Divine Apostasy Book 12 - Chapter 70

Chapter 70

The library's architecture refused to obey normal geometry, with passages that led upward and hallways that curved back on themselves without forming loops. Ruwen followed Survey’s arrow without hesitation or caution, confident that his abilities would warn him of any possible surprises.

Engaging with the Clone, Overlord said. Done. The guards were well armored but not Cultivators. I’ll assume they weren’t trained in unarmed combat since they didn’t manage any type of defense. Maybe that’s not fair. You’re insanely fast and the Clone has twenty-five percent of those Attributes.

Burned air, sharp and bitter, accompanied a blue glow from ahead. The scent likely lingered from the previous Ink Lord’s party transfer.

“Ozone,” Lyra said breathing deeply. “It reminds me of home. Deep in Shag’la Rath, the sand creates so much lightning it arcs between the dunes. Particles hover in the air creating a second desert, and lightning streaks through it like a hungry eel.”

“Sounds beautiful,” Ruwen said, and wondered if Sift would consider a trip into the deep desert a vacation.

Ruwen rounded the last corner, slowed, and gently lowered them to the library floor.

The Reservation Desk sat in a circular chamber. The walls were monochrome, as if only moonlight touched them. Glowing silver veins covered the floor, creating intricate patterns that pulsed like a heartbeat. The setup reminded him so strongly of Fractal and the Shattered Sun dungeon, that he paused a moment to clear his thoughts. He really missed that kid, and couldn’t wait to give the Dungeon Keeper all the gifts Ruwen had been collecting.

The desk itself was a pillar of mercury, or something that looked like mercury anyway. It rippled gently as if someone had skipped a stone across the surface. At the base of the pillar geometric symbols pulsed in time with the silver veins across the floor. Some sections would suddenly rotate creating complex patterns. The colors ranged from warm gold to a harsh blue that reminded him of Xavier.

Had Rami even seen her boyfriend? Or had she left her Void training and stayed by Ruwen this whole time. It occurred to him how Xavier might have resented something like that. In fact, if one didn’t have self-confidence made from terium, it could create some real insecurities. Was that why Xavier had such a hard time being nice to Ruwen?

Ruwen’s emotional growth was required for both his chakras and Conceptual development, but he found it irritating how often new thoughts or perspectives revealed themselves lately. It complicated everything and honestly, he was a little upset, because now he sympathized with Xavier and that floating plasma lantern was a jerk.

Maybe Rami had made a quick trip to see Xavier and Ruwen could let these uncomfortable feelings go.

Ruwen strode directly to the pillar and Overlord joined him still using the Aspect clone.

Overlord pointed to three neatly arranged bodies twenty feet away and Ruwen pulled them into his Soul Vault.

Lyra gasped at the sudden disappearance. “Where did they go?” She asked the Clone.

Overlord pointed at Ruwen. “He’s the real one. I’m just a distant voice in the darkness.”

Lyra stood up straight and studied the Clone intently. “You speak with a poet’s heart.”

“My local library is really great, and I read a lot, that’s all.”

“Are you alive?”

“Oh, he’s alive, alright,” Ruwen said, “but that subject is complicated enough that we should save that discussion for later. Just think of him as a less handsome version of me.”

“Unless you like beards,” Overlord said, “then I’m your man.”

“I don’t know what you look like,” Lyra said, “but my husband tests the bite of his sword by shaving with it.”

“That’s gotta hurt,” Ruwen told Overlord.

Overlord gave Lyra a small bow. “While I disagree with the choice, I admire the technique. A man who shaves with his sword has earned my respect.”

Lyra turned to Ruwen. “He also trained the children to never trust a man with a mask. Such men, he said, carry secrets, or sins, so powerful they must hide their face even from themselves.”

Overlord whistled at Ruwen. “Now who’s burning?” He turned to Lyra. “I hope to meet your husband someday.”

Lyra kept her expression neutral, but Ruwen sensed the turmoil and confusion Overlord’s presence caused. Explaining Overlord was a fragment of Ruwen’s mind who had evolved into their own person inside Ruwen’s mind would only make things worse right now.

“Unfortunately,” Ruwen said with a sigh, “if you think Overlord is hard to comprehend wait until you meet Sift.” He turned to the pillar of mercury. “How do we make this thing work?”

 As Ruwen approached the pillar a sphere of purple energy no larger than his fist, emerged from the mercury. It hovered at eye level, a faint crackling audible as it interacted with the air.

Ruwen’s Mental Domain probed the area for traps or hidden dangers but didn’t find anything. In fact, this area seemed to serve as an island of calm in the chaos of the library outside this chamber.

The symbols around the pillar spun faster as he approached, and bright threads stretched from the hovering ball to the ciphers on the pillar. It made the thing look like a spider in a web of light.

The sphere grew brighter as it scanned Ruwen, and when it extended one of its spiderwebs toward him, he touched it.

Nothing happened, probably because the ball of energy needed to know what Ruwen wanted.

Ruwen hoped his friends hadn’t been fighting for their lives this whole time. He’d feel awful for taking so long to summon them.

“Access party,” Ruwen said out loud.

Voices filled Ruwen’s head as Chat suddenly worked again.

Do you have more? Hamma asked. I love it.

Some, Echo responded, but I know where to find it.

Get it off me, Sift said, why won’t it come off?

It’s not supposed to come off, Lylan scolded. It makes you look dashing.

Then why am I the only one covered in it? Sift asked.

Hey, Ruwen said.

Are you okay? Hamma asked immediately. We've been trying to reach you.

I'm fine, Ruwen replied. How are things there?

Horrible, Sift said. There are four of them now and they’ve formed a glitter gang. I’m miserable.

What’s a glitter gang? Ruwen asked.

Oh, no, Rami said, stopping Sift before he could respond. We’re not getting sidetracked right at the beginning.

Where are you? Lylan asked. We’re trapped in a waiting room.

Can you summon us? Hamma asked.

Yes, I just need a minute to figure out how.

You don’t sound very confident, Sift said.

That’s because I watched the previous Ink Lord activate some type of blender that turned his party into a…what did Grandpa Pine call that chunky fruit drink?

A smoothie, Echo replied helpfully.

Right, he made a party smoothie. Tell me if you see anything sharp coming out of the walls.

What! Sift yelled. Don’t touch any buttons. I thought you could read everything.

Not sure. Maybe the labels are ciphered, or I’m supposed to use my feelings to read them or something.

What? Sift yelled again. Who designs a system like that?

Tell me if this does anything, Ruwen said while doing nothing. Well?

Lylan caught on immediately. Probably from the tone of Ruwen’s voice or via some other Shade ability. I heard a click, she offered.

The floor is vibrating now, Hamma responded.

Oh, no, Ruwen said.

Oh, no, what? Sift responded.

Do any of you see a timer?

I do, Echo replied, lying as effortlessly as Hamma and Lylan.

Timers are never good, Sift said. Never.

“Is everything okay,” Lyra asked from beside Ruwen.

“Yeah, I have a prompt to summon them. I’m just catching up with everyone. My buddy Sift seemed stressed so I’m easing him into this.”

“That is thoughtful. You’re a very good friend.”

“Thank you. I think so, too.”

Ruwen refocused on Chat. I can’t figure this out so I’m just going to push all the buttons at once.

That’s a terrible idea, Sift said, Stop pushing buttons and find some instructions. Isn’t there anyone you can ask for help.

Overlord spoke to Ruwen over their mental connection. A scout detected a group. ETA twelve minutes.

Thanks, I’ll wrap this up here. Ruwen returned to Chat. Someone give me a color, and I’ll push one of those buttons.

Red, Rami said.

This had a predictable effect on Sift. No! Stop! Red is for blood. You’ll smoothie us.

Red it is. Tell me if anything weird happens. Ruwen activated the “Summon Group” prompt he’d gotten in the beginning.

Something’s happening, Sift yelled. I can’t die covered in glitter.

The sphere blazed with golden light and both Ruwen and Lyra stepped back. The floating symbols rearranged themselves into a perfect circle and entered the mercury pillar. They rotated causing ripples across the surface. They spun faster creating a vortex that seemed to stretch far further than the depth of the pillar.

A portal appeared, Hamma said, it looks like a silver tunnel.

That’s your ride.

See you in a second.

Is it safe? Sift asked.

Hamma emerged from the mercury pillar, gave Ruwen a brilliant smile before wrapping him in a tight hug. Rami came next followed by Echo.

Hmmm, Ruwen said in Chat as Lylan stepped out of the portal. Not sure, but a timer just appeared. Five, four, three, two—

Sift burst from the portal, headfirst with hands out in front of him. He struck the floor but the combination of his Step training and literal god reflexes, allowed him to make it look graceful. He jumped to his feet and the light reflected off hundreds of tiny colored mirrors. It coated his hair, his clothes, and every bit of exposed skin.