Divine Apostasy Book 7 - Chapter 49

Chapter 49

The tremors on Savage Island grew stronger, and the Addas herded everyone back through the portal. As soon as they all arrived back at the swamp, the Founders and Addas created another rune gate and once again, they all moved to a new location, except this time, they remained on the same planet.

Night had already fallen in the swamp, but when Ruwen stepped out of the rune gate, the setting sun greeted him. That probably meant they hadn’t traveled more than a few thousand miles.

Salt, seaweed, and the faint odor of fish surrounded Ruwen. He had stepped through the portal near the middle of the Adepts, scared if he stayed until last, the Founders and Addas would interrogate him. Moving away from the twelve-foot slab of granite, he made room for the rest of the Adepts.

Ruwen took off his shoes and dropped them into his Void Band. He squished his toes in the soft sand of the beach before strolling forward toward the water and lazily crashing waves. An ocean stretched to the horizon, and the sun had dropped below the clouds, hanging just above the blue water.

“Now this is a proper beach,” Sift said.

Ruwen closed his eyes and let the sound of the waves ease his mind. The worry and guilt about the paired Infernal Crossing Ring remained fresh in his thoughts. This beautiful place stood in stark contrast to the planet ending destruction he’d unleashed less than an hour ago.

“Yeah,” Ruwen said.

“It reminds me of this place I saw in Shelly that had octoshakes. Come on, let’s see how warm the water is.”

Ruwen opened his eyes at the strange name but didn’t bother asking if Sift meant a creature or a drink. He followed Sift to the waves, and many of the Adepts followed them.

The warm water rolled into Ruwen, rising to the middle of his shins. As the wave returned to the ocean, it pulled the sand from under his feet, making him sink a little. The sensation felt incredibly relaxing.

“Where is Shelly?” Ruwen asked.

Sift shrugged. “I can’t keep track of that turtle. She gets out of my pocket all the time, and I’m terrified for hours that I lost her, and some fish or bird ate her. Then she shows up again, begging for a carrot or piece of lettuce. Scolding her never helps either. I swear all I’ve done is worried since I met her.”

“You sound like a parent,” Madda said, stepping up next to Sift.

Padda stopped next to Ruwen, his eyes closed. “The ocean scorns the storm’s fury.”

Sift sighed. “Is that supposed to be helpful?”

The familiar bickering relaxed Ruwen, and the worry and guilt withdrew a little. He turned to Padda. “He’ll use that when you’re not around.”

“You traitor,” Sift hissed.

Padda opened his eyes and turned toward Ruwen, placing a hand on Ruwen’s shoulder. “That makes me very happy, thank you.” He dropped his hand and turned his attention back to the ocean. “I hope you listen. Understanding speaks with a soft voice.”

“See what you get?” Sift added.

“This is my favorite place,” Madda said. “I am glad you’re finally here. That both of you are.”

“Adepts!” Thorn called out over the sound of the surf.

Everyone turned to find the three Founders standing higher on the beach. Ruwen’s eyes climbed to the view behind them. He hadn’t looked backward before now.

A massive bamboo forest started a few hundred feet from the shore. It stretched as far as he could see in both directions and covered the rolling hills that disappeared into the low clouds that hung like a curtain and blocking his view.

Between the forest and the water stood hundreds of huts, their walls made from bamboo and their rooftops of thatch. The structures varied in size and people moved between them. Ruwen refocused on the Founders.

“This is our Clan’s home,” Mist said. “A Bamboo Viper Step Master is always welcome here.”

Dusk glanced at them all. “Never in Clan history has a class reached the hidden trials so quickly. The summit is within sight.”

“The preceding three trials,” Mist said, “tested your understanding of the first strides required for your journey down the Bamboo Viper Master path.”

“Three more trials await you here,” Thorn added. “Unlike the previous three, you are not required to work together.”

Dusk continued. “The dangers here are not the same as those of the first trials, but Adepts have died here nonetheless.”

Mist pointed at the small town of huts. “You will stay in the village during your time here. Soon we will eat and then perform the green belt ceremony. To earn the blue, brown, and red belts, you need not find the answers here, but you must discover the right questions.”

Ruwen’s stomach twisted with worry at hearing the belt colors. He knew black marked a Master, which meant, just as he feared, there was a seventh trial. A hidden mystery in the Steps he had yet to uncover. One he had not prepared for at all.

Thorn spoke. “Once you have gained your red belt, only one trial remains. If successful, you earn your black belt and the title of Master.”

Dusk spoke quietly, her voice just louder than the surf. “Lest you think the danger has passed, know that a final trip to Savage Island remains, and it carries the most danger, as you are usually alone. Do not relax.”

Echo, under her breath, but knowing Ruwen could hear her, spoke. “Assuming you didn’t destroy Savage Island’s planet as well.”

Once again Ruwen reminded himself, Echo didn’t know anything for sure. She had likely sensed or guessed his distress and now only wanted to poke that wound to cause pain.

“Planet?” Ruwen whispered back. “That Scourge Commander came from your father’s Realm. How many of the Infernal Realm’s nine circles would an explosion like that destroy? Maybe all of them.”

Ruwen knew less than Echo about the ring and its possible location, and he felt a little bad for lying. The comment kept her silent, though, which made it worthwhile.

Mist continued. “In two hours, return here for the green belt ceremony.”

The Founders bowed, and the Adepts returned it. The Founders turned and strode gracefully toward the village.

“Find an empty hut,” Madda said to Ruwen and Sift. “Enjoy your stay here.”

“We don’t have time for that,” Sift said quietly.

“There is no such thing as time,” Padda replied just as quietly. “Only now exists.”

The comment made Madda smile. “Take care, boys. Enjoy the eternal present.”

With that, the Addas moved into the mass of Adepts, answering questions about housing and food and how long people usually stayed here.

Sift faced the ocean again. “Did Blapy tell you anything about Lylan?”

Ruwen turned as well. Only half of the sun remained visible above the ocean’s horizon. “I asked her about them, but she didn’t answer.”

“At least they’ll know we’re okay.”

Ruwen winced.

“Right?” Sift asked. When Ruwen didn’t respond, Sift asked again. “Right? You gave Blapy a message for them, right?”

“Listen, I had a lot going on. I basically died. I saw lights and darkness and—”

“Are you kidding me?” Sift interrupted. “And don’t exaggerate. You had like five small poop bandages. How bad could your injuries have been?” Sift shook his head. “What if Lylan and Hamma are in trouble, and they think we’re goofing off?”

“I’m sure Blapy will mention we’re here and okay.”

Sift tilted his head and frowned at Ruwen.

“Okay, she probably won’t,” Ruwen admitted. “But it’s not like she’d play the messenger for me, anyway. She was already upset.”

“She’s always upset,” Sift said. Then in a defeated voice, he continued. “Yeah, she wouldn’t help us. Probably make things worse. Maybe we should use your magic chalk and just go see them quick.”

“We aren’t allowed to leave the trials until we’re done. You know that. You want to risk losing all this for a quick kiss?”

Sift sighed. “No, more like risk it all to avoid Lylan’s daggers.”

“That does make for a harder decision.”

After a moment Sift asked another question. “What upset Blapy this time? I’m kind of surprised she’d show up on that island.”

Echo stood on the edge of Adepts, appearing uninterested in Ruwen and Sift. But Ruwen knew she listened intently to their conversation. He had likely said too much already.

Ruwen, hoping to mislead Echo, responded with half-truths. “When I noticed her, she was arguing with Tarot, and he had upset her.”

“I hate that golem. Where is he?”

Ruwen didn’t reveal that Tarot had saved his life. “I don’t know. Maybe Blapy took him. When she spotted me, she yelled about the lava.”

“Lava?”

“I grabbed a little while out rock hunting, and she didn’t like it. She’s tired of managing all the junk I stick in my Inventory.”

“Now that I get,” Sift said. “For the first time, I almost feel like I understand that little brat.”

Ruwen nodded, but for a completely different set of reasons. “Me, too.”