HTG - Chapter 178

Kalon

Chapter One-Seventy-Eight: Lon - Part Three

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Republic of Hekate

Solar System: D-2,946

Planet: Ravena Minor

Location: Ara Continent, Ravena’s Temple

The room is strange as I enter, high ceilings with windows. Moonlight basks the waters with a radiant glow. The water is tepid as I enter it, as though winter does not approach. The floor is slanted towards the largest statue in the room, I recognize the likeness of Ravena. This one is the most accurate to when I saw her. Her face looks fierce and yet somehow serene in the marble which it is carved.

Stone sliding turns my attention behind me, the doors are closed, Arkon and Luna on the other side of them. Leaving me alone.

“I am not one to worship,” I say, approaching her statue and peering into its eyes, “If you wish me to join your house, do not expect my knees to bend with true reverence for you.”

There is an unnatural breeze that brushes the candles around the room. There are large braziers that line the walls of the room, yet all are silent. Luna told me they will light if you receive her blessing.

“Perhaps you think me impudent, perhaps you think me pompous and vain that I cannot truly kneel in my heart to a god such as you.”

The wind gusts.  

“But it is you who would be vain, that you think we mortals should worship you. To what end does worshiping you benefit people? I have seen little that gives rise to reason for our knees to bend. What miracles do you give to your people? Or are you just a glorified guide with an inflated ego? Help me understand what the point of your existence is. Then we can speak of respect, but worship…” my eyes narrow at her statue, “I do not.”

The braziers still do not light. Yet the waters ripple and I feel the energy in the air distorting. She has heard me. Vibrant purple light blossoms in front of me as I feel her presence enter the room. She speaks into my mind.

I am not so simple that I will anger at such words, even in my sacred temple, boy.

“Yet, you have come. My words struck their mark.”

Her head tilts at me, as though she is surprised with my lack of decorum, surprised that I am not more reverent in the pulses of power that permeate the air. She is strong, certainly stronger than that Vekka, Leora. Stronger than Amara and even Krotha in her cage. But I am not afraid of her. There is no malice in the Maka she shapes, it is calm and even tempered. It is what I had hoped it would be. A god that is easily spurned is not worth following, Leora showed me this much when she grew irritated I did not speak her name to those asking who to worship. Helenius showed this when he gave tremendous power to Adonius after I spurned his pride.

She speaks slowly, purposefully.

You test my temperament and my worth, to what end?

“I do not wish to lead those I care for to worship one who is unworthy.”

She does not flinch at the insinuation that a mortal can judge a god… she is exceeding my expectations. She stands upon the surface of the water, watching me, measuring my words before she speaks again.

You told my heir that you do not wish to rise just for her. What do you seek?

My gaze falls to the moonlight that reflects on the water, “There are many in bondage, many that if I rise I can free.”

Her words are dispassionate yet not aggressive.

Life is cruel to those who once ruled. It is not your burden to bear, why do you seek it?

“I seek the balance.”

She shakes her head, turning to look out the windows towards the moon.

You seek to overthrow the imperium. For that is what it would take to truly bring… balance.

My head turns toward her again as I ask, “What do you seek?”

She turns to face me, her eyes glowing deep purple, a darker shade than Luna’s, one that matches her hair. There is no hesitation in her response.

Power.

There is no cruel smile behind her word, it is placid, like it is a need not a want. I can relate to this.

“Why do you want me to join your house?” I ask, recalling that Luna said she was instructed to claim me for Ravena’s house.

Her head tilts.

Power.

“There have been many who have sought to chain me, speak plainly and answer whole truths. What power can I give you?”

She muses my words for a few moments and looks towards the glass once more.

You are the bearer of a powerful spark, if nurtured you could rise past this Realm in the next few millennia. As you are now, your value is minimal. Your power is unrefined, seen as dangerous and forbidden to the mortal realm. I see you as an investment, nothing more, nothing less.

“How would you guide me, what is your plan?”

She is not quick to speak, I like that she measures her words, they feel more weighted.

The Imperium as it exists now would slay you if they knew the extent of what I suspect. If they did not slay you, they would seek to claim you for themselves. Netheric users are rare, most were wiped out before the fall of the Kuwathi reign during the purge of Krotha and her spawn. They are more susceptible to corruption, and they are harder to control. The powers they can wield are unnatural and tied to the old gods. The new pantheons do not tread where the old has been buried.

What does she suspect? Her eyes drift into memory as she barely whispers a thought.

Some things should stay buried…

There is conflict in her mind, I surmise it is about me. As though she is not quite sure if I will be a liability or an asset, so I ask again, “What is your plan for me?”

She closes her eyes for a moment before opening them.

You must forsake the Netheric bounds and study the Etheric. Arkon is certain that you can walk the Etheric path, he said he felt you nearly break the Etheric bound. It is lucky that you did not, for you would have died, like all the others before you that have tried to walk both paths.

My head tilts at her words, “Forsake them?”

Yes, while the Netheric is powerful, it is unadvisable to study with Thane’s pantheon. If you can step into the Etheric bounds, then I will support your rise, if you cannot, then my aid will end when your will to try does. If you study the Etheric this will ensure the Imperium does not snuff out your light before it shines. For if they find you to be a Netheric user and having tamed Dashkatul… they will purge wherever you have walked, wherever you have called home. I will not suffer this house I have built to fall for the fate of one. Such a thing is not in my nature.

So, if I cannot break into the Etheric, she will abandon me for fear of the Imperium destroying her house… Why do they despise Netheric users so much? Kotina said most information on them was removed from the Imperium’s archive. I think back to what my old keeper said. “Dargo told me that one cannot walk both paths.”

He is right, and he is wrong. One cannot walk both at the same time, but Krotha proved that even in this age one can switch paths. She was not born a Netheric user, she became it. With the Cursed Edict, Dashkatul having bonded to you, I imagine you will have more control over her now. Perhaps enough to make her show you how she did it.

This age, how many have there been? I must keep my questions pointed, there will be time to delve into the weeds of knowledge. She spoke of Krotha… my mind shifts back to the cursed edict as my hand traces over my chest, “What is it doing? What does it mean?”

She does not answer for a time, she seems deep in thought.

I have theories, but it is mere speculation at this point, I do not wish to speak of it until I am certain.

“Speak them,” I say, measuring her back.

One of the souls you carry, it could be the original owner of Dashkatul… or the ones who created it. Or an heir to the legacy of one that created it. There are many possibilities, many permutations to explain your resistance and now… integration of it.

“Krotha said something about an old god. Do you know who created it?”

She shakes her head slowly, energy dances just above her skin like false starlight.

It is older than the old gods, as are most of the Cursed Edicts. This one though, it is said that to know the creators of it would be to know the stars as they were born.

“What can you tell me about it? How can I find out about this other soul?”

Her eyes catch into mine again.

There is a way… incidentally it would be the best place for you to study the Etheric bounds. In a thousand years you should be able to change the tide of mana in your soul to be Etheric.

“A thousand years…” I shake my head, “I do not have a thousand years to waste, I have already reached the fifth bound of the Netheric, why should I not follow this path? If I do not channel Maka they will never know.”

She looks up toward the moonlight again.

You are naïve because you lack knowledge. They require proof of bound to become a knight commander, or do you expect to take on the Imperium by yourself without climbing their ranks? You have been lucky thus far because those who have seen your truth do not share it.

It only takes a moment of rational thought to see her point, but it brings me to another thought, “Inquisitor Victoria, she must know, so why hasn’t the Imperium come for me yet?”

She plays her own game, one that benefits from you being on the board. The rules and the goal… I do not yet know. Her master is elusive, even to me. Whoever it is though, they are not simple, if I had to guess, they may be one of Thane’s inner circle that means to betray him and his pantheon.  

“Should you not warn him?”

She looks at me almost sideways and blinks.

If Thane and his pantheon falls then Hekate will rise with her allies.

“Power,” I say, and she nods, my brow furrows as I look down, “Is there nothing else you seek?”

She steps closer until she is only a pace away. Her voice is soft as she answers, and I feel no malice or deceit in it.

Power is the ability to keep what you hold dear safe. So it is all I seek, for much is precious to me.

There is much that she has said, more than I expected her to.

“If I had decided to go somewhere else, you would have had me killed after that year of protection elapsed, wouldn’t you?”

She nods and I feel a strange grin on my face, I appreciate this level of honesty. It is… refreshing, even if the implication is not.

“Your honesty, it means there is now no turning back from your house, even though I have not sworn the oaths.”

She nods.

“I figured as much when you shared your opinion about the potential demise of Thane, the highest god of the Imperium’s pantheon. Perhaps our goals can align.”

She does not reply, but her eyes search me.

“I came here expecting to despise you,” I say looking down at my hands.

And now?

My hands clench and I look up at her, “I am not imagining your demise.”

She tilts her head again and the inkling of a small smile forms on her placid face.

You are quite brave, for a mortal.

“And you are quite agreeable, for a goddess.”

The smile forms for a moment and she turns away.

Since you have chosen this path, your first task shall be to travel to Etheria and meditate on the altar of solitude. There you may find answers to the questions you seek about the souls you carry. Do not return until you have passed the Etheric bound. If you forfeit the task, know that your life is also forfeit. Should you succeed… I will grant you my blessing, then you may continue your climb toward seeking my heir’s hand.

She turns to me, her eyes like twin suns.

Are we agreed?