B6 Chapter 14: Stroll and Surprise

(I despise new meds. Like what is my body doing, murdering me or saving me? Which one? Another chap tmr as well.)

He gave me another spin before he finally set me down. The bastard ignored my tail, trying to poke him in the sides, his body simply bent around the arrow-like head like a piece of rubber. When he backed off, he flashed his smile once more and crossed his arms.

“I must say, I am proud of your progress. Your evolution suits you; a tail was exactly what you needed! And such pretty horns!” 

“What is your body made of?” I grumbled.

“Mana-flesh. Specifically, I possess a skill called River King’s Shifting Scales.” He pulled back the arm sleeve of his robe and sent mana through his limb. Faint outlines of ghostly silver scales shone on his skin. “I’m also highly attuned to water as an aspect with my skills and perks. Flexibility is inherent at this stage of my ascension. 

I stifled my laugh in time but not before earning a questioning gaze. I held up a hand and shook my head. “Sorry. You just remind me of a certain vampire.”

Callen frowned. “I am not a vampyr, Cyrus. Those are foul creatures. Our goddess would never allow such a being to be her chosen.”

“That’s not… Sorry. It’s actually pretty cool having natural armor like that,” I said. I gestured toward the large man. “So how did you know we were here?”

“Oh, that’s easy. I’ve been watching you since you got on Gadoor’s vessel!”

My eyes narrowed. “How did you sense us?”

“Oh, I didn’t. Our great lady informed me directly some time ago. Brilliant work with the glypul! I’ve seen my fair share of attacks from the lower tiers on this island, and none can boast such control, speed, and power! Also, an interesting application using a metal conduit for your skills, boosted through enchantments. I’d recommend using pure intraltium. It’s similar to silver in make but is more flexible when it comes to channeling mana.”

“Uh, thanks. I’ll look into buying some.”

He nodded. “Good, see that you do.”

I waited for more, but the large man continued to grin at us while people in the background started to notice. Most were faces I had zero recollection of, not even beastkin from the islands. No, they had a certain look to them. Like vacationers in a different country. 

But there were a few looks of recognition pinging vaguely in the back of my head. Those who spotted us and moved past the confusion had a glint of recognition. That look made me shift toward Callen to use his bulk to hide my frame.

“So, besides a nice hug, was there a reason you ambushed us here at the gate? Did Ysanna want something? She could have just asked directly.”

Khrem shook his head as did Sereza, but Zog nodded along.

Callen patted my shoulder and motioned for us to walk. 

“I envy your perspective, young man.” We passed through the central square and entered an expanded part of the city where workers were actively shifting stone around a construction site. Callen pointed into the distance where a grand fountain towered over most buildings. “If you look closely, you’ll see some familiar faces.”

It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the fountain, and the urge to escape the city came in full force. There were the knights and guards from the rift. Those that fought the monsters near the end in the battle with the invaders. I found Callen standing tall near the front alongside Ventus with a trident in his hands. 

If anything, the craftsmanship was well done, made out of refined marble. However, it was the shorter figures with horns that drew my eye. 

Sereza shuddered. “Okay, no more funny. This is a little much.”

Her tail sulked as she examined the statue of her leaping in front of an unseen monster, daggers and stinger poised for the kill. It caught her likeness; the ripples of her jacket down to the strands of her hair were on full display.

Beside her, and hidden just behind Ventus and Callen was my own statue. I had my mask and scarf hiding my upper details but the spear, the horns, it was a dead giveaway. It even sported my default of using three eyes and a fanged grin lightly chiseled into the stone.

A rippling feeling shot through my chest, sending shocks down my limbs as it sank to the pit of my stomach. There was something there, a blip in my soul that I hadn’t felt for a few months now. 

I wasn’t an idiot. I could feel the mana flowing through my chest as the feeling slowly settled. 

I’ll have to ask Eraztis about this later…

“Well, Cyrus. I just wanted to show you that the city and its people have not forgotten what you’ve done. Your actions mean more than you want to believe, but I know what Ventus told me. Even in such a short time, you’ve made a difference. Especially to that young man waiting for you at the temple.”

“So you did have a reason for being here. If you’re worried I’m going to–”

Callen tapped my mask and shook his head. “No. I’m here because I think of you as an ally. I would think less of myself I could not greet the one who helped facilitate the resurrection of my goddess and her people.”

“Cal revived her, saved her soul, not me,” I said flatly.

“I was warned that you would be the type that finds it hard to accept praise,” he chuckled. “Do not worry. I can appreciate you for you! Besides, I am here to bring you to the temple, but only because they are waiting for you.”

“They?”

Callen didn’t respond and instead served as our impromptu tour guide as he guided us through the city. Much has changed, and while it didn’t rival Solunaria cities like Helio or Soluve, it was on its way. The original architect that used the bones of the dead sea beasts were still around, and if anything, more skeletons had been dug up to help expand. 

Beyond that, there was just more to the island. The walk that should have taken half a dozen minutes at our pace was slowed significantly by new roads and more people. Still, as we climbed, I had a sense that the higher population of residents and visitors wasn’t the sole cause for the feeling of being small. 

When I asked Callen about it, he actually responded instead of redirecting our attention to something being built. 

“That’s because the island itself has grown,” he explained. “Lady Ysanna and Lady Zolnja herself helped reduce the waters and expose more land for us to build upon. Before you ask, I can personally guarantee that minimal damage was done to the wildlife and surrounding fauna. Our tamers and tenders have worked hard this past year to maintain a balance in our growing city.”

“Then why were we attacked by glypuls on our way in?” Sereza asked.

Callen shrugged. “That I do not know. Perhaps they find Cyrus tasty?”

Sereza smirked. Thankfully her playful jab she prepared was cut short as we neared the final steps toward the church. 

Like everything else, it too had changed, now doubling in size of what it used to be. There were far more statues and pillars on the outside. 

“It’s almost feels wrong. I figured this would be one of the few places to remain the same.”

Callen was ready to speak, but a different voice answered in his stead. It was followed by a long hiss that accompanied the opening doors of the temple. 

“To remain unchanging against the times serves only to prove a river stone’s ability to be stubborn. We have our people to show resilience, it would be a poor choice to remain so stalwart we are left behind.”

A man with tanned skin and dark blue hair, with a youthful face and eyes that carried a weight of an age similar to Brelten’s approached. 

No. He’s definitely older then Brelten. He called him a child before.

The blue serpent that followed close behind nodded to Callen before turning his cool gazze on me. His tongue lashed the air.

“Greeting’s child of the wind. It is good to see you whole,” came the serpent’s voice in my head.

I half bowed. “Greeting to you as well, Zillasa. Elder Aimon.”

“We’ve been informed of your coming. Now follow along, they have been patient long enough. It’s about time we begin,” Aimon said.

I glanced at Callen but he walked in, following the man’s staff as he tapped it against the ground. Zillassa turned and followed, leaving our group behind.

“Uh, Khrem? Any clue what’s going on here?”

“I have only been blessed by our lady. Not her chosen like you and Zog. I am not privy to the whims of the divines,” he stated.

“But you can still guess,” Sereza pointed out.

Khrem nodded. “Indeed. If I had to guess, considering our timing and the reason for our visit. II’d assume we are at the church for something specific. Something that involves the boy.”

“That was completely unhelpful. Three out of ten,” I said.

Callen hadd already stopped at the temple’s entrance waving us along.

Ugh, let’s just get this over with…

I jogged and caught up. When I was about to enter into the temple proper another familiar face stopped me in my tracks. 

Poltor rocked a thick, heavy beard and had some weight to his tummy that wasn’t there before. He grinned from ear to ear but a complicated look in his eyes added to the stiffness in shoulders.

“Cyrus. I’m glad you are here,” Poltor said.

“Hey, Poltor! How’s it going?” 

In response he came over and wrapped me in a hug,

I’m getting way too used to this. Why do they all want hugs?

Poltor released and held me just far enough to inspect me.

“You look good. The tail suits you,” he teased.

“Thanks,” I said. “So you mind telling us what’s going on?”

Poltor cocked his head. “You don’t know?”

“Apparently not. That is rather concerning all things considered.”

“And that is…”

Poltor chuckled and pointed deeper into the temple past the small croud of people with their heads low.  “We’re in there. He’s waiting for you.”

They continued forward to a metal door featuring Ysanna and Zonlja carved into the panels but I snagged Poltor’s sleeve and pulled him in close.

“Okay, what’s happening?”

“You truly have no idea?” 

“No.”

The tapping of Aimon’s staff came to a stop and he placed his palm against the metal door. When it slid open, mist drifted outward while a nice cool breeze parted the fog down the middle. Left behind was a clear pathway that led two people insider the chamber.

A force pushed us all together and inward. Once Zog’s heel passed through the threshold, the door slid shut, locking us in.

Poltor joined his wife and daughter on the sidelines and gave me a wink. 

Aimon glided forward and he stopped in front of the last figure in the room. 

Gone was the boy I knew, with a soft face still laden with baby fat. In its place, a sleek and fit teen boy awkwardly waved. 

Aimon cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is here, I think it’s time we begin.”

“Uh, Cyrus?” Sereza whispered. 

Oh no.

“It is time for this young man to take his first steps into the ranks. A time of change and opportunity that happens to all those of eligible age. While the future is uncertain, know that now you will have the chance to make a difference.” Aimon’s voice filled the room and expanded up the walls. His solemnity drew my hackles as the young man in the basin lowered his arm. “Thank you, everyone. It is time we start the ritual and welcome young Teldren on the day of his awakening!”