Suiteonem Prime, Lakeshore Town, March 2058

  The flight had taken perhaps a leisurely hour.

  The distance between the two lake towns wasn’t far.

  It was a matter of the dense forest, deep snow and monsters.

  Falliana had them wait in the forest away from the town.

  The belligerent one’s presence had kept the monsters away.

  Naturally, he had complained the entire time about not being allowed to fight.

  He’d have attacked her and the others had he not feared the Lord Cross.

  Thus, she mollified him by telling him he could go find a powerful monster to fight after she knocked on the empire’s front doors.

  The alarm bells rang and shouts filled the dark night.

  Torches and light crystals shined down from the wall and watchtowers.

  The fat secretary walked behind her writing in a ledger with an ostentatious pen topped with a colorful feather plume larger than his fat head.

  “Dawn’s Light. I can strikethrough the physical or the magical, but not both at the same time.”

  “The physical.”

  “As you will, in the Lord Cross’ name.”

  She strode right toward the fort’s front doors.

  Huge things of thick wood thrice her height and reinforced with iron bars.

  Snikter sent her a message.

  The assassin was in place in the lord’s keep.

  Falliana was so much more powerful than anyone in the fort town that she could’ve have simply engulfed the entire place with her commanding aura and forced them to comply with whatever she wanted.

  Alas, a show was necessary.

  The empire soldiers, mercenaries and adventurers fired.

  Sarnathan’s scratching quill simply deleted the bullets, bolts, arrows and other things sent their way.

  “I do believe that one was an iron pan.” He regarded the particular defender on the wall with a discerning gaze. “That one must be a battle cook.”

  Spells shrieked down, lighting up the darkness.

  She commanded every spell disappear with a simple thought.

  They had no choice but to obey when engulfed by her aura.

  She stopped so that they could all see her.

  “Calamity begins.”

  She dashed forward in a blur, striking the iron-barred wood and breaking it open in a shower of deadly splinters.

  “Sarnathan.”

  “Of course. One moment. Let me Mark Targets.”

  Flashing red arrows filled the snow-covered town.

  Many, but only a fraction of the population.

  Lord Cross had provided the names and faces of the ones that they could kill immediately or capture for public execution like she had carried out in the other fort town.

  The rest of them would live or die as the fates of battle dictated.

  “You shall be alone.”

  Sarnathan chuckled.

  “I don’t normally fight in open battle, but these ones are so weak and low level that I do believe I shall be okay without your holy light shining its aegis upon my unworthy self.”

  “Remember that you are being watched, Sarnathan. Mind yourself.”

  “I wouldn’t dare displease Lord Cross, nor would I throw away the chance he has graciously given us all.”

  Falliana left the fat revenant to his scratching quill and dashed into the town to dispense true justice.

  It had been so long that she had forgotten how righteousness in service filled her with joy.

  …

  Snikter sat in the lord’s chair, watching like his young daughter, if he had one.

  The dark-skinned human was large and muscular.

  Scarred like a proper warrior.

  He moved well in practice.

  Some kind of unarmed combat built on quick, straight strikes with both fists and feet.

  The revenant assassin of nobility shook her head.

  Not at the practice.

  Practice was good.

  Discipline even better.

  But to do it so close to bed time.

  The lord’s battle blood would make it difficult for him to fall asleep quickly and to take time to fall asleep was wasted time.

  She remembered her early training days and nights in the Society.

  So long ago.

  She supposed that had been a different life.

  It was strange.

  Snikter had been her name then.

  And it was again.

  Thanks to Lord Cross.

  She had no name for the thousand years under the empress’ thrall.

  Speciest.

  Just because Snikter was the size of human child and had green skin.

  Which was odd because there were other revenants with green skin or scales and they got names.

  She supposed logic didn’t enter into speciesism.

  It was an emotional, irrational thing after all.

  The thought made her smile a sharp-toothed smile.

  The empress was gone and Snikter was still around.

  Alarms suddenly blared.

  The lord’s eyes widened and he rushed to his armor and weapons racks.

  Snikter jumped off the chair.

  Time to thank Lord Cross again.

  She didn’t mind getting to do what she was meant to do.

  The Imperial lord, strong and dangerous for his kind, didn’t know what hit him.

  Death came in a crimson smile across his neck and a smiling crimson face on his chest and back.

  All in a blink of his eyes.

  …

  Suiteonem Prime, City of the Sun, March 2058

  Zinna sat on her cot.

  She didn’t remember waking up.

  “It’s different.”

  “How?”

  He stood a respectful, safe distance away. Near the open doorway, but not blocking it.

  She appreciated the steps he took to keep the prey feeling from bubbling up.

  “They’re not farting, for one thing.” She regarded the rest of her fellow soldiers sleeping in their cots. “This place always smells like sweat and that one’s farts.” She pointed at the soldier a few places to her right.

  “He does it on purpose.”

  “We know.”

  “How are you?”

  “You don’t have to pretend. You delivered on your promise. I appreciate what you’ve done for my mother and brother and I can’t ever repay you for letting me talk to them… somehow. I don’t even care if you really are a demon-god-monster or whatever. You’re good for your word and so I will be too.”

  “Who’s pretending? I’m not. I genuinely want you to do well.”

  “So, like a taking care of your tools thing?”

  “Sure, but maybe more along the lines of said weapon being able to go not be a weapon anymore and live a long, fulfilling life doing whatever she wants. You can still just leave this all behind and join your family. I think it’d be good for all of you to heal together.”

  “You aren’t at all like a demon-god-monster’s supposed to be.”

  “Because I’m not.”

  “Uh huh. Cause normal people can make dreams just like real life?”

  “Why not? You’ve got Skills that violate the laws of physics.”

  “Physics? What’s my body got to do with this? You said there wasn’t going to be any sex stuff. Not that I’d say no. I mean for saving my mother and brother I kinda have to…”

  “No. That’s never going to be a thing for anyone.”

  “Okay…” She shrugged.

  What else could she say or do?

  She was dealing with someone that she couldn’t get a literal read on.

  He had a face and a voice.

  That much she knew, but even looking at him directly, she couldn’t remember what he looked or sounded like.

  “I wanted to let you know that it’s time,” he said. “You’re getting marching orders today.”

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “Just be a good soldier. Don’t worry about anything. I’ve got your back. You could beat the crap out of those guys you’ve got issues with and there will be no consequences for you.”

  “So… you want me to do that?”

  “Not as part of what I need from you, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it if you had a justifiable reason.”

  “Somehow, I don’t think that’d be an issue,” she grumbled.

  “I trust your judgment.” He nodded. “As for your mission. There will be a siege and many battles. You’ll need to make an impossible, insane shot at some point.”

  “Okay… when?”

  “You’ll know.”

  Zinna woke up for real and, yes, the barracks smelled like old sweat and new farts.

  That wasn’t so bad because she got a Quest notification.

  The size of the potential rewards had her sit up like a bullet fired from her rifle.

  Suiteonem Prime, Grail Beach, Suiteonem V, 20137

  The city sat in the distance.

  Sixty-eighty had walked through a golden portal at her school and emerged on a field of grass.

  Eidolons, teachers, trainers, a few empyreal guards and a lot of soldiers encircled her and her half-siblings.

  One of the eidolons floated above them on a disc of golden light with what looked like a hairy, tailed child in a separate golden bubble.

  “There are few rules for your test.” The eidolon regarded the hairy child with a sneer. “This is a syaruman. They are a thinking species, if a rather lower, bestial one. Do not be fooled by their appearance for they are dangerous. Especially the ones you will find in the city. Criminals and terrorists all. Vicious murderers and rapists. With the classes and abilities one can expect.”

  The syaruman’s eyes blazed down on them.

  Sixty-eight felt the pure hatred and rage.

  That, more than the eidolon’s warning, put her on guard immediately.

  Never mind the small, hairy body, big, round eyes and tail.

  “There are an unrevealed number of these beastfolk hiding in the city. They have been promised freedom if they kill you.” The eidolon sneered. “Will you let these inferior beings sully your God’s blood?”

  The roar from her siblings shook the air.

  “Good.” The eidolon smiled down at them. “This is your test. Do not die. Kill or capture them first. Kill to earn one point for yourself and one point for your lochos. Capture to earn ten points for yourself and ten points for your lochos. Great rewards await those who earn the most, while grave punishment awaits those who earn the least. As for the people of Grail Beach? There are no rules governing your conduct toward them or theirs to you. It is different with their protectors. There are hidden lines for you. Cross them and you will draw their attention. We have given them no restrictions in regards to your treatment. Challenge them at your peril. Challenge them for your God’s favor.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Golden portals suddenly opened around their perimeter.

  “It begins,” the eidolon intoned.

  “We don’t even get any weapons or armor?” Eighty grumbled under her breath.

  The demigod kids waited for each other to make the first move.

  There were twenty portals.

  One for each lochos.

  The obvious question was asked by Seven.

  “Do we all go together to start? Safety in numbers when faced with the unknown.”

  The others reacted with derision or interest and everything in between.

  None of the adults gave any indication that they were going to clarify.

  These kinds of tests, the really dangerous ones, didn’t have a lot of rules.

  “There aren’t any rules against us taking each other out,” One said.

  “Before or after a syaruman ambush?” Three had cut her long blue braids short like a boy’s just for this test. “My lochos is with yours, Seven.”

  A few other lochoi chimed in to join.

  Nine laughed.

  “Good idea, but you’re all forgetting something. Teaming up is safer, which means we’re not going to be allowed to do that.” The pale boy with the ugly scar running from his scalp through his eye all the way down to his lip gestured at the portals. “I’ll bet anyone a thousand points that they’ll wink out after one lochos goes through.”

  There were no takers.

  “Then it’s a moot point anyways.” Seven walked to one of the portals. “My lochos will go first.”

  “Wait!” Fifteen hissed after him as Eighty carried her along. “Let one of them go first!”

  Three waved.

  “We’ll be right behind you… if we can. If not…” she shrugged. “I guess Nine wins his bet.”

  “Hold on, Seven!” Nine said. “Let get some action first. C’mon! Any takers? A thousand points. Straight up. Don’t be pussies!”

  …

  “Hmmm… stone and wood.” Thirty-two scratched at the side of the building. “There are sizable quarries to the north and south of this city. And you all saw the forests.”

  Fifteen snorted.

  “No enchantments.”

  They had emerged from the portal inside some kind of warehouse.

  Sadly, it was filled with clothing rather than anything useful, like weapons.

  “Okay, let’s start with a plan.” Seven gathered them around.

  They were safe from discovery for the time being.

  Fifteen had cast a quick spell and hadn’t detected the presence of higher life forms. She had detected alarm spells, but those had been on the outside of the doors and windows. Rudimentary ones according to her. The kind that would only detect unauthorized ingress, not unauthorized egress.

  “First thing. They didn’t put a time limit on this test,” Seven said. “So, we need to plan for a potentially long term stay. Luckily, we’ve done our research so we can blend in with the population if we have to.”

  Sixty-eight shared a shrug with Eighty.

  They had studied up on Grail Beach, but she would admit that she wasn’t the best student, as such she wasn’t as confident as Seven in her ability to blend in.

  “Collectively our coloration and features won’t appear out of place at a passing glance, but the combination of said qualities won’t hold up to mediocre scrutiny or the exceptionally observant,” Fifteen said. “There is also the issue of our youth. We would be expected to be in a school or an apprenticeship during most of the day hours. The four of us might be able to pass since we are taller and better in a physical sense compared to the average person here, but she won’t.”

  Sixty-eight felt angry at the accusatory and arrogant way Fifteen pointed that manicured finger in her face.

  Who paints their nails before a battle test?

  Someone that needed a fist to the button nose, that’s who.

  Her pot began to simmer, but she left it there.

  Now wasn’t the time.

  “We can say she’s your daughter,” Eighty grunted.

  Fifteen’s punchable face twisted, saying what she thought of that idea.

  Thirty-two cleared his throat.

  “I shall need access to tools and a workshop to be useful.

  “Weapons and armor,” Eighty grunted.

  “Rifle.” Sixty-eight knew what she wanted.

  “I suppose I wouldn’t say no to a magic shop even if a primitive one.” Fifteen sniffed and turned her button nose up as if the thought filled her with the scent of poo.

  Why?

  Sixty-eight didn’t know.

  Fifteen was just weird like that.

  And annoying.

  “We need to blend in, so it’s lucky when got portaled here. Let’s get changed first then we can figure out where exactly we are so that we can start working on getting what we need,” Seven said.

  “Those maps were ten years old, Seven. Do you really think they’ll be useful?” Thirty-two said.

  “Ten years isn’t that long ago that there’d be huge changes. The specific shop or shops might not be in business, but I’d bet Nine his thousand points that the same type of shop took the spot or is still on the same street or district.”

  “They better be. I didn’t spend time memorizing them for nothing,” Fifteen said.

  They were all supposed to memorize the maps.

  Sixty-eight exchanged a quick look with Eighty.

  The two of them had not, in fact, memorized the maps.

  They had spent that time napping.

  …

  The eidolons regularly took away most of the Universal Points Sixty-eight and the other demigod children earned from the small, random Quests the spires doled out on a daily basis.

  They had given each of them a thousand for this test.

  Which didn’t seem like a lot until they saw the cost for a day’s pass to ride any of the transportation options in the city.

  “Just ten points.” Seven being the most informed about the way Grail Beach worked guided them through the process of obtaining the thin metal card from the strange, colorful machine next to some kind of street-side station.

  Fortunately, there were no natives nearby.

  The warehouse they had found themselves in was located in what appeared to be a generally empty area of the city.

  Sadly, it was an area for clothing and textiles from what they saw in their quick scouting as they walked through.

  Happily, a light drizzle had swept in, which allowed them to walk with hooded cloaks or jackets to hide their faces and their red-gold eyes.

  For Sixty-eight it served the added purpose of concealing her childish face.

  As for her stature?

  It was on her to use Eighty’s bulk and Thirty-two’s height to shield herself from curious eyes.

  The street-side station had a helpful map and schedule for whatever form of conveyance the city utilized.

  And so they waited, listening to the pitter patter of the rain and Seven’s hushed instructions.

  “Remember, we are from here. That means no matter how strange the sights, sounds or smells are, we don’t react. We’ve seen it all before.”

  “What if this transit thing is a giant bowl carried by a giant naked man?” Eighty said.

  Eyes shot to her.

  “Why would that be the first thing that came to your mind?” Fifteen rolled her eyes.

  “I dunno. It seemed like the weirdest thing I might see.”

  “You look at it like you’ve seen it before,” Seven said.

  …

  The transport wasn’t a giant naked anything.

  It was a four-wheeled animal-less wagon.

  A boxy thing of metal and unpleasant smelling smoke belching out of its rear end like acrid farts.

  It was entirely empty without even a driver.

  They had simply held up their metal card to the mechanical eye in the door to get on board.

  It didn’t stay empty as it rolled through more populated sections.

  Fortunately, the people didn’t pay them much mind beyond a quick passing glance as they took their seats.

  “Spires marketplace?” Thirty-two kept his voice low. “I can at least buy the basic tools and supplies I require from there.”

  “Weapons and armor,” Eighty agreed.

  “It would have a wand and enchanted rings or bracelets. Lesser quality of course, but I imagine that is what I’ll find in such a primitive city, regardless,” Fifteen said.

  “Watched and guarded,” Sixty-eight grunted.

  No city left any spires within its boundaries completely alone.

  Even she knew that.

  It was just asking for trouble.

  “She’s right. We can still try though depending on their security. They might just let people walk into them here,” Seven said.

  They got off the transport outside a fenced-in woodland area.

  Seven cursed as they walked in a very unsuspicious manner along the paths around a spire.

  The silvery, iridescent spire stabbed out of the ground and vaguely vanished somewhere in the clouds like they all did.

  This one was surrounded by a robust defensive system comprised of armed men and women, walls, towers and bunkers.

  There was a gatehouse that would’ve looked perfectly at home in any fortress.

  The signs made it clear that they weren’t going to be able to just walk inside.

  Seven led them to an isolated area surrounded by gnarled, twisted trees that seemed on the verge of coming to life and clawing out their entrails.

  “What now, leader?” Fifteen said flatly. “The more time we waste the more time the syarumen have a chance to run away and hide. It’s already going to be hard to find them in this place. Even if it’s a tiny, poor excuse of a city.”

  Seven shook his head.

  “You felt how the syaruman looked at us. I think the true prize for them isn’t freedom, but the chance to kill one of us. Them escaping isn’t the challenge for us. It’s getting them before the others get them. And doing it without drawing attention from the locals.”

  “Who cares about them?” Eighty said. “You heard the eidolon. No rules for them. They’d be stupid to get in our way.”

  “Did you forget that this is a real city with real warriors and soldiers?” Thirty-two hissed. Still keeping his voice low despite being alone in the woods. “And the ones that drank from the Grail! We’re no match for one of those!” His voice rose.

  Eighty shrugged boulder shoulders.

  “I guess. Don’t have any gear, so that’s bad.” She abruptly went over to a stout branch and ripped it off the tree, giving it a few experimental swings.

  “Well, let’s go to that magic shop nearby. I assume that’s why you brought us here, Seven,” Fifteen said.

  Sixty-eight eyed her half-sister dubiously.

  One year on and Fifteen still had a one-track mind when it came to the tests.

  Magic, magic and more magic.

  Well, almost one-track.

  Get her pot boiling over and she might’ve been the fiercest out of the entire lochos.

  “It’s still too early for people our age to generally be out and about,” Seven said. “Besides, I think we should secure a base to operate from first. Fortunately, our research has identified a few promising options. One of which is not far from here and a little shops area that can fulfill all of our needs for this test.”

  “So… we’re just sitting here and waiting?” Fifteen’s tone revealed what she thought of that idea.

  “No. We’re also going to start brainstorming some ideas on how we’re going to win this test.”

  Suiteonem Prime, Sonombera, Apolakan, 213918

  Ragay woke up in a strange place.

  He couldn’t move, though he felt no restraints around him.

  Water flowed in and out of his mouth.

  Cold comfort embraced him.

  Everything was black.

  It took time for his thoughts to find a port.

  He had been in battle.

  He had been injured quite badly.

  They all had been.

  Ah!

  Miss Karagatan victorious!

  That was the last thing he remembered.

  It appeared that he was making a habit of passing out in front of the hero of his people.

  Perhaps she would send him home for his failure this time.

  The thought filled him with dread and anticipation.

  Sinaya’s Oath crashed through his head like waves upon the reef, trying to drown out his yearning to be with Talima in the flesh and scales again. To train with Aunty Bilaya. To simply exist in the same household as everyone again.

  The adventure of fighting fierce battles was not as exciting as it looked in the shows or sounded in the stories.

  The tales of his people’s heroes failed to convey the personal toll on said heroes in terms of physical and mental suffering.

  He could still hear the sounds of the brave warriors of Aasin Bay dying as the bestial empyreal guardsman tore them apart. Could still hear the screams of the civilians caught in the foul Merquani’s violence. Could still smell the mingled scents of everyone dying.

  The scents were the worst part of it for it was something that could only be experienced by being in the thick of it.

  None of the shows or the stories had ever been able to share that with the naive child he had been.

  He thought of the other potentials.

  Where they in a place like him? Or had they been slain?

  Keisho had three gut wounds among many others.

  Justavi had vanished down a hillside locked in battle with a Merquani marine.

  Tagge… Tagge had been unconscious.

  As for the others?

  At least they had been alive the last he had seen of them.

  It was easier to hold on to that image rather than imagine darker outcomes.

  Unable to move, he allowed the gentle current flowing around him to carry him back to sleep.

  …

  “What is that, Sin?”

  “Magic!”

  Two swam in the depths.

  Their colorful arm and leg fins unfurled, splashes of color against the umbral waters.

  Not so deep that the sun’s rays died against the cold, but close.

  “Careful, Sin! We’re near kraken birthing waters.”

  “It doesn’t matter. That thing has been haunting my dreams since I was a girl.”

  A massive, swirling orb of deep blue water somehow left the surrounding ocean as peaceful and calm as a sheltered lagoon.

  “Don’t, Sin!”

  “I have to know.”

  Hands failed to grabbed the quickest, fastest swimmer of the elite shiver patrol before she shot into the orb like a hunting dagger fish.

  …

  It took a moment for Ragay to realize where he was.

  Sitting at a table with a plate of food in front of him.

  A seaborn with octopus-like tentacles in addition to to his regular arms served.

  “C’mon, kids. Your bodies can’t heal without fuel.”

  Who—

  Ah!

  I took a moment to remember Sonombera’s chef.

  Decqa.

  It felt like Ragay hadn’t seen the friendly old man in years.

  “Thank you, chef.”

  “You’re welcome, Ragay. It’s a tough thing making it through a battle. But you need to eat. Take it from me. It’s no good to waste away, not for you. Not for anyone.”

  The other potentials had been staring with vacant, far off looks at nothing in particular until the chef’s words.

  Perhaps Decqa had put a little extra special something in his cooking.

  The scents pulled Ragay from his thoughts. Pulled him from Aasin Bay.

  A little bit of color seeped back into the gray of his vision.

  It was just him, Abygale and Justavi.

  The rest were still in one of the black water healing wombs or in their quarters under doctor’s orders to rest.

  At least they had all made it out of Aasin Bay alive.

  Abygale chewed glumly at first, then with renewed vigor as the scents and flavors broke through her haunted memories of the battle.

  Justavi had more scars and less of his tail, but he ate in great big bites and swallows.

  “I had no idea there was a full medical team on board the Sonombera. I thought we were alone here with Miss Karagatan and Decqa.”

  Abygale snorted.

  “How many months was it until we found out about Decqa?”

  “I knew he was here,” Justavi said.

  “No you didn’t.”

  “Yes, not him specifically, but someone had to be cooking all our food.”

  “Why not Miss Karagatan?”

  “She has more important things to do.”

  “You wound me young Justavi!” Decqa called out from the kitchen.

  “Sorry, chef. I didn’t mean any insult. Please don’t stop cooking.” Justavi said. “Ragay, I’m glad you’re alive.”

  “Thanks… you too.”

  It was his first time out of the healing pod and his quarters.

  The first time he interacted with anyone outside of Talima and Aunty Bilaya’s recorded messages.

  It had been strange that they hadn’t given any indication that they knew anything about the Merquani attack, which should’ve been big news.

  “Yes, Ragay,” Abygale said. “Keisho didn’t know what happened to you after he dived into the water tunnel with Tagge. Something about the roof falling and…”

  He told them about the bestial empyreal guardsman.

  About the other guardsman Miss Karagatan had killed.

  And the first one’s words of warning to her before he leapt away.

  “Ominous,” Abygale said.

  “We must train harder to be ready for the next time,” Justavi said.

  Ragay pushed the fried fish on his plate around.

  “Yes… for the next time.”