Chapter 10

“Despite my protestations, Grigor insisted that he wanted to come with me as I mopped up what I could of Devotion's and Life’s followers.

Once out of the Admin Hub I portaled us not far away from where War and Hakan had ran away. After sending out Spirit Sight and finding no notable threats beyond the dull thrum of fear and despair, I brought Grigor out.

He stepped onto the churned-up field and scanned the land. "Do you know how many people we must rescue?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but I would imagine in a hundred thousand. Onnekus wasn’t very heavily populated.”

His eyes boggled at that. "A hundred thousand people to find. All hiding? How long do you think it will take?”

"No idea. But it has to be done and right now. That or leave them all to be enslaved or killed.”

“Then it has to be done,” he replied with a growl. “I will do what I can, but, you realize I can’t fly anymore?”

I blurted out a laugh. “Can’t fly?”

“It was a power gifted from you.”

“Grigor, did you forget already that you’re an Ardumis? You can transform into any bloody animal you want. I’d suggest an Eagle or a Falcon. Or can you turn into a Dragon? I’m not sure of their classification.”

He had the good sense to look embarrassed. “Of course. I will try, though I do not know what to expect from such a transformation. And dragons are not considered beasts no more than demons or dwarfs are. This much I know.”

Before I could respond, he dove straight into the new skill and his body morphed into a six-foot-tall Eagle. I clapped, impressed, and then stepped back as he unfurled a tremendous wingspan.

“Bloody hell, Grigor. Now that’s bloody cool. Let’s see how fast you can fly eh?”

He let out a shrill, ear-piercing screech, which I took for a yes. Though he quickly embellished the reply, speaking into my mind. “Apologies, Lord Clive. I was trying to say yes.”

Despite everything I couldn’t help but Laugh. “Let’s have at it then. I’ picking up a group of survivors a hundred miles South-West.”

He launched himself into the air without a reply, and I followed after him, bringing out my own wings to make it fair. Then on a whim I copied his form though I allowed the purple of my Alo-im coloring to come through and save on the Neuma cost of the transformation.

The difference in body shape made flight a little awkward at first. Until I got the hang of it. To his credit, after a shaky start, Grigor seemed to find his rhythm first, and soon both of us were soaring through the air damn fast and while not a portal I couldn’t complain about the time it took us. It also allowed Grigor to train a little which was a definite win. It also got me thinking. “We’re approaching the area,” I warned. “Make ready to land.”

I morphed back into my human Clive form which felt as natural as the Alo-im form now and cost nothing to hold, and used Neuma flight to land.

Grigor to my surprise and fascination, only half turned back to his human form, holding the wings, though smaller and some of the bird like features across his face. As his feet touched down he made the full transition back to Grigor.

“That really was something else!” he growled. “I may have lost the powers you granted, but I feel so powerful. I can feel the Neuma coursing through my veins screaming to get out and be used.”

“And used it will be. I’m going to be taking the people here into my Void Storage when we find them. I'll talk you through how I make them as you have the right power mix to create them.”

“I do? Which powers? And I can sense those we are looking for. I can smell their fear as they saw us coming into land.”

I could too, but I’d rather Grigor found them. “That’s awesome. It should save us some time too.”

As he grinned at the compliment I listed off the powers he would need for a Void Storage. “For you, it’s Neutral Light and Air. Mine’s a little more complicated, but those three will serve you well.”

“And do I not need to practice bringing the power from my core first?"

"Of course you do. But you need to get used to seeming the weaves being used and this is where we’ll start. You can practice brining power to your hands while we’re flying from group to group?”

He barked out a laugh. "Very funny.”

“Always. Now lead the General.”

Grigor lopped off at full speed and as I followed, I knew that had I been the same level as him and without the training I’d undergone at the Admin Headquarters on how to adjust my body, I wouldn’t have come close to keeping up with him through the dense forest. He moved very much like a wolf.

As a cacophony of panicked screams erupted at our approach, he pulled to a halt and turned back to nod at me. I guessed a small part of him was surprised I’d kept up as well. With wink, I then amplified my voice to reach those hidden. "Hey, everyone! I am Clive... Lord Clive, even. Soul Mate to your goddess and friend to you all. I’m so very sorry for your loss and I'm doing my best to avenge it, but I also want to make sure you are all safe."

As the screams of terror gave way to interested whispering a voice rose above the others. “We know you helped when War hunted us, and we thank you for that, but how will you keep us safe from Creation? A god who can dismantle the spheres of our God and kill them in so easily?”

“Creation was there with War as they hunted you, and he ran just like War did. He’s strong, but he’s not strong enough to face me yet.”

“Yet he will be and soon! I can hear it in your voice and only arrogance would say otherwise.”

“I am arrogant for good reason, and it’s kept me alive. But that doesn’t mean I’m a liar. The likelihood is that he will become stronger than me. And if you follow me, I can't promise you I can keep you safe forever. I can promise you that I'll try my best.

I loved Devotion, and if there was anything I could do to bring her back or save her, I would have done it. All I can do, is honour of her memory and make sure you are all safe. At the moment I’m just asking you let me take you to safety, after I will ask you all to follow me and help give me the strength to defeat the killer of your goddess.”

“Or you can stay here!” Grigor barked out. “And wait for death or enslavement. But whichever path you choose, you must choose it quickly for my lord, Clive is a busy god, and he has many lost souls such as you to save and little time in which to do it.”

I was impressed with Grigor’s words, and they seemed to prompt most of those hiding in the trees around us into action. I caught his attention. “Thanks, and watch. Focus on my hands and see if you can see anything of what I’m doing. With 1000 in Internal Connection and 634  in Accretion, I expect you should see something.” Then to the crowd, I shouted.

“I’m creating a portal to a storage space. You all need to go in so I can take you away from here and certain death.”

There was grumbling there was mumbling. A few dragged their fet and protested that it didn’t look safe and was it a trap. But with some more vigorous cajoling and promises both good and bad, we finally had them all inside.”

“They were surprisingly difficult,” Grigor rumbled as I closed the portal up. And I saw the powers you spoke of, but I have no idea what you did or how you did it.

I clapped him on the back. “Grigor old friend, this was just the start. By the end of the week we’ll have you opening voids and slinging out Grigor balls… okay, that sounded totally wrong. But you get the point. You’re gonna be a wrecking machine. I promise.”

He eyed me sceptically until I turned back into an Eagle.

We had an easier time with the rest of Devotion’s followers, having already bagged the first group. But when we got to Life’s lands, they were not nearly as keen to come.

I heard it muttered more than once that Life only died after siding with me. And apparently Hakan had announced something very similar across their city after ripping down their Sphere.

It took the best part of four days to gather what we could, and there were still around five thousand who refused the offer of sanctuary.

Ultimately I could only do so much convincing and while part of me was tempted to just take them by force because they were being idiots, I had to draw the line somewhere.

We all had to make choices and we all had to deal with the consequences. And so with a heavy heart Grigor and I activated our transport totems back to The Admin hub to deposit our catch.