(I) Blessing
Begin Chapter 56 of "Path of the Deathless" with: -Edict of the Auroral Ascendants, Yellowstone Republic30 (I)BlessingâHonored Mothers, Beloved Sisters, Blessed Subjects, lend me... Find out more!
-Edict of the Auroral Ascendants, Yellowstone Republic30 (I)
Blessing
âHonored Mothers, Beloved Sisters, Blessed Subjects, lend me your ears,â the Composer began. She plucked melodic notes from a harp todayâa grand, gorgeous instrument lined with gems and strings spun from web, glistening like dew kissed by dawn. âFor today we mourn and revel. For today, Weave is safeguarded from the enemy, and our sanctuary is preserved. But at the cost of life and peace.â
She plucked her first two notes at the same time. The heaviness of grief clashed with the lightness of victory, and twin moods seeped out from her divine music, altering the very atmosphere of her dimension. It was another level of bittersweet that came from her. The kind born of a mother proud of her children while grieving for many lost to bring such glory.
Shiv found himself standing on a large, sprawling balcony that reached into the Symposium. He was joined by the Speaker, Adam, Uva, and all those who participated in the tunnel raid. But they werenât alone in this hallowed place. There were many others as wellâHonored Weaveresses and Cherished Sisters who held high positions in Weave. Families of the fallen. The Composerâs innermost stronghold was more crowded than Shiv remembered it being, and somehow, the atmosphere fit.
Even Adam, who suffered when enmeshed in large crowds, seemed enchanted by the music.
As the initial assortment came to a close, the Composer sighed. âAnd although this is a time to celebrate, it is also a time to rage. To rage against the surface for striking at us again. To rage against New Albion for its ill-ways, its ill-culture, its perverse need to infect and control. Rage!â She struck her harp hard, and several strings shattered. Shiv felt a divine echo strike out, impacting everyone present with the snap. Yet, despite feeling the immensity of the blow, Shiv felt fortified instead of wounded.
Adam, meanwhile, swallowed. He was wearing a new sky-blue ensemble Uva got for him. âShiv,â he breathed. âYou didnât tell me she would be so⌠â
âSheâs a goddess,â Shiv whispered.
âYes, but is there a rule that they must be so⌠â
The Composer briefly eyed the Young Lord, and Shiv heard Adam suck in a harsh breath. âNot that thereâs anything wrong with being big! Big is impressive! It is imposing!â Shiv clenched his jaw and held back a laugh.
The snapped string from her harp twirled through the air, gliding in a circular path and passing above all those standing on the attendance platforms. Then, as the echoing vibrations of rage passed, a softer series of notes followed, and the Composerâs expression turned somber. âAnd mourn. For many lost their lives. And many were even lost to us without us knowing. Their lives not only taken, but their noble service and names besmirched by the enemy.â
Clamors of anger sounded from the crowds. The air grew taut with anger, and the name of New Albion was invoked like one would a slur.
âBut in our anger and sorrow, we must also take in another note. A note of hope. A note of heroism. A note of justice and optimism that defies the relationship norms we had with the surface.â
Suddenly, Shiv felt more and more eyes shift to him and Adam. The Young Lord handled it well, rounding his shoulders and adopting a resolved, stoic demeanor. But Shiv never knew attention like this to be positive. Every cell in his body screamed for him to run, to avoid the mob before it massed and buried him under thrown objects and snarled curses. He could see the expressions of those around himâthough some held suspicion in their gazes, many more seemed grateful; some even star-struck.
But old instincts died hard, and Shiv gripped his left hand with his right to stop it from shaking. It wasnât helping. The tremor was a bit worse. He needed to move. Maybe if heâ
Uvaâs voice echoed through his mind. She channeled the very emotion into him, and he felt his shaking start to dissipate.
Shiv replied with a thought of gratitude.
He caught a slight smile on Uvaâs face as he turned to stare at her. Ikki peered over her shoulder, sporting a huge grin. Shiv snorted a quiet laugh.
As the ceremony continued, the Composer gave a recounting of what had happened. She described the plot to bomb Passage, and to Shivâs relief, viewed Yunni to be as much a victim as any of the fallen. The blackmailed Umbralâs son had been found and returned to her. And he wasnât alone. A good fifty Umbral children and five unhatched Weaveress eggs were hidden in a warded chamber used by Aviary.
After a series of successful raids by a few Weaveress Shadow Cells, all the kidnapped children were recoveredâand an Aviary Jump Mage was taken alive. Supposedly, they were meant to shuttle all the victims out when Passage fell and spatial magic became uninhibited. How New Albion intended to use the children was a question to the Composer, for the Curse of Light still afflicted every child of the Abyss. But the only one capable of answering this managed a near-impossible escape.
Lady Eileen Harkness. The owl. The woman in white. A Pathbearer now Legendary due to a moment of desperate valor. Shiv grinned at the Composerâs mention of the owl. Despite her cruelty and the threat she posed, she was a very good whetstone for his own progression. And he was getting closer. He couldnât even wound her at first, but by the end, he made her bleed.
Next time, he would do more than that. It didnât matter that she was a Legendary Pathbearer now. He was going to break her in battle, he was going to kill her, and then he was going to cook a feast to celebrate her passing from the world.
Uva said, mind twitching with scorn. Unlike him, all she felt against the enemy Psychomancer was a sense of cold hatred. Harkness had been too much for her this timeânearly leaving Uva dead in the struggle. But she intended to turn that around next time. However long it took. She owed it to her Esteemed Sisters and Honored Mothers.
And as the Composerâs notes began to slow, she turned her attention to Shiv and the other heroes of the day. âI would like to recognize our foreign heroes: Adept Adam. Master Shiv.â
âGodsdamn you, Shiv,â Adam hissed from the side of his mouth, keeping his expression otherwise controlled. Shiv just smirked. If the Young Lord was being honest, he wasnât that far from a Master-Tier Skill either, he just needed a bit more time with his Awareness. Just a shame he couldnât keep dying to improve like Shiv.
The Composer continued, flicking her many humanoid fingers across every string at once. Shiv could feel his soul shake from the sound. âThough you came to us in unusual and⌠even initially hostile circumstancesâŚâ She smiled at Adam. The Young Lord began blinking rapidly in response. âYou have proven yourselves gallant beyond words. Gallant beyond song. For it takes truly virtuous souls to ride to the aid of a people not your own and give your own blood and more to ensure their safety. I, and all of Weave, owe you a debt of gratitude.â
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A pause followed, and to Shivâs surprise, it was Adam who bowed firstâand he executed the gesture perfectly this time. He did it so promptly and well that all the Umbrals and Weaveresses looked on at him in surprise.
Shiv remembered.
Shiv followed Adamâs example, though he did it slower. When they finished, a series of gasps sounded as the Composer returned the gesture to them as well. âYou honor me with your service.â
âIt is only right to repay a hostess for her hospitality,â Adam said, speaking the words as if he had done so countless times before. âAnd this is a deed well delivered. Should, the divines protect us, this moment come again, I will enter the fray once more, at whatever the cost.â
And now Adam practically sounded like his father. For a moment, Shiv thought he was looking at Roland Arrow. But then the parts of Adamâs mother seeped through, and Shiv found himself turning away.
The Composer laughed. âYou delight me, Adept Adam.âShe looked to Shiv, as if expecting him to say something too, but despite how comfortable Shiv felt in private conversation, he was a bit out of his element when surrounded by so many people. So, he defaulted to who he was.
âThe Quest might be done, but my mission isnât,â Shiv declared. âLady Harkness is alive. But someday she wonât be. And Iâll make sure of that. For the people she killed, for the lives she hurt, and because the way she used her Psychomancy really pisses me off.â
âMay more people bear your determination, Master Shiv.â But the Composer wasnât done. Finished regarding the surfacers, she turned to look upon the surviving sisters and Weaveresses who emerged from the tunnels. âAnd my children. My greatest, most beloved children. How much you have given for this home. How much you honor me.â
Those behind Adam and Shiv saluted their goddess again. Some even wept openly at the honor bestowed upon them. Uva was filled with warmthâand also control. That was something which grew more and more apparent as Shiv spent time with her. Most Umbrals were disciplined to some extentâbut Uva was driven to master herself, and it took a substantial effort to make her show how she truly felt.
That, or just good cooking.hat.â
Adam opened and closed his mouth several times, battling between an outraged comeback and genuine surprise. âI hate you⌠for possibly being the reason Iâm still alive, I hate you for being so aggravating to talk to, and I hate you for your bullshit Path.â
âWell. Feel free to try and kill me, Young Lord.â Shiv grinned. âIf you succeed, I might even hug you.â
âHa! Find some other food to feed your abominableââ Adam trailed off and narrowed his eyes at Shiv. âAlthough⌠since you canât stay dead⌠and youâre like a brick wall... Hmmm.â
âWhat? You wanna test some arrows?â
âMaybe. And maybe a few other things as well.â
Valor hummed. Shiv looked at the dagger, currently hanging off Adamâs belt.
âThis shall be grand!â The Composer said, clapping her hands together. A shockwave formed from the impact. she cried out in alarm as a wave of force slammed into both Adam and Shiv. Before the former could be flung off his feet, the latter seized him by the arm and applied his Might of Mass while using Momentum Core to drink in some excess energy.
Shiv thought.
âThank you,â Adam grudgingly said as he readjusted his new jacket.
âDonât mention it. I told you in the tunnels: Iâll make sure no one kidnaps you. Still applies now.â
The Young Lord eyed him and huffed. But there wasnât so much heat in the act anymore.
âI⌠I am very sorry,â the Composer said, holding her hands over her mouth. âI get excited sometimes.â
âDonât worry, we can take it.â Shiv paused. âWell, can take it. Iâll just have to take Adamâs portion, too, since his child-sized body isnât strong enough to resist a strong gust of wind.â
Adam growled.
And then the Composer snickered again. âWere you two always like this? It is quite the relationship.â
Shiv and Adam shared a look. The Young Lord looked away, no longer interested in the conversation.
Shiv, meanwhile, never had much taste for turning from discomfort. âMy parents murdered and sacrificed his mother and unborn sister in a horrific ritual when I was born. That ritual might be the reason why I have my Path. Thatâs the bedrock of our relationship.â
âI⌠uhâŚâ It took a lot to make a goddess seem uncomfortable, but right then, Shiv managed.
âYou didnât need to tell her that,â Adam said, an undercurrent of true anger in his voice.
âI donât see the point of hiding and pretending about problems,â Shiv replied. âSheâd probably have found out eventually anyway.â
The Young Lord wasnât even looking at him anymore. Shiv grimaced. Maybe he should have thought about this a bit more. Considered if Adam wanted this information aired. Shiv said, using his mind magic.
Adam didn't respond, keeping his eyes on the goddess.
âIâm sorry if I caused this,â the Composer said, seeming ashamed. It occurred to Shiv that she seemed very young most of the time. âI didnât mean to bring up such terrible wounds.â
âIt happened. We face it. We live.â Shiv shrugged. âNow. What exactly did you want to talk with us about?â
The Composer let her gaze linger on Adam for a moment longer in concern, then spoke. âI wish to bestow upon the two of you my Blessing.â