Risha: Chapter 67

A/N: 2/2. I made another interlude.

The search for injured continued late into the night. Risha refused to rest when there could be monsters on the edge of death hidden among the bodies and muck. 

As she searched, the strange marshes the lizards brought with them were pushed back. Saplings lined up on the edges of the water, controlling the land and forest to retake the swamps.

“Grand Mother,” a voice called.

Risha paused on the edges of the swamps, her eyes searching through the gloom. She stared for a moment longer, then turned to face Elder Oltak.

He bowed low, “The humans want to speak with you.” 

Risha took a deep breath, then let it go, “There might be more out there.”

“We won’t stop looking,” The Elder walked closer to her, and gently placed a hand on her arm, “There are matters that need your attention.”

Risha looked down at herself, noting how her once purple armor had turned completely brown from mud, moss, and other detritus. Her enhanced nose still wasn’t used to the smell, but she did her best to ignore it. “Tell the humans I’ll be there soon. I need to clean my armor. Kliks, can you help me back?”

The little spiderling jumped to one of the nearby trees, and grew in size. Risha climbed up onto the spider’s back with slow, practiced movements, her muscles aching from the long day.

The Elder hesitated, deciding whether he wanted to say something or not. “Another thing, Grand Mother…”

“Yes, Elder?” Risha looked up from the spiderling’s back, her posture putting her perpendicular with the other goblin. 

“Perhaps this isn’t the time for it.”

Risha stared at the Elder, “Tell me.” 

“I would like to take the younger shamans as apprentices. Teach them.” 

“Of course?” Risha blinked at the Elder trying to place why he’d need to talk to her about that.

“Not just some shamans. All of them. I already have several apprentices, but I want to create a… a group? The humans mentioned a Mage’s Academy. I want to create something similar. A group of masters and apprentices.”

Risha gently grabbed Spiderling Sks from under her cloak, “Would you carry the Elder for me?” 

The spiderling jumped from her hand, getting larger before offering her back to the Elder. 

The Elder quickly got on top of the spiderling, and they were carried over the trees, back towards the army camp. 

Risha stayed silent for a long time before speaking, “That sounds like a good plan. Why do you need to ask me?” 

Elder Oltak cleared his throat before continuing, “Most of the shamans fight under Glo, and such a move… it will upset several of the council members. Elder Kulos currently has more influence than me in the council, and this will be seen as a move for more power.” He paused, glancing over to Risha,  “Which it is. Grand Mother, you are served by having us be opposing forces. If every move I make is so easily blocked, it will only mean disaster.” 

Risha didn’t like politics, but Oltak’s words made sense, “Do you have Glo’s permission to take his shamans?” 

“Yes, so long as you agree. They will remain his warriors and simply be taught by me and other goblins who’ve had multiple evolutions.” 

“Only goblins?” Risha asked.

The Elder paused, “I would welcome the other races, but they have their own teachers who will not like such a thing.” 

“No. I want this to include every race if it's going to happen.” Risha paused, a small smile spreading across her face, “I will give you my blessing, if you invite Sun-Chaser to run this academy with you.” 

Elder Oltak smiled, “I see. Yes, that would ease their minds wouldn’t it? Your vision, as ever, outshines mine, Grand Mother. I will speak to Sun-Chaser when the supplies arrive.” 

They arrived at the camp then, and the spiders moved towards Risha’s tent. Risha dismounted, Elder Oltak following the movement a second later. Kliks returned to Risha’s cloak while Sks wandered off to speak with other spiders. 

Elder Oltak turned to leave, lost in his own thoughts.

“One last thing, Elder.” 

He paused, and turned to face Risha.

“Thank you Oltak. You talk about politics, but I see that you want to see our people bettered. That is why I trust you to lead our people in such a way.” 

Elder Oltak straightened his back in surprise, and to Risha’s surprise, his eyes turned watery, “I-” His voice caught, “You forever have my loyalty, Grand Mother. What you have done, I thought impossible. Everything I do, I do for your vision and for all of our people, spider, orc, kobold, it does not matter to me. Oltak is not deserving of your thanks, when Oltak owes you more than he can ever repay. Thank you, Risha.” He took a deep breath, then composed himself, before bowing. “I will make something you can be proud of.” 

The Elder rose from his bow with a resolute expression. Under Risha’s smiling gaze, he turned around, and walked off with his back straight.

Risha called over the female warrior who stood guard at her tent, and changed out of her armor with the warriors help. She took a quick scrub with clean water followed by changing into the panther items made with the help of the mysterious spirit shaman. 

Refreshed, and feeling clean, Risha made her way to the human camp. 

Monsters were all throughout the human camp, helping with food, cleaning, and generally chatting after the hard-fought battle. It warmed Risha’s heart to see the people working together so well. Many of them stood up and bowed as she passed. 

She made her way to where the Draconic monsters rested with their riders. Caleb, Kaldero’s rider, stood up at her approach and made his way over. 

“Grand Mother Risha, it is good to see you.” Caleb bowed his head to her, 

“It is good to see you as well, Caleb. Thank you for protecting our borders so fiercely.”

Caleb raised his head as Alexandra walked over to them. “It is the least we could do after the gift you gave my bonded.”

Risha smiled, “You asked to see me?” 

Caleb shared a look with Alexandra, “We received an interesting message from Councilor Ryan a few days ago.”

Risha blinked, then laughed, “I’m sorry! I forgot. Yes, that would be a good idea with the dangers that lie ahead. I will do you two first, then you can gather your people and I’ll give them my blessing as well.”

“That’s possible? I thought you couldn’t evolve humans.” Alexandra wiped her gloves against her leather armor as she stepped closer.

Risha shrugged, “Risha only gained the power recently. Can I start with you, Caleb?”

Caleb knelt before her, “If you would grant me the honor, my loyalty is yours Grand Mother.” 

Risha placed her hand on top of his head. 

[Evolve Classed Race]

Analyzing Human Caleb’s feats…

Possible Evolutions

True-Bonded Human

Mana-Loved Human

Sky-Found Human

Human Spirit

Risha’s eyes glowed with spirit. Her voice echoed through the air with the power that suffused every part of her and the human that knelt before her. “Who do you want to be, Caleb? Does your bond define you? Do you feel the love of Mana? Does the sky call you? Or will you join me in the path of spirit?” 

Caleb did not answer right away, as instead his eyes moved to the sky, “Grand Mother, the sky has always called me.”

Risha smiled, “It is beautiful.”  Then words left her as her spirit expanded behind her, showing a glimpse of the power she called upon. 

Her power wrapped around both the rider and his drake, changing them in subtle ways. Caleb’s eyes gained specks of blue, mixing with the green of his Drake’s power. His skin darkened like the night, and a nebula of stars shone on the skin of his right arm, shifting like a living organism as mana moved through him. On his left arm, a sun and clouds shone, shifting in the same magical way. 

Risha pulled her hand back, and let out a breath, “I forgot to ask Ryan, how does this change you?” 

Caleb read through a series of system messages, speaking as he read each one. “It enhanced my racial bonuses to certain skills. I gained the skills [Night Vision], and [Sense Winds].  I also gained the racial skill [Sky Found], but the description…” He paused as he read, then continued aloud, “Call upon the power of the skies in your moment of need. The power of the moon and stars for night, and the power of the sun for day.” 

Risha hummed, it sounded strong. The sky was a vast power, and the spirits she saw  that embodied the skies felt different, dangerous even. “Can your race level?” 

Caleb blinked, then quickly looked at a different screen before shaking his head in disappointment. “No. My class is the only thing to level.”

Risha was sad to hear it, but it made sense she supposed. 

Alexandra kneeled before her next, choosing the same evolution. 

Then more humans were gathered. This was more exhausting than evolving monsters, but she sensed that she could evolve them all, so that’s what she did. She rewarded their loyalty with power. 

By the time she finished the last human, she was swaying on her feet. 

The quick march, followed by fighting, hours of searching the marshes, and then evolving far too many humans, left Risha completely exhausted. 

Kliks came out of her cloak and gently picked Risha up to carry her back to the tent. Risha passed out on the ride over, completely knocked out.

***

Risha opened her eyes to see a familiar Ancient Shamanic Goblin leaning against a tree, calmly flipping a knife through the air and catching it by the handle. 

She looked around, quickly realizing they were in an unfamiliar forest, the trees feeling even older than the ones of her forest. Each and every one also contained the faintest feeling of a sleeping spirit. 

The other goblin sheathed his dagger. “Hey there, lil sis. It’s good to see you.” 

Risha paused herself into a sitting position, her hand sinking into the soft forest floor. “Where am I?”

“A pocket of the spirit realm. Technically not mine, but I watch over it when I can.” 

Risha turned, focusing on the spirit who had guided her to the Spark in the depths, and created the runes for her panther equipment. “I thought you had to go.” 

“I did, and I probably can’t keep you here for long. The only reason I could pull you here in the first place was because your spirit was exhausted from all the magic you’ve been working.” He pushed himself off the tree, and crossed his legs as he sat across from her, “I’m sure you have all kinds of questions for me, I’ll try to answer them as best I can.” 

Risha blinked, thinking about what she wanted to ask before settling on the first question that popped into her head, “Who are you?” 

“I’m an Old Brother. You can call me big bro, or the coolest goblin, or the strongest goblin, whatever you prefer.”

“The strongest goblin?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll catch up to me someday.” 

Risha snorted, then they shared a smile, “Why’d you pull me here?”

“To answer your questions, and hopefully teach you a few things. Your mystic has been taking way too long to teach you the basics, and I don’t trust his teacher farther than I can throw him, which is admittedly pretty far.” The goblin raised one of his arms, and flexed his muscle, showing a fairly lean build. 

Risha laughed, then rolled her eyes. She focused on the trees that surrounded them, “What do you want to teach me?”

The goblin rose to his feet, “I thought you’d never ask.” He offered her his hand and gave her a playful smile. 

Risha took his hand and the world shifted around them, looking much like the void she’d seen in the Council Of Grandmas, except far vaster. 

“This is the spirit realm, near infinite, and all encompassing.” The goblin walked forward, a path of grass appearing under his feet as he walked towards a distant star, “I’m sure you’ve realized that your council rests in a pocket of the spirit realm. There are many more pockets, each one unique, some locked, some shielded, some lost. Learning to navigate the void and avoid some of the dangers, that’s the first thing I want to teach you.”