Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends

Growth

Erdania followed Ryun into a lavishly furnished set of rooms, a complex really. It was given to them by the Dragon’s Peak Sect, the suite fitting for a king.

Anrosh was out there, dealing with the Sects and organizing everything they would need for a real war. She, and Erdania, had suggested to Ryun that it would be best if he made himself scarce for a bit. His presence was too disruptive right now. And besides, she had things to talk about with him in private.

They had offered them the late Sect Head’s rooms, Ryun’s demonstration had been that impressive. Erdania had refused, it wasn’t proper. Ryun had demonstrated his power, but Sect pride was a fickle thing. Better that they don’t trample on it any more than they already had.

These rooms were perfectly appropriate. One of the Sect Leaders that had escorted them had said that they were used to house guests of the Sect, foreign emissaries and the like.

Erdania paused once inside, remembering her old home, the Zenshuen Sect. The home that was now gone. She hadn’t encountered luxury such as this in a long time. The Twilight Melody Sect had come a long way, but her new Sect was nothing compared to the old factions, at least in this regard. Ryun didn’t care for visual displays of wealth and power. But these rooms displayed a different kind of power.

The air hummed with subtle energy, a gentle current of Essence that spoke of formations woven into the very fabric of the opulent chambers. Each room was designed to impress and subdue in equal measure, it was a testament to the Sect’s wealth and mastery over Essence.

Erdania walked around, examining everything almost absentmindedly.

Walls were crafted from polished jade and shimmering obsidian, inlaid with intricate patterns of silver and gold. The floors were mosaics of bright stones, each radiating a soft, ethereal glow. Pillows and cushions were stuffed with the feathers of high tiered beasts, their softness beyond compare.

She could feel the formations that enhanced the natural flow of Essence, which would aid in cultivation. She could see the fruit place on the table, and knew that each was a carefully cultivated strain that would strengthen the body, improve circulation, perhaps even grant a stat or two. There was more wealth in this one room than what the entire Twilight Woods Territory of her Sect possessed. And that was just this one room, there were dozens more around her, each with a different purpose.

This entire place was a symbol of power, designed to overwhelm the senses and subtly convey the dominance of the Dragon’s Heart Sect. Carefully calculated to impress and show any visitor who they were dealing with, to intimidate and instill awe.

“You need to talk to him,” Selia’s voice reached her over their bond.

Ryun stood behind her, just outside of the large conversation pit in the center of the room, a circle sunk into the ground and covered in soft fabrics and pillows.

Erdania glanced at him, but he stood motionless, with no expression on his face. She could feel his emotions though, and knew that his outward appearance was just a mask.

“Maybe it should be you,” Erdania sent back. “Your voice can reach him the same as mine.”

Her insecurities reared their ugly heads, but she didn’t say what she thought—that Selia was closer to him, in some ways at least.

“I’m not there,” Selia sent. “And besides, you are better suited for this conversation.”

Of course Selia knew what Erdania was thinking. She shook her head, pushing her annoying thoughts back. The two of them had talked a lot since the… incident above the Dragon’s Peak. They had many thoughts.

“Fine,” Erdania said finally. “But stay close, I might need you.”

“Of course, I’m always here for you love.”

Erdania took a deep breath then walked over to where he was standing.

“Ryun,” she prodded him.

He blinked, then slowly turned his head to look at her.

“Something’s wrong,” he said softly. “Zach did something.”

She blinked. “He voiced his concerns for what you intend to do.”

He narrowed his eyes, but he wasn’t seeing anything, he was lost in his mind. “No, more than that… He…”

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Erdania frowned as he trailed off, his emotions were… erratic.

“Ryun we need to talk,” Erdania said.

He turned his attention back to her and tilted his head. “About what?”

“What you intend to do, what you spoke about with Zacharia.”

His brow furrowed. “What is there to talk about? We are going to punish those who dared strike against us,” then she could feel him across the bond, he of course felt her emotions, perhaps some of her thoughts. “You don’t approve?” He asked, sounding almost betrayed. “You didn’t say anything earlier, with Zach.”

“I love you. The three of us are a unit. Neither I nor Selia would ever speak against you in public, we will show you the respect that our relationship deserves and support you, and we expect the same in return. But here in private, is where we can speak about everything. You’ve made decisions and took steps without consulting us. You blocked yourself from us.”

“I told you what I was planning to do.”

“You didn’t give us the time to think,” Erdania said, her tone rising. “You said what you were going to do and flew off, leaving us behind. We were attacked just as much as you were. We are afraid as much as you are afraid. It wasn’t just you who almost lost people he loved. They didn’t almost kill your children, they almost killed our children.”

Her words made him take a step back, his emotions flickering. She followed him, stepped close and grabbed his robe. It wasn’t really him, she could feel his being all around her, surrounding her and his vessel, but she needed to make her point hit.

“You are acting out of these emotions that you don’t know how to deal with. I can feel them in you, Selia can too.”

“She speaks true,” Selia’s voice whispered. “You are so wrapped up in your emotions that you are not thinking clearly.”

“You too?” Ryun’s voice whispered back. “You disagree with what I want to do?”

“No,” Erdania spoke out loud, before he could spiral. “A point has to be made, they struck against us. They nearly killed us, our unborn children,” Erdania voice was hard, the air around them echoed with a deep melodic undercurrent as her skill seeped in. She took a deep breath, brought it under control. Her emotions were just as erratic as his were, only she had far more experience controlling hers.

“We don’t disagree with your intent,” Erdania continued after a second. “We are… concerned with the degree of your intent.”

Ryun’s face hardened, anger seeping into his visage. “You’re like him then, you want me to hold myself—”

“—No,” Erdania interrupted, but he shook his head and continued.

“There is only one degree! They must all learn—”

The gravity around her rippled, cracking the stones and the walls. “Stop! You obstinate—ugh,” she focused, calming herself again. “I am too old to let you just roll over us like this. You are not thinking clearly, you don’t know how to deal with these emotions, you are letting them rule you.”

When he spoke, his voice came from all around her. “You would have me ignore the guilty?”

She opened her mouth to refute that, paused, then asked him the same question Zacharia had.

“Who all is guilty?” She asked, but didn’t let him answer. Instead, her expression hardened. “Would you really kill children?”

“I would burn everyone for you and Selia. The fault lies with those that they follow, all choices have consequences. The world needs to understand that there are the consequences for attacking what is mine—what is ours,” he corrected himself.

Erdania felt so many different emotions, even she was struggling to cope with it all. She was afraid for their family, their children and the future. She was angry at those that had attacked them, hated them even. A part of her wanted to do the exact thing that Ryun wanted to do. Another part was horrified. But she, and Selia, had always known what Ryun was. He was all the most extreme virtues of the Sects, wrapped up in a being that wouldn’t—couldn’t care for anything but that which he considered his.

She almost continued to argue, but then slowed down. She felt the same way he did, but she had a lot more years under her to learn how to deal with such dark emotions. A past filled with pain.

“You know my past,” she started slowly, her eyes holding his. “My first memories are of my cell. I knew nothing but training, only the hurt I inflicted and the pain I suffered. I killed in that arena, on that sand. What choice did I make to place myself there?”

“It’s not the same,” he said.

“Nothing ever is,” Erdania sighed. “Selia’s grandfather, killed them all you know. Eradicated every person even remotely related to their experiments. Except us, the children who had no choice. You would punish everyone for crimes that they couldn’t ever have opposed.”

Ryun’s form rippled, grew then shrunk back to his usual size, as if he was struggling to control it. “What would you have me do? This is all that I can do! All that I am good for!” Then he slumped, his voice coming out in a whisper. “Melody died because others weren’t afraid enough of us. I already lost someone I loved and I will never lose another again. I understand myself, I know that this is all that I can do—threaten, give promises, and kill. I’m not a negotiator, a diplomat, or a good leader. I am just… I am the End. And all I can do is make them pay in such a way that everyone sees and becomes afraid.”

Erdania stepped close and embraced him. She held him for a moment, felt him compress his entire being into his vessel. Then she whispered in his ear.

“I feel as you feel, the same anger. But Ryun, do you remember what you told Tali about vengeance? That’s what you are doing now, letting your rage, fear, and hate guide your actions. And you saw where that got her. Listen to your own advice.”

“I… I don’t know how.”

Sometimes, both she and Selia forgot how young he really was. Even with the memories of True Death, Ryun had never been able to learn how to deal with his emotions in a way that wasn’t through carnage and killing everything in his way.

“You have us, Selia and me. Listen to us. We will punish them, and we will do as you’ve said: carve a wound in this world so deep that no one will ever again think about coming after us. But, there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, otherwise we are no better than them.”

He shifted in her arms, and she pulled back, giving him room.

“I… I need to think,” he turned around and a portal sprung into being. Ryun entered his territory and she went to follow.

“Don’t,” Selia’s voice stopped her. “Give him some time. He is still here, the bond is still active.”

Erdania sighed, she could feel a lot of confusion and muddled feelings from Ryun’s part of the bond. She wanted to help him, but perhaps some room and time were good. She dropped to the conversation pit and spread out, feeling exhausted. She settled in to wait for him to be ready to come out.

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