Underworld - Book 8 - Chapter 36

Before anything, we returned to check in with Jasmine. Everyone was still in the same room. Nava was beside Jasmine who was sitting listlessly on a couch against the wall. Degima was there with them showing her support despite her inhuman demeanor. The group from the Illuminated Cathedral were sitting at two round tables in silence, while Ronja was pacing back and forth.

As we entered, they all looked up.

We didn’t have the time to play it tactfully, so I just came out and said it, “We’re leaving Matriarch’s Crown.”

The group from the Illuminated Cathedral shot to their feet. They were already prepared.

“When?” Ronja asked from where she had come to a stop.

“In a few minutes,” I replied. “We couldn’t exactly leave without saying goodbye, could we?”

The young soldier that had taken Valls place didn’t spared any words, “We’re coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. Your presence makes us a target.” Releasing a deep breath, I marched over and reached out my hand.

He reluctantly shook it.

“I regret I haven’t taken the time to get to know you guys better. Valls was—” I found myself far more emotional than I would’ve guessed. “He was a good man. It’s a privilege to be allied with you. But there are those we must seek out. Other allies. Powerful ones.”

“The Illuminated Cathedral will be sending ambassadors east,” he said confidently.

“Who said we’re going east?” I replied, changing into my rarely used Orc Form.

He reclined back but didn’t move. “We can’t just let you go.”

“You don’t have to. Let us say bye to our friends then we can have a match. Let’s see if you can force us to stay.”

His face stiffened.

I gave him a good-humored cuff on the shoulder and left them, heading over to where Jasmine was sitting. Aeris had already shot over there and Ronja had joined them.

When I arrived, Jasmine’s eyes darted from my wife’s face to give me a pleading look. She muttered, “I’m worthless to you now. I thought I’d be able to help.”

“You can, and you will,” I insisted. “Just because it will be in a different way doesn’t mean that’s changed. The truth is, Aeris, Nava, and I can travel much safer alone because of our abilities. That was a reality we were going to have to face eventually even if this didn’t happen. Aeris has a Wisp True Form, I can change into one, and Nava can become a cloud of darkness.”

I spotted the succubus that wasn’t quite a succubus holding Jasmine’s hand and patting it assuredly.

“You know Sanctuary needs all the help it can get,” Aeris said pointedly. “Especially with professions. The possibilities are endless.”

The former vampire nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “After Elorion gave me enough blood to become Trueblooded, I felt I knew what I was supposed to do. But now, I’m lost.

“Jasmine,” I said with my softest tone.

She looked up at me.

“It might not feel like it, but this is a good thing. You’ve been given a fresh start. Don’t just think about how you can make the most difference. It’s time to figure out what you enjoy doing. Try several professions and maybe dabble in several.

“Remember, we’re from the surface world. A place without magic. Despite all we’ve seen since coming here, there are things where we’re from that still boggle the mind. You don’t need magic to make incredible things happen.”

“You mean like the Ireki?” she asked.

The Wraith and his likely extinct people did have access to magic, but it was their obsession with professions and magic machines that had allowed them to become the dominate empire in the Underworld in a forgotten age.

“They are a good example, yes,” I replied.

When she clammed up, I thought something was wrong, but then she asked, “Would you permit me to visit the Wraith and learn from him when I return to Sanctuary?”

I inclined my brow. “I—” I spoke to Shamash through mind-speak. “Would that be wise?”

“Learning from him isn’t the danger,” he warned. “It’s whether he could brainwash her enough to manipulate her.”

Instead of deciding for her, I voiced the lich’s concern.

“I will not be used,” she said with more rigidity than I knew she possessed.

“If that’s what you want, then sure.”

She straightened, drawing her mouth into a thin line as if determined.

We turned out attention to Queen Degima, but before we could ask, she stated, “I will return with Jasmine. My quest can wait while I see to a friend’s wellbeing.”

She’d never shown much emotion, but seeing her resolve, I thanked her.

The last person for us to bid farewell to was Ronja.

“It’s for the best that you cover your chest from now on even if its not as fashionable,” she teased.

“So my whole platemail obsession is fashionable now?” I retorted.

“No, but you can pull it off, strange human.”

“Well, I’m glad you recovered from your injures, succubus.”

She grinned. “I’ll keep an eye on your harems while you’re away.”

Just hearing her say it made me cringe internally. I was once again glad that my wife’s strengths were different than mine. Aeris embraced her.

With all our farewells complete, we turned back to the squad from the Illuminated Cathedral. “Promise me that you’ll protect Jasmine and Degima after I beat you.”

The man smirked. “If the three of you can beat us. I swear it.”

“Oh, you’ll just be facing me.”

He looked irritated. “Our average levels are higher than yours. And there’s just one of you.”

“You’re right. It’s really not fair, for you.” My form blazed into Astral Body. “Head Mistress, if you would please.”

A portal appeared at the far side of the room. I didn’t wait for them as I flew toward it and called out, “Follow me.”

There were other ways to do this, but it was the method most likely to save them from discipline once the ambassador arrived. After seeing the kind of man Valls was, there was no other option.

We arrived at my palace’s courtyard. There was plenty of room. I turned to face them. The Cathedral’s squad exited soon after with the others. Aeris ushered them toward the entrance of my bunker-like palace.

“This isn’t necessary,” the sergeant said. “Remain with us until the Ambassador arrives. It’s likely she can arrange for you to travel with our people that seek alliances in the east. There’s safety in numbers, and they’re much more powerful than we are.”

“We’ll be traveling alone,” I maintained.

The man bowed his head in resignation. “Then I will face you alone.”

“You’re not enough.”

His golden aura billowed as he charged.

I’d learned much about light magic and my true forms since my return from the Vampire Realm. Especially about my Astral Body. I wasn’t invincible even against light magic. Solar Aspect wouldn’t do much against my Solar rich form, but he was a melee fighter, and he was no grandmaster. His mana contained both Solar and Life Aspects. He also concentrated it while adding the force of his blows to his assault.

Instead of meeting the blow with concentrated mana of my own, I let his sword fly unhindered.

When he realized I wasn’t even defending myself, his eyes widened in shock, but it was too late.

I channeled some mana to my form to enliven my photons. In this state, I was more light than matter. The only real action I took was to cast Light Eater. Not on my surroundings, but my opponent himself.

I lost health and gained an equal amount back.

When he saw the results of his attack, he reinvigorated his attack, sending a flurry of aura-bolstered slashes my way.

I didn’t block or dodge any of them. I wasn’t invincible against light magic opponents, but since I was both a Grandmaster and an Astral Mage, his superior level just didn’t make up the difference.

It wasn’t more than a few exchanges before he called for the others to join him.

“If I want to leave, you can’t stop me,” I assured him.

“We will see,” he shouted back.

It wasn’t just Light Eater I made use of now that there were so many light magic users on the sparing field. There was enough concentration that I cast the Vortex spell I’d stollen from Manu Shah. I didn’t even bother collecting the light mana it was gathering. I simply took advantage of all the mana being funneled to one place and Light Eater became even more effective.

Light Spears, Artificial Suns, aura-charged weapons, it didn’t matter. They couldn’t cause enough damage to leave any last impact.

Before they grew wise enough to combine the force all their attacks could cause, I flashed forward to appear between their front line of melee fighters and casters in the back. Then, despite the -50% to all other Schools of Magic Debuff I had while using the form, I let out a burst of Dark Magic in all directions. The violent purple-pink energy snaked over the lot of them as ten million MP backed it. There was no chance of it doing any lasting damage. Their armor skill with it was too good for something so insignificant to harm them.

It wasn’t enough to drive more than the casters back a step, but the young sergeant got the picture. “That’s enough,” he yelled

I remained in their midst as their formation relaxed.

“You’ve made your point,” he admitted. “Still, I’ll ask you one more time. Please wait until the ambassador arrives. She intends only to help you.”

“Not only to help us,” I said, ceasing to channel excess mana to my form. “But I don’t need to meet her to believe she intends us no harm. That’s not why we’re going alone.”

“It’s because the succubi requested it of you?”

“Not at all.” Yes, Lilith had made it an option, but that’s not why I’d agreed. “Stay safe, sergeant. I hope to see you guys again.”

I shot over to where the others had watched from my palace entrance. “It’s time,” I announced.

Aeris was already embracing the girls. Nava went down the line beside her. After all that had happened, I felt every needed to lighten up, so I strolled over, switching to my human-most form and gave Degima a side hug.

She craned her head back and gave me a muddled look.

When Nava gave me a sidelong look, I threw my arm around her shoulder and pulled her in, making a mopey face.

Lilith’s secret daughter proved she was as unsuccubusly as a succubus could be and gave me the ick face.

I chuckled, my wife did as well, and even Jasmine’s face lit up which likely saved me from the treacherous fancies stirring around in Nava’s head.

Without making a move, Jasmine threw her arms around my waist. Her eyes were clenched closed as if she were going to hold on with all her might.

I had a few obnoxious comments prepared, but then I saw the first tear run down her cheek. Forgetting my every intention, I became very still. Remembering was too easy. Persepolis, the murder of her husband, the ingrained submission she’d carried with her. The night she offered herself to me and I rejected her only to sit at the side of her bed while she slept. Catching her wisp away her tears when she thought no one could see.

Degima and Nava slipped away, and I embraced the tiny dark elf. The sole survivor of the city I’d unwillingly demolished. She was the reminder of how wrong I’d been about the vampire race, my crimes against them, and the hope of a future where things could be different. Not just in the Vampire or Succubi Realms. She was why we had to go.

The portal was waiting for us when we pulled away from them. We were planning gifts for them, but we couldn’t bear to wait to come and see Jasmine after she’d just woken up. Aeris, Nava, and I stepped through it to the same room the Head Mistress had met us in. She was waiting there still.

“This will be a good test,” Lilith said. Get ready.

I transformed to my vampire form. I hadn’t used it much in Matriarch’s Crown, but there were likely those that knew it was something I was capable of. However, Aeris changed to her Wisp form and covered me like a cloak, which would distort my mana with her own.

It was Nava’s turn. The Head Mistress walked her through it, but she was hesitant. “Sister, can’t I just follow them around from the shadows?”

Shaking her head, Lilith was gentle as she explained that there were numerous items that obscure a person with shadow aspect. Not all of them were even that expensive. If she just clung to my back in a similar fashion to the way Aeris did, then it was only her core she’d have to worry about. She could also extend her shadow to cover me, act as a cloak, or even mimic my own shadow trail on the ground.

“Your first destination is the Vampire Realm. The news has already spread. Your Shadow and Vitality forms will give nothing away, but if you appear as a succubus…”

“I understand,” she replied, giving me a suspicious glance.

“Here,” I replied. I took a minute to reform my Obsidian Skeleton Armor. It was made of thin plates of Skeleton Armor now covered in thick titanium. Before adding the obsidian coating to give it the look I was going for, I moved around and put myself in exaggerated positions to make sure there weren’t any restrictions. I was pretty sure there was a better titanium alloy that could be used for armor, but I didn’t have access to it. So instead, I just made it extra thick. With my physical stats, I could’ve made it out of the heavier steel, but it was more than six inches thick in places, like over my chest and back. I was no longer playing around. I’d continue to study and investigate different alloys when I could.

When everything fit into place, I covered my armor in a thin layer of obsidian. Having a Wind Wisp and Shadow Succubus cloak gave the outfit a nice touch. In Matriarch’s Crown, it wouldn’t even be out of place with everyone scurrying around getting ready for war. At least, I hoped that was the case.

“Don’t worry so much,” I told Nava. “Big brothers give their little sisters piggyback rides on the surface world all the time.”

“I don’t have the same fascination with pigs and eating them as you do, Big Brother,” she scoffed.

“We have every intention of buying you a pet.”

She went ashen. “Fine.”

An instant later, she hopped on my back in her shadow form. She was as weightless as Aeris was.

My perceptions leapt from my body, and I spun to admire our handy work. I was like a gothic space marine with an overly pretty face. If only I had the scars to go with it, but with all things considered, it was an epic look.

“Alright, let’s go,” I announced.

“Very good,” Lilith complimented. “The excess mana distorts your mana signatures well. Master Lich, I’ll leave them in your capable hands.”

“Thank you, Head Mistress,” he replied.

I saw he’d changed to his vampire form he’d used while in Hallow. There were only some subtle differences in the face.

“Lord Zacarro was not happy when he learned you were attacked at his establishment,” she continued. “He won’t be able to bid you farewell, but he’s prepared for someone to accompany you. You’ll find everything you need in his emporium. When you meet with Master Mather later, your harem manager reassured me he will be prepared to receive the items you will be sending to Sanctuary with your directions.

“This is likely the last time I’ll see you before you depart. I wish success and have one thing I’d ask of you.”

“What is it, Sister?” Nava asked.

“Do not return until you’ve reached the maximum level. Send the allies you gather, and I assure you that we’ll receive them. Where you’re going there will be many opportunities. Shamash has reassured me that he knows the way to the desolate lands where few others can survive, but the three of you are well suited for. This war will not be over quickly. Xaphan has promised to watch Sanctuary, and I have the word of Matriarch Hadassah that she will as well. There are few as talented with Nature Magic in the whole of the Underworld.

“When you return, be ready. Matriarch Kya and Lord Kress will be the least of our worries.”

As if instinctively knowing Lilith was her mother, Nava buried her face in her dress and hugged her. Aeris wasn’t as zealous but also embraced her.

I was not about to not going to hug the succubus queen, but I did say, “I will do as you asked.” Glancing from Aeris to Nava, I met the succubus’s gaze and held it firm.

She mouthed the words, thank you.

This time, when we stepped through her portal, we arrived in a new location. At least, I did Obsidian Skeleton Armor with my Windy Shadow Cloak. Technically, we’d been here before, we’d just never made it inside Zacarro’s palace. Even if Aeris and Nava weren’t standing next to me, the moment they saw the department store-sized room with Underworld goods, my mind was filled with both of their pleadings.

“Let’s go this way.”

“No, let’s look at that first.”

“Is that the shoe department?”

“Earrings? Those are definitely earrings.”

Reverting to my vampire etiquette training, I stood there stoically and inwardly lamented. I had inadvertently agreed to become schizophrenic.