Chapter 2 - Divine Apostasy Book 3

Chapter 2

“Thank you,” Juva whispered.

Ruwen stared down at the injured man, his emotions still roiling. Hamma stood, and Ruwen focused on her.

Hamma placed her hand over his heart. “That was a good choice.”

Ruwen nodded. “Time will tell.”

“We need a plan,” Sift said and then looked down at his waist. “I remember.”

“You can hear Io here?” Ruwen asked.

Sift looked confused. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Ruwen discarded the first three things that came to mind. Insulting Sift would only lead to bickering.

“What is Io saying?” Ruwen asked.

“Io says it’s dangerous for him here,” Sift said.

Io, like Rami, was probably indestructible in the Material Realm, so being vulnerable to death might be a new feeling for Io. “Give me a second, I want to talk with Rami.”

Is that true for you, too? Can you be injured here? Ruwen asked Rami.

Yes. Io and I are mostly Spirit, and we will be a target for those that feed on Spirit here.

How many things do that?

Everything.

Ruwen thought about what his clothes were hiding.

That could be a problem, Ruwen said.

I know. You will need to do some Condensing before we leave this dungeon. You are dissipating and will be easy to track as you are.

What about Io?

After you and I, he has the densest Spirit here. He will be a target, too.

Can you talk to him? Maybe he knows something that will help us.

I can try. Press him tightly against your ear. We should be able to communicate with vibrations.

Speaking of communicating, I just used Shade Speak even though I thought abilities and spells don’t work here.

They don’t. Hey You doesn’t work in real time. The first time you encounter a new language, Hey You unlocks that language in your mind. Or at least the portion of the language appropriate for Hey You’s level. Same holds true of your Observer’s Mimic ability. Anything you’ve already mimicked would still be useable.

Thanks. Not being able to learn new languages was the least of his worries right now, but it still made him feel better that he could use Shade Speak and communicate with Fractal.

Ruwen pointed at Sift’s waist. “Can I borrow Io for a minute?”

Sift pulled Io from the sheath, and Ruwen squinted. While Io didn’t give off much light, the intensity of the light hurt Ruwen’s eyes like he had glanced at the sun. The light had a blue tinge in the shades of grey world around them.

Ruwen took the dagger and pressed it against the right side of his head.

Do I need to remove the headwraps? Ruwen asked.

Let me see.

Rami vibrated, and Ruwen resisted the urge to rub at the itchy feeling. Ruwen didn’t feel any vibrations from Io, but the ones from Rami continued for almost thirty seconds before she went still.

Io really likes to talk, Rami said.

So you were able to communicate with him?

Just the last two thousand years of his life.

Ruwen couldn’t tell if that was a joke or not. Did you learn anything valuable?

Rami didn’t respond.

Rami? Is everything okay?

Rami’s voice was like a whisper in Ruwen’s mind. I love knowledge and hate secrets. I am soulbound to you, and I want nothing but the best for both of us.

Thank you. But why are you telling me this?

Because Io has been here before.

He has? Well, isn’t that good? I should have known Ky would have been here.

It wasn’t with Kysandra. Uru brought him.

Ruwen flashed back to the first time he’d met Blapy. He had just finished the scale quest on level one. Blapy had revealed the dagger had originally been given to Uru. Ruwen had even figured out that Io couldn’t talk to them about his time with the goddess directly. Sift and Ruwen had meant to ask Io yes and no questions to find out more but had never done so. Anxiety crept into Ruwen’s thoughts.

I thought Io couldn’t talk about his time with Uru, Ruwen said.

He can’t. I read his memories.

What did you find?

Rami remained quiet, and this time Ruwen didn’t rush her.

Io isn’t the only one who has been here before, Rami said.

The anxiety inside Ruwen grew. What are you not telling me?

You have been here before. Twice.

Ruwen wavered on his feet, and Sift quickly grabbed his shoulders to steady him. Sift took Io and handed the dagger to Hamma. He held Ruwen’s head and locked eyes with him.

“Are you okay?” Sift asked. “Sit down until you get your balance back.”

Ruwen sat. That is impossible. I would have remembered.

You were too young.

Ruwen’s thoughts scattered as a realization exploded in his thoughts. My parents.

Yes, they were with you.

They were helping Uru.

Yes.

Do you know if they’re alive? Ruwen said, revealing his greatest fear.

Io doesn’t know. I don’t either.

What were we doing here?

We have reached the crux. I’m asking you to trust me. There is valuable information I can share, but the details I want to save until we are safely out of this Realm.

Why?

Because you overthink, and the details will paralyze your mind. You need to work on getting your friends to safety.

At the mention of Ruwen’s friends, his thoughts refocused and he pushed the anxiety away. Yes, I owe them that. Fine, I trust you, Rami. Tell me what I need to know right now.

A warm sensation filled Ruwen’s mind and traveled down into his chest.

That was a hug, Rami said. Thank you for trusting me.

Hamma squatted down in front of Ruwen. “What’s going on?”

Ruwen looked up. “I’m okay. I’ll be ready in a second.”

Hamma nodded, stood, and handed Io to Sift.

Okay. Tell me, Ruwen said.

Your Meridians and their connections to your center must not be severed. It is vital that you protect them.

Ruwen looked over at Juva. That looks difficult.

The time you spent Fortifying your body to Copper and Silver will help.

I hope so.

Only now do I truly appreciate your importance. I already knew you needed to Condense your center, but to make it to the Iris without damaging your Meridians or their paths, you need to advance your Cultivation Stage, too.

I’ve been stuck at nineteen.

I know. Level twenty will provide options you desperately need.

So you want to stay in the dungeon.

Staying will not be popular, but none of you are prepared for the creatures I’ve seen in Io’s memories.

The mention of memories made him think of his first moments with Rami, and how when she had absorbed his life, many forgotten memories had resurfaced. When we bonded, I thought you went through all my memories. Why didn’t you know I’d been here before?

Because your memories hadn’t formed yet.

Ruwen thought about what that meant. Are you saying I was a baby?

Details later. Remember?

Ruwen sighed. Okay. Later.

The good news is Io has agreed to help. The denseness of his Spirit will be a potent weapon.

Ruwen stood.

“Finished daydreaming?” Sift asked.

“Nightmare is closer,” Ruwen said. “Hamma, will you stay and watch over Juva?”

Hamma removed the Staff of Chimes from the harness on her back and swung it in a circle, but it didn’t make any sound. She looked at it and frowned.

“Magic doesn’t work here,” Ruwen said.

Ruwen removed the Baton of a Thousand Uses from his right hip and tried to open the shovel, but nonthing would fold out. The baton needed magic to function. He slapped the baton against his hand in frustration, and a loud clang echoed down the tunnel. Ruwen winced and immediately looked up at the tunnel entrance.

Lylan and the Nak both stepped out of the cavern and into the tunnel.

Lylan signaled in Shade Speak. Target. Alerted.