Path of Dragons 13 - Chapter 85 - The Thin Thread of Connection

Elijah swam along the seafloor, cutting through the forest of kelp until he reached a precipitous drop.  He didn’t bother descending.  Nothing was down there.  Not after he’d spent two months tearing the monsters native to that ravine to pieces.  Among them were some of the strongest creatures he’d ever battled, and the only reason he’d managed to kill them was because they were unlucky enough to find themselves within the latest corruption-cleansing runic circle.

Over the past year, Elijah had dedicated himself to three major endeavors.  The first among them was to completely scour his territory – an area that encompassed the entire continent and extended approximately fifteen hundred miles from the coast.  As far as he could tell, no monsters remained. 

What’s more, the animals that had propagated throughout Druhmor had spread across a third of the landmass.  One day, they would reach from one shore to the other.  Perhaps sea life would become common as well.

The second endeavor was to prepare Treebie for his eventually departure.  To that end, he’d spent hundreds of hours communing with the tree and guiding his growth.  He’d also tried to convey his absence within those messages, but he suspected that Treebie was incapable of understanding it. 

He’d also spent quite a lot of time in his upper branches, ensuring that, even when Treebie’s canopy reached the upper atmosphere, he would be safe.  He needn’t have worried, though.  The monsters avoided him and the area above his canopy, likely because they couldn’t abide his brand of vitality.

Or maybe it was just a defense mechanism.

In addition, Treebie had shown that he could take care of himself.  His roots had spread past the ocean and to the other continent.  More than a few monsters had tried to attack them, and Treebie had responded with an explosion of growth that wrapped the creatures in vines.  He didn’t kill them outright.  Just held them prisoner until they died from starvation and a lack of corruption.

The message was clear.  Treebie could defend himself, which made Elijah’s commitment to the final goal that much easier to maintain.

He’d spent the vast majority of his time exploring the void.  He never went far, and most of his trips only lasted for a few hours.  However, so long as he leaned on Coiling Path, he felt confident that he could last as long as it took to find his way home.

The only problem was that he just had no idea which way to go.

Not until a couple of days ago, at least.  That was when he’d made a connection that changed everything.  It hadn’t occurred to him until he was mid-fight, so he’d not had a chance to test his assumptions.  But he felt good about it.  Very, very good.

So it was with some degree of excitement that he swam toward the surface and transformed into the Shape of the World Serpent.  A moment later, he was slithering through the air above the waves, marveling all the while that the atmosphere felt so uncorrupted. 

Even after all his hard work, the fact that his wild plans had been successful would always be a source of surprise. 

Soon enough, he’d pushed himself to top speed, which took him across the continent faster than he’d previously thought possible.  As he flew, he monitored the progress of the reclamation project.  With every passing day, the vegetation spread just a little more.  The first pass was the most diffuse – just a few bushes and short trees that served to further purify the atmosphere and soil. 

After that, each subsequent phase would thicken the vitality and the subsequent flora.  Once life had firmly taken hold, bacteria and fungi would begin to grow.  Then insects would migrate to the area.  Small rodents and reptiles, next.  And finally, birds would come. 

So far, no large animals had developed – not even in the heart of Druhmor – but Elijah suspected that it was only a matter of time until they did.

All the while, Treebie’s roots served to guide the surface vegetation’s growth into symbols and glyphs that further accentuated the atmosphere.  He’d learned that from Elijah, but he’d taken it much further than anyone could have rightly imagined.

It was like the entire planet was Treebie’s project.  His life’s defining goal.

And Elijah had started it all with a few seeds he’d brought from home.

In the grand scheme of things, terraforming a planet probably wasn’t that big of a deal.  Elijah was certain that deity-tier and transcendent Druids could manage it much more easily than he could. 

But he had started his project as a mere ascendent.  And what’s more, he’d done so on an excised planet stranded in the center of the abyss, where the very atmosphere was anathema to life itself.  Surviving had always been a long shot.  Managing to thrive was a miracle. 

And reclaiming the planet?  Elijah didn’t have a word for how unlikely that was.

Eventually, he made his way back to Druhmor, and he found that the people of M’yakein had continued their hard work by building hundreds of acres of farms meant to feed the ever-growing populace.  Those efforts were aided by Treebie, who forced the crops to grow in spirals integrated into the larger web of runic circles.

The results were even more fantastic than expected.  The produce was filled with vitality and nutrients, which served to support the city’s growth.

And it was growing, too.

It seemed like every few weeks brought more people to M’yakein.  The majority came from Ithalon, which teetered on the edge of dissolution.  Without the Synod imposing order, the local factions had splintered into gangs that constantly fought for supremacy.  Caught in the crossfire were the city’s civilians, many of whom grew fed up with the state of the city and embarked on the dangerous pilgrimage to M’yakein.

For a while, their knowledge of its existence had surprised Elijah – at least until he figured out that Furik was the one spreading word.  The Sailor was also the means by which they managed to cross the Restless Sea, which was still a deadly endeavor. 

After that, making their way across the continent and to M’yakein was a walk in the park.  More than a few had become overwhelmed by the vitality and flora they encountered.  When that happened, they just dropped to their knees and wept.  On a few occasions, they simply broke, then and there.  Some still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Whatever the case, Elijah suspected that even if every person on Gorveth came to M’yakein, the city’s infrastructure would be more than capable of supporting the increased population.

And Benedict was there to ensure that no one stepped too far out of line.

Such was obvious when Elijah entered the city and saw black knights standing on nearly every corner.  For the most part, they didn’t even move – to the point that they appeared to be statues.  However, if someone broke the laws, they would respond. 

It reminded Elijah of Benediction with its oni demons, though thankfully, there was no cannibalism.  Or deadly duels.  Benedict had learned his lessons, there. 

And besides, it wasn’t as if he was in charge.  He was just part of the city’s governing body.  An enforcer of their will, which he claimed to prefer.

As Elijah strode through town, he was forced to endure cries proclaiming him the Reclaimer.  Thankfully, no one followed him.  They didn’t reach out to touch him, either.  But they all watched.  Many still worshipped him, though that devotion was tinged in familiarity.  To them, he wasn’t just a god.  He was divinity that walked among them.

Elijah found it all so tiresome, and from time to time, he’d joked to Benedict that he would never have terraformed Druhmor if he’d known that their reaction waited for him at the end of the line.

Finally, he reached Benedict’s apartment and knocked on the door.

Jasai’i answered, her eyes red-rimmed and her cheeks wet.

“What’s wrong?  What happened?  Is it Louis?”

She shook her head.  “Come in,” she said, wiping her cheeks.  “I’ll explain everything.”

Elijah complied, entering the small but cozy domicile to find Benedict sitting on the floor and playing with the toddler.  He breathed in relief at that sight.  It was one thing to lose adults, but it was something altogether when children suffered.  Finding out that Louis was okay was a relief.

He sat on the floor next to Benedict.

“So?  What happened?” he asked as Louis babbled and rushed his favorite “uncle.”  Elijah allowed the toddler to climb all over him.

“Do you want some tea?” Jasai’i asked.

Elijah refused, begging her to reveal the reason for her tears.

But it was Benedict who answered. “It’s Zek.  He’s…he’s dying, Elijah.  The Healers say he won’t last more than a few more days.”

“What?  I thought he had more time.”

Indeed, that had been Elijah’s assessment.  For years, he’d known that the heavily corrupted among the population couldn’t really persist in such a vital area.  The corruption was too intertwined with their bodies, and its rebellion against the environment put everyone like Zek on a timer.

Most would still survive for a few more decades.  But Zek was old even before Elijah had ever met him.  His days were always numbered, and after the battle against the Synod, his condition had rapidly degraded.

Even so, hearing that he was so close to death was a gut punch.

“I just realized something,” he said, looking up as Louis climbed on his back.  “I…I’ve never had a chance to say goodbye to people in my life.  Every death, it’s been sudden.  My parents. My sister.  Dat.  Even Grod,” he muttered, remembering the ogre who’d dreamed of becoming a master Jeweler.

“How do people do it?” he asked, glancing from Benedict to Jasai’i.  He knew he should go to visit Zek.  But he wasn’t sure if he had the strength to say goodbye.

He and Zek had never been particularly close.  They weren’t true friends.  More like acquaintances.  But other than Benedict and his family, Elijah’s relationship with the old hunter was stronger than any other he enjoyed amongst the population of Gorveth. 

He would feel the loss keenly.

“I should go see him,” Elijah stated.  “When I get back, I want to discuss something with you.  A theory about how to find my way out of the abyss.”

Benedict nodded.

Jasai’i asked, “I will come with you.”

Elijah initially objected, but she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.  In fact, as he learned during their trip to the hospital where Zek was being treated, she’d spent most of the past few weeks by his side.  Not surprising, considering that she was related to him in some way.  Maybe not by blood, but he’d obviously had a huge impact on her life. 

When they finally arrived by Zek’s bedside, Elijah was struck by just how weak the old hunter looked.  His muscles had withered down to nothing, and his rubbery skin draped over his skeleton like a loose tent.  His eyes had turned entirely white, and it was obvious that he could no longer see very well.

“Do not mourn me,” he said.  “I go to see my beloved.  In death, we shall be reunited.”

“Do you believe that?” Elijah asked.  For his part, he’d never been certain what lay beyond death.  Was there an afterlife, like so many religions claimed?  Or was it just nothingness?  No one could know.  Not really.  It was about faith.

“I know it to be true.”

“I hope you’re right,” Elijah said.  “It’s a nice idea, that we’ll see our loved ones again and spend all eternity with them.  If there’s any justice in the world, then that’s how it will be.”

“I underestimated you,” Zek stated.  His voice wavered, weak and barely more than a whisper.  “You have saved my people.  You have done something none of us dared hope was possible.  For that, you will always be remembered.”

“I didn’t do it to be remembered.”

“I know.  None who accomplish great things do so for external validation.  Such a motivator is weak.  It will fade over time.  But what you have in you,” he said before he was wracked by a coughing fit.  When it faded, he continued, “What you have, it is different.  You did it because you wanted to.  Because you needed to leave your stamp on the world.”

“I just wanted to grow a tree,” Elijah insisted.

“I do not believe that,” Zek said.  “You knew all along that this was where it was going, even if you didn’t admit it to yourself.  Thank you.  Now, I can go in peace.”

He didn’t die right away.

In fact, it took another two days before he finally succumbed.  During that time, he mostly slept, but when he was awake, he told stories, mostly about his wife.  And by the time he finally succumbed, Elijah had tears flowing down his cheeks as well.

It was the least Zek deserved.