Lance stared up at Jason's helmet as he drove, his helmet firmly on the horizon, "Are you sure you're okay?" She asked him.
"I'm okay." He told her, "I just hope that they will be." He emphasized.
Lance nodded, "I think they will. Your people are formidable."
"They are." He told her, a slight, very nearly inaudible tremble in his tone.
Lance winced, putting a hand on his arm. His head tilted slightly in her direction for an instant before returning to the path ahead. She didn't know if this was helping him or not, but it just felt like the right thing to do. It wasn't just the separation from the Ternans that had shaken him, but the death of Nolvi as well, she was certain of it. For Lithia to do something so cruel to the girl had shocked even Lance, she had truly seemed fond of her 'grand daughter', so stealing Nolvi's body had been so callous, so sickening… Lance could still hardly bring herself to believe that it had happened, but it was as Theopalu had said. Lithia was pure evil.
"I couldn't save them." She heard Alistair mumble from his seat, "Not Nolvi, not Elum… not even Kid'ka."
"It wasn't your fault." Twindil told him, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You can't blame yourself.
"It's because I wasn't strong enough." He told her, "Some son of Draoi I am." He scoffed, "If I can't bring down a wannabe puff-chest like Kazon on my own, then what good am I?"
"We never found Elum's body." Jason said, "He could still be alive."
"After an explosion like that?" Alistair asked, "I don't see how it's possible, but if he did live- no." He cut himself off, "I won't dare to hope. I saw what happened to Elum… I just pray that Kid'ka made it out alive."
"It's like I said," Twindil told him, placing a hand on Alistair's shoulder, "Zodd granted him a Boon, to give Halm a proper death. I'm sure he'll return."
Lance's eyes fell at the mention of the orc. Halm and Kid'ka fighting to the death? She didn't want to think of it, Halm was a good man, to think he would want to die in such a way was tragic but… but that was what Tongues did, they fought. If that was how Halm wanted to conclude his long life, then who was Lance to judge? She just hoped that Kid'ka returned unharmed, she wasn't sure where he would re-appear, but if Zodd was kind, he wouldn't put him back in the smoldering ruins of castle Blackgaze.
An hour passed of silence before finally, it was broken by their unexpected newcomer.
"These Outworlder vehicles are fascinating." Belaine noted, tucking a long lock of her blonde hair behind a pointed ear, "How is it that it moves without any outside force?"
"The engine runs off a miniature cold-fusion reactor." Jason explained, "My suit is powered the same way, as are all military vehicles in the Eighth Arm."
"Cold-fusion?" She asked, "Sounds like some kind of ice magic, though I understand that the Outworld has no such thing."
Jason shook his head, "It doesn't."
"So this cold-fusion is common on your world then?" Belained asked.
"Negative." Jason shook his head, "They are standard for military spacecraft nowadays, but cold-fusion is not yet available to the public. The reactors are difficult to produce, so outside of starships, only a few vehicles, like this one, have cold-fusion reactors"
"How do you know that this one has such a reactor then?" Belaine asked.
Jason then tapped on a glass panel behind the wheel. A series of symbols sat behind it, the one he pointed at glowing a cool blue and resembling two orbs seemingly fusing together. "Because it has this indicator on the dashboard. Also, this Rhino is quiet, compared to the other models that use combustion engines, which are far louder."
Belain furrowed her brow, "You say that there are versions of this thing that use fire to move instead of the cold?"
Jason shook his head, "It's more complicated than that."
Lance held her tongue as he went into details about the combustion engine, about how it used small explosions to move pistons- or something like that. He went into such extraneous detail that she only managed to hold onto that little detail. Belaine however, seemed to soak in every single detail, every word, eyes firmly locked on Jason's helmet as he spoke. She was shocked that he was in the mood to explain something to such length, but perhaps it was because he was looking for a way to distract himself from what had just happened.
Or rather, everything that had happened today. Breaching Blackgaze, fighting through the Twelve Greater Fiends, until finally facing off with Kazon himself. Nolvi's betrayal by Lithia, Halm's death, Elum and Kid'ka's disappearance– and finally, Jason officially breaking ties with Terna. It had been both surprising and heart wrenching to hear the Outworlders weep and beg for Jason to stay with them, that had not been what she'd expected them to do. She'd thought there would have been a conflict, or shouts that he was a traitor, as Michael had done, but no.
It was almost like watching a father abandon his children.
Jason may have had the energy of a hundred horses, but even he must have been exhausted after such a tortuous day. Lance wouldn't bring up what had happened to him, if he wanted to talk about engines, then she saw no reason to interrupt. Lance however, couldn't stop thinking about what had happened, particularly to Nolvi. The stories of Lithia had all been true, they had to be, for what kind of demon claims to love someone, only to steal their lives from them? It was a cruelty she couldn't even comprehend.
Why had the gods not smote Lithia on the spot? She was supposed to be imprisoned inside that cylinder, now that she was out, she was a threat to Ahkoolis once again. So why had they done nothing about it? Her eyes widened when she came to a horrible realization… Lithia was in possession of Nolvi's body- the body of a Pillar-Born. She was in the running to become a legitimate Pillar-God now, not just a seat-holder for Death. The Pillars wouldn't smite her, or lock her back away, not when she was a real contender for the Godling War. Was that her end game, to ascend and become the Pillar of Death?
Lance's jaw clenched, this had been Lithia's plan from the beginning. She didn't kill Nolvi just for simple freedom, she killed her for the divine blood she possessed. She'd pointed it out to Kazon himself, before she'd vanished. There was none who deserved godhood less than Lithia, she had to be stopped… but they had no idea where she could have gone. The Spiral Queen could be anywhere in the world by now, doing gods knew what. If she and Jason survived this Godling war, she couldn't imagine existing in the Eleventh Age and seeing Lithia be worshipped. If that came to pass, she'd ensure that the truth of Lithia spread throughout Ahkoolis. All would know not to give alms to that treacherous bitch.
She thought that, and meant it, yet she still did mean to keep her promise to the Spiral Queen, and one day make her own brewery. Though she would be doing it for herself, not purely to maintain the promise she'd made Lithia. The more thought she put into it, the more she relished the idea of starting her own brewery– just so long as Lithia never got to taste a single drop of whatever Lance produced. Well, Lance and Jason anyhow, he'd have to get an occupation once things settled down, he couldn't kill things forever. Lance would need help running the place, and who better to help her then the man she loved? They could both make a killing in that business, after all, there would be plenty of people wanting a drink after this Godling War reached its conclusion.
She accepted that she would choose a life with Jason over the Watch, but it still stung to think about. Not to live among her people, to be an outsider, to live among humans- Lance knit her brows together. Would Jason want to live with other humans? Or would he want to live in some isolated hut in the middle of a swamp? Oh that simply wouldn't do, Lance would not be eaten alive by mosquitoes every single day of her life! He would suggest something so ludicrous, he'd probably say 'it's easily defendable' or some such nonsense. Mother had always told her that men had no sense when it came to choosing a place to live, it would be up to Lance to determine where they would live.
She needed to consider Jason and what he might prefer, and line that up with what she wanted. There were plenty of environments that suited Lance's tastes, a meadow, plain, a forest of course, just to name a few. She had a feeling he would be reasonable, he'd not want to pick some stinky swamp to settle down in. Still though, it must be a place they can both be happy, not only that, but somewhere close to a settlement, so they could ship out tons of booze. They would have a business to run, after all. It would be hectic first few years, but they made for a good team, they'd figure it out.
…And after things settled down some more, then their children could help run the business as well. She ran her hands over her ears as she felt the blood rush to the peaks, embarrassed at the invasive thought. Now was not the time to be thinking about children! They hadn't even kissed- no, not even begun courting, and here she was daydreaming about a future that may never come to be.
Tragedy was written into the end of each age, and she was certain that many more would befall this world before the upcoming cataclysm reached its conclusion. Lance or Jason could die, hells, both of them could die before the Eleventh Age came. She shook her head, she wouldn't allow herself to be pessimistic, if she wanted to think about a lovely future, then she damn well would! They drove on for a while, Lance's thoughts turbulent, switching back and forth between Lithia's betrayal, to daydreaming about her and Jason's potential future. That was, until the horizon finally revealed the Rotting Ilum on the horizon. Like a burning golden sun on the horizon, the towering tree was burning away, so bright with the raw flame of Foundation that it hurt to look directly at it. Despite that though, Lance couldn't tear her gaze away.
Tears began budding in her eyes as she saw the massive branches begin to fall away in huge pieces, burning as they fell to the ground. She felt a hand on her shoulder, turning back to see Belaine there. Lance could read melancholy in her eyes, but also relief.
"It has to be this way." Belaine told her firmly, "The Greater Fae had been suffering there for thousands of years; to put it out of its misery was the best outcome."
"Actually," Jason chimed in, "The Greater Fae is still alive. It has taken residence inside of my armor."
Belaine gasped, "It what?" She asked with emphasis.
Jason repeated himself, word for word.
"This cannot be!" Belaine exclaimed, crimson eyes conveying disbelief, "Unless that armor of yours is an Artifact of some kind?"
Jason nodded, "It is."
"Fascinating." She said, "I had no idea that the Outworld could gain its own Artifacts and magical items."
"It can't." Jason told her simply, "My equipment is a special case."
"Wha-"
"Dragon-Bone." Jason told her, "My father-"
"Jason!" Lance interrupted, "Are you sure you want to go sharing such… uh," She hesitated, "Classified intel?"
He paused, "Perhaps not."
Belaine frowned at Lance, her eyes conveying frustration, "Why can't I know?"
Lance could only shrug as Belaine glared at her. She had just been wanting Jason to keep in mind what he was saying. If he wanted to share that he was half Dragon, or that his father was the Banished Child himself, that was his choice. It was just that he'd been talking so much, that she didn't think he realized what he'd been about to spill. He must have still been wanting to distract himself from what had happened.
"I wonder what will become of the Pustule," Alistair added, tone a whisper, "Now that the curse is gone."
"It should dissipate." Belaine said, "At least we should hope as much."
"What is the Pustule?" Jason asked.
"Long ago," Twindil began, "When the Death Spiral first began to spread across the land, Zodd and Draoi sent their most powerful angels down to intervene, Magna and Ulik. The Pillars were afraid that the curse would spread across all Ahkoolis unless it were halted, and while they couldn't intervene directly, they could still send champions in their stead. Magna thrust his sword into the Fiendwood, a blade the size of the Rotting Ilum itself, coated in Raw Foundation." She paused to take a breath, "The Pustule stopped the curse from spreading across the land, but I know not why this is so. It obviously didn't stop the curse from harming living creatures, however, so Oros drew the Fiendwall from Ahkoolis to stop the hordes from pouring into the Faelands."
"I thought the gods didn't intervene in mortal affairs." Jason said, "This contradicts that view, why did they send angels to stop the curse from spreading, when they could have just removed it themselves? And why did Oros pull the Fiendwall up himself, I thought the gods were bound to their Pillars?"
"This was thousands of years ago." Twindil shrugged, "The stories vary, some state that Oros didn't come down himself, instead opting to send his own angel to do the deed, others say that he pulled the wall up by hand, I subscribe to the former, though the latter is the more popular version of that story." She sighed, "As for why the gods did not remove the curse, it wasn't something they could do. The seat of Death holds the power of a god itself, they could only hope to match and stop its spread."
"Are you saying that Lithia is essentially an Unbound herself?" Lance asked, concerned.
Twindil's expression darkened, her eyes showing a flash of despair, "I do not know." She answered, a small tremble to her voice, "I pray that isn't the case. For if it is then not a single one of us stands a chance at defeating her."
Alistair's face hardened, "I will be the one to bring her down. Mark me, it will be done." His hands clenched, eyes going wide, "I'll crush her damn neck."
They all fell silent for a while, until the sun fully set on the horizon. It still seemed to be daylight however, for the Rotting Ilum still burned a bright gold. They continued to drive through the snowy ashlands, up until a figure appeared in the distance. Lance's eyes widened as she saw the familiar dark cloak of a watcher, realizing quickly that it was Theopalu! The elder elf had a dark cast about his face, his eyes glued to the ground at his feet.
Jason wasn't slowing down, she noticed… in fact, he was speeding up.
"Jason?" Lance asked, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Slow down."
"Negative." He replied coldly.
"Crush him." Alistair sneered, glaring ahead at Theopalu, "I need something to be glad about."
"Jason please." Lance insisted, patting him on the shoulder plate, "This isn't you."
"He can move out of the way whenever he likes." Jason replied, seemingly through clenched teeth, "I refuse to associate with him in any way shape or form. Not after he tried to kill you."
"But-" She began.
"Negative, Lance."
"Hold on now," A tired sounding man's voice yawned from nowhere, "That's not necessary."
Suddenly, the Rhino froze in place, its tires spinning through ash and snow but now moving another inch forward. Theopalu stood only a few dozen paces away, staring right at her with a sharp glare. Jason immediately drew the Fortis, aiming it straight at the elf with a snarl.
Only for Mazeek to appear, manifesting on the hood of the Rhino, scratching his stomach through the ratty brown rags he wore and letting out a yawn, "Nap is done, my son is doing what he's meant to do… little Dragon, let go of these Pillar-Born so Theepy can do his good work. I had a long talk with him and he just feels terrible about what he did, so lets live and forget, that is the term, yes?"
"Get the hell out of here, Mazeek." Jason growled, "I won't warn you again."
Lance pressed herself back into her seat, eyes wide as she stared in open terror at the Unbound. Twindil and Belaine were both frozen with shock, staring at Mazeek as if he were a hundred-headed viper. Alistair was not so quiet, snarling as he rose to his feet, drawing his hammer as he stood atop his seat.
"I want nothing to do with that useless old fool or you, I can figure this out on my own." Alistair growled, "Begone."
A slight golden glow then entered the blonde mans eyes then.
"So bold!" Mazeek clapped, "You only need a tiny bit more training from my boy, then you're free to go. There are other prospects out there, ones that don't know that they're even Pillar-Born yet, he will seek them out after finishing up with you all. Your battle with Kazon has made you all exponentially more powerful, I would give it a week until you've learned all you can from him."
"I don't care-" Alistair began.
"I insist." Mazeek said, tone icy and brown eyes wide as he leaned forward, "There is something of the utmost importance that you must do," He continued, pointing straight at Alistair. "Something only Theopalu can guide you through."
"If you're so mighty," Alistair said, hands firm on his hammer, "Then why not take me yourself?"
Mazeek yawned, "For it is nearly time already for my next nap. Being a god is exhausting work, you'll see one day, if you're the one to ascend. I'll keep this short, you and Twindil will either go with Theopalu, or I will turn you both into crabs and toss you into the Eires sea. Some son of Draoi you will be then, crawling along the ocean floor looking for-" He waved a hand, face scrunching up, "Whatever it is crabs eat."
"So you can spare the time to turn us to crabs," Alistair huffed, "But you can't take me to where I need to go yourself? Is this a joke?"
"Yes?" Mazeek asked.
"Huh?" Alistair asked.
"Ah who remembers. Get out of the car and go with Theepy here, before I grow angry." Mazeek ordered.
If the Unbound had decided on someone to toy with, the best thing to do was to go along with his commands. Alistair and Twindil had no real choice here, it was either listen and travel with Theopalu, or be turned into a crustacean.
Despite the monumental threat made against him from someone more than capable of delivering– Alistair didn't move, instead, to Lance's horror, he smirked, "No."
Mazeek grinned back as he saw Alistair's hair begin to rise, his eyes flashing with Golden Fire, "A fine Act of Arrogance! Bravo!" He clapped, right before snapping his fingers.
Alistair, to Lance's horror, immediately shrunk down into a crab, its shell a golden hue. Jason opened fire, the round phasing straight through Mazeek as if he weren't even there. The Unbound smiled, wagging his finger back and forth as Jason fired off more shots.
"I don't suppose that you would want to be crabified as well?" Mazeek asked, "I can, if you really want it so badly."
Jason hesitated, finger easing off the trigger.
"Reasonable reaction, now then," Mazeek said, summoning Crablistair to his hand, the little golden crustacean snapping angrily. "If you behave yourself I'll turn you back, but you have to be good!" Mazeek laughed, tickling the top of Alishell.
Stop giving him nicknames! Lance chided herself.
"I'll go too, just please stop," Twindil begged, stepping out of the Rhino and onto the ashy snow.
Mazeek shrugged, "Sounds good to me. Now where is the red one?" He asked, looking over the Rhino, "I know about little Nolvi, but I had thought Elum survived, was I mistaken? Where is the Son of Zodd, has he perished as well?"
He didn't know? The Unbound wasn't all knowing?
"W-we couldn't find Elum before Blackgaze exploded." Lance stuttered, hands shaking as she began clinging to Jason's arm, "And Kid'ka was taken out of the castle by Zodd as a Boon."
"I see, that's a shame." Mazeek sighed, "He had real potential, that Ifrit. Kid'ka will have to find his own way from here, sad to say. I have no idea where Zodd will throw him once the Boon is concluded."
"If you know about Nolvi," Jason began, lowering the Fortis, "Then you know that Lithia is free. Are you going to do something about that?"
Mazeek laughed, "Hells no! She's the only mortal on this planet that I can't make a fool of. I would win, but it would be no fun for me- not only that, but she is a legitimate contender in the game now, an honest Pillar-Born, it is not for me to remove competitors."
"Lithia could kill you?" Jason asked.
Mazeek stood, shoving a pinky up his nose as Alicrab continued to snap his little claws furiously, "Naw. I would win."
With that, Mazeek tossed Crustlastair toward Theopalu, the old Watcher catching him in one smooth motion. The crab grew frantic, trying to pinch Theopalu's hands with violent fervor.
Twindil hopped out of the vehicle quickly, "Goodbye, and good luck you two! I have a feeling we will meet again soon, be careful."
Lance nodded, "May Afina protect you, Twindil."
"May you be in her peace, Lancela." She smiled back, "You as well, cousin." She directed at Jason
"...Cousin?" Belained asked, shock clear in her eyes as Twindil reached Theopalu and Clawistair.
"Ah." Lance sighed, "It's a long story."
"We have plenty of time." Belaine sighed, sitting back in her bench, "You cannot be a Pillar-Born, yet a Godling calls you cousin?" She shook her head.
"Affirmative." Jason told her, "I'm not Pillar-Born."
"Then what are you?" Belaine asked, crimson eyes focusing on him. "The Unbound himself said that you were a 'Little Dragon', did he mean that literally, are you a Dragon spawn? I had assumed it was just some strange nickname he had chosen for you, considering the make of your armor."
He hesitated, "I-"
"By the Pillars." Belaine said, eyes widening, "If you are an Outworlder, and a half-Dragon, that could only mean-" She stumbled, mouth failing her, "That could only mean that your father is the Banished Child!"
Lance's eyes widened, Belaine sure did figure things out quickly.
"What was he like? Did he disclose the reason for his banishment?" Belaine asked, her hands balling into fists, not from anger, but from excitement, "Please tell me everything about him!"
"Negative." Jason replied sharply, right before pressing his foot to the pedal. He swerved around Twindil and Theopalu, peeling away quickly and leaving them behind.
"I apologize." Belaine told him in a surprisingly meek tone, "I assume there is bad blood between you, then? Do not answer if you do not wish it, I don't want to cause fissures from my prying."
A long time passed before Jason said, "Worse than bad."
He didn't elaborate further past that point.