Death, Devotion, Dissonance

When Evin reunited with the others, they were almost halfway through the rest of the journey.

Sasha was sitting on Ssatsko's shoulder, unusually silent. Theor noticed Evin's arrival, but the man looked like he was trying to ignore the fact. Lora sent him worried glance, but it soon turned to pity or sadness. Evin felt like he didn't deserve such a gaze, but he kept his mouth shut and floated behind them.

His body was hurting all over, and his altitude sickness was flaring up again, so Evin wanted some peace and quiet. He was every grateful for Endra being able to control his body in his stead. Thanks to that, his mind could still get some rest while his body was moving around.

'Hail magic.'

But Ssatsko put Sasha on Theor's shoulder and came to Evin.

"Any idea who those people were?"

"No," Endra replied. "Honestly, they didn't look like they came from Alvox. They had pale white skin and hair, and their eyes were glowing."

Ssatsko frowned. "Perhaps skinshifters?"

Evin thought about it and decided it made sense. The elusive race of skinshifters were, after all, able to change their shape and form to whatever they desired.

'But it can't be them, since skinshifters don't melt when exposed to mana.'

"Maybe. But it still doesn't explain the devices they had," Endra nodded to the sack. "I've checked them briefly and I can tell they don't use mana too… the three men also seemed like the didn't use mana."

"That can't be right," Ssatsko said. "They used a spell to clear out that fog at first, don't you remember?"

"You're right…" Endra murmured.

<But all three of them melted because of the mana, right?> Evin asked. <And they didn't have a magical device or a Talisman on their bodies… not that they could use it.>

<Yes, and they were using the same spell over and over again, so they couldn't have had another mage doing that for them… Unless, there was another mage, but the mage flew back down after their job was finished… They could've been wearing those Cloaking devices and we wouldn't know of them since our spells can't reach that far.>

They took a glance down the cliff, but they couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

<Maybe the mage was ordered to leave them? So they won't have to reveal what their other devices do?>

<Perhaps…> Endra said. <Well, we'll have to deal with it when it comes to us. For now, let's not scare your family needlessly. They're struggling as is.>

Ssatsko must've looked at Evin's troubled expression and the glance down the Cataract. "You're in some real deep problem, and you don't even know why."

The words sounded almost accusatory, but Endra did not take it as such. "Bad luck."

"What are you going to do about them?"

"Nothing yet. I can only get Lora to a safe place for now."

"About that…" Ssatsko grimaced. "I'm feeling more and more doubtful my Tribe's not as safe as I'm thinking," he whispered. "I'm sorry."

Evin was sure he would've snapped at the old man if he was in control, but Endra took things more calmly. "I see… Sigh, well, they're still our best bet for the time being. So, unless you have another plan, we should just keep on going."

"No, I actually have a different idea now," Ssatsko said. "You know Khuutam city's also called the Prison of the Eight-limbed Godling?"

"Yeah? I remember Rith mentioning something like that."

"Perhaps we can ask the Godling there for help."

"Is that possible?"

"It is. The Eight-limbed Godling is famous for his interest in the peculiar," Ssatsko said. "If we offer him these devices you took, he should agree to keeping Lora and the others safe. If he agrees, you won't find a safer place."

"But can we trust this Godling? Aren't some of them famous for their fickle tempers?"

There were few Godlings that enjoyed having other races near their dens, but many preferred to be left alone. These did not attack the Twelve Races but people knew they didn't want to be bothered. Some were even hostile to people, killing or letting their offspring hunt intruders.

"Ah, you don't have to worry about that," Ssatsko smiled. "People call him a Godling because of his unparalleled strength and apparent immortality, but in truth, he's one of the Cobfolk."

The Cobfolk were a vassal race to the Ivari. They were an independent country for most of history, but fell to the Ivari's control when the Tribes were finally united. They were talented artisans, that created most of the best artifacts mages used, but they weren't really powerhouses of any kind. They weren't even that long living.

"Then how is he immortal, then?" Endra asked. "Some trick of the World of Life?"

"Have you heard of the Aspects of the Worlds?"

'They're mages so powerful they were given control over a World of magic by the Empress, right?'

"I have…" Endra murmured. "You're saying this Godling's one of them? But in that case, isn't it hopeless to ask him for help?"

Evin learned that these Aspects of Worlds could not participate in Alvox's matters in his history class. Same as the Empress. Unimaginable power, but no way for them to use any of it.

"Normally, you would be right," Ssatsko said. "But Lord Kena's a former Aspect of Tenarak. I don't know what orders the Empress imposed upon him, but he's known to help people who sate his curiosity."

<I think it's worth a try,> Evin said.

<You sure?>

<It's the best option for us, I think. If those rumors and accounts of the Aspects' strength are any true, we'll never have to worry about my family's safety,> Evin said. <And since he's connected to the Empress, the information about Otherworlders will interest him. I'm sure our goddess wouldn't want unwanted guests doing whatever they want in Alvox.>

<That does make sense,> Endra replied.

"Then let's give this former Aspect a visit," Endra said. "We're headed to Khuutam city anyway."

Ssatsko nodded and went to put Sasha on his back again. He had access to the World of Life, so it was easier for the old man to carry the little girl.

Left alone, Evin found himself thinking of many things. He also realized had many things to ask Endra. Frankly, there were too many things to ask. He decided to start with the easier ones.

<So that accelerator you create out of air is the same as those devices these people use?>

<Yes,> Endra replied. <They're actually called guns. The one they had must use some sort of exploding powder to propel a bullet. The same way I use air explosions to shoot out bullets. Obviously, their bullets are much faster, since they have proper fuel and a better designed gun than my accelerator.>

<Then what about those Cloaking devices, and that Barrier creating device they used?>

<Those…>

Endra explained that his world didn't have those things when he was there. But he had a guess on what they could be, since Earth had many different science fiction stories describing what the future could be.

Cloaking devices, jetpacks, forcefield generators… Evin suddenly received a ton of new information, all of which sounded more and more magical to him. Endra insisted that these things weren't related to magic at all, but he could understand how Evin felt.

Curious, Evin began asking what else these new enemies could possess and Endra went to describe tracking devices, spaceships, virtual realities… all sorts of magical things and concepts. Evin was excited to hear these things, but his enthusiasm soon died out as he realized something important.

<Wait, we might have to face these things, aren't we?>

<Yup,> Endra replied. <If they have such powerful cloaking devices and forcefields; it's hard for me to imagine them not having tanks and airplanes and all sorts of various bullshit. They definitely have portals that they must've used to get to Alvox… I'm actually surprised at how normal their guns are.>

Evin frowned, suddenly feeling terribly anxious about his future.

<But don't worry too much,> Endra said. <They should have a reason why they didn't pull out these things yet. And it's not like magic's something to scoff at either. I mean, look at this Cataract. I personally never heard of a sci-fi story where people could elevate the ground three kilometers to the sky. There's a reason these people are not waging war on Alvox. They're too weak to threaten the truly strong mages.>

Evin agreed. From his history classes, he knew that any one of the Twelve Calamities could destroy the world if they so desired. He didn't know if the Aspects of the Twelve Worlds were as powerful as the Calamities, but he felt like they were powerful enough to stop an otherworldly invasion. And who knows what the Empress could do?

'The problem is, it's not the Aspects or the Empress these people are after. They're after me and my family.'