Across Eternity Book 5

 

ACROSS ETERNITY

BOOK 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HANNIBAL NORTH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places,

and incidents are the product

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any resemblance to actual persons,

living or dead, events, locales is entirely coincidental.

 

Text Copyright © 2023 Hannibal North

Cover Art Copyright © 2023 Hannibal North

 

 

ISBN: 9798866568284

 

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Refraction

 

 

 

 

 

The carriage rolled down the open street, flanked on all sides by bronze knights and leading several soldiers. Three silver knights sat in the interior, surrounding their lord.

“Your Highness, we’ve almost arrived,” said one of the knights, a bearded man named Paulman.

“We’ve almost reached our destination, but are we any closer to our actual goal? That is what concerns me,” Prince Lupin replied.

The jaded words befit the situation, for after months of dead ends and dead soldiers, his patience was nearing its end, but he was too tired for anger. His knights understood his weariness and that he directed blame at no one. They, too, were fatigued by stress and fighting with nothing to show for it.

All conquerors, be they liberators or tyrants, inevitably fell victim to the weight of responsibility upon claiming dominion over new lands. Here in Welindar, Lupin was no different. This beastman city had held back the armies of Uther for years, before, at last, falling under his control. He had won the city, but keeping it was a new battle against a new breed of enemies.

“I probably shouldn’t say this, but the laces of my boot broke this morning, a bad omen,” said another silver knight, a young man.

“So does that mean we can blame you for any bad luck we might suffer?” the bearded knight asked.

“If it’ll make you feel better, go ahead.”

“Paulman, Reynolds, you two shouldn’t talk like that. We should all keep our spirits raised and focused. Besides, I have a good feeling about today,” said the prince’s personal healer and secretary, a woman with short blonde hair. She glanced at the prince, looking for any reaction, but he stared out the window. It was probably for the best, as his word of agreement or praise would redden her cheeks.

The carriage drove past a perimeter of Utheric soldiers, keeping the street and surrounding houses free of civilians. The citizens of Welindar stood at the edge, glued to their spots by curiosity. Men, women, and children all bore the traits of their totem beasts with pride, from ears and tails to beaks and claws. The arrival of the royal carriage parted the crowd without issue, and it pulled to a stop in front of a house surrounded by soldiers, and everyone disembarked.

“What’s the current situation?” Lupin asked, speaking to a bronze knight at the scene.

“We have everything locked down, My Lord, as per your orders for such events. A man bearing the insurgent mark was spotted and pursued here to this house. We found him hiding in the cellar, as well as a concealed door to a larger underground structure. None of us can make sense of what’s inside, but hopefully, Your Highness, it’s what you’re looking for.”

Lupin looked over to a pig-faced man tied to a tree beside the house, already bearing several cuts and bruises. “Has he said anything yet?”

“No, sire. He’s a strong one.”

“Did you check for parasites?”

“He’s clean.”

“Good, keep him there.”

Guarded by his knights, Lupin entered the house and found the cellar door. With torches in hand, the four descended below ground. The earthy room was nothing special, holding just some tools, preserved food, and drying plants, but that’s how it was supposed to look. There was an open door disguised as the dirt wall around it, and upon passing through, the prince and his subordinates found themselves walking down stone steps in a brick-and-mortar passage. They could see a light at the end, bringing them to a new chamber stinking of rotting flesh and chemicals.

“By the gods,” the female knight gasped upon the sight before her.

“I’m afraid the gods had nothing to do with this,” Lupin cursed.

Before them was a table upon which a bipedal creature lay after being opened up and dissected. Its skin looked molted like necrotic muscle, and each limb had a different bone structure, but, looking at the head, it was clear this thing was human at one time. Several jars sat along the table, each holding one of the creature’s removed organs. There were other tables, not covered in bodies, but strange tools and equipment, and numerous papers written with magic formulas and nonsensical data. The light came from several illuminated glass tanks set against the wall. Within each one, a large flatworm-type creature gestated in clear liquid.

“We’ve finally found it, the source of the infestation,” said Paulman.

“No, this isn’t the true source. This is just a singular support station,” said Lupin as he examined the workshop of horrors. There were numerous magical tools that he could not identify, made of either metal or some unknown material. The documents used a mix of magic ruins and letters of the local language, perhaps some kind of code, but it might as well have just been gibberish.

“Nell, go back and tell the soldiers to bring the suspect to the castle for interrogation. I want him spilling all his secrets before I get back. Then begin questioning the neighbors.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As she left, Lupin turned to Reynolds. “Don’t touch that body. Nothing living or dead in here gets handled without gloves on.”

“Prince Lupin!” they then heard Nell shriek from outside.

The three men rushed outside to a scene of horror. The pig-nosed man was gone, replaced with a hulking bipedal boar, knocking soldiers aside like ragdolls. He was twice the size of an average man, walking on hooved feet while swinging his massive arms like tree trunks. He released a deranged snarl from between a pair of long tusks and two sets of jagged teeth, accentuated by a grunt with every attack. Beastmen could either change their appearance to take on some of the traits of their totem beasts or turn into animals altogether, but not a snarling juggernaut like this. This was the result of an outside force.

The surrounding soldiers and knights lunged with their weapons, slashing and stabbing at the monster with everything they had. Their swords were enchanted with light magic, inflicting holy damage to the creature that burned his flesh, but it wasn’t nearly enough to save them from the monster’s wrath and fury. Irritated by the knights’ holy steel, the beast grabbed one soldier and threw him, sending him crashing through a nearby house, then shrieked as another soldier stabbed him in the back with a spear. He turned and swatted the soldier with a backhand strike, but that was enough to send him flying through the air with mangled limbs and a crushed torso.

“Archers, keep him distracted! The rest of you, aim for his legs!” Lupin shouted.

The soldiers followed his commands, with archers blanketing the monster’s face and chest with arrows and the melee fighters ducking under the barrage and attacking his legs. However, though they could tear his flesh and bloody his coarse hair, their blades and arrows struggled to cut through his muscles, and any pain they inflicted increased his fury. He grabbed one soldier, ignoring the man’s terrified screaming as he pulled his meal towards his jaws.

Paulman jumped into the fray, striking the back of the monster’s knee with his glowing axe. Forced to kneel, the snarling boar was too distracted to kill the soldier he was holding. As he roared in pain, Reynolds, holding a crossbow, took careful aim, but the bow was empty. Blue mana crept along the weapon as moisture gathered from the air and formed a bolt of suspended water.

He pulled the trigger, and with the assistance of magic, the launched bolt embedded itself in the monster’s eye socket. The arrow then burst with explosive force, as all the drops were repelled from each other, setting off a powerful shockwave. While not a fatal wound, it distracted the monster long enough for the grabbed soldier to escape.

“Spearmen! Now!” Lupin ordered. The infantry troops charged in and stabbed the monster from all sides, sending their pikes deep into his chest. “There is a parasite hidden somewhere on his body! Find it!”

Despite the impalement of his organs with holy steel, the monster would not stay down for long. Already, pus was oozing from the wounds as they closed around the spears, and his body was beginning to further mutate.

“My Lord, I think I saw it when I was taking aim before,” said Reynolds as he formed another liquid arrow. “It appears to be attached to the roof of his mouth!”

“Kill it, now.”

Reynolds shouldered his weapon again, trying to get a clean shot, but the boar regained his fighting spirit before he could release it. The beast leaned down and devoured one soldier’s head, then raised his arm, now sporting long claws at the tips of his fingers, and slashed another soldier across the chest, ripping him wide open. The monster got back to his feet, having healed from Paulman’s attack, and when he tried to deliver another swing of his axe, he was kicked square in the chest. His armor was bent and crumpled like aluminum foil, bearing a perfect mark from the monster’s hoof. Knocked through the air and vomiting blood, he was still faring better than the soldiers being crushed and ripped apart by the rabid behemoth.

As the boar was about to grab another soldier, a length of chain wrapped around his wrist, wielded by Lupin. Before the monster could react, Lupin swung the other end of the chain and struck his foe in the Adam’s Apple with pinpoint accuracy and crushing force. The boar staggered back, struggling to breathe, and Lupin acted. The chain around the beast’s wrist unraveled as though it had a mind of its own and returned to the prince.

“Critical Sequence!” he cast, the chain now glowing.

Holding the chain by the middle, he swung it with practiced grace and technique and whipped the boar across the chest with both ends. Blood flowed from two shallow cuts, courtesy of the metal spikes at the ends of the chain. Lupin didn’t allow the chain to stop for even a moment, already twisting his body and pulling it back to lash out again. He whipped the boar a second time, cutting even deeper than before. Still swinging his arm, Lupin pulled the chain back and struck thrice, splashing blood in all directions.

With each swing, the damage continued to increase as more and more mana radiated from the chain. The sharp tips soon carved deep through flesh and muscle like a razor blade. This was Lupin’s unique warrior magic, whip magic. Enraged by the wounds, the boar charged while wildly swinging his arms. Lupin dodged the mad tackle and whipped the boar’s back.

“Blind Strangle!” He switched his grip on the chain, holding it by one end and delivering another whiplash, this time with the chain wrapping around the monster’s throat. “Men, to me!” Lupin shouted as he pulled on the chain. The remaining soldiers jumped into action, helping him by grabbing the chain and trying to pull the boar back. The monster struggled to breathe and clawed at the chain, but no matter what he did, it wouldn’t loosen. Moving closer to the prince and creating some slack in the line didn’t alleviate the crushing grip.

“Reynolds, bring it down!”

With the boar fighting for air, his mouth was wide open. Looking down the water bolt in his crossbow, Reynolds spotted a black lump in the monster’s mouth and released. His aim was true, and the bolt skewered the parasite and ripped it apart with the resulting explosion. The parasite's death brought immediate transformation, with the hulking boar shrinking back down and returning to a human shape. However, the man still showed signs of mutation and deformities, and though Lupin wished for the chance to question him, he was already dead.

Looking down at the twisted corpse, Lupin sighed and coiled his chain. “Nell, how is Paulman?”

Nearby, his subordinate was crouched over the wounded knight, desperately flooding his body with holy magic. “It’s bad, My Lord. All of his ribs are broken and I think both of his lungs have been punctured. I’m not sure I can save him!”

Lupin looked around at all the dead and wounded soldiers, then turned to a bronze knight. “Ride back to the castle and bring back every healer, as well as potions. Make haste!”

“Yes sir!”

As the injured were tended to, Prince Lupin returned to the hidden lab. Reynolds followed him, finding the prince once more looking through papers.

“My Lord?”

“It’s got to be here, some clue or answer to whatever it is that’s going on, something that will shed light on this nightmare.” He angrily threw the pages down and walked off with his hand over his eyes.

“If it is, we’ll find it.”

“But will we even be able to understand it?” The prince approached the glass tanks along the wall and stared at the parasites within. They seemed aware of his presence, tapping at the glass with their fanged proboscises. “I’ve employed the greatest minds available to make sense of what these things are, what our enemies are doing, but even they are at a loss. These beasts are not born of any god or spirit. They were made using powers beyond our understanding.

If this was just an infestation or plague, we could fight it, stomp it out, burn every trace until nothing was left and drive them to extinction, but this is an orchestrated atrocity. We stand in the presence of evil, looking upon the creations of men more intelligent than we could ever hope to be and endlessly more insidious. We might as well be sifting through ashes while the house still burns.”

“Sir, there must be something we can do.”

Lupin sighed. “There is. I know of one man who may be able to help us, one man who understands these abominations.”

 

 

 

“Oh, Noah!” Elisandra moaned in ecstasy, holding him tightly as he drove his throbbing manhood deep inside her, setting off a climax like a key unfastening a lock. Valia lay beside them, her naked ebony body glistening with sweat and her chest heaving from her rapid breaths of fatigue, having just endured a mind-shattering sexual bombardment that made her arch her back and curl her toes in ecstasy.

The three had gathered in the queen’s bedroom, enjoying another night of sexual paradise. In the months since their return from Kisara Island, Noah and Valia had repeatedly included the elf queen in their intimacy. Their first threesome was to appease the spirits of nature, but ever since then, it was rather hard to resist temptation. The queen of Sylphtoria, the Sword Goddess, and the Wandering Spirit were hooked on the drug of sensuality, indulging in hedonism of the highest class.

Noah sat back, gasping for air like Elisandra and sporting fresh nail marks on his shoulders. The queen lay before him, her golden hair a mess, her cheeks flushed, and her hourglass body polished by perspiration. She was gorgeous, putting human women to shame. Between her and Valia, it was no wonder Noah had developed a fondness for elves, and the way they looked at him projected their unquestionable love.

Having caught his breath, Noah moved over to Valia, and they shared a long, passionate kiss. He laid beside her, putting her between him and the queen, and she raised her leg so he could penetrate her once more. Even on his side, his strokes were deep and fast, drawing a sensual moan and making her breasts quake. Watching them, Elisandra slid her hand between her legs and began to hum in bliss. Despite just receiving Noah’s vigorous affection, her jealousy burned hot, and watching him pleasure Valia riled her up.

When Noah started nibbling on the tip of Valia’s ear, her sinful voice reached new octaves but was heard by no one other than her two lovers. Noah’s noise-canceller was active beside the bed, trapping the sounds of lewd moans and primal grunts. After a few minutes, Noah finally pulled out Valia, leaving her thoroughly satisfied. He rolled on his back, feeling the weight of his fatigue crushing him.

However, Elisandra wasn’t ready to let him rest yet. Grinning lewdly, she crawled over and grasped his manhood with her greedy mouth. She savored the taste of Valia’s arousal on Noah’s cock, mixed with her own, and pleasured him with all her accumulated skill. If the elves could see their queen as she was, watch her choke herself with Noah’s throbbing member, what would they say?

Once it was back to full strength, Elisandra got on top of Noah and lowered herself onto his cock. She rode him with unbridled passion, bobbing up and down on his lap and crying out as he plunged deep inside her. Her titanic breasts bounced with each rise and fall, an image of sexual perfection, as though shaped by the gods for this exact purpose. Noah sat up and voraciously attacked the pale orbs, sucking on her nipples and massaging deep into her flesh with his fingers. The elegant queen shivered as he played with her tits, but the two were separated by Valia getting in the way.

“I’m not done with you yet.”

While Elisandra continued riding Noah’s cock, Valia sat on his face, letting him dine on her nectar, and he accepted the offer gluttonously. He hollowed the two elves out with his cock and his tongue, making them moan through the union of their combined lips. They maintained his position for a while, no one in a rush to move on, and finally, Noah grunted as he had his orgasm. Elisandra shuddered happily as she felt Noah’s hot cum fill her, feeling so perverse and sinful.

She dismounted Noah, and Valia cleaned him with her mouth, licking up every drop of semen and restoring his softening member to total rigidity. Having regained his strength, Noah seized Valia and took her from behind. Gripping her hips, he attacked her slit with a series of powerful thrusts, fucking her so hard and fast that she couldn’t remain on all fours. As Noah pleasured Valia, Elisandra spread her legs before her. Valia needed no instruction and went down on the queen, eating the creampie that Noah had left in her. This continued until Noah emptied the last of his reserves into Valia, with a few drops running down her inner thighs.

The three collapsed, drained of all strength.

“Spectacular,” Elisandra purred.

“It always is,” Noah sighed contently.

“Is there any wine left?” Valia asked. Though she and Elisandra had been intimate several times before, she still liked to be a little tipsy before they discarded their clothes. She retrieved the bottle on the bedside table and drank heavily to quench her thirst, then let Noah and Elisandra do the same.

“The two of you are going to turn me into an irredeemable harlot at this rate,” said Elisandra.

“Consider this a bastion to be your true self then,” Noah replied.

“The problem is that if I stay too long, it becomes so hard to turn back.”

“I know that feeling. After Noah and I left Colbrand, certain sensibilities went up in smoke rather quickly,” said Valia.

“So the two of you met at the knight academy? Student and teacher, so taboo, so romantic. When did you fall for each other?”

“During a very intense sparring match on the first day. After that, it was too late to turn back,” said Noah.

“Well we didn’t truly start our relationship until we left Colbrand, but we knew long before then where we were heading, so once we were finally alone, let’s just say that there was no point in waiting around and taking things slow.”

“I can just imagine,” Elisandra giggled.

Thoroughly satisfied, the three fell asleep among the twisted sheets. Noah lay in the middle with Valia on his left side and Elisandra on his right, the two elf maidens snuggling up close. Hours later, Noah’s phone began to ring. It was his alarm.

Only a handful of elves knew of the queen’s relationship with Noah and Valia, including Lour and Aithorn. Everyone else who knew had died on Kisara Island. That said, they wanted to keep things secret from the public. When visiting the palace for a tryst, Noah and Valia were as stealthy as possible and left before dawn.

“Elisandra, it’s time for me to go,” said Noah, amused with how tightly the queen held onto him.

“Just a little bit longer,” she murmured.

“Very well. Valia?”

“I got it.”

With Noah locked in Elisandra’s embrace, Valia reached over to the bedside table, smothering Noah’s face with her breasts and tapping the screen as he had taught her. Now granted a few more minutes of serenity, she put her arm around Noah and pressed herself against his back, with Noah holding Elisandra close, sandwiched between the two elves. Immersed in each other’s warmth, the three drifted in and out of consciousness as the sky brightened and the birds initiated their morning chorus.

When Noah’s alarm went off a second time, Elisandra tried again to keep Noah pinned, but he and Valia, with much reluctance, managed to pull themselves from her bed. “I have lived for over a thousand years, and yet waiting for you two to return feels like an eternity,” she sleepily mumbled, holding Noah’s hand.

He leaned down and kissed hers. “But we will, soon enough.”

After getting dressed and collecting their things, Noah and Valia left the palace. The castle consisted of two parts, with Elisandra living in the mansion above the canopy, and the supporting foundation, made of the ancient trees weaving together, serving as the fortress where the guards stayed. They patrolled at all hours of the day, even more fervently after the incident with the succubus. With their sharp hearing, even someone like Valia would struggle to sneak out, but fortunately, Noah was by her side.

After the trials and near-death experiences at Kisara Island, Noah’s magical abilities had undergone a growth spurt. Initially, his invisibility spell could hide only his presence, and his mana slid off others like oil and water, but now, he could shield others simultaneously under certain conditions.

As they walked the corridors, Noah held Valia’s hand, and his mana flowed from him and wrapped around her. Moving weakened the concealing effect, leaving them visible but silencing their footprints. When a guard approached, they’d remain perfectly still, allowing Noah’s mana to deepen the illusion and hide them both from sight. The guard would walk by, unaware of their presence.

Once they slipped into the city below, Noah released the spell, and they walked carefree to their home. By now, early risers were beginning their morning chores and routines. Anyone who passed Noah and Valia would bow their heads and recite an elvish greeting, which they returned. For saving the queen and countless other elves, Noah had received the title of Lord, but more importantly, Noah’s existence as an ancient being, something he had concealed for thousands of years, was now recognized. Though he still had the body of a human, the elves treated him as one of their own.

Upon reaching home, Noah and Valia retired to their bed to enjoy a few more hours of sleep. A morning nap was non-negotiable, considering their vigorous nighttime activities with the queen. They snoozed together like lazy cats, eventually getting up to start the day. After breakfast, they took time to exercise. Valia performed the Dance of the Ivunara, an elven ritual that loosened the muscles and focused the mind. Noah underwent his workout routine, combining yoga, calisthenics, weight-lifting, and several other techniques perfectly mixed and cultivated over centuries.

Once finished, Valia sighed and wiped the sweat from her brow. “That was nice. So, shall we head to the library?”

“We could, but how about a little more exercise?”

Valia giggled. “Do you mean bedroom exercise?”

“I was thinking a something less sensual, but just as intense.” Noah held out his hand and conjured his sword. “Interested?”

“A little steel-on-steel? I like the sound of that. We haven’t sparred since the academy.” The two faced each other, gripping their swords, but Noah suddenly retrieved his phone and started tapping on the screen before they could begin. “And what are you doing now?”

“Just a little something to make it more interesting.” Music began to play from his phone, a dramatic melody that heated the blood. “Now come at me.”

Valia indulged him, rocketing forward with her sword, aiming straight for Noah’s face. He parried the attack and went on the offense, but Valia spun around and blocked his counterattack. Noah disengaged and went in for an uppercut slash, yet Valia dodged the swing and aimed for his neck, only for Noah to duck under the blade and narrowly miss her with a kick. Valia jumped back, and Noah pursued her with a hurricane of slashes.

They went at it with full force, attacking and defending as though their lives were on the line. Their blades met several times each second, sounding like the chirping birds around them and catching the ears of every elf nearby. After fighting Valia multiple times, Noah had realized how incredible she was. She switched between styles effortlessly, lunging like a berserker, slashing like a samurai, thrusting like a fencer, and moving like a dancer.

To counter, Noah focused not on trying to inflict damage, but on breaking Valia’s stance and rhythm. He darted back and forth around Valia to attack from all sides, each step a leap that allowed him to move like he was bouncing. Most of his attacks were feints, trying to cloud her reflexes with anticipation and doubt. Noah was good at hiding his tells and avoiding patterns, but that was against humans.

At one moment, he appeared behind her, and Valia’s elf eyes scanned his intent. Though it looked like he was attacking, he was actually defending himself. If she counterattacked, he’d break her momentum and take advantage, and if she tried to circumvent his guard, he’d nullify her. His position was a trap, so rather than engage him, she focused on his next jump, and when he moved, she intercepted. A flurry of attacks rained down on Noah, but none of them managed to even scratch his clothing.

Valia had the natural grace and speed of the elves and centuries of training, but Noah had thousands of years of accumulated hand-eye coordination and no shortage of combat experience, letting him block and dodge her attacks with identical expertise. When they first fought, Noah’s proficiency with the blade wowed Valia, and that was when his skills were considerably rusty. Now, after training under her and fighting numerous opponents in this world, he was an unquestionable sword master.

An audience soon began to form, with soldiers and citizens alike stopping what they were doing to observe the match from throughout the city. They perched like eagles on branches, walkways, and balconies and watched the fight with sharp eyes. Even among the mighty elf warriors, Valia was an unreachable existence, the best their race had to offer, but despite that, Noah was holding his own. The idea that a human could move the way he did left them awestruck.

Finally, the song ended, and Noah and Valia sheathed their swords.

“Ah, that was just what I needed. You’ve certainly improved from that first day at the academy,” Valia said, barely out of breath.

“Thanks. It’ll still be a while before I’m able to best you.”

“Hmph, I’d say a little more than a while.”

“Quite a while?”

“There you go.”

Having nourished and strengthened their bodies, they now set out to sharpen their minds. They journeyed to the Sylphtorian library, where Noah once more buried himself in books. He and Valia had traveled to the realm of the elves, searching for more than just her brother. They also came here so Noah could try to break his reincarnation curse using elvish knowledge, and before they could move on to continue their search for Valon, Noah was going to use every scrap of information at his disposal. He was quickly mastering the elvish language, so while Valia helped where she could, translation was becoming less and less of an issue.

As a gift from the spirits, he had gained the ability to manifest his curse’s magic circle and could now begin trying to write a counterspell. However, it was no easy task. Many of the runes were unidentified and interacted with each other like both language and mathematics. It required a lot of steps, and neither Noah nor Valia could cast runecraft spells. Noah could, however, use illusion magic to perform simulations.

Working in the library, Noah would sit before a pile of scrolls, surrounded by stacks of books, devouring knowledge and regurgitating it into scribbled rune sequences, writing code with parchment and ink. He was creating spells that could process patterns, act in response, and convey visual data, like programs on a screen, and he’d simply mimic them with illusions. It was a magical spellcheck, search function, and the foundations of a translator and calculator. Since he could not read his own curse, he had to create spells to do it for him.

It took a lot of willpower to pull himself away from the library each night, but patience was a skill he had learned long ago, and he wouldn’t make the mistake of sacrificing his health. Besides, Valia gave him plenty of reason to return home, and every few days, they’d slip into the queen’s bed for some fun.

When he wasn’t in the library, he was busy creating magic tools and weapons. Valon had stolen numerous relics from the queen and lords of Sylphtoria, so Noah was compensating them with replicas and other pieces. There was no shortage of high-grade materials in the city, and he had the skills to put them to use. He used wyvern tissue, wood and sap from mythic trees, mystical alloys that had absorbed the ambient mana of Sylphtoria, and water and soil from holy sites. He’d craft and inscribe the pieces with the most powerful inks he could create.

The quality of the ingredients was surpassed only by the skill of his workmanship. Noah had a great affinity for runic math, and his skills from past lifetimes helped him process and shape leather, wood, metal, gems, bones, and other materials to create masterpieces. They were enchanted to resist damage and deterioration and, over the millennia, would develop rich histories and provenance to match their origin.

Though he could not make up for the emotional or historical value of the lost pieces, these magical tools, forged by an ancient being from another world, were received with appreciation. The elves, blessed with keen eyes and a well-cultivated appreciation for art, understood the true quality of Noah’s crafts.

After months of study and work, the pair were summoned to the palace. They found Lour standing at Elisandra’s side, each holding a scroll and flanked by guards.

“Your Majesty,” Noah and Valia said with a nod for the sake of appearances.

“Thank you for coming. A squad of knights stand at our borders, delivering a message from Prince Lupin of Uther, asking me personally to locate you, Sir Noah.”

“The prince knows I’m here?”

“Prince Lupin is a sharp one and has made sure to keep a close eye on Colbrand, even from a distance,” said Valia. “He wanted to always be informed on everything going on back home. Leuca would have sent word to the king about your whereabouts, and if the king knows, then Lupin would know.”

“I didn’t think he’d be foolish enough to waste your time with an arrest warrant, Your Majesty.”

“Fortunately for him, your original impression would be correct. It seems you’ve been pardoned.”

She motioned to Lour, who handed his scroll to Noah. He unrolled it to find a notice of exoneration, signed and sealed by Prince Lupin himself. Elisandra opened her own scroll and began to read.

“To Elisandra Tu Kylateran, Queen of Sylphtoria,

I must apologize for not being able to meet you in person, but I am bound in place by the direness of my situation. I write to you from Welindar, a city besieged. It is not by an enemy nation we are attacked, but by an ancient evil. The beastmen of Handent are under the influence of the Profane, turning them into murderous abominations infesting the countryside. If these fiends have not infiltrated the Anorvan Forest already, they will soon, and they’ll leave behind paths of blood leading to Sylphtoria.

I will not ask you to help me keep my conquered lands, but there is someone who I hope can prevent this mess from spreading further. A man named Noah has fled Uther and escaped into the Anorvan Forest. For your sake and mine, you must find him and let him know the situation. Tell him I need his help and will grant him a full pardon for his crimes in exchange for his expertise. Regardless of the past, it is not worth the future lost if the Profane should rise to power. If I fail in stopping them, I pray that the old alliances are honored. I warn you to be ready for war and beg you to fight alongside the races of man and dwarf again.

To the Wandering Spirit, if you are reading this, you once offered counsel on the night of my greatest triumph. I ask for your wisdom once more on the eve of my destruction. Help me, and all your transgressions against my family will be forgiven. To Lady Valia Zodiac, I extend the same offer and ask that you once more aid my country.

Signed, His Highness, First Prince Lupin Oxam Vilard Albion.”

“So the situation in Handent has reached its breaking point,” said Noah.

“Why would he go so far to ask for you specifically?” Lour asked.

“In the final battle of the Siege of Welindar, Prince Lupin’s forces slew a basilisk, and when the skeleton was brought to Colbrand, I noticed numerous deformities, suggesting that the beast had been created artificially, rather than born or summoned. I have first-hand experience with the kind of methods and intent that could spawn such abominations, and I warned Lupin that it was a sign of something far worse on the horizon. He was wise for listening.” Noah then skimmed his pardoning certificate. “This seems legit, but it only works under the condition that I remain in the prince’s service. However, I can’t help but wonder if this would detract someone like Gradius or any other knights under the king’s direct order.”

“I’ve known Lupin for years, and he’s a man of his word,” Valia said. “If you help him, I’m sure you’ll be able to return to Colbrand without fear. I think we should go. We have no idea where to begin looking for Valon, and staying here hasn’t changed that. If we keep moving, maybe fortune will smile upon us. Besides, a chance to get Uther off our backs is too good to pass up.”

“I, too, believe you should assist the prince,” Elisandra added. “This evil threatens the world, and the Anorvan Forest is already seeing the effects. The succubus was one of the Profane, and I doubt she was a lone aggressor. The forces of darkness are claiming dominion over Handent and have already struck a blow to Sylphtoria. Their ambitions will carry them farther, beyond all corners of the horizon, and soon, they will set their gaze upon this nation once more.”

“While it pains me to put my research on hold, perhaps a reprieve will provide new insight. I might even find something useful in Welindar. I just need a couple days to prepare, and then we will set off.”

“Before you leave, Lord Noah, there is something you should be aware of.” Elisandra nervously smiled and put her hand on her belly. “You’re going to be a father.”

Her words hit everyone in the palace like a mighty gale, causing the posture of the strict and rigid guards to come undone, one of them even dropping his spear in shock. They glared at Noah angrily and enviously, shooting daggers from their eyes that stuck him like a pin cushion. Lour’s eyes looked like they would pop out of their sockets while Valia had her hand over her face. This was far from Noah’s first surprise pregnancy, but none had left him so stunned. Were Elisandra human, he would have at least noticed long before now, but elvish pregnancies were different from humans’, and in more than one way.

“How is this possible? There have only been a few successful human-elf couplings in all of recorded history, and none of those cases involved a human father.”

“I would like to know as well,” said Lour, appearing ill.

Elisandra’s smile lost is anxiety and she now glowed with pride. “Under normal circumstances it shouldn’t have happened. An elf woman’s cycle takes over a decade, and even then, the chances of impregnation are low. But our circumstances were far from normal, weren’t they?”

“The spirits,” Valia gasped.

“That’s right. Our union was ordained by the spirits of nature at the Lunar Temple. It is by their will that this miracle has transpired. Not only did they wish for the turmoil in my heart to be mended, but they blessed Sylphtoria with an heir to the throne.”

“I remember you saying that they wanted to witness an expression of life. I guess they meant that in two ways,” said Noah with a chuckle.

“This… this is going to have massive repercussions,” said Lour, pacing back and forth. “Forgive me, My Lady, this is indeed wonderful news, and I am happy for you, but these aren’t exactly the best circumstances. Despite everything Lord Noah has done for this country, and his true identity as the Wandering Spirit, the fact remains that he is a human with a very… sordid reputation. I mean no offense, Lord Noah.”

“It’s fine, I’m of the same thought. I am not one to care for what others may think of me, but I fear for you, Elisandra. I don’t want you to suffer even a single dirty look or word of ridicule on my account.”

“Before I met you, Noah, I would have feared the same thing, but in my darkest hour, you gave me courage, and in my lonesome days, you’ve given me comfort and companionship. No matter what people may say or think about this child, there are two facts that will never change: their birth was decreed by the spirits of nature, and their father is the man I love. You and I have been blessed, and when you return, we will raise this child together.”

Noah kneeled before the queen and placed his hand on her stomach, which would soon swell with the development of their unborn baby. “I gave Valia my word that I would help find her brother, and with or without his help, I will break my curse of reincarnation. This is something I have waited thousands of years for, and I can’t walk away from it, for anything.

However, once I have succeeded, and I am free from the prison of eternity, I will come back for you and our baby. One way or another, this will be my last life, and I want to live it here in Sylphtoria. I want to spend my remaining years with you and this child. I want this to be the final place I call home.”

Elisandra cupped his cheek. “That’s all that I ask. Finish your quest, earn your peace. I’ll be waiting.”

They continued to speak about their plans for the future before Noah and Valia finally left the palace. There was much work for Elisandra and Lour to do, regarding not just the baby, but the return of the Profane. The elves of Sylphtoria would have to be ready for war. Outside, finally alone, Noah and Valia stood on a balcony and looked out over the city, though he was actually looking at her. She said nothing, but he could read her despondent mood.

“I guess this complicates things,” said Noah.

“Yeah, it does,” Valia mumbled.

“So what’s on your mind? I haven’t had the chance to hear your opinion.”

“I don’t even know, there is too much swirling around in my head to answer.”

“Take your time. I’ll listen to everything you have to say.”

“My issues are my own. I won’t burden you with them. We certainly have enough going on right now without my emotions get the better of me.”

“Your issues deserve to be heard. This isn’t a battlefield, you don’t have to keep everything bottled up because you’re afraid to lose focus. Whatever your feelings are, however petty, silly, or insignificant you think them to be, I want to hear them. Go ahead; be selfish, be dramatic, be honest.”

Valia took a deep breath and waited for several moments before speaking. “Do you have any idea how many nobles have asked for my hand? How many have tried to pull me into their little harems to be their concubine? A dark elf, such an exotic prize! I always refused them, usually politely, sometimes with force, because I thought such a thing was beneath me. Now, here I am, suddenly becoming “the other woman.” It’s not fair.

You and I haven’t known each other very long, and it feels like we started this relationship just yesterday, but as we journeyed here, I was happy because I had you. You were my bastion, my comfort, my warmth. You were all mine, mine and mine alone. You’re all I have left. I know that your relationship with the queen wasn’t according to plan, and I honestly do believe you when you said you are loyal to me, but despite all that, despite having you first, you’ve slipped from my fingers. I lost Valon to his madness, and I don’t want to lose you to Elisandra.”

“I understand, and I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I know this was all due to the spirits.”

“But I will anyway, because I’m sorry you’ve been put in this position. You’re right, it’s not fair, but you aren’t going to lose me to someone else.”

“You and Elisandra are planning out your future together, but where do I fit?”

“I don’t think she’ll be kicking you out of the bed any time soon.”

“You know it’s not that simple. I am bound to Valon, and he can’t come back here after everything he’s done. I’m going to have to choose between standing beside my brother in exile, or abandoning him and being your concubine, and you know what my decision will have to be.”

“We’ll find him, and we’ll find a way he can atone for what he’s done. I want you both to stay here in Sylphtoria with Elisandra and I. That child is going to grow up calling you two Aunt Valia and Uncle Valon. You’re going to teach them how to wield a sword and he’ll teach them magic, and once I’m gone, you’ll be there for them.”

“Since we were first intimate, I haven’t thought about children even once, because it just wasn’t a possibility. But now, after finding out Elisandra is pregnant, I can’t help but wonder why the spirits didn’t bless me as well.”

“Because they knew what you have to do. Between us and Valon is a long journey full of hardship and peril, and it would be impossible with you waddling on swollen feet and constantly stopping to pee.” Valia stifled a laugh and gave him a soft push on the shoulder. “You know I’m right. If you got pregnant, you’d have to choose between your child and your brother, and that’s not a decision you want to be stuck with. And who knows? Maybe once I’m mortal, you and I can take another journey to the Lunar Temple and ask the spirits for help making the next generation of Zodiac twins.”

“Perhaps, but you’re not allowed to get anyone else pregnant, got it?”

“No promises.”

This time, rather than a push on the shoulder, she shoved him to the ground.

For the next several days, Noah busied himself with work and preparations. He spent a great deal of time improving his and Valia’s equipment, especially their armor. For their journey to Kisara Island, they had been garbed in a combination of cloth and plate armor. Despite its weight and softness, a thin sheet of battle-ready elven silk was stronger than Kevlar. Noah liked the lightness, agility, and breathability it provided.

Atop his silk shirt, he wore a coat made of wyvern leather reinforced with titanium alloy plating. Like the elven silk, the wyvern leather was remarkably strong for its weight, and he enchanted it to help regulate his body heat depending on the weather. It could keep him warm in the most bitter storm, or cool him like a wet towel under the desert sun.

Most of his focus went into something more unique, something he and Valia delivered to the palace. It was a massive pyramidal diamond, so large that the point reached above eye level, and even with her strength enhancement, Valia needed help carrying it. Seeing such a gem shocked the elves, unable to imagine where it came from. In Vandheim, the dwarves were known to excavate jewels of every color of the rainbow and were expert craftsmen in all things metal, mineral, and crystal, but this had not been removed from the ground, and its purity was incomparable.

“What is this?” Lour asked, walking around the giant diamond, speaking with an awed voice. Elisandra was likewise dumbfounded by the gem, running her hands across its pristine surface, so smooth and flat that it seemed to mock the chaotic will of nature.

“Noah, did you make this? How is this possible?” she asked in shock.

“Alchemy, with some help from Hoapfa the glassmaker. However, this isn’t simply a shiny rock. Look closer.”

Per his words, the diamond was made by rearranging carbon atoms into a perfectly-repeating crystal lattice structure. However, it appeared somewhat foggy, and upon examining it up close, the elves understood why. Noah had started with a diamond just the size of his hand, etched runes into it with a magical tool he created for this project, and filled the carvings with transparent ink.

The gem was then wrapped in a layer of diamond material using alchemy, and Noah would carve more runes into it, cover it with another layer, and repeat, with each layer of runes appearing like rings on a tree. Without the runes and ink, it was so pure and clear that it would have been nearly invisible if not for its reflective properties.

“This is incredible, truly it is a priceless treasure,” Lour gasped. “I can’t even begin to imagine what it would take to replicate this.”

“But what does it do?” Elisandra asked.

“You’ll see tonight. We just have to get it into position.”

Following Noah’s instructions, Elisandra activated her magic, causing trees to sprout from the floor underneath the diamond and lift it into the air. The diamond was brought outside and set at the very top of the palace like the star on a Christmas tree. Later that day, elven nobles throughout the Anorvan Forest arrived in Sylphtoria. They didn’t know why they had been summoned, only that it was of dire importance.

They gathered in the palace, engaging in small talk and catching up. For elves, years could pass in the blink of an eye, and though many of them hadn’t seen each other in decades, they spoke as if they had run into each other at the grocery store in a small town. There was, however, some unease among them. They were quick to notice Noah standing at the queen’s side, opposite Lour, and wearing the green mantle, signifying his nobility.

Who was this human, and why was he allowed to stand beside the ruler of the elves while garbed in the same clothing as them? If he was a messenger from another country, attending to pass on a warning, they could understand a human’s presence being tolerated, but he might as well have been put on a pedestal. Valia was standing in the corner, silently watching.

Once everything was prepared, Elisandra cleared her throat and spoke in elvish. “Welcome, friends and kin, it is good to see all of you, and I apologize for the suddenness of your calling. However, there is news you must all be made aware of, both good and bad.”

“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” said one nobleman dressed in ornate robes, “by what right does a human have to attend this conference?”

“You will address Lord Noah with respect,” warned Lour, surprising everyone, even Noah.

“Thank you, Lour,” said Elisandra. “The man at my side is Noah, whom I recently granted lordship to. Do not let his young appearance fool you. He is the oldest being in this room, transcending both time and death.” Her words left many brows furrowed as everyone tried to understand her meaning. “Were it not for his efforts, Sylphtoria would be in ruins. Early this summer, our people were struck with a plague that threatened to destroy our nation. This plague was orchestrated and released by a member of the Profane.”

The announcement sent ripples through the crowd. Even for the elves, few in this room were old enough to remember the war against the Profane, but they remembered growing up in the aftermath and knew the stories of the horror they inflicted on the world.

“They were supposed to be wiped out,” a dark-haired woman said.

“Yes, my own father fought against them alongside the races of men and dwarves, but evil is resilient and once again bares its fangs at our world. This agent of destruction sowed death and disease among my people, and in the middle of the night, infiltrated the palace and tried to end my life. The efforts of the Profane have been also encountered in Handent. The occupying forces of Uther are besieged by the evil spawn, and they have begun flowing into our woods and killing our people. Many of you should already be aware of this. The time has come once again for us to fight against this ancient menace.”

She gave everyone a moment to process her announcement. Unlike humans, elves did not go to war lightly. With their low birthrates and long lives, they cherished the survival of their species above all else, and war with the Profane would bring immense casualties. They were smart enough to know that fighting against them was inevitable, which made it so difficult. They could not cushion the realization with denial.

“However, hope is not lost. Lord Noah, despite all doubts against him, cured the plague and averted my assassination. Were it not for him, the Profane would have succeeded, and I and everyone else in this city would be dead. He stands beside me as our greatest ally against this threat. For that, I granted him a deserving title. After, he traveled to Kisara Island and solved the monster epidemic, opening the possibility of the land being reclaimed.”

Once again, shock and hushed muttering rippled through the crowd. The tragedy of Kisara Island was a dark tale in elvish history, not simply for the events that happened on the island, but for the fact that the island was lost to the elves. Even if it was never resettled and populated, to have the island back, to reclaim that piece of elven heritage, was monumental.

“And that is not the only gift Lord Noah has given our people.” Elisandra paused and touched her stomach. Seeing her, Noah reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder, shocking everyone. Despite everything the queen had just said, a human touching her was nothing short of sacrilegious.

“During the time he’s been here, Noah and I have grown quite close. We even journeyed to the Lunar Temple so that he could commune with the spirits. Not only did they recognize him as a being on their level, they encouraged us to act on our feelings for each other. By the will and power of the spirits of nature, I am now carrying his child, the heir to the kingdom of Sylphtoria.”

Down on the forest floor, all the elves perked up and gazed at the palace, hearing an explosion of voices. Noblemen and women shouted in shock, anger, confusion, and disgust, with phrases like “filthy half-breed” tossed around. Some even demanded that the queen step down and surrender the throne to someone who hadn’t been “tainted.” Regardless of everything else they had been told, all that mattered to the elves was the roundness of Noah’s ears.

He stood by Elisandra’s side, silent and supportive, a resolute cliff face that their indignant voices splashed against like an angry tide. Finally, when the time was right, and the sun had set, he took a deep breath and whistled with a piercing volume, making every elf wince from the sound and drawing their attention. Like everyone, Noah spoke in elvish.

“For thousands of years, I have walked across countless worlds and seen innumerable events, great and terrible, beautiful and tragic. However, one thing always present is the same inane squabbling of people trapped in their own little bubbles, devoid of a sense of perspective. I had hoped the elves would be different.

Listening to your griping and arguing, how you ignore threats so that you can complain about blessings, I see that some things never change. I find myself quite disappointed that you would all act so belligerently human. All of you, lords and ladies of the elven kingdom, are little more than children in my eyes in terms of age, experience, and maturity.

I could go on. I could continue belittling you for your small-minded, juvenile behavior, but I don’t want to. Instead, I want to let you know that earlier today, I delivered a gift to Her Majesty for her and the people of this land. It’s outside, and I suggest you all go see it. Then you can decide where I fit in your view of this nation.”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” said Elisandra.

She, Lour, Valia, and all the guards joined Noah outside on one of the many balconies lining the palace exterior. Irritated but curious, the elf nobles followed and stepped out onto the other perches, following each other’s eyes to the diamond at the top of the palace. They were initially surprised, but after everything they had just heard, it failed to quell their indignation. That soon changed.

Once night fell upon the land, the Nadoku sang their evening prayer, and gasps were made by the elves as the diamond began to glow. The song filled the air with holy energy, which the diamond was amplifying and refracting as it would light. The more they sang, the brighter the diamond glowed, soon reaching sun-like intensity. Waves of gold luminance spread across the sky like the Aurora Borealis and fluttered down upon the land like snow.

The light shined down into Sylphtoria, passing through branches and leaves as though they were made of glass. The elves were left frozen where they were, feeling the aura fill their entire existence. Normal light at such a level would have blinded anyone who looked at it, but this holy light, enriched with elven verve, poured into the eyes of the witnesses like water down a parched throat. No one could look away, feeling the holy energy permeating their bodies, illuminating every cell, and nourishing their souls. It was like their hearts were all connected, every elf feeling each other’s thoughts like a breeze on their skin and sensing the love of those they had lost, as though their souls and memories were recorded in the Nadoku’s aria.

What had begun as gasps of surprise and turned into stunned silence then became a most unexpected sound: crying. Many elves had tears streaming from their eyes, unable to react in any other way the beauty of the light. All anger, grudges, and negative feelings were being purged, and ancient scars on the body and soul were fading and replaced with loving warmth. Many fell to their knees, sobbing as though in anguish.

Lour was among them, his shoulders heaving as he lost all control of his emotions. “So this is what it’s like to look upon the face of Lumendori himself. This is what it means to stare into the eyes of God,” he wept.

Standing on either side of Noah were Valia and Elisandra, each gripping his hands while tears poured down their cheeks. Noah was the only one with dry eyes, but there was a smile on his face. The pride he felt as he bathed in the light was euphoric, unlike anything he had ever experienced. He had created countless masterpieces across the multiverse, from priceless paintings to skyscrapers to doomsday devices, but this put them to shame.

“It’s so beautiful,” said Elisandra. “The Star of Sylphtoria, shining with the very soul of the elven race. This is a most holy relic, a beacon that will be worshipped and revered until the end of time. Every elf in the Anorvan Forest, maybe even the whole world, will make a pilgrimage here to experience this sacred light.”

“How did you create this?” Valia asked.

“I gathered the carbon from holy sites and the ashes of wood nourished by the mana of Sylphtoria. If I tried to make this anywhere else, it wouldn’t even be half as bright.”

“Thank you for this, Noah,” said Elisandra. “You have blessed our city.”

“This light will also make sure no Profane ever again breach Sylphtoria. Even with the Hunter’s Moon Amulet, that succubus would’ve turned to ash before she could come within five miles of the palace. After all, I want to make sure that the mother of my child is safe while I’m gone.”

Elisandra leaned her head on his shoulder. “With this, no one will dare criticize you, me, or our child. Thank you, Noah. Thank you for everything.”

Noah put his arm around her and kissed her forehead, then pulled Valia in close and did the same with her, and the three of them stood, basking in the light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Across the Plains

 

 

 

 

 

The day of Noah and Valia’s departure had arrived, but they were delayed due to the weather. A tumultuous summer storm, perhaps the last of the season, was bathing Sylphtoria with warm, heavy drops. Up in the palace, Noah and Elisandra sat in a window, she leaning against him with his arms around her. Elisandra once spoke of her love for summer storms, so they decided to enjoy it.

They gazed out across the forest canopy, swaying in the mighty gale, and listened to the thumping rain and the roaring thunder, with the occasional flash of lightning arcing in the distance. Valia was absent, giving them this moment to enjoy by themselves, Elisandra cherishing Noah’s warm embrace and Noah savoring her sweet scent.

“Did you know that while a baby develops in the womb, it can clearly hear its mother’s heart beating? That sound is ingrained in us before we even know what it is,” said Noah.

“Really?”

“It’s true. I remember you saying that the sound of rain made you feel like you were back in the womb, and you were right. Listen to those drops, the gentle, steady pattering. So simple, but so comforting. It’s more than just falling water, the sound itself is elemental, powerful. It’s the sound of life, of dry earth turning into lush soil from which greenery blooms. It cleanses, it nourishes, it energizes, it defines. In space, people don’t listen to music, they prefer to listen to recordings of rain, because that’s what makes them feel at home.”

“That’s beautiful,” Elisandra hummed. She then slid her hands down onto Noah’s, which were rested on her belly. “Rain, that is what our child will be named. It works for both a boy or a girl. Like you said, rain is what makes this world home.”

“I love it.”

Elisandra looked up at him. “And I love you,” she said before their lips met, and light filled the sky.

Once the storm ended, Noah and Valia set off from Sylphtoria, riding northeast towards Handent and Welindar. Their horses had been pampered by the elves, now fat and sleek, and the exercise was doing them good. Valia was more cheerful than usual, for while she and the queen had grown close, she once again had Noah all to herself.

Unfortunately, they were not alone. While the Anorvan Forest was free of knights and bounty hunters, there was no shortage of elves drawn by the smell of a human slithering through their domain. The two had several arrows, swords, and spears pointed at them throughout their journey, and it took a lot of talking to get the pointy-eared interlopers to let them pass. Noah’s mantle, marking him as an honored ally to the queen and a Sylphtorian lord, didn’t always convince the elves. He was accused of wearing a fake or being a thief more than once.

It took over a week to finally break free of the Anorvan Forest and arrive at the Petosic Steppes. These grasslands stretched across the north, broken up by thickets and hills like islands in an ocean of green. Noah and Valia could see the far corners of the horizon beneath the clear sky, no longer hidden by the ancient trees.

“Handent, home of the beastman tribes. It’s been an age and a half since I was here last. Behind us, the spirits of nature dance among the trees, but here, they float upon the wind like clouds,” said Valia.

“There, that tower in the distance. The knights are waiting for us,” Noah said, pointing ahead to an unnatural shape protruding from the horizon. “Hold on, there is something I want to try.”

Noah revealed a small mirror created using alchemy, and while looking at his reflection, he brushed his hand across his right eye, activating his cloning magic. His face immediately changed as if he was twice his original age. His clone magic had evolved thanks to Kisara Island, and he could now recreate his past lives. Of his countless reincarnations across the multiverse, there were several repeats, reliving the same body more than once with minimal difference between timelines. The illusory mask he now wore was the adult version of his current body, reached during previous lifetimes.

Noah examined his reflection for accuracy, scrutinizing the threads of mana forming a thin beard on his face. “What do you think?

“Why are you switching your appearance? Don’t tell me you’re paranoid about letting them see your real face.”

“It’s an experiment on human nature,” he said, now with a deeper voice. “From my experience, having a young body like this one has advantages and drawbacks. It makes it easier to garner sympathy, forgiveness, and mercy, but it means my warnings, threats, and advice aren’t taken seriously either. A mature appearance enhances my charisma, and makes me appear more believable.”

“You’re just going to be constantly hiding your real appearance around everyone?”

Noah put the mirror away and donned his wide-brimmed hat. Though his current aged appearance was just an illusion, his real face could still get sunburned out here in the plains.

“My appearance doesn’t personally matter. Bodies are merely vessels. This adult face you currently see is from another life I’ve lived, and is as real as the young face you’re used to. Besides, I’d say I look pretty handsome.”

“Granted, but how long can you keep your magic active like that?”

“Now that I can focus my illusions on individual body parts, the mana cost is very affordable. If it’s just my face, I may be able to do it continuously without needing rest.”

“Very well, go ahead. This should be interesting.”

“And if being older doesn’t work, I can always go in the opposite direction.” The illusion changed, and his face became that of an infant, stretched across his adult-sized head. He turned to Valia, flashing her a toothless smile and babbling like a baby would, causing her to burst into laughter.

“That is truly horrifying. Please, don’t ever do it again.”

Noah readjusted the illusion back to his middle-aged appearance. “Oh, I’m going to do it again. You won’t know when, and you won’t know where, but it will be perfect.”

They ushered their horses forward and rode across the grassy plains, with their approach to the tower revealing its true face. It was the remains of a dwarven fortress built centuries ago in a time of war with the elves. Time and battle had turned it into a skeleton of bricks, but enough of the tower remained upright to serve as a landmark, and the winds of the plains could not topple it.

The area around the tower was raised and rocky, hence its location, but a path led up to the fortress. As Noah and Valia approached, however, they came across something unpleasant. A slain beast was stuck on a pike as a warning to others of its kind, but it was no ordinary creature. It appeared to be some kind of fox, the size of a St. Bernard, and horribly mutated. Its claws and fangs were overgrown, and a third eye had grown out of the left socket. Despite being left out, not a single fly dared feed on the carcass.

“Halt! Identify yourselves!” a soldier yelled from a high crag.

“I am Noah, the Wandering Spirit!”

“Valia Zodiac, the Sword Goddess! We’re here answering Prince Lupin’s summons!”

The soldier paused. “Remain where you are!”

He then blew a horn and produced three deep calls. Noah and Valia looked at the tower, seeing some movement. The two of them were on guard, ready for any sign of attack. Though Noah had a probationary exoneration, it was hard to predict how these strangers would act without the prince himself around, not to mention that Valia was also a fugitive. Soon enough, a knight approached on horseback. From the quality of his armor and the emblem on his shoulder, he appeared to be silver-ranked and had a face that Noah recognized.

“Welcome, Sir Noah, Lady Valia. I am Sir Reynolds, envoy of His Highness, Prince Lupin. Along with delivering the prince’s message, my men and I are here to escort you to Welindar. Wait, I was told you would be younger.”

“I am indeed Noah. You’d be surprised how young I can pass for by just shaving, young enough to even get into the Knight Academy. Anyway, I am here to answer the prince’s summons. My apologies for making you wait. I had business in Sylphtoria that could not be left unfinished.”

“Well, the men will be happy that we can finally depart. Please, come with me to the base.”

They followed Reynolds to the fortress, now seeing its true dilapidation. The tower was still standing, but every building was in ruins, serving only to provide cover from the wind. Still, the troops were making do with what they had. The caved-in stables had been repaired to once more shelter the horses, the well looked to be functioning, and there was even a clothesline with shirts and garments hanging to dry. Most of the work had gone into repairing walls and shoring up defenses to keep monsters like the fox out.

“How many troops do you have with you?” Noah asked.

“I am the only knight, and there are eight soldiers under my command.”

“One knight and eight soldiers to deliver a message from Prince Lupin to the Sylphtorian queen? Are his forces really stretched so thin?” Valia asked.

“Indeed they are. The armies that conquered Welindar are now scattered to maintain peace and order, leaving us with fewer and fewer assets each day. Were it not for the unholy beasts prowling the wild, I’d be lucky to have even four men with me. The situation has surely grown even worse since we departed.”

“How many of those disfigured monsters have you encountered?”

“Too many. We put up that fox, hoping it would ward them off, but these things are worse than rabid. Every night, they come prowling around. They have no fear, they feel pain but shrug off their wounds, and they kill whatever crosses their path, often without bothering to eat. I left Welindar with ten men and lost two to those abominations.”

They entered the tower, where the soldiers were camping out anywhere that was dry and offered cover. These men ranged from their late teens to their late fifties, had no prospects beyond the military, couldn’t use magic, or were restricted to the most minor, elementary spells. At the moment, they were all alert and standing ready, reacting to the horn and the strangers’ arrival like dogs hearing the slam of a car door. It was clear that, next to the monsters, boredom was their greatest enemy. They had been entertaining themselves with games of dice and cards, maintaining their equipment, and Noah even spotted an unfinished wooden carving someone had whittled.

“Men, Sir Noah and Lady Valia have arrived. Gather your things; we’re moving out,” Reynolds ordered.

The soldiers’ reaction to the order was mixed. Some were lamenting the loss of what was the closest they’d get to a vacation, others were glad to see an end to their boredom, and the rest were fearful of going back out into the plains, forsaking the safety of the tower.

As the men packed up their things and prepared to depart, Reynolds turned to Noah. “I was told that you are an important key to ending this madness. Is it true?”

“I will do whatever I can to help, but I won’t know how until I get to Welindar.”

Noah, Valia, and their escorts set off from the wrecked fortress, riding deeper into the plains. Their group was large enough to ward off any predators, both canine and feline, but Noah could often see them on the crests of hills, watching their group pass by. That night, they set up camp in a small ravine, lowering them out of the prairie winds and concealing their campfire. Summer was ending, and though the days were still hot, the nights were honing their chill.

Dinner was some wild rabbits, and everyone gathered around the fire to eat. As the soldiers talked and laughed amongst each other, they were clearly on edge. Even by elf standards, Valia was exceptionally beautiful, and her presence made the men antsy. Noah watched with amusement as instinct overtook them, and they began vying for her attention like animals performing mating dances. They verbally butted heads, trying to take over the conversation no matter the subject, and weren’t subtle when they found opportunities to brag. The youngest soldier sat up straight and deepened his voice, while the oldest soldier tried to appear worldly and intelligent.

Eventually, though, Noah’s presence was acknowledged. “Sir Noah, what’s your story?” one soldier asked. “We’ve been hearing your name all the way out here in Handent.”

“Well, first of all, the rumors are true. I’ll even take credit for things that are wrong. Long story short, I got into a feud with Prince Seraph and Prince Galvin, and it got ugly. I was forced to flee Uther, but Prince Lupin, who I have assisted in the past, is offering me a pardon in exchange for my services in this fight.”

“You’re supposed to be some kind of expert on these monsters, right?” another soldier asked.

“I have experience in these fields.”

“Like how?”

Noah pulled out a piece of string and began looping it around his fingers. “I spent my early years in an orphanage, having been dropped off on the front step as a baby. It was not, shall we say, a loving establishment. When I was a child, I and several others were moved to a different facility, or rather, we had been sold off. The place we went to was made of sterile white halls and rooms, matching our clothes. The food and beds were better, but this place was like a prison, and we children were the prisoners.”

He continued fiddling with the string, playing Cat’s Cradle.

“We were told it was a special school, and would test our cognitive and physical abilities daily, but I understood what they were doing from the very start. We had been gathered to be used as subjects for experimentation. They would expose us to different drugs, stimuli, and challenges to see how we reacted, but were careful with the administration, doing their best to keep the children from snapping under the pressure. They would turn tests into games, and reward us with toys and treats.”

Around and around the string went, forming complex shapes and figures.

“The worst, most painful tests, were disguised as punishments for failure and misbehavior. I remember one such room where I was strapped to a cold steel table with my head locked into position, and my eyelids and mouth forced open, letting them drill my teeth, send tubes up into my sinuses, and stick needles into my tear ducts to inject me with various serums. There were always needles stabbing me everywhere, shooting me full of who-knows-what, or used to administer electric shocks. Oh, that’s right, you don’t know… have any of you been exposed to thunder magic? Imagine that power running through your body continuously.

Often, a kid would disappear, and we were told they had been adopted or moved to a different school, but clearly it just meant they had died from the experiments.”

He pulled his hands apart, tightening the string around his fingers, and stared into the campfire through the net, like the wire mesh windows throughout the facility. All the soldiers stared at him with pale faces, having lost all sense of levity. Valia placed her hand on Noah’s knee, her eyes full of sorrow, and then she pulled it away as a cruel smirk crossed Noah’s face.

“I could have escaped if I wanted to, but that would have been boring. I decided to stay and perform experiments of my own. The whole facility and the people running it were my toy box. I took my time to study their security and learn how to move around undetected. I observed the orderlies and administrators, gathering intel and exploiting their weaknesses, and whenever the time felt right, I’d give them a little poke and watch them spin their wheels, sometimes by dosing them with the drugs they were giving the kids and see what would happen.

I remember there was this one neurotic woman, a total control freak. I would sneak into her office at night, move things around, destroy her data, and sometimes leave an unpleasant smell lingering. I did it over a long period, remaining subtle. If I did too much, she’d realize someone was jerking her around. I had to use the lightest touch, slowly making her doubt herself and soon questioning her own sanity. I kept pushing her closer to the edge, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of dementia. Eventually, her fingers were wrapped in bandages because she kept chewing her nails, and there were bald spots from her ripping out her hair during panic attacks. I remember the sound of her scream when she finally snapped. Ah, so satisfying.

There was an administrator who performed many of the tests, and I often sabotaged his equipment. Every time he tried to do something, a tool or machine would break down, turning each little step into a long ordeal, and the frustration would build. With everything going wrong, he started yelling at his coworkers, accusing others of being careless with his cherished tech. Eventually, he started a fistfight with an orderly, got his face smashed into a window, and lost both of his eyes.

Oh, yeah, speaking of orderlies, there was one who was having marital problems. These people weren’t supposed to have personal conversations with the test subjects, but he let it slip once, and while playing the role of the innocent, curious child, I would coax him to go on. Over time, he’d tell me about his wife and home life, and I’d start sowing doubts and venomous thoughts, making him think they were his own. Then, he just disappeared and never came back to work. From what I gathered, he had killed his wife and then himself.

Eventually, the order came down that the facility was to be purged, and all of the test subjects killed. Armed men came in and started slaughtering the kids and the lower staff. Fortunately, I got my hands on a knife, and after slitting a few throats, I worked my way up to the head manager’s office.

It took some cutting to get him to talk, but he spilled everything. We were one part of an experimental program in which the test data was used to create super soldiers. I was familiar with such methods, and I expect the monsters roaming these lands to be made through similar techniques. I killed him, escaped, and leaked all the data I could get my hands on to the public.

Anyway, that’s just a tiny part of my accumulated knowledge in this field. My expertise runs quite a bit deeper. So, any questions?” There were none. Everyone was staring at him with gaunt expressions. The first half of his story was dark enough, and several men had been ready to offer words of sympathy for his hardship, but when they saw that cruel smirk and sadistic gleam in Noah’s eyes, all their instincts told them that he was someone to be feared.

“I suppose, then, I’ll ask some of my own. Sir Reynolds, if I remember correctly, you were at the basilisk gala. I believe Prince Lupin said that you were the first to attack it while everyone was paralyzed with fear. Is that correct?”

“It is,” the knight said hesitantly, as though waiting for Noah to place a curse upon him.

“And by that silver emblem on your chest plate, it appears you received a promotion. Was that for the basilisk, or ten years of service?”

“The basilisk.”

“If Prince Lupin sent you to find me, then that means he must have a great deal of trust in you.”

“I’m his left-hand man.”

“Is his right-hand man a gold-rank knight?”

“No, he isn’t, sorry to disappoint. Prince Lupin originally had two gold knights with him when he conquered Welindar, but both have already been killed. We’ve been taking heavy losses since those abominations appeared.”

“Tell me everything that has been going on. Tell me about the fiends.”

Reynolds swallowed the lump in his throat. “The earliest ones appeared in the spring before we had taken Welindar. They were wild animals with distorted bodies and monstrous appearances, attacking everything in sight. We chalked it up to a disease, some kind of rabies. After the city was won and Prince Lupin took control, there were bigger things to worry about.

Welindar had withstood Uther’s assault for years, and many residents weren’t ready to give up the fight simply because a new flag was over their heads. From the ashes of Welindar’s military, a rebellion grew, sabotaging us wherever and whenever they could. Throughout the summer and fall, they attacked supply lines, interrupted communications with Colbrand, kidnapped soldiers, incited riots in the streets, and did whatever they could to weaken our hold on the city.

We managed to regain control over the winter. Then, when spring arrived, something had changed. Huge, hulking abominations began appearing in the city and across the countryside. These disgusting, mindless fiends brought untold slaughter to both soldier and beastman alike. Our weapons and spells could break bone and tear flesh just as their claws and fangs could do to us, but we could not counter their deranged fury and unstoppable drive. How do you fight a monster that will trample over its own entrails to rip out your throat? It didn’t take long to realize many of these monsters had originally been beastmen.

Despite their power, it seemed like they died on their own accord more often than not. Most of the more giant fiends we encountered in the wild were already dead, showing no wounds, and their bodies were so disfigured that you’d wonder how they ever lived for even a day. That was when we discovered the source of this evil. Each of these monsters had parasites attached to their bodies, these huge leeches that seemed to transform their hosts into bloodthirsty demons. The knights and soldiers believed it was some kind of pestilence, like locusts, but Prince Lupin had another idea. He claimed that these creatures were being made with purpose like a blacksmith makes a sword or an alchemist makes a potion.

The insurgents were quick to weaponize it, and as time went on, both the parasites and their hosts underwent further changes, becoming more stable and robust. Now, they can transform back and forth at will without losing their minds. Since then, they’ve wreaked havoc on our forces, slaughtering soldiers in broad daylight. At least they have enough sanity not to go killing innocents. We’ve been trying to track down the source of these parasites, but even if we manage to take a host alive, getting answers out of them isn’t easy.

We discovered that they were weak against holy magic, but as soon as it seemed like we were turning the tide, they learned to immediately target all of our paladins. Now, we have just a handful of healers left. Prince Lupin has been trying to get ahold of his brother and Sir Tarnas, but they can’t be found. All of our weapons are imbued with holy enchantments, inflicting some added damage, but not nearly enough. Elemental weapons only work correctly in the hands of a compatible magic user.

Anyway, not too long ago, we raided a building and found some kind of workshop hidden in the cellar, where parasites were being cultivated. It was just one piece of a larger network, but the tools, notes, and setup were like nothing we had ever seen before. That’s when Prince Lupin sent me to find you.”

“Interesting. I have a feeling the setup you found isn’t wholly different from scenes in my past. Tell me something, were their parasites growing in cylindrical tanks full of fluid?”

The question surprised Reynolds. “Yes, how did you know?”

“Because there’s ALWAYS something growing in a cylindrical tank. It’s what separates the scientists from the mad scientists. I think I can help you guys out. In his letter, Prince Lupin said that he believes these monsters are a sign that the Profane have returned. Do you share that belief?”

“I’m not sure. I just hope he’s wrong.”

“What are the Profane?” one soldier asked. “I’ve heard them mentioned a few times in my life, but no one ever goes into detail.”

“I’ve been researching them lately, and the stories paint a vivid picture. Long ago, a demon named Zyrga tried to drown the world in blood and darkness, but was vanquished by the Enochians. The records don't say whether destroying the body would have some kind of grave consequence or if it was simply impossible, but the Enochians took the dead demon and sealed it, hoping it would never be found. Eventually, though, everything gets found.

Though the demon was slain, its power was reborn in new vessels. They were the Profane, a cult born in reverence to a fallen god. They inherited its power and will to devour and corrupt all life. They multiplied, not through procreation, but by infecting others with their venom, sharing their unholy power. In his letter, Prince Lupin referred to the monsters we’re fighting as ‘fiends,’ a subspecies of the Profane. They are those who manifest their corruption with grotesque transformations.

Led by Somerset, the Mad Elf King, the armies of the Profane spread, feasting upon the flesh and blood of the innocent, defiling every temple and grave, and poisoning the soil beneath their feet. The people that weren’t eaten were transformed, ensuring a steady source of new members. The power they wielded vanquished armies, razed nations, and turned heroes into bloody splatters. Just as it took the combined strength of the Enochians to slay Zyrga, so too did the races of the world unite to wipe out this evil.

Ever since the end of the war, people in all corners of the world continue to tell stories of night raids, investigating bumps in the night and finding a loved one being preyed upon in bed by a Profane intruder. Upon discovery, these predators flee into the dark, leaving behind a body drained of blood or missing chunks of flesh. For centuries, that’s all they were: stories, tall tales passed around by anxious folk, afraid of their own shadows.

However, it seems the Profane are resilient and making their grand return to power. At the basilisk gala, I warned the prince that the beast you fought was the result of someone’s handiwork, and something worse was on the horizon. It seems that I was right. Hopefully, they’ll provide a good show.”

They resumed their travel the next day, heading exponentially closer to a horizon forever beyond their reach. The soldiers were quiet, left spooked by Noah’s story. He was just glad Valia wasn’t looking at him the way they were. She strived to support him, to try and soothe his scars, and to not criticize the sins of his past.

It was near midday when she finally raised her hand. “Whoa! Stop!” The group halted, everyone looking at her as she put her hands to her ears, trying to catch the faint sound.

“What is it?” Noah asked.

“Battle. I hear several men, and… roars, snarls. I think they’re fighting the fiends. Noah,” she said as she turned to him.

He sighed. “Ugh, you want to save them, don’t you?”

“Time to wake up your sleeping conscience.”

“My men and I have orders to get you two to Welindar. I’m not jeopardizing their lives or the mission!” Reynolds shouted.

“Every monster we kill now is one we won’t have to kill later, if it doesn’t kill us, and I’m not one for procrastination. As a gold-rank knight, I won’t order you to assist. You can either follow me or wait here.”

Valia snapped her reins and sent her horse galloping towards the source of the noise. Noah shrugged and went after her, leaving the knight and soldiers behind. As Valia raced ahead, the sounds of battle became ever clearer. Dissatisfied with her horse, she leaped off the saddle and ran. “Zodiac: Udan!” A silver magic circle appeared beneath her, and mana surged through her body. She raced across the fields, running so fast she was a blur.

She arrived at the scene where several warriors were fighting for their lives. They were members of the horse tribe, centaurs numbering less than a dozen, and had been cornered in a ravine. Their enemies were several mutated beastmen, varying in the animals they embodied, but all sharing the hulking forms granted to them by the parasites clinging to their bodies. Their bloated muscles, though deformed and asymmetrical, gave them incredible power. Along with claws, horns, and fangs, they were armed with weapons and chains and wore clothing.

The centaurs ran around with what space they had, shooting arrows from all angles to bring down their enemies. The arrows struck with pinpoint aim, but though they buried themselves deep in flesh and muscle, the behemoths seemed more annoyed than incapacitated. One fiend, having the head of a coyote with long jaws like an alligator, charged towards a centaur, moving with terrifying speed. He tackled the archer, knocking him through the air and crashing into a cliff face.

Another centaur attacked, slashing the fiend across the chest with his sword. The centaurs carried not just bows but scimitars with handles as long as the blades, allowing them to fight up close with sword techniques and at medium range with spear tactics. The sharpness of the blade was unquestionable, carving deep into the tissue, but though blood poured from the wound, it was soon replaced with noxious pus as the flesh knitted itself back together.

“Annoying fly!” the fiend growled before backhanding the man across the face, nearly snapping his neck from the force of impact and knocking him out cold.

The fiend then put a shackle around his victim’s neck, with his cohorts doing the same, beating the centaurs until they couldn’t fight back, then chaining them up. They dragged their half-dead captives with them while they fought, unhindered by the weight. As he turned around, three centaurs attacked at once and stabbed him through the chest with their blades.

Roaring in pain and anger, the fiend opened his jaws wide, exposing two pairs of long, sharp fangs like a staple remover. He grabbed the centaur directly before him and bit into his neck. The lower fangs, hollow, like syringes, pierced the man’s Jugular and began draining him of blood. The other two centaurs pulled back, watching in horror as the demon rendered their friend into a pail, shriveled corpse, only for his head to fall off his shoulders, courtesy of Valia.

She jumped into battle, moving at super speed. She zipped around the fiends, staying in their blind spots while slashing at them so fast that her sword was almost invisible. Upon crossing the battlefield, she paused, waiting for her sliced foes to drop to the ground. To her shock, she was nearly trampled when one of the fiends, one she had cut more than five times, charged her like a mad bull. The fiend had traits of a deer, but his antlers were twisted and sharp, looking like a mass of knives. He struck a cliff, lodging his antlers in the clay and rock, and Valia sliced his head off. Behind the slain fiend, his cohorts were recovering from their wounds.

“So, I need to cut a little deeper, huh? Very well,” said Valia.

One fiend with the head of a canine leaped towards her, wielding a broadsword. She nimbly dodged the blade, but rather than counter, she was forced to jump back to avoid his snapping jaws. Another fiend, covered in scales, swung at her with an iron staff, prompting her to raise her sword. “Zodiac: Badtha!”

She struck the staff with a sundering strike, causing the metal pole to snap like an icicle. Behind her, the canine fiend swung at her, and she intercepted with another slash that broke his sword at the hilt. Undeterred by their destroyed weapons, both men attacked from opposite directions with long claws. She slipped out from between them, slashing them both in the process, but though blood poured from their wounds, they barely even staggered.

Before she could deliver another strike, Valia was forced to retreat as a winged fiend attacked. Whatever bird this man once embodied, its visage was horribly corrupted, giving him ugly, gnarled feathers. He pursued her, swinging one of the chains he and his cohorts used to capture the centaurs.

She avoided the feral strikes, and when he pulled back his arm, she closed in and stabbed him through the heart. Though his wings went slack and he vomited blood, he grabbed her sword, refusing to let her pull it free. The man, his upper and lower jaws grotesquely shaped into a deformed beak, tried to peck her face. She pulled out a dagger and slashed him across the eyes to blind him, then on the wrist to make him let go of her sword so she could pull free and retreat.

As soon as she was away, a fiend with a long tail and hide of bloody fur attacked. He was wielding a sword, and unlike the canine, his technique was unhindered by his mutation. His movements were rapid and precise, creating a wall of swings and jabs with Valia on the defense. His incredible physical strength almost overwhelmed her every time she blocked, and her elven grace met its match against his unholy speed. She tried to circumvent his onslaught, but he wasn’t letting her out of sight, and even when she managed to wound him, his pain tolerance allowed him to counterattack fiercely. It was no wonder Prince Lupin and his men were struggling against these monsters.

About to activate her magic, Valia heard a thunderclap going off somewhere in the distance, and the fiend in front of her stumbled. Something had shot past her faster than any arrow, so fast that Valia’s elf senses could only detect it after the fact. Another crack rang out, and something struck the fiend in the chest, prompting him to instinctively cover the wound with his hand. However, there was no discernable injury or impact to his flesh. More projectiles struck the fiend in the head and chest, but though they didn’t appear to be damaging him, he still flinched and jerked in surprise, feeling something that wasn’t there.

That was a preview of Across Eternity Book 5. To read the rest purchase the book.

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