Chapter Twenty-Five

An Indication

“This place is so strange.” I sighed while floating alongside Nalithor. “I’d almost feel better if the wrongness here sent us both into a frenzy.”

“Only because you would enjoy the aftermath.” Nalithor shot me a sideways glance, his mouth curving into an alluring smile. “Boredom makes you even more insatiable, doesn’t it?”

“Boredom’s hardly the only thing that does it.” I grinned and reached over to prod his chest. “Really though, can you blame me? There’s nothing out here! If anyone is living in that city-thing, I’d be surprised. I doubt they can grow food well in there.”

“It is strange.” Nalithor nodded, glancing toward the structure. He narrowed his eyes briefly. “I wonder…”

“Mmm?” I tilted my head. When he didn’t respond, I tugged on his hair.

“If a deity did create that city, I can’t imagine they would have survived—unless their heart placed them in stasis.” Nalithor finally shifted to look down at me, his expression serious. “That could account for the aether drained from crystals near the structure itself. I’ve noticed the crystals are growing weaker the closer we venture.”

“How would we fix something like that?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Sure, I’ve broken Lari’xan out of their protection before, but if someone was so drained that their heart erected a barrier…”

“It’s just a theory.” Nalithor shook his head. “I think we’ve learned all we can from the ground and the streams. We need to figure out how to get into the city itself without triggering its defense mechanisms.”

“Did you try asking last time?” I questioned.

“Ah… No.” Nalithor fell silent for a moment. “Do you really think the solution would be so simple?”

“No, but we won’t know if we don’t try.” I shrugged. “There could have been guards or an enchantment at the door you tried to get through. Since our instincts aren’t going crazy, I have to assume that the inhabitants—if there are any—aren’t a problem. It’s the fact their country or city-state was teleported elsewhere that’s the issue…and we’re going to have to get inside if we want to figure out where it’s supposed to be.”

Nalithor sighed heavily before glancing upward at the fae-dragons, “Neither of you have anything to say?”

“Only that you are taking too much time to make a decision,” Djialkan stated.

“Well, I suppose that answers that.” I crossed my arms. “Shall we, hubby?”

“Indeed…but let’s approach on foot.” Nalithor looked to the fae-dragons again and called, “That goes for the both of you as well.”

With Djialkan on my shoulder and Fraelfnir on Nalithor’s, we turned and walked directly toward the towering city. The nearer we walked, the less aether I saw in the ground and the more I saw swirling around the structure. There was no single elemental aspect. Instead, nearly all the elements had combined in their dance.

By the time we reached the structure, I was convinced a deity had to be involved in its construction. A civilization capable of building such a thing should have wandered to the Rilzaan Continent a long time ago, even if we accounted for the Split. If I focused my vision, I could make out pipes containing flowing aether deep within the walls.

“Do you think anyone is living within?” Nalithor asked as I traced my hand over the stone wall.

“Unless their Magitech can maintain itself, yes.” I narrowed my eyes, looking upward at the brightest source of aether. It pulled at me in a way that seemed as if it should be familiar. Like I should have known what it was.

“You sense it as well?” Nalithor asked. I shifted to look at him out of the corner of my eyes. “I am getting mixed impressions. You?”

“Like there’s an Exile and like there isn’t?” I offered, crossing my arms. “Where’s this gate you mentioned? I want to try introducing ourselves. If they attempt to attack, we can move forward with the assumption they’re an enemy.”

“And if they don’t?” Nalithor followed my gaze upward.

“Then I think we can safely assume they’re not meant to be Exiled.” I pivoted to look up at him. “What do you think?”

“If you’re right that poses all sorts of problems.” Nalithor sighed, running a hand back through his loose hair. ‘The Jivyador, chiefly. I doubt the Lari’xan would be bothered unless we didn’t assist. Either way, we must do something. Come, this way.’

I followed Nalithor around the base of the tower, occasionally nudging inert crystals out of my way. Now that I could see them up-close, I understood why the gouges on the outer wall perplexed him. It would have taken an extraordinary amount of force to damage the stone in such a way.

When we finally came to the broken bridge, I frowned at its scattered remains. The concentration of inert crystals was most certainly stronger there. Many of the crystals looked to have fallen out of inlays on the bridge itself.

‘We’re being watched,’ I remarked while crouching down to examine a crystal too large to lift. ‘Is it the Jivyador, or something else?’

‘I haven’t sensed those bastards since leaving Falrrsald,’ Nalithor answered, nudging me with his tail briefly as he passed. I glanced toward him, watching as he prodded a crystal with his aether—which the crystal promptly repelled. ‘I had a thought regarding these crystals, however.’

‘Which is?’ Fraelfnir asked impatiently.

‘What if it is a protective coating on the crystals themselves that repels aether?’ Nalithor suggested, lifting a smaller crystal in one hand. ‘In an outright war, mages could, in theory, drain the aether from enemy Magitech by drawing upon their crystals. Vorpmasia protects its airships by coating the ships themselves, because we wish to make certain we can recharge the crystals. However, a similar concoction could be applied directly to them instead. Similar to applying oil to clothing to make it water resistant.’

‘That would certainly explain a few things, but possibly remove any connection between this structure and the corrupted creatures we can’t seem to kill.’ I tapped one foot, sinking into thought while Nalithor continued to poke around. ‘Your colleagues at the academy haven’t made more progress with those damned things, right?’

‘Unfortunately.’ Nalithor grimaced, turning to look at me. Next, his gaze flicked up the tower. ‘Shall we see if anyone is home?’

‘We may as well,’ I remarked, stepping closer to him. He promptly scooped me up and sprouted wings, flying us to the outcropping above. ‘You need to teach me how to fly. As much as you enjoy it, we can’t have you carrying me all the time.’

‘Such a pity…but you’re right.’ Nalithor chuckled, setting me down. He kept an arm around my waist as he turned his attention to the gate in front of us. ‘Now then, how shall we introduce ourselves?’

‘As husband and wife?’ I teased, swatting at his tail with mine before looking toward the gate as well. When I spoke again, I put strength into my voice to make certain it would carry. “Do you intend to make the God and Goddess of Balance stand out here all day?”

The aether around the gate flinched and shivered, before swirling and retreating further into the city. Moments later, I heard metal and stone grinding together. Before us, the gate slowly opened, and a pair of guards promptly dropped to their knees in front of us, pressing their foreheads to the stone pathway.

Nalithor and I exchanged a look before returning our attention to the shaking guards.

‘They speak Draemiran?’ I remarked.

‘Strange would be putting it lightly.’ Nalithor took a step forward.

“P-p-please, we are not responsible for your priory injury, my lord!” One of the guards skittered backwards from Nalithor on all fours. “Our city’s defenses—”

“I am aware.” Nalithor raised an eyebrow. “We’re here to find out why your city has appeared here, and where from.”

The guards hesitated before removing their helmets, revealing distinctly Devillian features. On the right, an Adinvyr. On the left, a Sizoul. Both male. Although they spoke Draemiran, their accent was very different from anything I’d heard before.

“We…ah, what is the word…” The Sizoul paused, frowning. He muttered something to his comrade in another language, and I tilted my head. It sounded similar to the language Lalira spoke. Nalithor tensed beside me, his eyes narrowing.

I examined our surroundings while my nylziis…husband…spoke to the guards in their native tongue. With the gate open, and us inside, it was obvious that the structure was indeed a city. None of the architecture looked familiar. Nearby, more Devillians of nearly every race poked their heads around corners or out of windows to peer at us.

There was something vaguely religious about the decorations on their homes and along the streets. I glanced over the edge of the bridge we stood on. Crisscrossing supports and pillars of stone beneath us held the city up. Crystals shone light on farmland and the river below. There was a scattering of buildings down there as well, but it appeared that the city “began” up where we were.

‘Change into something more befitting a goddess, my dear,’ Nalithor remarked, nudging me to get my attention. I returned my gaze to him, finding he wore extravagant armored robes of Draemiran design. The gaping neckline put the brands around his throat and down his chest on display.

‘And what did our most gracious hosts have to say?’ I prompted, summoning similar attire around myself. Nalithor placed his arm around me again, sliding his hand down the side of my torso before eventually resting it on my hip. I arched an eyebrow at him.

‘They are going to take us to the temple at the “crown” of the city,’ Nalithor answered while stroking my hip. ‘It appears that you were right about this place being built by a god. They said that it was created to protect them from a “she-demon’s wrath.”’

‘She-demon… Do you think they’re talking about my father’s counterpart?’ I let Nalithor pull me along with him, following the nervous guards.

Nalithor spoke in their native tongue again, this time in a questioning tone, after their stuttering answer, he frowned. ‘It sounds as if she’s who they’re talking about, yes. They’re under the impression the gods teleported their city here to save them from her. If they’re correct, she’s become fully unhinged.’

‘Do they know why?’ I asked, but he just shook his head.

“My lady…” One of the guards glanced my way. “Your father…king of Devillians?”

“Yes,” I stated simply. The pair exchanged frowns.

“Why isn’t he with…her?” The other one asked.

“That is a very long story.” Nalithor shook his head. “Suffice to say they were not created on the same continent.”

When they gave him a confused look, Nalithor repeated himself in their language. Startled expressions crossed their faces, and they immediately began pelting Nalithor with questions.

‘They weren’t aware they were no longer on the Nrae’lmar Continent,’ Nalithor remarked.

‘They are running out of space.’ Fraelfnir craned his head around, pausing now and then to peer at someone or something. ‘I believe I know who our city-building culprit is.’

‘Aye. It seems they are not a Draemiran myth after all.’ Djialkan nodded once.

‘Care to elaborate?’ Nalithor huffed.

‘Land deities,’ Fraelfnir stated.

Nalithor tensed beside me. ‘Why would a guardian of the land be Exiled?’

‘I wonder.’ The fae-dragons both responded, their tones dripping sarcasm.

‘Land deity?’ I probed.

Nalithor let out a small sigh before explaining, ‘Draemir, and a handful of other countries, believe there is a tier of deity or godlike being beneath the Lesser Gods. Their role is to protect different regions. I believe they are more like Guardians, but…’

I frowned. Guardians with the purpose of protecting the land made sense. After all, Shir and Gari essentially served that exact role in the Sihix Forest. However, there would have to be hundreds or thousands of such beings.

When we got to the temple, my frown deepened. The “temple” was little more than an arrangement of pillars and a lush garden. At the very center was a large golden crystal in the shape of a teardrop. Inside it hovered a humanoid shadow. The crystal was too thick to make out any other features.

It hummed when I prodded it with my aether.

‘There’s no corruption.’ I looked to Nalithor as he released my waist.

“He’s been like this many moons.” The Sizoul guard edged back a few feet. “Many, many moons…”

“What manner of elemental energy does he usually consume?” Nalithor questioned, tugging at the hems of his gloves. The pair gave him confused looks, resulting in a sigh and a repeated question. He soon gave the guards orders to retreat, which they thankfully obeyed. “Arianna, instruct the Vulin to bring us a copious amount of earth crystals. We’re going to have to be careful with this one.

“Djialkan, Fraelfnir, make certain no one interferes.”

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