mysteries of the gods are not our concern,” Dylan said softly, his voice strained. “You said it yourself, Bud. The gods guided our path here. This was all meant to be. By that logic, perhaps freeing Loften is meant to be too. Think of all that’s happened to make it possible. Going to the Remnant Realm, finding the gorger, taking the amulet, falling through the veil in just the right way for Loften to find us. A god that may have been exiled, but we are still taught to worship in Alveron.”

“He’s also the only member of the Pantheon that has bothered to make an appearance,” Hump said. “Albeit, his reason was entirely selfish, which doesn’t bode too well. Whatever the case, we’re in another world, without any other allies or a way home. The veil is open, Bud. Unless you want to leave Alveron to deal with it without us and find a nice place to settle down here, we only have one choice.”

Bud looked over them and then nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“We’re all tired, my friend. There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“There is. I can see how strange all this appears too. Worse than strange—it feels like I’ve been lied to. It’s just…  I don’t know where to go from here. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been Bud, Knight of Kelisia. The words of the warlocks did not sway me. The words of the traitor Chosen did not either. But Lord Loften himself is here… How am I supposed to know what to do?”

As the knight trailed off, Hump placed a hand on his armoured shoulder and squeezed. He met Bud’s eyes. “I do not know what the gods intend for us or the world. What I do know, is that your faith has turned you into the person you are today. Not a person that blindly follows what they would have you do, but idyllic knight obsessed with heroism that would ally with a blasphemous hedge wizard he stumbled over in a field in the middle of the night. Someone that would stand by his friend when his soul was afflicted and turned into a warlock. Someone who doesn’t act because the gods or anyone else tells him to, but because he knows what is right. Like Dylan said, the mysteries of the gods don’t matter, Bud, because whatever they intend, I know that good or bad, you’ll do what you believe is right. Even after all we’ve been through, you’ve clung to those heroic ideals and we’re all better off for it.” Hump jabbed a finger at the steel plate on Bud’s chest. “What you decide to do now doesn’t come from anywhere but in here. What does it tell you?”

Bud smiled at him. “To find a way home. To help our people.”

Hump grinned back and gave a nod. “Damn right.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Converting others to blasphemy is a hobby if anything.”

There was a thud behind them. Dylan was on the ground, lying on his back. A weak groan escaped his mouth.

“Gods, Dylan,” Emilia said, gently holding his head.

“You’ve talked so much nonsense that Dylan’s passed out,” Celaine snapped at Hump.

“You’re blaming me?”

“I’m alright,” Dylan wheezed. “Sorry. I wasn’t quite ready to be moving but didn’t want to sit that one out.” He chuckled, then stopped as a pained grimace came over his face. “We met a god. One of the Twelve!”

“We sure did,” Hump said.

“I’m the one that’s sorry, Dylan,” Bud said. “I got so caught up in my own head I forgot how badly you’re injured. How’s the arm?”

Dylan raised his left arm. “This one’s great.” Then he wiggled the stub that remained on the other. “This one seems to have been misplaced.”

“With any luck, the alchemy skills on this one may rival ours,” Hump said. “Maybe we can grow you a new one or find you a prosthetic.”

“I’d like that.”

“Loften is your god of craft, isn’t he?” Celaine said. “His followers must be skilled in such things.”

“More reason to head to the city sooner rather than later,” Bud said.

“Sooner, but not now,” Hump said. “Best not to rush things. We’re all exhausted. We’re in a new world lacking information. Dylan needs to recover before we move anyway. Let’s sleep on the decision. I suggest we head inside and spend the night here then get started tomorrow.”

“No,” Dylan said. “Gods, no. Not inside. Leave me out here amongst the trees. It may be different to our world, but I’ve been stuck in cities for far too long the essence here is intoxicating.”

“I could do with a night under the stars,” Emilia said. “Better than in this place. If anything comes for us in the night, we can move inside.”

Hump sensed the intoxicating essence too. Nature surrounded them, warm and full of life, yet somehow different too. It was… orderly. Lacking the randomness of nature. More like the sensation Hump got from an artifact like the Silver Sprig than standing in a natural forest. Most likely, it had something to do with how Loften had constructed his grand artifacts to hold the world together. Perhaps he had to regulate the essence so that islands like this could thrive. Still, it was soothing to his soul, and the idea of learning more filled Hump with an excitement he hadn’t had for a while.

Too long they’d been fighting warlocks. Camping out in an unknown forest was exactly what he needed. Preferably, they would all have all their limbs though.

“I can’t argue with that,” Hump said. “I’ll get started on an alarm system.”

“I’ll take care of food,” Celaine said. “Emilia, Bud, you should both rest too. You may not be hurt as badly as Dylan but neither of you look good.”

***

Hump lay in his hammock, swinging between two trees and gazing up at the unfamiliar stars through the canopy. There were two moons, one that looked like a larger, brighter version of his own, and the other small and pale green, trailing the first through the sky.

The forest was beautiful. The feeling of nature filled Hump with warmth. His nature affinity felt more powerful than ever since he reached Rank 6, though it was only now that he could truly test it. Dylan was right, being in the city was truly awful compared to this.

Nisha preferred it too. She’d adapted to this world even better than he’d anticipated. It was nothing like the barren lands of the Remnant Realm. The essence here was rich, perhaps even more so than in Alveron. Only, given what Loften had said, Hump suspected that the density was more because the world was being destroyed than a naturally higher essence density.

“Can I join you?” Celaine asked.

Hump glanced at her standing beside him in the dark. “I’m not sure that’s how hammocks work, but you’re welcome to try.”

Somehow, she managed to wriggle her way into the hammock without swaying it in the slightest, nestling against his side.

“How are you?” she whispered.

“Exhausted. You?”

“The same. Is it bad that I don’t mind that we’re here?”

Hump shook his head. “I was wondering the same thing. We’ve been fighting too long. Being stuck here with no simple way home feels like a break more than anything. I’m sure it won’t last, and I am worried about everyone, but…”

“It’s out of our control.”

Hump nodded.

“This place will be good for Nisha,” Celaine said. “She needs some time in the wilds, and a place rich in essence, floating islands, and towering mountains is perfect for her to grow. Much better than Elenvine.”

Hump listened to Nisha’s breathing on the ground beside him. She was fast asleep. Even in a new environment, her exhaustion had overwhelmed her excitement.

“She’s already grown so much,” Hump said. “That fire she used on Dylan, have you ever heard of anything like it?”

“Yes, but not from the Dragon Keepers.”

“Then from where?”

“Stories. If she has truly inherited the fire of a phoenix, I can’t imagine what she might turn into. Already she shows signs of being more than a wolf dragon.”

“You think she might become a true dragon one day?”

Celaine turned over and stared into his eyes, smiling at him. “With you as her Keeper, anything is possible.”

***

“That’s a long way up,” Hump said, squinting at the next island overhead.

Above them, Nisha roared as she soared between the floating isles, weaving effortlessly around jutting cliffs and dangling vines. She was majestic—fast and elegant as she moved, completely at home in this place. Hump could have watched her for hours. Every beat of her wings sent exhilaration through their bond. She radiated pure joy, curiosity brimming as she chased strange scents and marvelled at the living sky around her.

She was stronger than ever. Larger than ever. Large enough that Hump could dream of flying with her soon enough.

“You’ll need to attempt some short distance flights soon,” Celaine said. “She’s not big enough to carry you on her back yet, but maybe in her claws.”

“Like a package?” Hump asked.

“You ever seen an eagle pick up a rabbit?” Celaine asked. “More like that.”

“That sounds so undignified. I don’t want to be a rabbit.”

It took them about half the day to reach the edge of the island, and now that they were at the end the distance to the next one made things difficult. The gap was perhaps a hundred paces they would need to get a good amount higher into the air too. That part was alright, the issue was if they fell. Firestorm clouds boiled like a churning inferno below, pulsing with such powerful essence that it hurt to stare at it too long.

“We’re going to want to avoid falling down there,” Emilia said in a dry tone.

Hump turned slowly to her, blinking. “Usually, I’m the one to give such valuable insight.”

She scrunched her nose at him, unimpressed.

“When Loften said the world was falling to pieces, it was hard to imagine,” Celaine said. “I think I’m starting to see the issue.”

As they neared one of the islands, a powerful essence pillar rose beneath it, holding it in place.

“Dylan, you think you can get us over there?” Hump asked.

Dylan had already manifested some seeds for Grasping Vines. “No problem.”

Three vines erupted from the seeds, twisting around a number of thick trees under Dylan’s direction before twisting together into a spiral and beginning to expand over the gap. It took a few minutes, but soon they had a bridge.

The longest bridge Hump had ever walked.

By the time he’d reached the other side, he decided learning a flying spell as soon as possible would be a good idea. He stared to the distant city, now thinking his guess at the distance may have been optimistic.

“How many more of these islands do you think we need to cross?” Hump asked.

Celaine followed his eyes. “A lot.”

“That’s not a number.”

“At least another twenty. Some of the gaps might be too big though.”

“Might be time for you to learn some flying magic for us, Hump,” Bud said. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

A sharp screech cut through the air.

Hump spun toward the sound, heart leaping, only to feel Nisha’s excitement flood their bond. He looked up just in time to see her dive through a flock of strange, long-winged creatures. She caught one in her jaws mid-dive and flapped back toward them, wings wide, tailing whipping with pride.

The flailing beast didn’t last long. She chomped down hard, ending its fight in one powerful snap. Then, as if showing off, she glided overhead with the prize still hanging from her mouth.

“Maybe she can catch some for us too,” Celaine said. “It might be tricky to shoot one down and have it land anywhere other than the fire below, and they seem to be avoiding the islands.

Hump watched Nisha eat. “Can’t imagine why.”