TDE Book 6 Chapter 12 - Trick of the Eye

“Hey, can you tell me more about the Dao Geyser?”

Calron had an inkling about the function of the Geyser from what Serina had told him, but he thought Martial might have more hidden knowledge that was not available to the general public. This was only highlighted by the fact that the Titans hid their base inside that very Geyser.

“Hmm, the Geyser itself is pretty unassuming. In fact, it’s just a hole in the fabric of space. Think of it like a window that lets you glance at the outer layer of this sector.”

The black pig scratched the fur under his chin, his dark eyes squinting with pleasure at the itch.

“Is it hidden somewhere here?”

Calron surveyed his surroundings, and besides the dead tree, there was nothing else of note around him.

“Nah, it’s connected to this place, but not exactly here. I’ll transport you there once you’re ready. For reasons I can’t divulge, none of the Titans should ever get close to that thing. Just as you can peek into the secrets of the Dao, others can peek back at you.”

Martial’s voice turned unusually somber at the end.

Who were the ‘others’?

Calron shot Martial a look, asking him to explain. This was something Serina hadn’t told him. Probably because she wasn’t aware herself.

“We didn’t have the Dao Geysers in our time, brat. They only began appearing after the Primordials tampered with the World’s Law. I’m sure it was the work of the Light Primordial. That golden bastard is the most nefarious out of all of them. Whatever he did, it poked holes into the sector’s barrier. While the Geysers are a source for the path walkers to glean insights of their dao, it also weakens the structural integrity of the sector’s defenses.”

Martial spat onto the ground when mentioning the Light Primordial.

The Dao Geysers were essentially a tear within the sector’s defenses. The window helped the path walkers to gaze at the World’s Law and the dao around it. Then, the ‘others’ Martial was talking about should be the Primordials. Wait, I remember there was that unknown enemy that was chasing me and Raizel when I first became a path walker.

Calron pondered within his thoughts, recalling the instance of that looming presence that Raizel seemed terrified of.

“Do the Primordials control the World’s Law?”

Calron paused and raised his sharp eyes to the Titan.

“They wish, heh. While they don’t control it directly, they do have access to its location so they can stop others from getting close to it. The World’s Law also retains the core of this sector, which means the Primordials are indirectly protecting us from foreign invasion. Well, it’s not like they have a choice.”

Martial responded, but brushed it off after seeing the confused look on Calron’s face. It was too early for the young man to learn about the forces outside of this sector.

“Don’t fret about that stuff now. Focus on completing your domain, and then you can worry about that golden bastard.”

Martial bounced up and got back up on all fours.

“Wait, give me details about the dao.”

Calron grabbed the black pig before it could dart away.

“Do I look like a village grandmother to you? We don’t have time to be sitting around and telling tales to each other. If you can’t complete your domain in these 50 years, you’re going to be made into fresh blood and lightning sausage when the Ancients get a hold of you.”

Martial stated with irritation. He was getting bored with talking for hours. It should have been Nature’s job to teach Calron, but the brat had major issues with his domain and Martial was more of an expert in this regard. That’s why Blood and Nature left Calron to him until he fixed this problem.

“The Blood Titan promised to answer all my questions.”

Calron shrugged with a nonchalant expression on his face. He could sense the black pig’s patience running out, but Calron had spent years with no answers to his questions, and he was not letting this opportunity slip. Martial was slippery, and it was doubtful if the pig would be so accommodating once Calron completed his domain.

“Blood’s promises have nothing to do with me… sigh, fine, one more question, you bastard!”

Martial started, but groaned with frustration as the frown on the young man deepened. That was a telltale sign the brat was not going to let go.

Calron grinned victoriously as he asked his question.

“Tell me about the sigils.”

The sigils had always been in the backdrop of Calron’s mind ever since he became a path walker. The sigils were also present when Calron had to make his choice between the three daos. He didn’t pay much attention then, but after Calron unlocking his Bloodsight, he could see things beyond their surface. The sigils constantly reappeared whenever his dao was undergoing any change. Almost like it was a mode of instruction.

Akin to a language.

Calron was sure of one thing. The sigils were important. The surprise in Martial’s eyes was further proof of that. The black pig wasn’t expecting this question.

“Is it those eyes?”

Martial stared into the young man’s left eye.

“Maybe.”

Calron’s lip turned up slightly.

“If you’re asking me about them, then you already have a sense of their importance. You’re correct. The sigils are the True Language of all the sectors. They are symbols of power, and how the Unbound talk to each other.”

Martial sighed with lament as he kicked at the grass with his hoof.

“Unbound?”

Calron heard a term he’d never heard before.

“That’s a second question. I only said one question. Now, brace yourself, brat.”

Martial clicked his tongue with annoyance, and soon Calron felt an invisible hand grabbing his shoulder, lurching him away.

“Just answer t-“

Calron was mid-sentence when he was suddenly flung away, and his body was then swallowed up by a door eerily similar to the one in front of the dead tree.

“Tch, what a talkative bastard.”

Martial chuckled to himself once Calron was teleported away.

The kid needed to be alone when facing the Geyser. That was a path only he could walk.

“I shouldn’t have mentioned the Unbound.”

Martial frowned as his gaze turned to the static sky above. The sun was frozen in the same spot as before. The Titan was taken aback when Calron asked about the sigils. He needed to talk with Blood about that brat’s abilities. He didn’t recall Blood ever having an ability like the Bloodsight.

Martial thought that ability merely let Calron see the dao, but the brat was starting to see more than that.

“He’s not ready.”

Martial whispered quietly. Despite Calron’s mysterious abilities, the young man wasn’t ready to face the Ancients. Blood and Nature were too optimistic when it came to Calron. Star was indifferent, and only Martial seemed to face the reality.

Calron needed more time.

No.

He needed a miracle.

____________________________________________________________________

In a flash of dark light above, a figure plunged to the ground, his body roughly landing on the bed of grass.

“-he question.”

Calron moaned as the sensation of teleporting his internal organs settled inside him. He slowly inspected his surroundings to gather his bearings.

“This is the same place.”

He scratched the bridge of his nose. From the smell of the blades of grass, to the musk coming from the soil, it was identical to where Calron had just parted with Martial. Save for the absence of the gigantic dead tree in the center, everything else was the same. Even the sun above was frozen in the same spot.

I don’t see the Geyser.

Calron mused as he closed his eyes. Martial had no reason to trick him. Then, that must mean the trick lied somewhere else.

And then Calron opened his left eye.

"Bloodsight."