Exile nodded as he listened to the report one of his Pantheon’s players gave him from Mikari. ‘The protective dome is gone from Valheim and the Deep Stalkers are initiating probing attacks.’ He sighed as he continued to make the fire element flow through his body.
‘Mikari thinks it won’t be long until they launch another all-out offensive.’ Exile cocked an eyebrow as he was finally able to make the element flow through his mental threads toward the spell he was creating.
“Tell Mikari to prioritise the safety of the players. There’s no point in saving Valheim if there’s nobody left to inhabit it.” Exile said as he waited for the sound of the messenger leaving. “Is there something else?”
“Yes, there have been reports of strange weather to the west of Skardia. It only lasted a brief time, but the NPCs seem concerned about it.”
“Hm, dispatch someone to look into it. I want to know if it’s the result of something we should be careful about. In the future tell Mikari to look into anything that seems out of the ordinary. He doesn’t need my permission to allocate people to it.”
Exile nodded in satisfaction as the player left him alone. ‘Now I can concentrate.’ However, as soon as he gave his spell his full attention he found it difficult to make any progress. ‘Damn, what’s going on?’
Exile cursed as he analysed the difference. ‘I’m being too forceful. When I was distracted I wasn’t pushing as hard for it to accept the fire element.’ Once he realised that, he switched up his approach. He gently pushed it to move through the mental threads and found that it worked.
‘Good, I might be able to create a few spells before I have to leave.’ he thought about the few he had already made and groaned. Although they had helped him before, they would become worthless once he created the new ones. ‘I guess that’s part of learning from my mistakes.’
Exile’s eyes narrowed as the thread turned golden with fire burning along them. They took the shape of a rune as Exile studied the power behind that spell. ‘So I need the rune to provide the true meaning and the element from within myself to provide the fuel that can match the power.’
[Congratulations, you have created the divine spell Firefly!]
[(Rune) Firefly: Create ten fireflies that autonomously fly around your body. When an enemy or their spell comes within 20m the fireflies will intercept them. Each firefly contains 10% of your total Authority and stacks to increase its power. They will always expend enough of their number to counter a spell or damage your enemy. (Note: Firefly will only intercept spells capable of harming you.) Cost: 30 DP] .
Exile nodded in satisfaction as he read the results of his labour. ‘I should be able to create lightning spells and mimic the effects of the hearth authority using these runes.’ Exile rubbed his chin as he wondered how to achieve that. ‘I’ll need to see about creating a dark spell as well. ‘I’ll need to be careful with the cost as well. Perhaps I should listen to Amari’s advice and create a spell that activates on touch.’
Exile’s eyes narrowed as he started to plan his next spell. ‘This’ll increase my ability to fight longer while displaying greater power.’ Mental threads spread before him as he began testing what form the rune would take.
Meanwhile, Allyce spluttered as she came to in a feathered bed. Her vision swam for a few seconds as she was overcome by nausea. She groaned as her vision stabilised and she saw the figure sitting on a chair beside her bed.
“Why?” Allyce asked as she tried to understand why her mother had given her the beating of a lifetime.
“I’ll tell you why my foolish daughter.” Queen Ciena said as she gracefully swept her golden hair behind her ears. “Because you’re an idiot!”
Allyce watched as her mother ruffled her golden feathered wings draped over her shoulders. Allyce frowned as she noticed her mother’s anger hidden under her calm visage. ‘What did I do wrong?’
Ciena shook her head when she realised her daughter did not understand. “You’ve pledged yourself to a god. Tell me, how much time did you spend with him? Are you certain he will be a vessel for the light? What about other candidates for the secret fire? Did you find any? Were they lacking compared to the god you now serve?”
“No,” Allyce replied with shame in her voice.
“I thought not.” Ciena scoffed as she gazed out the window at the featherlings flying by. “You’ve doomed your nest to follow this god to the bitter end. Your sisters will eventually find their own candidates for the other elements. You know what will happen if your god turns to darkness, right?”
“Yes, mother. I’ll be sure to guide him down the right path.”
“I should think so. I don’t want to see any of you banished from this place. We can’t allow any of the first elements to be corrupted by the dark.” Ciena sighed as a faraway look appeared in her eyes. “We don’t want a repeat of the War of the Fallen. I can already sense that the Dark Divine Beast, Nar’Kozz, is recovering his power in the heavens.”
“Nar’Kozz the Devourer?” Allyce asked with shock on her face. “I thought he was killed when Jor slayed Lofine.”
“If it only it were that simple, Allyce.” Ciena shook her head as she gazed at her daughter. “Nar’Kozz is a divine beast created by a Calamity level God. Twisted by the darkness in his master’s heart. He went into hiding as the war raged on. It seems like he’s been hibernating for all this time.”
“Will he return to the mortal realm?” Allyce asked as a shiver ran down her spine.
“Maybe, if the gods fail to vanquish him.” Ciena wore a deep frown as she considered the most likely outcome. “Nar’Kozz has likely grown weak during his slumber. He’ll need to devour a huge amount of divinity to return to his previous peak. If the Skardian gods fail, he’s sure to bring destruction and devastation to our realm.”
“I have to warn Exile. He’s a Skardian god. Maybe he can do something about it.” Allyce groaned as she attempted to slip out of bed.
“Rest for now,” Ciena said as she placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder and pushed her back down. “I’ll have one of your sisters fetch the records about him. You can contact your god once you understand the extent of the threat that is Nar’Kozz.”
“Won’t you do anything to help, mother?” Allyce asked as she gazed into her mother’s golden eyes. She understood that her mother had no intention of taking part in aiding the new gods. “Why not? You can travel to the heavens using your own power! You could help them!”
“Allyce, I’m a relic of the past. It’s time for the new generation to fight for the future.” Ciena said as a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. “Besides, I suspect I’ll have to take care of an old friend of mine. Someone who shouldn’t be meddling in these affairs either.”
“Who?” Allyce asked as she clenched her jaw against the pain wracking her body.
“Just an overgrown snake who seems to have forgotten his place.” Ciena chuckled as her gaze sharpened. “Now rest, I’ll be gone for a while.”
Allyce nodded as she watched her mother take her leave. ‘What was that last bit about?’ She wondered as she sensed a faint rage radiating in the air. ‘Ugh, I hope she sends Killi for the information. I couldn’t stand it if she sends Jaenra. She’ll be all too happy to gloat at my pain!’
Ciena strode through the rocky corridors of her palace with a solemn expression on her face. ‘That foolish daughter of mine managed to do some good at least.’ Ciena groaned as she refused to admit that out loud. ‘Dretheir couldn’t contain his bloodlust. He must’ve caught her scent. If she hadn’t gone to Skardia then would he have revealed himself?’
Ciena shivered as she remembered the threatening sensation that had reached her across the sea. ‘He’s more powerful than before. He must’ve subjected himself to one of the new gods and received some powers in exchange.’
Ciena pushed the door open to her throne room where five gorgeous women that looked similar to each other quietly waited with their heads bowed. ‘It’s too late to do anything about these developments. We can only react for now until we can gain the initiative.’
“Jaenra, fetch all the information we have on Nar’Kozz the Devourer from the archives. be sure to deliver it to Allyce’s room as soon as possible!” Ciena silently smiled to herself. She knew that pair of her daughters had always been competitive toward each other. “The rest of you. Prepare your nests. War may be coming to our shores. We can no longer stay hidden from the affairs of the world. Search far and wide for suitable candidates.”
“Yes, mother!” The five women answered as they kneeled.
“I’m going for a flight to clear my head. You are all forbidden from following me. I can take care of myself. I don’t need bodyguards.” Ciena projected an authoritative voice as she glared at her daughters. She could sense their hesitation at that order, but she knew once one of them agreed, the rest would follow.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Killi, her oldest daughter, eventually replied. Quickly followed by the others.