Divine Apostasy Book 12 - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

The glitter covering Sift reminded Ruwen of the crushed diamonds they’d gotten after defeating Sparkles so long ago in the Black Pyramid.

Sift turned to Rami. “Who picks red? It’s like begging for a bloody disaster. Red tastes funny too.”

Lylan slapped Sift’s shoulder. “I knew that was you! Stop eating my crayons.”

Hamma stepped away as Rami approached and gave Ruwen a hug. Echo placed her palm over her fist and gave him a small bow. Lylan threw a dagger, and it happened so fast he had to turn and catch it as it passed.

Ruwen whistled in appreciation at Lylan’s Divine abilities, making a note to keep a closer eye on her. He couldn’t just assume he’d react in time anymore, especially not in this suppressed environment.

Hamma held out her palm to Sift. “Pay up. I told you he’d dodge it.”

Sift frowned at Lylan. “You didn’t use all your strength.” He looked between Hamma and Lylan. “Are you two in cahoots to steal my licorice.”

Lylan absently caught the dagger Ruwen had flicked back at her, sliding it into her leather vest. “If I used all my strength that dagger would’ve disintegrated mid-flight.”

Sift glared at Lylan and Hamma cleared her throat.

“Fine,” Sift said and summoned a bag. He dug around inside it.

“Stop touching everything,” Lylan said, trying to see in the bag.

“I knew it! You two set me up to get my licorice.”

Sift pulled out a rectangular container with bright colors and handed it to Hamma.

Hamma shook her head. “Oh no, hand over the good kind.”

“We never agreed on a color,” Sift said.

Hamma pointed at Rami. “She told you. Red.”

Sift stared at Rami in disbelief. “That was a licorice color?” He pointed at Ruwen. “That button pusher picked red because your favorite licorice color is red? We could’ve all been smoothied!”

“Do you know what cahoots means?” Ruwen asked Sift.

Sift slapped a different rectangular box in Hamma’s palm. She immediately opened it and removed red tubes from the box. Lylan, Rami, and Echo crowded around Hamma pushing Sift to the side. Hamma handed out the strawberry smelling treasure.

Sift pointed at the four women. “That is cahoots. Grandpa Pine explained it on the drive into town. It’s how they’ve been stealing all my candy. It started with the jellybeans and now these vultures have moved on to my licorice.”

Hamma peeled a strand off hers and handed it to Ruwen. He chewed it and found the overly sweet strawberry flavor a bit overpowering. The more he chewed though, the more satisfying it became.

Ruwen snapped his fingers and turned around, searching for Lyra. She’d stepped back to give them room and stood along the wall with Overlord.

“Hey everyone,” Ruwen said. “This is Ink Lord Lyra, and our ally.”

Lyra stepped forward and everyone but Sift rushed forward to welcome her and say hi to Overlord.

Sift turned his head, ripping a piece of the elastic candy from the clump he held. These strands were black though, not red. He pointed at the group with them, and the licorice thrashed up and down as Sift spoke.

“We’re already outnumbered, and you add another woman. You’re either stupid or a masochist.”

Sift caught the dagger Lylan had thrown and snapped it back at her.

“The worst part now is their hearing. It turns out goddesses have sensitive ears.” He took another bite from the candy. “I’m basically a prisoner of war and it only got worse after Echo and Rami arrived. We really need to find some guys. I should’ve snatched Ash off that bike and brought him. I really like that kid. Seems like he’s got his priorities straight.”

“Because he likes to race?” Ruwen asked.

Sift nodded. “Speed reveals a lot about a person. No time for lies or faking.” He turned to Ruwen. “It’s why you’re so slow. You’re full of secrets and you wear a mask. You’re just not built for speed.”

“Haste breeds mistakes, my friend. You should be thankful Rami likes strawberries and not that awful smelling stuff you’re eating right now. I’m pretty sure the black button would’ve turned you and your licorice into paste.”

That Ink Lord group is four minutes out, Overlord told Ruwen.

Thanks, buddy. We’ll wrap up here.

Ruwen and Sift approached the group of women and Sift bowed gracefully in greeting. Ruwen added Lyra to the Party and her portrait appeared under the others.

It was time to solve a riddle, survive the day, and figure out where Lyra came from.

Rami stepped away from the group and strode toward a passage that opened into the library. She stopped twenty feet from the exit and closed her eyes.

“It’s watching me,” Rami whispered. “Daring me to steal its hard-won knowledge.”

“About that. There’s this game going on and you’re worth a lot of points. So assume everyone else in this place wants to kill you.”

“Noted.” Rami opened her eyes. “This whole place feels like Ink Lord Numarrow’s office.”

“The one where you triggered the Literary Aneurysm trap?”

“I haven’t projected my Superior Telescopic Touch yet have I, despite standing inside a secret library full of forbidden and lost knowledge.” She looked up at Ruwen. “Some of us learn from our mistakes.”

“Well, that all worked out since we ended up with Overlord and I needed an Ink Lord token anyway.”

“Do you still have his body in your storage?”

Ruwen winced although Rami couldn’t see that behind his mask.

“You do,” she hissed.

The events at the Malth library during the Step Championship triggered a lot of memories, and almost immediately an idea occurred to Ruwen. He tried to keep his body language neutral, but Rami knew him too well.

“What?” Rami asked.

“Nothing.”

Rami didn’t believe that lie and quickly went through Ruwen’s short-term memory.

“Darkness take me,” Rami whispered.

Both of them glanced at Echo.

“Possibly your worst idea ever,” Rami muttered.

“I know, I know, I know.” Ruwen tried to suppress the idea, but more and more possibilities kept spilling into his thoughts.

Three minutes, Overlord warned.

Ruwen faced Rami. “Don’t say anything. It was just a dumb thought.” Instead of yelling, Ruwen addressed everyone in Chat. We need to get moving. Enemies arrive in three minutes.

Overlord, lead the way. Make as many scouts as you need.

Overlord sprinted out of the chamber and into the library.

Everyone gathered by Ruwen. “I wish you’d all stayed home, but it seems divinity hasn’t made any of you smarter. That said, I’m glad you’re all here. I’ve missed the licorice and glitter.”

“That’s going on the list,” Sift whispered.

“Absolutely not,” Ruwen said. “That’s a terrible name for a guild.”

“Blood smoothy,” Echo said.

Sift nodded approvingly. “Very dark, Echo, but also terrifying and revolting. I like it.”

Echo did her best to smother a slight smile.

Ruwen turned to Lyra. “Sorry about this. We take some getting used to.”

Lyra smiled. “No, it helps. This banter reminds me of my youngest—Cevin. He and Lid create this same type of energy. It’s like chaotic potential.”

“Brilliant choice of words, Lyra,” Sift said. “Chaotic Potential is going right under Blood Smoothy.”

They all entered the passage Overlord had sprinted down.

Ruwen’s friends, despite having less than a minute to prepare, looked like proper adventurers. This was thanks to their dimensional storage which held all their gear and all the time spent in the waiting area.

Sift wore the Void robes that Blapy had given him. A long jacket that shimmered between light grey and midnight blue, with matching pants and thin slippers. The jacket had a white, flat, stiff collar that protected the back and sides of his neck. The transition to Divine coupled with whatever happened in the Creation Realm had transformed Ruwen’s best friend into something almost regal. Thankfully the mouthful of red licorice and glitter covered body proved the old Sift remained.

Hamma stood ready in practical brown leather reinforced with chainmail across her torso and shoulders. Her white Chapel Priestess robes had transformed into a cloak that shifted as if buffeted by unseen hands. She held her quarterstaff, its surface etched with holy symbols that glowed with divine energy. The small black prayer book hung from her belt, and the necklace containing a fragment of Archie glinted at her throat.

Lylan cut a striking figure in her midnight black leather armor that hugged her body. A harness of throwing knives crossed her torso in neat rows, their handles worn smooth from constant use. Small but powerful crossbows rested at each hip, and a new short bow was slung across her back. Ruwen knew this was a fraction of the weapons and poison Lylan carried. She moved with the grace of a panther.

Rami remained in her teenage human form and wore blue-grey mage robes that fell to her bare feet. Silver thread traced arcane symbols along the sleeves and hem, and a leather belt cinched the robes at her waist. Her dark hair was pulled back simply, and she carried herself with a new quiet confidence. Her true power had always been rooted in her immense knowledge but now, after time spent with her father in the Void, she radiated a lethality one couldn’t ignore.

Echo wore a long black shirt and loose pants favored by most Step Masters. Every gesture spoke to perfected movement like only a Grandmaster could manage. The Grimoire of Mourning rested against her chest held in place by chains that wrapped both Echo and the book of death, binding them together. The book caused Ruwen’s skin to prickle every time he stared at it. His sensitivity to Destruction Essence and the Destruction Realm revealed how the shadows clung to her, as if reluctant to let her leave.

Ruwen spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear and summarized the rules the library had spelled out. He finished with the riddle that would reveal their destination and the exit.

“What’s your plan?” Hamma asked.

Ruwen considered. "This whole setup is evidently new because after I triggered the Conclave, I apparently skipped a few traditions which upset the library.”

"Shocking," Lylan said dryly.

“I wondered about that,” Lyra said. “This is my first Conclave, but the Archives described a far different experience for my predecessors. In the past this event worked more like a deadly social function with games and contests, not the current survive if you can and meet at the one exit so you can all kill each other.”

Sift glanced at Ruwen. “She summarizes better than you.”

"We’ll need to stay mobile," Ruwen said, ignoring Sift’s comment. "My location is marked on everyone's map, and since my token is worth a thousand points, I won't stay safe for long."

As if summoned by Ruwen’s words, Overlord contacted him. Incoming. Multiple mobs converging on your position.