RE: Monarch

Chapter 106: Sanctum XXXI

It felt like it took months to get down that mountain, Jorra complained. But his words didnt hold the same bite as before, feeling more as if they were directed at the sanctum itself than any of us. Also, were underground. And yet, big snowy mountains. It makes no sense.

Oh? Bell piped up, her eyes crinkling in a smile. The traditional braid that followed behind her bobbed back and forth as we walked. And the desert was so logical? And the spooky mossy forest. And the underground tunnel filled with smelly lizards

See, Maya pivoted mid-step, so she was walking backwards, looking at both of them, The tunnels were more what I was expecting.

Right? Jorra exclaimed.

Although, had you paid attention, little brother, you would have heard mother and father mention the echoes.

Echoes? I glanced over at Maya. She nearly tripped, taking a few quick backward hops until she righted herself. Once she did, she glanced away quickly, cheeks flushed.

Yes. The larger chambers we have been traversing populated with similar sections of land to the overworld.

I never heard them say anything along those lines, Jorra muttered.

They did not often speak of them. Because these areas are meant to be much more rare.

That caught my attention. How is that possible? Practically every chamber weve entered has had something from the outside world.

The configuration is changing, Bell said.

Everyone has heard of smaller chambers shifting, passages closing. But transformation this scale? Maya asked.

My father said it was possible. Bellarex said, as an illusory silhouette seemingly unfurled on the peripheral of my vision. I didnt have to look to guess who It was. Erdos. I knew if I looked at him, Bells late father would be smiling that same sad smile. I shook my head to clear the image, and Bellarex continued to speak, That in times of great strife or war, the sanctum would often rearrange itself in big ways. Like it was trying to fend off invaders, or give us access to the things we needed.

So if thats true Jorra trailed off.

Then the sanctum sees Thoth as an existential threat. I finished, my hand tightening around the hilt of my sword.

Such a large magical entity threatened by a single person. Maya shook her head. It is difficult to fathom.

Or theres something bigger happening on a level we dont know about. Bell said. She smiled. Its quite exciting. I never thought anything like this would happen in my lifetime. Or that Id get to be a part of it. Just wish the circumstances werent so

Dire? Jorra asked, dryly.

Yes. Bell replied. A bit of the energy seemed to go out of her step, then she suddenly ran up beside her. Im going to scout ahead.

You have the signal orb? I asked, referring to the water beads Jorra had infused and magically linked.

Got it.

Okay, Maya said, Be careful.

As I watched Bell sprint into the distance, I tried to ignore the specter of Erdos that lingered at the sides of my vision. It had been happening more and more since my discussion with Morthus, and I wasnt ready to unpack what it meant.

Instead, I tried to focus on the positive: the tension that had held the group in a stranglehold for days had finally released. It wasnt perfect. All Id really done was take our pursuer off the board. My biting words were guaranteed to have a lingering effect, even though they were said in a guiseit was to their credit that they seemed to have risen above it, taking an event that could have easily dissolved the group and using it to fuel their motivation and focus. It was a much-needed reminder that I chose my companions well.

Something bothers me about what Bell said. I squinted my eyes, scanning the snow strewn canyon for anything resembling a threat.

About the sanctum? Maya asked.

We know that Thoth is set on doing something to the prime leyline. Maybe releasing the monsters within the chamber, maybe something more nefarious.

The first thing already sounds plenty nefarious, Jorra commented.

My point is, I continued, The target is obvious to us. And we know practically nothing about this place. I can only assume it's much more obvious to the sanctum itself.

A flash of realization crossed Mayas face. So why is the sanctum not doing more to stop her?

I nodded. There are all sorts of serious threats down here lurking off the beaten path, correct? Things that could snuff us out as a matter of course.

Vivisectaurs, Ivory Trolls, Drakes, Bile Frogs Jorra listed a half dozen other creatures until he ran out of fingers to count off. Yeah. Pretty much any of those would destroy us in a straight fight. It wouldnt even be close.

I would not be surprised, given what I know about her Mayas eyes flicked to Jorra, then back to me. If she had some way of fooling the sanctum itself. It is the only possibility that makes sense.

Jorra visibly shivered.

We walked in silence, considering that. Verdant indigo grass peeked out from the thinning snow, shyly reaching out towards the clouded dome that made up our sky. Small animals moved through the brush. In my minds eye, I saw the man that I had killed.

There was no question in my mind that I made the right decision. Id guessed, through a mix of simple logical leaps and a bit of luck that there was tension between Thoth and Cowl. But somehow it still didnt sit well. Even though the desperate, last second offer to assist us was total bullshit. If I was more confident in my ability to manipulate, maybe I could have set up a scenario where helping us was his only option. We never couldve trusted him, but the idea of killing more full developed mages that Thoth had pulled to her side felt wasteful. It was all too easy to forget the outside reality when I was in the enclave and sanctum, surrounded by magic users with awakened elements. Amongst the dwarves, or even my people, each magician taken off the board would be a much more serious loss. The elves were the only group where magic was equivalently bountiful.

I scanned the surrounding hills where Jorra disappeared, looking for any trace of him. Thoth and my father had one thing in common: the primary tool in their diplomatic repertoire was a hammer. I wasnt underestimating Thoth after hundreds of years spent manipulating nations and leading forces, that would be a foolish assumption. Instead, I was betting based on my experiences with her that she had simply grown tired of the nuance. Id experience that to a much lesser extent. When you solve a puzzle the first time, at the moment when all the pieces finally come together to form a coherent whole, theres a sense of excitement, of exhilaration. But if you try to solve the same puzzle again, it becomes rote. Instead of being caught up in the solving of the thing, as you were the first time, you start prioritizing efficiency over exploration, the joy of it mostly gone. Thoth had already solved this section of puzzle many, many times.

I had to be better. More willing to put myself out there, to explore, regardless of risk. Unlike Thoth, I didnt have the power or sheer quantity of foreknowledge to rely solely on those brutal efficiencies. This current situation wasnt ideal for that, not with the crisis of the current loop looming over my shoulder. But it was something to keep in mind for the future.

I gave Bell a welcoming smile as she returned, and Jorra took over the scouting. We passed the last vestige of mountain, a shallow, jutting granite alcove where the grass gave way to damp black soil. It was, perhaps, only because of this contrast that I noticed: a series of asymmetrical bulbous knots that dappled the dark floor with radiant gold.

Was that what I thought it was?

Mind keeping watch for a minute? I asked Maya. Maya glanced over to me, then the alcove.

Alchemist business?

Possibly.

Maya shifted the pack off her shoulder, letting it slide to the ground with a grunt. I will help. Just like old times.

But before she could move, Bell caught her arm. Let me do it.

I nearly shut down that idea. Though it had been quite some time, Maya and I had worked together on apothecary business in the past during our stint in the Everwood. She knew the process and how to help. But then, I saw what Bell saw. Maya looked tired. And not just physically. Sure, there were dark circles around her eyes, and her posture slumped, but there was an air of weariness that surrounded her very being. It struck me then, knowing her as I did, that the events of the last day had likely affected her more than she let on.

Its fine, Maya, I said, its nothing complicated. Let Bell work off some energy.

Maya sagged a bit, then nodded assent.

Bell followed me to the alcove, where we both ducked down beneath the waist-high ceiling. The air was thick and humid. When I placed my hand against a nearby craggy wall to steady myself, it came away wet with condensation. It all served as further confirmation.

What are they? Bell asked, cocking her head at the little cluster of golden mushrooms.

Bounty Caps, I said. At least I hoped they were. But as I compared their attributes to my notes, my confidence grew: a white stalk, crowned by a golden cap ranging from 3 to 5 inches in diameter. And there were dozens of them. From what Casikas had told me, the mushrooms were going to be my bottleneck for this particular potion. They were hard to find, mainly because they only grew in areas with a very specific combination of humidity and altitude.

Still, there was only one way to know for sure. I plucked a mushroom from the dirt, and slid the edge of a small utility knife against the center of its stalk, splitting it into two halves.

I sucked in a breath. The core of the stalk was silver, serving as a final confirmation.

Quickly, I instructed Bell how to harvest them, putting special emphasis on taking it slow. I could guess she was curious and wanted to ask more questions, but put them off for the moment, instead focusing on the work. But the silence lingered too long.

You know, you were right, Bell said, her voice low.

I froze for a half-second before recovering, returning to my task of removing the caps from the stems, so they could be properly stored.

About what?

Why arent you looking at me? The question was stark, bare of the playful undertone that usually punctuated everything Bell said.

I glanced up, and the intensity in her gaze caught me off guard. Though scarlet infernals tended to be magically weaker than their counterparts, Id always found them to look the most fearsome. They tended to overwork their bodies to compensate for the state of their magic. While some, like Mayas father, didnt exactly fall into this category, Bell certainly did. That she was an inch shorter than me did nothing to lessen the effect. Her sleeveless tabard revealed solid muscle from forearm to shoulder, and when she was high alert, she generally walked with the gait of someone who was prepared for trouble.

Most of the time, her congenial face offset this intensity. Despite a handful of tiny scars and a significant one that crossed her nose, she was always smiling, always cheery, her round face a contrast to Mayas defined and regal features. Only now, the smile was gone.

I remember, the night the lieutenant came to give me the news. That my father was a traitor, and that he had died. He wasnt gloatingthe lieutenantbut he seemed so self-satisfied.

A familiar ache plied me. Im sorry, Bell. That shouldnt have happened.

At first I was angry. Convinced that my father had died due to petty political maneuvering between council members. But then Ralakos told me more. The depth of his treason. That my father was working with Ephira, and that it had something to do with the enclaves demon problem.

Why are you bringing this up now? I asked. But I knew. My little performance on the mountaintop had opened old wounds, and this was the price.

Because you were right. About me. I wasnt ready. And I got the elder killed.

No. We wouldnt have made it this far without you, that should be obvious, I said, Youre an accomplished fighter and an excellent void mage. You came highly recommended.

Bell laughed, the noise ringing with a manic edge. No elder, magician, or scholar would have ever told you that to succeed in the sanctum you would need a void mage.

Your abilities have been invaluable-

and yet, Ive done nothing that a well-trained scarlet or blue with a decent grasp on their element could have done better.

Bell- I tried again, but she cut me off.

And as a fighter? Sure, Im good. Excellent, even. But any advisor worth their salt would have made clear the difference between a fight in the arena and a fight in the sanctum.

And yet, youve proved yourself at every turn.

Now I have, Bell said.

I closed my eyes, finally understanding what she was driving at and dreading it.

And I get that I sound really ungrateful right now. Her voice broke, finally sounding more like the young infernal that I had come to know. And Im not. Im really not. That third night at Ralakoss estate, Id barely slept. My family was gone. All I could think about was how my life was over. Id never find a team for the sanctum, let alone a sponsor. And then you knocked on my door, asked me to spar. Then, inexplicably, asked me to join you once more. And I was so relieved I didnt even stop to wonder why?

That same memory played at the fringes of my mind. I pushed it away. It would not help me here.

I opened my eyes. Bell. You remembered when we fought outside the barracks for the first time? You, me, and Jorra?

Bell nodded. She had no way of knowing this, of course, but in many ways that fight mirrored our very first conflict, at the beginning of the enclave loop. The only difference was that I didnt use the same cheap trick I had the first time.

I smiled, shaking my head. You wiped the floor with us.

Bell looked a little guilty. I thought you were trying to punish me for my fathers sins under the guise of friendly competition. I would not ordinarily have fought that hard in a simple spar.

I snorted. Somehow, I doubt that. I get that part of what youre asking is if pity was a factor. And maybe it was, in the initial conversation. But that aspect died as soon as the skirmish began. And in the end, you won.

I seem to remember it ending in a tie.

An uneven spar, where both sides are so exhausted they cant even stand? I shook my head. Thats clearly your victory.

Bell smiled for a moment, some playfulness coming back into her face. You were wheezing.

Was not.

Pretty sure there was wheezing.

Youre misremembering, I corrected. That was obviously Jorra.

Bell snickered. The tension lessened. Sensing the moment had come, I sat across the mushrooms from her. After the slightest hesitation, she joined me.

I let out a long sigh. You want the truth?

Bell nodded.

Very well. Yes, Ralakos initially asked me to check on you. Bell bristled, but I pushed on before she could speak. And knowing nothing about you apart from your hobbies I suggested sparring on a lark, knowing it was something we both had in common. I grinned. And then you wrecked us. And when you look at the context, I think its clear who got the better part of the deal.

I watched as Bell seemed to process that, evaluate it. Then the tension broke. She smiled toothily, leaning forward with her palms on her knees, Guess I should have asked for a stipend.

Damn right, you should have.

The alert sphere jostled twice in my pocket, indicating a non-imminent problem, and in the span of a blink, Bell was gone, scrambling out of the alcove and sprinting in the direction that Jorra had headed. I chased after her alongside Maya, who had paused to wait for us. I watched as the distance between us grew, Bells short-cropped braids bounced helpless with her fervent pace.

My smile faded.

To quote Thaddeus once more, the best lies are closest to the truth. The vast majority of what I had told Bellarex was accurate. I hadnt thrown the spar. Granted, I hadnt used my gauntlet, or fallen back on the same dirty trick I used to win the first time. But I had fought my heart out alongside Jorrawho wouldnt throw a spar to save his lifeand we still lost. I truly had faith in her abilities.

But shed been so close to rooting out the lie.

It wasnt pity that brought me to her door.

It was guilt.

Everything alright? Maya said.

I shook my head, pushing back the memory that hounded me. There were better things to focus on. Jorras alert. Some very special potions to brew. It was better to focus on the present.

It will be, I said.

/////

We crested a hill, and stopped a meter behind Jorra in collective awe. From here we should have been able to see the edge of the dome. But instead, there was a gargantuan gatenot unlike the entrance gate to the enclave, but far more complex and ancient in design. The gate was filled with violet darkness.

My amulet burned, and I summoned Vogrin. He hopped out, gawked at the gate alongside the rest of us, then studied it, grumbling to himself.

Whats wrong? I asked him.

Everything.

How is it wrong, Vogrin? Maya asked.

This. Vogrin pointed at the portal, as if its very presence offended him. Was not here when my constructs mapped the perimeter.

Thoth? I asked.

No, Vogrin shook his head, Something this substantial would kill even the strongest arch-mage in milliseconds.

The sanctum shifted, Maya realized.

In a massive, massive way. I need to do some more analysis, but I can tell you at a glance this thing is an exorbitant resource drain.

What if the Sanctum is trying to give us a shortcut? Bell asked.

Something cold gripped me. According to what Vogrin had said earlier, we werent far from Thoth, and by extension, the prime leyline. So, why now?

That I trailed off, staring at the gate. I could see faces in darkness, faint and twisted. Or its trying to slow us down.