Divine Apostasy Book 11 - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"What are you going to do now?" Hamma asked.

"Unfortunately, I can't stay here," Ruin replied. "Now that I've seen you and delivered the manual, I need to focus on getting my body back and learning the Destruction Realm magic."

"Why are you able to be here so long when the other shadow creatures seem to avoid it?"

Ruin studied his feet, which had dissolved an inch of the floor despite his attempts to rein in his essence.

"A fundamental component of their magic is Willpower, which is tied to mental strength, so that gives me an advantage. I'm able to hold my essence tightly enough that it doesn't interact with the Material Realm much. It does weaken me, though, as it feels like I'm wading through water."

“Do you have any ideas for regaining what you lost?”

“There's one more person I'm hoping can help me. I'm going to see if I can find them. Depending on what I learn, I'll take my next step."

"I'm glad you're alive," Hamma said and hugged Ruin.

"Me too. I don't know when I'll be back, but it won't be longer than a week. I need to meet Rami and her dad. So, there's no reason to worry about me. I have some rings that will let me bring you all with me once I know its safe down there. Also, there’s a perfect place I found brimming with all the energy you’ll need for your Body Fortification."

Hamma held one of the manuals and ran a hand gently over the cover. Speaking softly, she said, "The shock and joy of seeing you alive overwhelmed me, and it's only now sinking in what you've brought us. Is this really going to make us deities?"

"It's a start. Even if this works and reconnects your pathways, you still have tons of Body Fortification to do. Don’t worry though, Sift and I have found some shortcuts. And if I can create an elixir to negate the issues time dilation causes it will greatly benefit us all."

"We’ll study that book and experiment until we find what works best. Then we’ll practice placing the needles in Sift until we have it perfected."

"What?" Sift asked.

"Sounds fun," Lylan said to Hamma.

"What sounds fun?" Sift asked again.

"Don't worry about it," Ruin said. "The point of the conversation will be evident soon enough."

Hamma and Lylan both laughed and Sift narrowed his eyes.

"Next time maybe you'll pay attention," Ruin said.

"That’s really rich coming from you," Sift responded.

"Whatever, I have the focus of a Crazor."

Sift looked confused.

"You know, the beams of light Bliz perfected using the crystals around the dungeon? You’re the one who gave them that stupid name."

“Crazor is a pretty fantastic name and they're certainly as destructive as you." Sift snapped his fingers. "Can I share my god book with Shelly?"

"Yes, of course. Thanks for remembering her. Between rescuing me from across the universe to saving the Black Pyramid from that explosion, she's more than earned this knowledge. Ask her to keep it to herself for now and not tell all her turtle friends."

"Sure," Sift responded. "How about you let Hamma give me those desserts since you won't be around for a bit?"

"Not a chance. They're mine. Why don't you just have Findley make you some extras?"

"Everyone but Xavier and my parents went back to Grave,” Sift suddenly turned serious. “My parents are working non-stop to recreate the potions Lalquinrial robbed from us. I tried to stop him, but I failed.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad no one got hurt. Don’t sweat it and tell your parents to relax. There’s no hurry to make more. In fact, they should pack up all their stuff and return to the Black Pyramid for safety. Or even the Shattered Sun for that matter.”

Sift nodded his understanding. “Yeah, they can hang out with that treacherous cook. That little wretch is already at the Shattered Sun."

Ruin recalled the large and expressive genie that had created the most delicious food Ruin had ever eaten. "I wouldn't call him little. Everything about that cook was large."

Sift looked confused. "What are you talking about? Findley is short, even for a goblin."

Ruin, Hamma, and Lylan all had the same response, spoken at the same time.

"What?"

"What, what?" Sift asked.

"Findley was the genie," Ruin said slowly.

Sift laughed. "Why would you think that?"

Speechless, everyone stared at Sift.

Lylan was the first to recover from the mind-blowing revelation.

"The genie was the obvious cook. He served us the food, asked us how we liked it, and beamed with appreciation."

Hamma continued. "That goblin didn't do anything but carry around the lamp. He looked miserable and half dead."

Sift nodded. "They're both great actors. I told you guys multiple times not to believe their show. Wait—all of you thought Findley was the genie?"

"How could we not think that?" Ruin asked.

Sift placed his hands together in front of his lips as if praying. "Are all of you blind? Have you never seen a chef? Findley's hands were always stained with the ingredients of our meals. He smelled like the spices in our food. Did that genie ever look like he'd done anything other than pick out his clothes?"

"But he referred to the goblin as a servant and treated him like an underling," Ruin said.

"Yeah, I told you guys, it's a performance."

Hamma and Lylan wore shocked expressions.

"Why?" Ruin finally asked after an awkward silence. "Why would they bother?"

Sift shrugged. "Who knows? They're both weirdos. Hardly anyone has ever seen Findley. My theory is that wicked goblin either trapped the genie with one of the wishes or they came to some agreement. Maybe that genie was sick of granting wishes and liked the idea of all the attention he'd get by acting like a famous chef. And you've seen Findley. Who in their right mind would hire that green turd to make their food?"

Ruin recalled all the times Sift had yelled at the genie or treated him oddly, then all the times the goblin had sabotaged or ruined Sift's dessert. Even Ruin had thought it suspicious toward the end.

"So many things make sense now," Hamma whispered.

"Is that why Findley doesn't like you?" Lylan asked. "Because you know his secret?"

Sift looked thoughtful. "Huh. I never considered that. I just assumed he was jealous of my talent."

Ruin laughed, causing Sift to glare at him.

"Sorry," Ruin said. "I thought you were joking."

"So how about those desserts?" Sift said.

"Absolutely not," Ruin replied. "I'm going to celebrate getting my human body back by eating them all at once."

Sift glanced up and down at Ruin's new body and smiled.

"We should spar for them," Sift said.

Ruin grinned. "You're half an hour too late."

Sift slapped the table in frustration, disturbing his picture that looked like a giant turtle eating a doughnut.

"How could you have adjusted to that body already?"

"I'm just that good," Ruin responded.

Sift rolled his eyes.

"Who are you going to see?" Hamma asked.

"During my Step Master trial, I met a creature from the Destruction Realm while in a swamp."

Sift immediately looked suspiciously at his own shadow.

"Sift remembers," Ruin said with a smile. "That's the day we both learned our shadows could be used against us. Anyway, the warden who taught me that lesson told me to call for him when I wanted a rematch in the Shadow Realm."

"Isn't it dangerous to fight?" Hamma asked. "I thought you said you still need to figure out the magic system."

"That's true, but he might be my only chance at a quick solution for my body. Plus, he can help me figure out how the magic works down there."

"Good luck," Hamma whispered with a hug.

"Thanks to you, I'll always have plenty."

Ruin waved goodbye to Sift and Lylan and then paused, grinning wickedly.

Sift turned guarded, recognizing Ruin's expression didn't mean anything good.

Ruin stepped closer to Sift, stopping three feet away from his best friend.

Leaning forward, Ruin held Sift's gaze and whispered, "You'll never be safe from me."

Then Ruin willed himself into Sift's shadow, dropping into the Destruction Realm. Ruin chuckled to himself and Sift's shadow danced erratically across the landscape as he jumped around, slapping at nothing in the Material Realm. Hamma and Lylan would likely scold Ruin for adding to Sift's shadow paranoia, but it was worth it.

Ruin studied Sift's shadow as it jerked around, trying to determine if there was a way to recognize it as Sift's. It would be awesome to reappear that way in the future, scaring his friend.

The shadow suddenly disappeared, and Ruin frowned. A second later, he understood why. Sift had used one of the items given to them by the Bamboo Viper Clan to hide shadows.

Ruin spent thirty seconds trying to find Sift's shadow again, hoping it only "mostly" hid the shadow, but Ruin couldn't sense anything. Maybe when he grew stronger and more comfortable in the Realm, he could figure out a way to navigate around Sift's safety measure.

Gaining the ability to surprise Sift whenever would provide powerful motivation in the coming weeks.

Ruin summoned Vex, and they traveled away from the alchemical camp. They stayed on the upper layer of the Shadow Realm, avoiding the funnel that would take them deeper.

After a few minutes, they stopped. Their current location sat under the forest, and its mass of sharp, bristling shadows cast from the trees in the Material Realm. The shadow reflections twisted and snapped, each a deadly thorn.

With a slight flex of Will, the area turned flat and calm.

Ruin leaned down and patted Vex's neck, giving him a warning. "I'm going to call an old acquaintance."

Sitting up straight, Ruin shouted the Prime Warden's name. "Zylkin!"