Risha: Chapter 44

The webs at the entrance to the cave spun into each other, reminding Risha of the whirlpools she would make in the river as a young goblin. 

The soles of her shoes didn’t stick as she stepped onto the webs and made her way into the cave system the spiders made home. 

Eyes shone from the darkness, watching her as she made her way deeper into the darkness. Her eyes adjusted fast, and she could see large, many-legged bodies resting in the ceilings and tunnels which made their way deeper into the cave system. 

The spiders were as varied as could be, from large monstrosities that filled up their caves, to smaller bulbous spiders that blended into their webs. 

However, one spider took all of Risha’s attention. Larger than most, with black chitin and a large red hourglass on her abdomen, she stood at the back of the cave, the other spiders respecting her with their every movement. 

The only spiders who did not bow before their queen were the spiderlings who rested in Risha’s cloak; purple furred spiders that hung from Risha in complete stillness. 

“Grand Mother, it is good to see you.” The chittering and stomping of the spider queen translated thanks to Risha’s [Brood Mother] skill. 

Risha looked around, crushing any fear that might wish to grow in her as she looked at the monstrosities three times her size. Even the bravest of Spider Tamer High Goblins would feel fear when surrounded by this many predators, but Risha was no normal goblin, and she’d learned to not let fear rule her. 

She focused back on the large black widow, and bowed her head a little, “Klaz’zks, it must be nice to be back home. My spiderling gave me your message and I came as soon as I could.”

Klaz’zks’s feet tapped in the spider equivalent of a smile, then she skittered over the webs to Risha, standing nearly three times her height. The large spider lowered herself, her head going lower than Risha’s in a bow. “I’m glad you came so quick. Follow me, we must go deep Grand Mother.”

Risha nodded, and one of her spiderlings climbed down her arm and jumped to the floor, growing in size until she stood taller than the High Goblin. Risha jumped onto her spiderlings back, and then they were off through the tunnels. 

Hundreds of spiders watched from the webs as they made their way through the caves. Even Risha’s eyes couldn’t pierce the darkness as they went deeper into the underground, and she trusted her spiderling to know where they were. All Risha could do was hear the skittering, her large ears catching every sound the spiders made. 

Eventually, Risha’s eyes caught a slight glow in the distance, growing in luminescence as they approached it. 

The glow was a strange metal in the walls, lighting up the edges of the cave behind the spider’s webs. This metal lit their way as the stone became more smooth, looking less like a spider made cave, and turning into something that had been worked with the tools of a humanoid race.

Then she saw them, two large doors, the same metal making its way through them in captivating swirls and sharp symbols. 

The spider queen and her spiderling stopped in front of the doors, the webs stopping just before the entrance. 

Risha dismounted her spiderling, and she shrunk to crawl up Risha’s leg and hang from her cloak. 

The Spider Queen stayed silent as Risha approached the doors and studied them. Her inner goblin wanted to take the shiny metal and hold it, but she pushed the instinct down to look closer at the symbols. 

[Brood Mother] didn’t translate written words for her, but Risha had been working with Grand Mother Iris to understand the basics of writing. These symbols looked nothing like the letters she’d been learning for the human world, and even the few orc writings she knew from Klu didn’t match them. The symbols were bright and fiery, reminding her of the blaze she’d experienced when in the presence of the Angel Raphael, except… different in a way that she couldn’t define. The doors themselves were large enough for even the larger spiders to make their way through, surprising Risha. Risha suspected that she knew what this was, but she’d want to talk with Grand Mother Maya, the dark elf, before saying for sure. 

Risha stepped away from the doors, and turned to Klaz’zks. “Have you tried to open them?” 

“No. Even the youngest of spiderlings know that there are dangers hidden in the depths of the earth. I decided that we would wait for you before going deeper.” 

“That’s good. Have someone keep watch on them while I ask the others.” 

“Of course, Grand Mother.” 

“Kliks, I’ll need a ride.” The same spiderling jumped off of her cloak, growing large enough to carry her. “Take us somewhere private, Klaz’zks. It’s about time I give you something.” 

The large black spider twisted itself in confusion, but tapped her leg in acknowledgement all the same.

Risha lost her sight to the darkness again as they made their way through the spider’s caves. Occasionally, she could hear the movement of other spiders, but they didn’t dare to bother their queen and the Grand Mother. 

Eventually they stopped, and Risha could feel gravity pull on her as they made their way up a wall, and into a cave lit by pieces of the same glowing metal that had been excavated from the earth. 

Risha blinked, then jumped off of her spiderling onto the webbed ground. Her spiderling returned to her, while the large black spider started to change, her body growing smaller as her legs moved to her back, and her shape shifted.

When the spider queen was done, a woman stood in front of Risha, her skin as dark as night, and a large red hourglass tattooed into her forehead. She stood taller than Risha, and a chitinous tiara stood on her head. Eight spider legs extended from her back, a happy medium between the spider’s humanoid and more chitinous shapes that she enjoyed. 

“We will be undisturbed here,” Klaz’zks said, “Several spiders I trust keep the many broods from bothering me here.” 

Risha nodded, then walked deeper into the cave, studying the many trinkets and items that covered the space. Risha recognized an old spear of hers in the corner, one that had broken in two during battle. She hadn’t even realized that she’d lost the piece. “Klaz’zks, you are loyal to me, right?” 

“Always, Grand Mother,” The spider answered without hesitation.

“Call me Risha here, please.” 

The spider bowed her head, “Of course, Risha.”

Risha took a deep breath, then let it out, “If I could give you more power, would you bind yourself to me?” 

This time, the Spider Queen didn’t answer right away. Instead, she made her way deeper into the cave, to the same broken spear Risha had seen, “Risha… For a long time, I was ruled by hatred.” 

The woman picked up the spear, looking at it.

“Do you know what spear this is?”

Risha stared at it for a long moment, then nodded. “It was my first spear after evolving.”

“The one you fought the overseer with,” Klaz’zks said, “The first symbol of victory. Even with your weapon broken in two, you did not let the overseer win. You sacrificed your own body to cut his throat.” Klaz’zks set the spear down with care, like a prized possession. “My hatred sated itself on the blood of orcs, and then when you called for me to follow you further, I followed. Do you know why?” 

“I don’t,” Risha answered.

 “Because you gave me something beyond hatred. Fools might call it hope, others call it worship.” Klaz’zks turned away from the spear, and walked back to Risha. She held Risha’s eyes with a strong gaze, “I call it purpose.” Klaz’zks got onto her knees, and bowed her head before Risha, “Risha, I bound my fate to yours, long before you asked it of me. I am a loyal child of the Grand Mother.”

Risha felt her chest twist. To have such blind loyalty, sometimes it terrified Risha. It made her question whether it was right to have her deciding the lives of so many. Risha’s heart settled as she looked down at Klaz’zks.

Risha kneeled down, and gently cupped Klaz’zks’s face to look at her. “I don’t take your words lightly, Daughter Klaz’zks. I chose you, just as you chose me.” 

[Mother’s Spiritual Advancement]

Power flooded through Risha, entering through her hands into the spider. A bright purple light filled the humanoid spider, traveling through her body as Risha’s power left her and became one with the spider. 

The purple shone through Klaz’zks skin and chitin, intertwining itself with the crown that rested on her head, and making swirls inside the red hourglass that was tattooed on her forehead.

Reality cracked as the gaze of something ancient and powerful landed on them. It weighed them, analyzing them with its gaze. Risha felt its approval, and reality healed as the gaze left them. 

Risha’s hand dropped, and she fell towards the webs, but black chitinous legs caught her, holding her gently. 

Klaz’zks’s eyes swirled with purple energy as she gazed upon the exhausted Grand Mother, “What was that?” 

Risha focused her eyes with a monumental effort of will, then smiled, exposing her sharp teeth. In the corner of her vision, a small message made itself known to her. 

Spirit Evolutions Granted: 3/5 (36/38) 

Risha spoke softly, the words coming with noticeable effort, “The powers of our enemies are strong. Angel Raphael could’ve killed us all, and he is not the greatest of the dangers we will face. I will make all of us strong. We’ll never have to face those fires in fear again.” 

Risha’s vision blackened, and she passed out.

***

Klaz’zks cradled the Grand Mother gently, her gaze meeting the eyes of the spiderlings who snuggled against the sleeping goblin. 

They respected Klaz’zks, but they did not answer to her, as was right for the Children of the Grand Mother. 

Klaz’zks moved the woman over to some furs she kept. They’d mainly been fascinating to feel against the skin of the humanoid form, but now they worked well as a resting place for the passed out Risha.

With Risha settled, Klaz’zks turned her gaze to the system message that waited for her at the edge of her vision. 

You have evolved! 

Name: Klaz’zks

Race: Spider Queen -> Spirit Spider Empress

Lvl: 47 

Skills: 

[Spider Queen] -> [Spider Empress] You have the rights of a ruler. Spiders will follow your rule, and those who pledge themselves will be granted the gifts of the system.

[Webs Of The Widow] -> [Spirit Webs Of The Widow] You have a complete sense of all spider webs in your vicinity, and can infuse them with spirit to control them.

[Widow’s Venom] -> [Spirit Widow’s Venom] You can infuse your venom with spirit, and your spirit with venom.

[Transform] -> [Spirit Transformation] You can transform into a second humanoid form. All forms can now affect the spirit plane. Any damage taken while transformed will take from the spirits before harming you.

[Queen’s Guard] -> [Empress’s Guard] You can choose spiders to become your personal guard. 

New Skill Gained! [Grand Mother’s Spirit Magic]

[Grand Mother’s Spirit Magic] allows you to commune with the spirits, and control the spirit that resides within you.

Klaz’zks reeled at the simple changes that had come over her. Even now, she could feel the magic of the Grand Mother as it flowed through her. It was a power beyond anything she’d ever felt. 

With a breath, Klaz’zks sent her spirit into the webs of her home. Her magic spread through the caves, connecting with every web inside the caverns the spiders called home, then beyond to the traps that protected the Orctown. She could sense every creature that walked on her web, the sense organizing itself in her mind as she felt closer to the threads than she’d ever felt before. With a thought, she knew that she could move the webs, controlling them in any way she wished, no matter what spider walked upon them.

Klaz’zks let go of the sensation, returning to herself and turning her gaze to the Grand Mother, who had begun to softly snore. 

A small laugh left her, then she smiled as she turned her gaze to the entrance to the cave. Her chitinous legs spread out, holding her up as she lifted her human legs to rest. She would watch and wait until the Grand Mother woke up. Her guardian. Her Daughter.

The thought made her happy.

Epigraph from Chapter 34

“Mother Shyanne, are you certain? To turn against the angels for an imp, you have to realize what madness this is. They slaughtered us, hunted us, and we barely survived their onslaught. I know you don’t forget. This Grand Mother isn’t worth another war. Surely, please tell me you know that. Without Michael…”

“We march on. Rally our forces.”

“... Yes, Mother.”

-Saint of the Earth to Grand Mother Shyanne in the second age