Book 3 Chapter 44

Torvus ignored the screams he heard behind them as he guided Tirr through the familiar halls. He had been here more than once, even after he had graduated. Yet there were no feelings of nostalgia or attachment, just muted disgust. Even that small feeling had no time for further thought as he glanced back at the Tirr behind him.

The little god had lost whatever feeling of rage and hate had driven him just a few seconds before, perhaps vented in whatever it was that had caused those screams behind them… But Torvus didn’t find his current expression any better. He looked away, quickening his steps as he tried not to think about what could cause the young god’s face to show so much fear…

As they went, a voice called out to Torvus, Raife’s men, having finished taking over the rest of the building, started to run over to them. Torvus caught their eye, shaking his head subtly without breaking step. They caught the hint easily, moving aside to let them pass…

Torvus once again felt grateful that the people Raife surrounded himself with tended to be smart. Though he wasn’t sure if he was sending them away to protect them, or Tirr. He pushed it out of his mind and simply focused on finding his way through the underground facility.

Torvus stopped as they reached the stairway that led further down and deeper into the school. Heavy Smoke wafted up the soot-marked steps. Small bits of flame and charcoal still lingered along heated stairs causing waves of distortion along the air.

He was wondered what could have happened when he noticed Tirr still moving forward. He reached out a hand, grabbing the little god just before he stepped down into the staircase… Tirr turned, flashing Torvus an accusatory look. Torvus let go quickly, holding up his hands appeasingly

“If we head down there with it like that, we’ll die before we get to do anything. Just the smoke will be enough to kill us…”

Tirr frowned in irritation, but stopped, lifting a hand caused and a small pool of water to appear. With a twist it spun, flattening out into a disc. The edges start to spray out, covering the walls of the staircase in cold damp that seemed to suck out all heat.

Tirr sent the disc down the stairway, giving Torvus a look before he started after it. The disc caught whatever smoke there, causing the water to take a murky look. It then sprayed the heated stairs, steam rising as it cooled them.

Torvus could only shrug his shoulders and follow the young god. As they moved down the stairs the scene only grew worse. Though most of the smoke had moved out of this part of the facility, more fires and damage were left behind.

Tirr didn’t need Torvus directions anymore. He turned, moving quickly as he continued to use water to cool the heated passage, leaving frost and ice in his wake. The young god led the way through the passage, ignoring the former “dorms” of the students that used to live here.

As he followed, Torvus wondered if Tirr knew where he was going. From what he remembered, the kids should have been in the training hall. The direction Tirr was leading them had nothing but storage rooms…

Yet he seemed to be going the right way as the flames and damage grew worse the further they went. Finally, they reached the end of the passage. A crater marked the source of the disaster, though nothing remained of whatever caused it but ashes.

Tirr cooled the flames and stones easily before turning his gaze to the door at the end. Torvus realized as the smoke cleared that somehow the door and the walls near it had escaped the fire, leaving no marks or damage.

A small yelp sounded from behind the door and Tirr sprung forward, sprinting the last few steps before hitting the door with his shoulder. The door burst open, revealing the battle-scarred room inside. A few bodies lay on the floor in pools of their own blood. Members from the assassin’s guild Torvus noticed.

Towards the back of the room were the forms of Garm and the white-masked guard of Silk, Jena. They sat next to what looked like an opening in the wall and a dark figure on the ground.

Before Torvus could wonder what it was though, he heard Tirr gasp. He looked down, following the god’s eyes to what lay between Garm and Jena. There between them was the burnt and charred remains of a young woman… And as Tirr ran forward Torvus realized who they must belong to “Fuck…” He whispered to himself.

Jena and Garm moved out of the way as Tirr came to the body. The flesh had peeled back in multiple areas revealing the singed muscle and tissue underneath. Haggard shallow breaths came from Maria’s mouth as Tirr got to her, but she didn’t respond as his hand tentatively reached out to her.

Garm gave an apologetic whimper as Jena stepped away, moving towards Torvus. “She protected us, and likely the children… I don’t know how, but she snuck in here through there and got the children out too. When the explosion happened…. I think she protected us and them over herself…” Torvus grimaced, watching as tears started to fall down his god’s face

Tirr placed a hand on maria’s chest, pouring in faith as fast as he could, but as he poured in more and more, her body absorbed it like a bottomless hole. Nothing changed even as blood continued to ooze from the burnt flesh. Still, he kept going, his body trembling as he felt himself weaken. “Please…” He whispered as he felt himself grow faint…

“Please…”

Maria snapped awake, pushing herself up from the soft grass beneath her. She found herself in a small yet familiar clearing. Looking around, she realized that she was back in god’s grove, just at the exit of the small path that led back to her village. Though… It was different, the trees looked less gnarled and ancient… And the usually overgrown path looked freshly made, clear of the grass and vines that had marked her own travels.

She looked around, confused, and as her gaze wandered over to the small shrine and offering bowl, she found a woman standing there, smiling at her. The woman waved her forward before sitting down near the small but new-looking shrine.

As Maria stepped forward cautiously, she realized the offering table was filled with flowers and fruits and meats… So much that it seemed to overflow, dropping some onto the ground next to it. As Maria grew closer the woman finally spoke, her voice pleasant and familiar. “Welcome, dear. We have so much to talk about…”