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The Tired One
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Two Brothers
There was a silence among the Aroiox as they gathered around a corpse of another, the face of who had been their previous leader being unrecognizable with a broken beak and a shattered skull. Blood had poured around the corpse and a bloodied rock could be found only mere wing-lengths away from the body. It had clearly been a murder, such an act was only to be expected when someone held a position of power or if one had held a grudge against their leader.
“A kill-murder has been done-plotted against him!” the shout a voice came from the crowd of onlookers, a male pushing through standing tall and proud. “It force-brings great sad-anguish upon us! But we must-need to keep fly-moving as the god-divine have willed! Vakk told-commanded us to prove-show that we are worthy!”
The other Aroiox focused on the young male, an odd mixture of curiosity, support, and skepticism showed among their faces. It was almost enough to send young Kavka back into the crowd to hide, but he refused as this was his chance to lead the people through the maze and prove to Vakk that he was worthy as a leader. This moment was his, and he refused to let that moment escape him as he knew some other would likely try and take the glory that belonged properly to him.
Kavka was cunning, just as the rest of his kin was, but he knew that making enemies would be detrimental to his grab for power.
“If any desire to wish-show then pray-tell Vakk to smite-kill me now!” He shouted, raising his hands into the air and looking in the crowd for any who bowed their head to pray. “Those who support-help me seek-find the exit to this maze-puzzle then step-move forwards!”
And one stepped forward.
Yreu was more slightly built than his brother, Kavka, though most among their tribe were. Where Kavka had strength and kindness, Yreu had wit and knowledge. It was bearing this in mind that the other Aroiox listened to him speak.
“All of you which see-behold my brother, consider-think on what could be found on the flip-other side of this maze-puzzle,”
It paused, looking each other of the assembled group in the eye, and spoke again, more slowly this time. “I have been thinking-contacting the god that we have yet-not seen. The other side-form-being to Vakk. It, too, wishes-commands us to escape. If we can-will. With two-one god beings wish-commanding us, how can we refuse-stay?”
Kavka gave a look of pure joy to his brother, a giving a sound of happiness before focusing on the task that had been given to them. “Yes-yes. We must continuing fly-moving!” The smaller brother chirped stretching his wings and stepping forward. “Our creator-masters have commanded it and so it must-will be done.”
He eyed his brother for a moment before walking to Yreu’s side a slinging an arm over the shoulder of the cunning one, who rustled his feathers. “Kin-family,” he said simply looking at the others, “They make-forge us to be strong-tough. That is how-why we will make-move our path-way through this puzzle-maze.”
Yreu simply nods. So it was, and so it was now known. “So lead-tell us, kin-leader. Where to now?”
Kavka looked at the massive walls of the maze, looking left a right and attempting to formulate a plan on the best way to go through the maze. He made a noise before shrugging, “I guess-suppose we move-fly where the maze-puzzle takes-wills us.” It was clear that he did not quite know where they were in the maze of how long the journey would take them, but Kavka had the will to lead his family forward.
---
And from the great Sky-eyes, This One watched the coup. It was intrigued by the creatures. It had never thought that such beings would be so wondrous. But, unfortunately, mere power struggles were not all that Eurysthenes found entertaining.
---
He spread his wings and took flight, following the walls of the maze. Looking back, he could see Yreu and his tribe following close by. A feeling a pride and accomplishment flowed through him as he slowed his pace to fly next to his brother for a short while.
“I thank-appreciate the support-help, brother-kin,” Kavka said wholeheartedly, looking to his brother with joy in his eyes.
Yreu nodded in response, “You are brother-kin, I will support-help no matter what.”
The two shared a look, familial bonds bring them closer and closer before their attention went back to flying. Their eyes scanned for what may be an exit amongst the twists and turns of the maze as their wings carried them. However, something caught their eyes, bringing them to a halt as the brothers shared a more concerned look. Just beyond them sprawled a small pool of water, thin rays of fog filtering upwards through the musty light of the Maze. The fog reached further up than either Yreu or Kavka could see, and the pool stretched to the edge of the wall.
“Fog,” Kavka commented simply, looking at the spread of water and the massive curtain that stood in front of them. The brothers looked up and down before Kavka motioned for the people to land as they curiously looked at massive cloud. It was a few moments of silence as Kavka touched the water and swiped his hand through the fog, never seeing such things before.
Yreu took a step forward looking to his brother before speaking, “Curious think-puzzle by two-face god-divine.” The more intuitive of the brothers began to formulate ideas and solutions, knowing that knowledge was always an answer rather than the violence they were bred with. However, the lack of action from Yreu earned a look from Kavka.
“What do you think-believe,” Kavka asked.
Yreu rubbed a talon along the underside of his beak, thinking of the way around this puzzle.
The hand he swiped through the fog shot pain through his thoughts.
“I think-believe this fog is pain-dangerous, and we cannot go through,” he said, grimacing the way only a beak can. They couldn’t use their wings to fly over, the fog stretched higher than they could see. Wings weren’t the solution here.
“... Unless,” Yreu said, flexing his wings. “Kavka,”
“Yes, brother-kin?” Kavka replied, giving him an odd look.
“Our wings do more than use-fly. Watch-see?” Yreu said. He set his heels into the ground and beat his wings, sending gusts of wind into the fog. At first, when it was just Yreu, nothing happened, though as more Aroiox lent their wings in aid, the fog began to disappear until it was gone completely.
Kavka looked with wonder, giving a look of admiration towards his brother as he stepped forward to look further into the maze. “Great work-job, brother-kin! Now we move-fly into maze-puzzle!” With that Kavka took back control of the situation to fly further into the maze, leading the tribe ever further through the Infinite Maze. With it, much time passed with silence and focus on finding the proper way out of the maze.
Then, the passage they were exploring crashed to a halt. A dead end. They turned, only to find the walls behind them folding in on themselves, trapping the tribe in a small room. The walls grew long, vicious faces and bore down on the inhabitants.
“New puzzle-trap by Vakk,” Kavka spoke, backing up into his brother as he looked between the faces before he picked up a rock and chucked it at the faces. Nothing happened other than the rock harmlessly bouncing off one of the many faces of the wall. He let out a light chirp as nothing but a light shimmer happened in response, but he then looked to his kin. They were as confused as he was, but he would not allow himself to be upended by his brother, needing to prove that he was capable as well.
Little did Kavka know that he had already solved the puzzle as a look of surprise came across Yreu’s eyes. “Brother-kin, you are a genius!” he exclaimed, before picking up a rock himself and hurling it at a face, causing it to shimmer.
Kavka let out another chirp before turning to his people. “Kin-tribe! Throw-hurl rock-things at face-walls!” He commanded before picking up more rocks and throwing them haphazardly at the walls, the others joining in as the faces began to shimmer all around them. A collective click, perhaps exchanged through looks, spurred the rest into action. Soon enough, the walls shifted once more.
This room lay cursed. A foggy chamber with a colossal stone monster on on wall, all tentacles and skin, a hallway too narrow to walk through, a knife, and a severed tentacle.
“New puzzle-trap?” Kavka said, looking towards his brother.
---
Lurking under an illusion, These Ones stood above this murder of Aroiox. For the time these two shared a body, there had never been so much tension. Bitterly cold silence separated the two.
”I realise you do not feel anger at this, as you are incapable. Listen. Though I am difficult to use, I am nothing but breath. A debt that cannot be paid, rather mended may be paid with me. What am I, Vakk?”
There was a short silence from That One after Eurysthenes had spoken, yet it felt like an eternity as the Lord of Speech held its tongue. Soon, there was what felt to be a long sigh as Vakk did away with the silence that it had imposed upon Eurysthenes. ”You humiliated me here, perhaps it was more humiliating than when I allowed myself to be killed. You are sorry, and while it pleases me, I will hold this event in my mind. I may not feel anger, but I do feel disappointment.”
Vakk’s soul seemed to move a bit away from Eurysthenes’ own before it continued, ”Know that while I remain in this maze, the actions that you have done are things that I cannot find amenable by a mere apology… but it is a step in the right direction.”
Eurysthenes hung in silence, eyeing Vakk with odd eyes from across the body. It shuffled a little. This was not supposed to go how it did. This isn’t how apologies work. ”Vakk…” it said. It started, as if to say more, but shut its mouth.
A drawing to the dark center of the soul keened on its senses. From there. Despair creeping, hale, tall, and timber, spindle, and stick. Needles for teeth, no truth and no lie. Laying beside and around.
”I’m sorry…” it choked out.
”Eurysthenes…” Vakk responded, before failing to find words. It allowed a moment to pass in that tense silence which enveloped the both of them. ”You do not need to apologize. Your actions were done because I had decided to use you. The disappointment is for both of us.”
”I suppose. Let’s not have that happen again,” This One said. Oddly simplistic, carrying no extra weight except in that there was none. Merely a promise, an agreement, to not hurt each other.
---
The silence that bore into the Aroiox was like a setting sun.
Something significant happened here, they all knew it. The colossal knife, severed tentacle, and wall-beast told a story that words couldn't, even though they had and will continue to do so.
“Kavka, do you feel-know it?” Yreu asked, breathing in deep. The fog clung to his ankles like a drowning animal.
A short silence passed, before Kavka audibly opened his mouth to speak, “A great torment-loss.”
Yreu closed his eyes and let his mind flow outwards and towards full. “Is that so-how?”
Kavka looked to his brother, speaking, “Yes-yes. Much torment-loss.” He allowed himself to walk up to the severed tendril and ran a hand along it, unknowing of what truly transpired in the past. The leader let out a sigh as he closed his eyes as well and attempted to replicate what Yreu was doing, but lacking in the patience to do so.
“Kin-Tribe, we sleep-nest here,” Kavka said as he opened his eyes and continued to walk along the side the tendril.
“Kavka,” Yreu said, shuffling his feet, “This place is cursed-godly. Methinks this is a bad-deathly idea.”
None of the Aroiox knew it. Not really. They felt it, but feeling is different from knowing. Feeling it is wrong can seem like sickness, however, knowing is an all encompassing, maddeningly complete dread. It's what you get when you are acutely aware that something vital to your survival will be removed. This was the difference between Kavka and Ereu in this moment.
Kavka stopped, looking to his brother for a time before continuing his walk along the tentacle in silence as his hand continued to run along it. “We sleep-nest, kin-brother. Much headway-progress made today. Sleep-nest in presence of divine,” he said absentmindedly as he looked over the sickly green skin of the severed tentacle.
Yreu only watched as his brother disappeared into the fog before retreating back to the other Aroiox all the while the fog set in and the gods watched.
We need that elephant, man.
Have a little tavern scene. I'm gonna try to include all the characters in this one, it'll be big fun!
I am glad that Aurix is likable.
I like literally all the character's here. Every. Last. One.
I like literally all the character's here. Every. Last. One.
Aurix
Eventually, someone at the bar came to help Aurix and her increasingly hungry stomach, and she gave the bar worker an expecting look. The two merely stared at each other for a moment before the worker let out a sigh before looking at the drunk man that was next to the lizardfolk, currently laughing with Aurix. Such was the way of a drunken fool who had probably never even seen a laughing lizard in his life, but all the same, Aurix continued her rumbling laughter.
“What would you like,” the worker asked, rather unenthusiastically,
“Meat,” Aurix answered.
“Deer flank or wolf steak?”
“Meat,” the lizardfolk insisted, earning another sigh from the worker.
“Deer flank it is,” the worker said before looking at Auirx, “That will be eight silver pieces.”
Aurix gave the man an inquisitive look before shifting her backpack around her body to inspect what she had. As a lizardfolk, she did not truly understand the necessity of currency as it did not aid the survival of one’s self, but if the soft one’s insisted on using a useless metal then she would gladly give it to them if not to lessen the weight on her back. She sifted through the backpack and eventually retrieve a small golden coin, setting it on the counter.
“Keep silver,” Aurix said, closing her backpack and hoisting back into its place. She watched as the worker walked off, leaving her to patiently wait for her flank of deer, which she did receive after some time. Her mouth salivated as she lifted up the plate to walk to where her allies had been sitting. Pulling up a chair, the lizardfolk began to rip into the flank in a rather savage manner, without a word spoken to her companions and without the use of silverware.
Huzzah, I have a brief respite from work to begin work on yet another post!
Atmav’s Friend
There was a silence along the tribe of Aspasia, a normal thing for the people who felt afraid under Atmav’s rule despite her best attempts to get them into a happier mood. However, each time she tried something Atmav was met with failure after failure as the selka still say her as strange and oppressive. It was a feeling that Atmav did not like for she felt as if her options had been exhausted, despite her people having full bellies and shelter. However, it was the council of Sprite that kept the Queen in good spirits.
“No luck today,” Atmav sighed as she stepped onto the now wooden floor of her great home. Sprite had come to know that Atmav found solace in building her home, making it better and better with each passing day.
She took her seat in her normal spot at the back of the house, letting out a long sigh of defeat as she allowed her sword to fall onto its side, clattering against the ground. Atmav buried her head into her knees as she spoke in a saddened tone, “I do not know what to do, it doesn’t seem like they are trying as hard to be happy as I hard as I try to make them happy.”
“Aaah,” Sprite sighed happily as she flew out from behind Atmav’s throne and perched herself on the woman’s shoulder, “If they don’t want to be happy, then whatever. They only exist to cater to our wishes, you know!! I’m sooo disappointed, by the way, all this time and I haven’t seen you bring a single one to your chambers… Wow, Attie, if you continue like that you’ll be a sorry little virgin your entire immortal life.” Sprite giggled.
Atmav gave a small laugh before speaking, “I have no intention of bringing one of them into my chambers, especially if they don’t like me.” The Queen turned her head towards the small one and gave a warm smile to her. “Besides, I don’t want to hurt any of them. I could accidentally break their bones,” she continued with her laugh.
Sprite grinned and shrugged, “Hey, broken bones can be interesting. And some miiiight like that kind of treatment.” She said, looking up at Atmav with cute, wide puppy eyes.
“Well, maybe you might. Most of the Selka probably wouldn’t,” Atmav chuckled, leaning back in her throne. She let out another sigh as she got comfortable in the throne, letting out a yawn before continuing on, “Besides, none of them are worthy enough for me.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re a queen now, I forgot! You have to be quiet about your indiscretions… Maybe we could build a secluded cabin in the woods with a vast basement for a dungeon…” Sprite hummed and fell into deep thought as she started muttering to herself and gently biting on one of her fingers.
“No, no,” Atmav laughed at the suggestion, “Imagine if they found out about that, they would find me even stranger then.”
“Aren’t rulers supposed to be strange? My father never paid any attention to me, and he was the worst. Yet he still was reaaally popular, you know? Maybe, maybe, maybe people like to follow people that are, I guess, ‘brave’ enough to be mean or strange?” Sprite asked, tilting her head and sitting down.
“Hmm, I suppose you are right. The Eternal Talk had many concubines, but I do not know. I think, I want my first time to be with someone who can match me,” Atmav commented, giving a light laugh.
Sprite smiled tiredly and lied down on Atmav’s shoulder, “I give up! But fair enough, I guess.”
Without warning, a dark figure appeared by the nondescript entrance, a phantasmal crow flickering in and out of existence on each shoulder. A cheshire smile slowly stretched across the gentleman’s white, seasoned face causing lines to form in the corner of his eyes as his smile grew. When his eyes fell on Atmav, a brow suddenly perked.
“Good day.”
At the sudden appearance of the man, Atmav leapt to her feet, instinctively scooping up her sword and readying towards the man. Her wings flared out words like an animal attempting to scare off a predator as she stood her ground. Scarlet energy weaved around the sword as Atmav’s eyeless face stared at the man. She remained silent as she studied the man.
“Oh, none of that,” K’nell waved a dismissive hand as he walked off to the side and up to a waist high counter-table that Atmav had never noticed before. He picked up a tall white carafe from it and began to pour a brown liquid into a crystal glass. He brought it to his lips and took a sip, then another. He turned on his heels to face Atmav again, his face now absent of any surprise, “I’m sorry dear, would you like a drink?”
Sprite who had now managed to cling to one of Atmav’s horns for dear life, turned her head to gaze at K’nell and raised an eyebrow, “Ah!! K’nell, why are you here? Are you here to dance? We can dance! Though I think Atmav would like to dance with you first. Trust me, she has some great moves! But seriously, why are you here?!”
Atmav’s stance relaxed a bit as Sprite spoke to K’nell, her sword lowering slightly but continuing to stay where she was.
“I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong person that question,” He gulped the last of his drink and placed the cup gingerly back on the table, a doily appearing under it. He reached into his jacket pocket and procured two shards and a tiny pearl-like orb. He held his hand out flat, as if presenting them.
Sprite pursed her lips and flew over to K’nell, choosing to stand on the tip of one of his outstretched fingers. As if on cue, three shapes materialised around the shards. The fair blonde woman, Laina, spoke first.
“Hello, we’re here t-”
“To get the group back together and take back our body?” Sprite asked, tilting her head.
Laina bit her lip and nodded, “Y-Yes-”
“I’ve been having a lot of fun without a body, though!”
“Truly?” The elegant one commented, a small mocking smile breaking her expression. K’nell tucked his free arm square behind his back.
“W-Well, yeah!!” Sprite crossed her arms.
“I-I remember now, you’re the one who wanted me to take our dance one step further! Without a body, you won’t be able to do such things.” Laina said, stammering. K’nells brow flicked up and he sipped at his drink, watching as Sprite chewed Laina’s words.
“... Fair enough. But I have things to do.” Sprite deflated a little.
“What things, sis, what things?” Asked the youngest of them all, a little girl who held the brightest grin in the room.
“Aaah!!!” Sprite screamed and pounced on the girl, who in turn screamed herself and started giggling as Sprite peppered her face with kisses.
“As much as this seems like a happy little reunion. What is happening, Sprite?” Atmav interrupted, now having moved forward and dropping the previous aggression that had been showing. As she looked between the forms, her eyeless gaze rested on K’nell and skepticism crept from her expression before moving back to Sprite.
After a few more moments of tickling, kissing and rustling, Sprite looked up disheveled at Atmav while the girl gasped for air and sat up, immediately hugging Sprite’s arm. The short cut, white-haired woman grinned. “These are the other me’s. The blonde one is Laina, the fancy, boring one,” Elegance huffed, “Is just I dunno, fancy and boring I guess. And this right here,” Sprite chuckled, hugged the girl tightly and ruffled her hair, “Is the best Little Sister ever.”
There was a short silence, before Sprite spoke again.
“Any questions?”
“I heard they were here to take back your body?” Atmav asked, her voice bringing a heavy disdain towards her own words.
Sprite looked at her, her own grin faltering until she looked away, sighing.
“You are not leaving, end of discussion,” Atmav said, taking a step back before returning to her throne. K’nell knitted his brow but said nothing.
“Sprite made a promise to me. She will stay by my side,” Atmav informed, her hand resting on the hilt of the greatsword as she leaned back into her throne.
“I-I know I made a promise, Atmav, but this…”
Elegance stood, “Sprite, was it? You must be feeling it as well. The pull, the weakness. The desire to go to the stars in the night sky. Even you.”
Sprite looked at the little girl and shook her head, “I know. I tried to ignore it, but… I know. I’m sorry,” Sprite turned to look at K’nell, “I’m sorry, could you give us some time? There’s a glade a few minutes to the northwest. I’ll meet you there soon.”
“By all means,” K’nell finally spoke, placing his glass back on the table and clearing his throat, “Do you require the others here?”
“No, I’ll meet you all there.” Sprite said and flew off toward Atmav, the other shards dissipating once more.
“Very well,” K’nell’s fingers curled over the shards and he began to turn away. In just a few short steps, against the laws of vision, K’nell was gone.
Sprite sat down on her ankles before Atmav’s throne, looking down at the floor. The tiny woman seemed even smaller when compared to the important piece of furniture.
“I have to go with them, Attie. They need me- The beast, it was so… So big, and dangerous you know? And they’re me. If I abandon them now…” She fell into a silence.
“You made a promise, Sprite,” Atmav started, looking down upon her tiny friend before continuing, “Besides, you have been operating just fine without them. You don’t need them.” She let a long, disappointed sigh as her gaze shifted away from Sprite, shaking her head and putting a hand over her mouth.
“After all we have done together, the countless hours…” Atmav’s voice began to break, her grip tightening over the hilt of her weapon.
Sprite's lip quivered and she flew closer to Atmav, planting a tiny kiss on her nose and embracing her face as well as she could. "I think you have the wrong idea, Attie. I will be back, you know? After all that mess is done I'll come back! I just have to help them get the body back…"
Atmav was silent for a few moments before letting out a long sigh as Sprite hugged her face. “I don’t think that this will be something you can just come back from. You are all a part of the same person, right? You’ll just join them in the end,” she said, conclusion running through her mind as her voice fractured towards the end of her words.
“I am not letting you go, Sprite. I won’t let the gods take away anything else of what I cherish,” she spoke.
"'What' you cherish? I know I may be a little weird, but I'm not a toy, you know. And, well, I technically am a God, you know!" Sprite pulled away from the embrace and floated in front of Atmav's face, "Also, it should be noted I've always been myself and not someone else, even before coming to this universe, we were 6 inside the body!"
“That’s not what I meant,” Atmav explained, leaning even further back into her throne before continuing, “Everything that was good in my life was taken from me when I was dragged into this place, I was brought back to life by the one I swore to kill,” she paused as her head faced away from Sprite, “Vakk has taken everything from me and I do not want to lose anyone else.”
The Queen stabbed her blade into the wooden floor before she rose, stepping past Sprite to look out the entrance. Her gaze went over her subjects for a moment, “I cannot let anything else go. You and these people, these are all I have.”
"Atmav…" Sprite followed Atmav and perched herself on the queen's shoulder. There was a silence as the two looked over the selka. "Life is miserable. It's full of loss and sorrow, and it is all guided by change. I used to wallow in self pity, long ago. I used to cry and kick and curse at the world for hurting me so, for not letting me be happy. And you know what? The world didn't care, and the more I fought and the tighter I held onto my memories and my identity and everything, the worse the pain was."
Sprite curled up, resting her chin on her knees.
"I lost so many thing and so many people. Most just got up, went out a door and disappeared. I hated myself for not being able to keep a hold of them. I hated myself."
"Towards the end of the ordeal, when I had nothing left for the world to take away, I realized it. We're not meant to be happy. We're not meant to find love, or friendship. We're only endlessly shepherded by our emotions and bodies. So, if that was the case, should I not cherish the times when I had a lover? Should I not be happy I had a great friend? Instead of mourning and screaming and grasping at something that'll always be out of reach, should we not be grateful for all the connections we were blessed with, nurture those we have, and gracefully say goodbye to them when they are taken from us?" Sprite sighed, wiping her misty eyes.
"... I was betrayed by my father and thrown into a cell, to be used by the nation as a living battery for the war. My dear Knight came to save me, but he was defeated by my father's guard and executed. I can still hear his mighty, furious screams. My handmaiden and best friend told me she'd save me, but after that day I never saw her again. They're all gone…" A small sob escaped her lips, "And now my first real friend in this world seeks to restrict my freedom, to clip my wings…"
Atmav was silent, unable to speak to Sprite as her lip clearly quivered and she shook her head for a moment. Eventually she drew in a long, shaking breath before speaking in a singular word, “Go.” She did not move and her gaze remained focused on her subjects as they went about their daily activities, unaware of what was happening on the top of the hill.
Sprite nodded and wiped her tears once more, hugging Atmav's neck. "No regrets, Atmav. Anything you want to say or do?"
Atmav was silent for a moment before holding up her hand for Sprite to step onto, and for a moment the Queen held her up to her silent gaze. “Never change, Sprite,” she said simply before planting a delicate kiss on the top of Sprite’s head.
Sprite's silver eyes sparkled and she smiled gently at Atmav before flying off, leaving a trail of mist behind.
Atmav watched Sprite flutter off for a moment before she retreated back to embrace of her throne and melting into it. The silence flowed over her as the happy memories she made with Sprite brought a frown across her face.
“I won’t let go of the memories, at least,” she said to herself.
“Yaaay! Go, fishy! Go, go!” Yelled the girl, jumping and pumping her fist in cheer for the fish that zoomed past them in the creek.
“No! My fish is falling behind! Don’t be useless, put your back into it, you legless rat!” Laina screamed into the water, but it was all for naught, as her fish got distracted by a shiny rock and threw the match. The girl won. Laina fell to her knees and took in a deep breath. “NOOOOO!!”
The girl giggled and practically pounced on Laina, hugging her. “Yay, yay, yay! I won, Sis! Now my prize, pleaseeee!”
Laina chuckled and hugged the girl back and kissed her head, “There! A kiss.”
The girl froze and suddenly looked up at Laina’s face, staring coldly into her eyes, “Huh, no sweets?”
Laina grinned nervously.
“You know sweets are bad for your teeth, dear.” Elegance said, sitting gracefully on a small rock near them.
“Bleh!” The girl shrugged and sat up, then her expression turned sour and she stared off into the forest. The other two did the same, and a moment later, a fourth shard flew into view, leaving a thin mist trail behind her. She flew to the other three and plopped down cross legged next to Elegance.
“Okay, I’m here! Let’s get this done, right? I want to come back as soon as possible! I have a Queen to give advise to!” Sprite said.
“A Queen?” Elegance perked up.
“Yeah, Atmav!”
“She was… Nude. A queen cannot possibly be that crude.”
“Whateeever!! So she likes some extra breeze, who cares! I would take off my clothes right now if it wasn’t for the fact you’d hit my head so hard I’d die.” Sprite rolled her eyes.
“Ah, so why weren’t you nude when we first saw you in that building?”
Sprite froze and after a moment, laughed sheepishly, “Got me.”
“She is a Queen by your suggestion,” A grainy voice suddenly swirled around the group, K’nell’s gentlemanly figure standing in the shade of a nearby tree. He raised a polite palm and his voice return to his mouth, “Excuse me for my abruptness, but is this true?”
Sprite nodded even before turning to face K’nell. “Yeah! She’s a Queen alright! Did you see her throne?”
“Oh I see,” K’nell smiled as if suddenly coming to an understanding, “She is a Queen as per her throne.”
“She rules over that group of primitives, ‘Sprite’?” Elegance asked as nicely as she could, but her twitching upper lip revealed what she truly felt about the Selka.
A short silence took over as Sprite turned to look at the Girl, “Hey, do you like the Selka? I bet you do!”
“Big grey puppies!” The girl grinned before going back to drawing on the dirt.
“H-hey!” Elegance huffed, but relaxed as Laina put a hand on her shoulder and smiled disarmingly at her.
“Can you try to be a little bit nicer to her, Sprite?” Laina asked the short-haired shard, who shrugged.
“Sure, if she stops being a huge bitch.”
Elegance looked about ready to explode, so she quickly stood up and walked off a fair distance away from the group, muttering to herself along the way.
“Well.” K’nell clicked his tongue and folded his hands behind his back, “I fear our conversation has deteriorated rather swiftly.”
Laina sighed and rubbed her neck, “I apologise, Sprite and uh, her, don’t get along at all I suppose. Why the sudden interest in Atmav’s royalty status, K’nell?”
“Ah, well the answer to that is rooted in a different question,” K’nell cleared his throat and turned to the tree he had been standing near, “By chance do you remember Li’Kalla’s inquery on what I desire?”
“I do, you mentioned something about sharing your thoughts with the world, didn’t you?” Laina asked, tilting her head.
K’nell peered back over his shoulder at Laina, “Something along those lines.”
He put out his hand and a wooden palm stretched from the tree and into his. His fingers wrapped around it gingerly, and the fingers of the wooden hand did the same. He gently tugged, as if helping someone to their feet, and like liquid a wooden mannequin slurped from the trunk of the tree. It stood there featureless and bald. K’nell let go of its hand and held it out again, only to close it as he looked back at the shards.
“Would I be mistaken to assume that Sprite did not instill the qualities of a leader into her Queen?” K’nell perked a brow, as if he had asked a simple enough question.
“Aaah… Umm,” Sprite frowned and looked down in thought, then perked up, “I taught her the perfect layout for a pleasure dungeon!”
Laina flushed and slapped her palm against her face so hard that the sound echoed through the glade.
K’nell didn’t break his gaze as he spoke, “Damocles.”
The mannequin looked up, wordlessly. K’nell turned to face Damocles, “Take your string, and take your blade.”
The mannequin didn’t move, but above it a strange sword flickered into existence, only to wave in and out of reality. Damocles looked up at K’nell as if waiting for more. The two shared a silent stare and as if suddenly understanding, Damocles lurched a stiff leg forward, then another, then another. The creaking mannequin marched down the glade, his phantom blade hovering above him with every step, its point directed at him.
“There,” K’nell turned back to the shards, “As effective as a dream, one might say.”
Laina watched the mannequin closely, slowly raising an eyebrow, “That’s a rather uncommon type of magic. Where does the mannequin’s name come from? And that sword…”
“Where it all comes from, my dear,” K’nell smiled, “Do not fret, however, this exercise is quite harmless-- just as any other dream.” He paused, “Speaking of which, I happen to have noticed your final component frequenting my very palace as of late. Such visits should lead us right to her, if you are ready and willing, of course.”
“That’s a nice doll, K’nell! Didn’t take you for a doll man, though! I’m sure you could get a nice girl if you asked her out on a nice evening.” Sprite said suddenly, winking at K’nell before stretching. “Aaanyway! Let’s go find this dreamer, yeah! We can’t let her get all the dream action, right? Thank you for that dream by the way, K’nell! I hope you loved the show, I could give you a first-person vers-” Elegance suddenly flashed into the scene and practically slapped her hand against Sprite’s mouth. Unlike her normal self, she was blushing and avoiding K’nell’s gaze.
“D-Don’t mind her empty words, K’nell. She’s only playing, trying to ge-” Elegance suddenly whimpered and a look of disgust crept onto her face. Her eyes glazed over and her whole arm seemed to twitch, “She’s trying to get a reaction… Let us go..” She finished slowly.
K’nell cleared his throat, “I see. While I mean no offense in my rejection, I must decline the implications presented.” He paused, “That said, shall we continue our quest?” He held out his hand to the projections.
Elegance seemed to deflate a bit and nodded, immediately dissipating into a simple shard. Sprite wiped her lips with her hand and grinned smugly, before dissipating. The other two did the same. K’nell gently slid the shards back into his pocket before continuing on his walk.
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