17 (II)

Quest

Shiv, not sure what else to do, awkwardly patted the dagger. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

After a moment, Valor let out a sigh. “It’s… Thank you, Shiv. It’s alright.”

Shiv didn’t think so. Forty years in the dark sounded… Well, it didn’t sound great. He tried to imagine how he would handle that. I’dprobably go insane, Shiv thought. Actually, it might be in my best interest to go insane. Forty years… Broken Moon, I don’t even want to think about one year in the darkness.

“There, there,” the Composer said. “I will make sure you are whole again. I swear to you, on the Quest I will bestow, and for all the things you’ve done for me, for all the wrongs you have righted. Do you believe me? Will you believe me like you used to?”

There was a pause in the air, and it dragged until even the Composer looked uneasy. Finally, Valor gave his answer. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

“Good,” the Composer said, her face relaxing into relief. “Nonetheless, you’ve both undergone a significant ordeal, and I cannot express how grateful I am to you, Shiv, for seeing Valor delivered here. The city will know what you have done, and you will be rewarded for your efforts. But I have something more to ask of you.”

Shiv looked at her. “What kind of something more?” he said, worry creeping into his voice.

“Everyone in the Abyss bears the Light Curse,” the Composer explained, “from the youngest Umbral to even I, a divinity. Those who are born in the dark—born of the Great One’s descent—shall not know the light without suffering a brand upon their soul.” She recited the words as though reading from memory.

It took Shiv a moment to realize she was reading the description of her Curse. “It says that?” Shiv muttered. “Why?”

“I do not know,” the Composer replied. “I suspect it was a Curse born by the Great One as well, when they finally escaped their shell.”

“Their shell?” Shiv asked.

“The moon,” Valor provided, and everything clicked for Shiv.

“Broken Moon… That’s why people use it as a curse?” he sputtered.

“I suspect so,” the Composer said in a sing-song voice. “Anyhow, I might need you to do something to our mutual benefit. In the near future, I believe the Five Faiths will be calling a conclave—the first one in many years.”

“I… You want me to stand testimony there?” Shiv said.

“Absolutely not,” she interjected, gazing upon him with a stern expression. “There are those who will kill you for merely being here. The Necrotechs—they have not forgiven the surfacers for the destruction of Submission. They might never forgive the surfacers for that. Your very presence will be taken as a breach of the truce—the truce between the Auroral Council and the Abyssal Nations. Something that Vicar Sullain is doing right now, in his mad quest to redeem himself for his failure.”

Shiv stared at her. “So, what do you want me to do?”

“I want you to end the war before it properly begins,” she said. “You are the only one who can move freely between the surface and the Abyss without suffering from the Curse. And, frankly, you’re an outsider—one who has vested interests but no true ties. You are, in a word, perfect for this task.”

“Of course you’re doing this right now,” Valor said. “Of course you’re recruiting a new ‘sister’ for the cause.”

“Sister?” Shiv looked at the dagger. “But I’m not a… I’m not… I’m not sister material.”

“You can be,” the Composer said, showing a toothy smile. Shiv suddenly felt terrified.

“She’s being metaphorical,” Valor explained.

“It can also be quite literal,” the Composer interjected. Shiv felt her Biomancy field flickering around him, and his eyes widened in alarm.

“I… uh, I like being a brother,” he said.

“Oh, you like being a brother?” she replied, barely able to restrain her laughter.

“Yeah, I do. There are lots of things I like about being a brother. Lots of parts. One part in particular.”

“Ah, I tease, I tease. But I am serious about what I said. I need you. The Abyss needs you, and the surface likely needs you as well—though the ones from your home might have mistreated you, so…”

Shiv nodded. “Yeah, they’re kind of bastards,” he agreed, “but there are people I don’t want to see die, and there are people that probably don’t deserve to die, even if they’re bastards.”

“That is a very mature attitude to have,” she said, “and, frankly, you’ll be saving many lives. I have means of returning you to the surface.” Shiv felt a weight lift off his shoulders. “That does not mean it will be an easy path back to the Surface,” the Composer continued, and some of the weight returned to Shiv. “But there is a gateway we can potentially use, and I can help you pass through. On top of that, I would like to open Weave to you and name you an honored guest. We will treat you as one of ours—so long as you follow our laws and customs.”

“And obey your every word,” Shiv joked.

“Impossible,” the Composer said, waving her hand dismissively. “Not even my own daughters do that.”

Shiv grinned. Yeah, it’s nice meeting a goddess with a sense of humor.

“I understand that there are forms of education you’re interested in pursuing. I shall make sure that my halls of learning are open to you as well.”

“Thanks,” Shiv said.

“It’s also prudent,” the Composer added. “It wouldn’t do to have you return unready for conflict and as strong as you can be. Which brings me to my next point: the other person—the boy under the care of my Biomancers—do you truly not know him, or—”

“No, I was lying about that,” Shiv said, wincing. “Sorry, I… uh… He’s… Adam Arrow.”

“Adam Arrow!” the Composer screamed. Shiv felt his Diamond Shell come in handy again, as he was blown off his feet and flung against a webbing. He bounced off and awkwardly walked back to the edge of the platform.

“All the shouting Marikos did got me well-conditioned,” Shiv muttered quietly.

“Oh, I apologize,” the Composer said, covering her mouth. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay. You weren’t as bad as the dragon.”

“I hope not,” she muttered, narrowing her eyes. “But anyway, Adam Arrow! The… the Dread Horizon’s offspring!”

“Yeah,” Shiv said. “He’s also kind of an asshole.”

She looked at him. “Is that a euphemism?”

“Yes. It’s what we call people we don’t like.”

“Oh. Well, he is mistreating some of my Biomancers and making demands to be set free. They have applied restraints.”

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That made Shiv smile. “Yeah, you know, maybe add a few more. He’s pretty dangerous.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, as many as you can. And gag him, too. He has some kind of mouth skill.”

“Mouth skill,” she said, like she didn’t believe him. “Shiv, are you lying to me?”

“Maybe a bit,” he admitted.

She glared.

“I’m sorry,” Shiv whispered.

“It’s fine. Just don’t do it again.”

“I should probably go speak to him afterward,” Shiv said. “Explain things to him.”

“I thought you said he was an asshole.”

“Yeah, but asshole doesn’t mean enemy,” Shiv explained. “It’s just someone you don’t like, you know—his personality. It’s like, you know, he treated me like Sister Nomos did.”

The Composer looked at him for a long while. “Oh, I see, I see. He’s an unpleasant person.”

“Yes, not an enemy,” Shiv replied. “Just kind of a prick.”

“Well, that clarifies things. And he will help you?”

“Absolutely,” Shiv said without hesitation. “He might be an asshole, but he’s a brave asshole, and his home is at stake. He cares about Blackedge more than I ever will, and he definitely cares about his father. Then, well, he’s got a fiancée up there, so he probably wants to get back to her as well. What I’m saying is, he has a lot of skin in this game.”

“So you think we can enlist his aid?” she said.

“I think I can probably enlist his aid, maybe,” Shiv muttered. He thought about it, and he increasingly found himself unsure. Adam really didn’t like Shiv—he knew that. But being surrounded by Umbrals and beings from the Abyssal Depths, and considering what kind of propaganda he’d been fed at the capital…

Yeah, best I still talk to him when I have time. Maybe later.

“Very well,” the Composer said. “But if he proves a danger—”

“If he proves a danger, just pop him.” Shiv nodded. “I’m not asking you to put your people and your city at risk. Just, you know, give me some time to work with him. We’ll see what I can do.”

“Very well, Shiv. I appreciate this. You have already helped quite a bit. Finally, before I let you go and seek a place of rest and recovery, I have something for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes. I have this.” To his surprise, the Composer placed both her hands together as a flow of golden patterns came into shape. Gold turned to blue to the purest white, and he felt all spectrums of mana merge together until it was something pristine, something beyond his description. Slowly, she held it forward to him. It resembled a gleaming shape of some kind, its geometry hard for him to comprehend.

As she held her hands before him, Shiv looked into the light and breathed in slowly. “What is this?”

“It is a Quest, if you will accept it. Reach out with your hand and the conditions will reveal themselves to you—and only you.”

Shiv hesitated for a moment, then extended a finger, dipping it into the radiance.

Quest Gained: Break Vicar Sullain’s siege of Blackedge and stop another war between the surface and the Abyss before it can begin.

Success: Evolve an [Existing Skill] to Legendary Tier.

Failure: The Abyss rises, consuming all surface territory of Lost Angeles.

Shiv studied the conditions of his Quest for a long while. The reward was nice, but the failure condition… “Why is the penalty so severe?” he asked.

“Often I ask myself that question as well,” she replied.

Shiv looked at her. “Wait—you didn’t decide this?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I am merely a divine entity—a god. I bestow the quest, and I can weave some of its requirements, but the reward and the penalty are decided by the System. I am,” she paused, “like a conduit for the System, as all gods are.”

“As all gods are…” Shiv repeated, not fully comprehending.

“You asked me earlier why I didn’t simply strike down your adversary. Well, there is a very simple reason why: gods are not meant to directly interfere in most mortal matters. There are restrictions and penalties placed upon me as well. Due to the unique situation behind my birth, however, I have a bit more flexibility than most gods, but not that much more. I can empower and aid my children, but rarely more. And only in very specific and very extreme circumstances can a true god truly reach into the mortal realm.”

Shiv took note of what she said at the end—“true god.” She probably wasn’t a true god, he realized. Maybe something half-immortal? Half-divine? Something that would allow her to remain in the material dimension. He didn’t voice that, but she nodded, and he understood.

After a moment’s consideration, Shiv accepted the Quest. He didn’t intend to fail. To his surprise, a new section was added to his personal status. He could now view the Quest at any time.

“Perfect,” the Composer said, clapping her hands together. The loud sound made Shiv jump a little, but he composed himself.

He looked around. “So what now?”

“Now? Now you should go rest,” she said. “After a long ordeal like that… I will go over more things with you in the meantime. Including how you might traverse between the Abyss and the surface. We can talk when you’re less exhausted.”

“I’m not that tired but…” Shiv yawned. “Okay, but I’m probably more mentally tired than physically.” He rolled his shoulders. “Say, is there somewhere I can get some cooking done?”

“Cooking?” she echoed.

“Yeah—cooking. I, uh, just finished killing a guy. I think I need to work off some of that stress.”

She looked at him thoughtfully. “I see. I will make the arrangements.” She grinned. “Oh, I’ll make the arrangements indeed.” Her eyes narrowed.

Shiv wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

“And do take Valor with you. I think you two are good together. It will keep him company.”

“Do I get a say in this?” Valor asked, his voice rife with sarcasm.

“I could give you to one of my Honored Daughters. They’ll be sure to ask you about all your escapades so many times.”

“Please, please, let me stay with Shiv,”

Valor begged, and that was exactly what the Composer expected.

She looked especially smug. “Now, off with you. Go get some rest. Enjoy my city.”

As Shiv awkwardly offered her a salute, she covered her mouth and laughed, and he slowly retreated from the room, feeling more dazed and overwhelmed than ever before.

“This is a lot to take in,” he muttered to himself.

“For both of us,” Valor said. “Now, we still need to talk about your special circumstances.”

“Uh, yeah,” Shiv muttered. “Sorry about that.”

“No, no—again, it’s understandable, it’s just…” Valor hesitated. “Is that how you managed to make it here? And all the times I lost contact with you… You were dying?”

Shiv looked at Valor. “I mean, I wasn’t lying about just becoming a Pathbearer a few days ago. “

“And that’s why your Toughness is so high—because you’ve been killed over and over again?”

Shiv nodded, then realized this dagger couldn’t see him. “Yeah.”

“My… my boy, how are you… How are you not insane?” Valor asked.

Shiv stared at the dagger. “What do you mean?”

“Dying is traumatic, is it not?”

Shiv considered it. “I mean, it hurt, and some of my deaths were ugly, but you know, I got skills out of it.” He shrugged. “So, it’s not that bad. It’s pretty good, actually. Educational.”

“I… I don’t… I don’t know what to say to that,” Valor said. “You have an exceptional mind to accept this state of affairs.”

Somehow, Shiv didn’t know if that was a compliment or not.

As he departed the tunnel from which he came, he was surprised to find someone familiar standing at the end, waiting for him. There was Sister Uva, with both arms folded behind her back and a slightly awkward look on her face.

“Honored guest,” she greeted.

“Sister Uva,” Shiv said. “What are you still doing here?”

A part of him was actually pleased to see her. It would be nice to have someone to guide him. “I am assigned to be your guide,” she said, “to familiarize you with Weave.” She swallowed slightly. “And I understand you will be carrying the great Valor Thann with you?”

“Yeah, seems to be the case,” Shiv said. “So, uh, did you get a Quest from the Composer too?”

“You got a Quest?” she asked, her breath coming fast and excited. She quickly looked around and leaned in. “Don’t just tell everyone you have a quest! Have you no sense?”

Shiv shook his head. “Not really.”

“You…” She let out an exasperated sigh. “Just don’t. Come with me. I’ll get you out of here before anyone else hears you.”

He followed her and found himself appreciating her reactions.

“So—you don’t have one?”

“No, I don’t,” she said, a little too quickly, a little too annoyed.

“What do you have? Did she communicate with you telepathically?”

Uva didn’t respond.

“So that’s a yes,” Shiv said. He could see something in her body language changing. He had to keep needling her—he couldn’t help it. “Do you know where we’re going?”

She paused and turned. “I understand that you wish to cook?”

“Yeah,” he said. “You want to have a taste?”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Of my food. I just finished killing a guy after an ugly, brutal fight. Now I cook to balance that out. So, would you like to have a taste of some food?”

Her mouth fell open, but no words came out at first. “Yes?”

Shiv smirked. “Alright. Well, let’s see how this goes.

“Am I going to regret this?” Uva said.

Shiv grinned. “Nah. I’m a pretty good chef.”

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