“What an unusual thing…” the Thunderbird said as she marveled in human form at the branch and seed of the Stormborn Oak in Leon’s soul realm.
Leon himself stood nearby, quietly contemplating his next move. “It certainly is… unique…”
“It’s more than that,” the Thunderbird insisted. “I’ve never seen sothing so close to the Iron Needle’s power in all my life! That tree… is precious beyond asure. Leon, you must ensure its safety!”
Leon gave her a long, searching look. “I get the feeling that it’s more than capable of defending itself. While I can’t say for certain since I haven’t ever seen it attacked, it is powerful, and possibly even possessing so level of intelligence…”
“The Nexus is impermanent,” the Thunderbird growled. “Twenty thousand years, by my reckoning. That’s how long this Nexus will last. That’s how long you have to conquer other planes and establish yourself amidst the universe. That’s how long the Stormborn Oak has to live, assuming it doesn’t die of other causes before then. That’s why I’m charging you with ensuring the tree’s survival.”
Leon grimaced lightly. “That… won’t be easy. If it’s even possible.”
“For an Anax or an Elental King, it would be the easiest thing to move that tree sowhere it can more readily survive.”
“The sense I got from the Redspark Forest is that the tree is a product of that environnt. Moving it sowhere else might just lead to its death.”
“If it didn’t think it could survive outside of where it is now, would it have given you its seed?”
“Maybe. I don’t know the mind of a tree, and those things drop their seeds wherever they will.”
“You said yourself that the tree might have so level of intelligence.”
Leon groaned. “Fine, I’ll do what I can to protect the tree. However much it needs to be protected. However much I can protect it.”
“Good,” the Thunderbird said, sounding pleased. She turned back to the glowing white branch. It gave off such a gentle aura that Leon—and he was sure the Thunderbird thought similarly—could hardly believe it was stronger in lightning magic than just about anything else he’d ever handled. In fact, by his reckoning, only the Iron Needle itself was more powerful in the elent. “Have you any idea of what to do with it?” she asked.
Leon frowned and considered his options. The branch, at least for the mont, was unique—unless he wanted to schlep back to the Redspark Forest and see if he could wheedle another branch out of the Stormborn Oak. Or cut off another branch and break his promise to protect the tree just for a little more of its wood.
“My imdiate instinct was to make a bow out of it,” he admitted.
The Thunderbird clicked her tongue. “That’s it?” she asked, disappointnt creeping into her voice.
“It has to be sothing unique,” Leon said. “I might’ve considered trying to see if it had any other applications useful to arks or golems or the like, but until that seed can be planted and grown, that one branch is all I have. Given what I can sense from it, though, it makes even thunder wood look weak in comparison.”
“This branch would make a weapon almost without equal,” the Thunderbird stated neutrally. “Only a Universe Fragnt could make sothing stronger.”
“I hesitate, though, for that very reason,” Leon said. “I already have Iron Pride. With the Iron Needle in its hilt, what need do I have for a bow?”
“There are situations, I’m sure, where it could be useful,” the Thunderbird whispered. “However, perhaps what you ought to keep in mind is the branch’s power, not the Iron Needle’s. The Needle doesn’t give its power often, and though it seems to have taken a liking to you, don’t expect it to help you that often. This branch, on the other hand, might give you its secrets more readily, even though it holds fewer than the Needle.”
“Sothing to consider,” Leon agreed. “I’ll have it done by the ti I return to Artorion.” He sighed and sat down in the closest chair and briefly closed his eyes. “I miss sleep,” he admitted.
“Then take a nap,” the Thunderbird responded, her eyes still locked on the branch.
“Mm.”
He sat there for a long mont in silence, simply enjoying the way that magic wound its way through his soul realm. He could sense Xaphan absorbing the Mists of Chaos not far away and judged him close to achieving Apotheosis. ‘Could work a little faster there, demon,’ he silently chided. He could also sense the Thunderbird using her power to closely examine the branch from every angle. He most enjoyed the aura the branch emitted, though. It no longer had the portal-leaves it did before it fell from the tree, but the enormity of lightning magic that he could sense within, of which only a fraction leaked out to form its aura, more than made up for it. 𝙧𝘼₦Ο₿Ęs
Besides, he could sense that it would still be valuable to study as a natural object capable of using spatial magic. Such magic was, at least for humans, reserved for the realm of enchantnt. Magic couldn’t be mixed in the human body, so forms of magic that utilized more than one elent required the use of enchantnts, potions, or other such external powers.
That the tree was using spatial magic was incredibly interesting, and Leon was already speculating about ways to exploit that for this future weapon.
He envisioned portals ripping apart his enemies, or using the bow to summon the unique sources of lightning that the tree had possibly sought. Even if he just used the future bow to augnt his lightning magic, it could be a potent weapon, but if he could harness its spatial magic, then it could be sothing wholly unique, sothing more powerful—at least in so ways—than Iron Pride.
At least, until he was able to figure out black lightning, or so other unique form of lightning that the Iron Needle was willing to share with him.
And that wasn’t even touching on other potential benefits if he was able to get the seed to grow…
“What was your take on Sasan?” he asked out of the blue.
The Thunderbird cocked an eyebrow in surprise but kept her eyes on the branch even as she answered. “Hm? I found him agreeable enough, on the surface. But mages don’t reach his level without sharp edges. He was hiding sothing from you, I could tell.”
“I didn’t get that feeling at all. I thought he was being fairly honest.”
“One brief eting with soone is hardly enough to fully discern their character. Be wary around ancient mages, Leon. Do you rember what I told you about immortals and how long they typically live?”
“Only a few thousand years,” Leon grimly said. None of his family or friends had reached Apotheosis… Ambrosia was enough to make him think that it was only a matter of ti, but until it happened, there would always be the possibility that he would be alone in his achievent among that group of people closest to him. And if he outlived them… He could at least sympathize with those mages who chose not to continue living when everyone they knew and loved had died, even if he didn’t think he’d take that option.
“Those few who live longer lifetis are… strange,” the Thunderbird continued. “Life, in many ways, can be painful. Humans are not solitary creatures—it is often your social relationships that make your lives worth living. So what must soone be like if they can endure the loss of all their relationships? If they outlive everyone they love? How strange must soone be if they can endure the sheer enormity of millennia?” She paused and sighed before finally turning her eyes to Leon. “Always be wary of old monsters, Leon. They’re never normal people, for however much ‘normal’ might an with that much power. And that man… I can’t place my talon on why, but he was just… off.”
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“Well,” Leon said as he jumped to his feet, “if you ever figure out just what was so wrong with him, do let know. Because I didn’t sense or notice anything concerning. But the reason why I was asking about him was due to his suggestion: Kavad’s Lance. He recomnded I head there, next. That I’ll find what I need to defend Artorion there.”
“A promise not easily fulfilled. He’s strong enough to solve this problem with a wave of his hand, but he’s also undoubtedly old and experienced enough to know where you can find your needed power. I… as much as I don’t trust him, I don’t think he was lying to you; he believes this lance has the power to aid you. As soone who knew Kavad personally, I’m not sure about that, but I encourage you to find out.”
“You knew Kavad personally?”
The Thunderbird scoffed. “Khosrow’s favorite son. I found him arrogant and self-centered beyond all reason. His power was pedestrian for the ti, though that would still place him near the top in this day and age. I can’t rember how he died, but his hubris in demanding the aid of the Ascended Beasts was often mocked in those waning days of the Primal Age.”
“A weapon that ancient ought to retain great power, right?” Leon asked. “The Primal Age was so long ago that I can hardly fathom it, and if a sharp bit of tal survived that much ti, then surely it must possess incredible powers, right?”
“That depends on whether or not it’s the sa spear that overly prideful boy used to wield or not. But if ‘Sasan’ advocated that you go and test yourself against it, then do so. Every thread must be pulled in this situation. Every lead run down, every spark of power jealously hoarded. Regardless of whose lance it was, the thing is given credit for lifting mountains into the air. Can you see it from where you now lay?”
Leon turned his attention outside of his soul realm for a mont. He lay in bed back in Redspark with Maia and Valeria to either side of him, both resting in their own ways for the few hours he gave until they left the city again. Ti was of the essence, but a few hours of rest after the trek through the Redspark Forest was warranted.
His magic senses expanded his awareness, and he concentrated it to the northwest. It swept over the mountains, rivers, and plains until they reached the coast. Kavad’s Lance lay within Stormshroud Bay, the largest and most prominent floating mountain of the region, but as his magic senses swept in that direction, they were gradually scattered as they pressed toward the Lance itself. It wasn’t as much of a permanent storm as Redspark Forest was, but the wind howled among the floating mountains and hills, moving them about, while bolts of deadly golden lightning arced between the gigantic stones as they passed close by one another. The magic in the air shouldn’t have been an obstacle to his magic senses, but they were completely scattered before washing over the Lance mountain.
“Not directly,” Leon said. “Not from this distance. Should be easier once we reach Lancefoot.”
“What is that, so kind of stomach-turning skin condition?”
“It’s the city at the foot of Kavad’s Lance.”
The Thunderbird scoffed but kept her thoughts to herself.
The silence between them dragged on for a long mont before she finally said, “It’s your best option for short-term power. Assuming, of course, that the weapon is what it is purported to be.”
Leon, smiling, nodded. If how much power Kavad’s Lance supposedly held was true, and how much it was revered, then he would’ve sought it out anyway, regardless of Artorion’s situation. That Terris even now continued with his siege only reinforced Leon’s determination. By the ti his party reached Lancefoot, more than half of the ti that Nestor had guaranteed him would be gone. Icarius and Penelope ought to be back in the city by then, off-loading their Lunite, Aurichalcum, and Titanstone, but how much that could help with only a couple weeks to make use of it remained to be seen.
With a sigh, Leon returned to his throne. He needed to call ho. It was still so hours before it was scheduled, but just thinking about Artorion made him miss Elise and Cassandra.
He’d be back soon, and hopefully with the answer to their predicant.
Hopefully.
---
Departing from Redspark was done quickly and quietly, without much fanfare. Leon left Yurkij quite a bit of storm crystal as paynt for the city’s hospitality, along with a healthy bonus for Davin. Then, he led his people back westward, making all haste.
They made good ti, their situation not lost on anyone. They were all spurred forth by the needs of their city, and few breaks were asked for. Leon was proud of their grit, especially of the weaker mbers of his party for toughing out their quick pace.
The land below them was wild and untad. The Far West was generally uninhabited, but the sheer wild and ruggedness Leon saw below them was, in his opinion, magnificent. There were no villages that he could see, no signs of human civilization at all. That was hardly to say that there were no intelligent beings around, but given his power and that of his party as a whole, he didn’t bla them for not coming out to greet him. Besides, he felt it would’ve been a bit much to expect human manners from nonhumans. So long as they left him alone, he was content to do likewise.
The journey to Lancefoot took almost five full days, even at their rapid pace. On the evening of the third day, Leon was told in his daily call ho that Icarius had returned with all of the Aurichalcum from Shatufan and a healthy supply of Lunite and Titanstone—enough for Nestor to refresh the teleportation gateway to allow Leon back, providing no small amount of relief for him. Lancefoot was more than a week away from Artorion at their current pace, and while Leon could always leave his party behind, it was sothing he was generally reluctant to do.
Nestor and the Ravens were already putting the materials Icarius bore to use, but Elise then told him of Shatufan and how it was faring in his absence.
In short, it seed that Jamshid was having a lot of trouble keeping the city under control. The rioting had only intensified after Leon’s departure, and the guard forces on Jamshid’s side were seeing daily deserters—they were reluctant to put down the riots that harshly, it seed. Making matters worse, Manuchehr and the other Azadan who’d fled the city had resurfaced in the city’s hinterland, putting out a call for all to join them in retaking the city from Jamshid’s faction.
Apparently, Shatufan’s sister city Sentudon had already pledged a force of ten thousand to aid Manuchehr in returning to power, while Rolor’s Highcastle was also publicly considering joining the cause. Hosragan was too busy to deal with this holding off Elegan, which had moved no small number of troops to its border with Hosragan amid all this instability, while Krizos kept an eye on all of these happenings, ready to swoop in and take what it wanted.
Leon’s interference had created quite a ss, though he was hardly surprised. The thought of fixing all of this gave him quite the headache, but it was his responsibility for bringing that instability in the first place.
‘After Artorion’s safe,’ he thought. He supposed the only good thing about the situation was the fact that Archelaus wasn’t making much of a deal out of Leon taking the Aurichalcum ant for him. He’d almost certainly heard of what had happened by now, but no ssengers had been sent to Artorion or Alhamachim seeking answers or restitution.
Yet.
It weighed on Leon’s mind quite heavily, and after hearing all of this, it took no small amount of effort to refocus on Kavad’s Lance instead.
As he grew closer, it beca easier for him to cut through the interference and lay eyes and magic senses upon Kavad’s Lance itself—or at least, the mountain nad after the weapon.
It was a mountain with almost sheer cliffs, rising like a pillar straight into the sky. It hovered over the coast, surrounded by other mountains and floating rocks of varying sizes, the hole it created when it rose long since filled in with earth and seawater.
It was a remarkably green mountain despite the sharpness of its cliffs and lack of flat areas, with plants and even whole trees growing out of cracks in the stony cliffs. It was also enormous, nearly dwarfing all other mountains Leon had ever seen, including the nine-peaked mountain in the center of the Artor Valley.
Lancefoot was below, resting where the Paleholt Forest t the King’s Ocean. It was close enough to provide all the support anyone could need when trying to ascend the mountain, as many appeared to be attempting as far as Leon could see, while being far enough away that it wasn’t in danger of falling rocks or mountains. So of those attempting to reach the summit were doing so alone, physically scaling the mountain with their hands and feet. Others were trying more direct ways, such as flying between the mountains either with their own power or with small, nimble arks.
None of them could get close to the summit, though. The lightning flashing amongst the floating mountains seed to almost target all those who tried to fly, as if to reprimand them for cheating. The summit of the mountain, anwhile, was lost in thick, omnipresent clouds that gave off such a dark aura that Leon didn’t once entertain the thought of trying his luck at flying up and over the mountains.
The mountains weren’t uninhabited, either; he could see monsters of all shapes and sizes flitting about the veritable floating islands, though he could also identify a clear bias for flying monsters rather than more land-based ones, which he could understand.
This was not going to be an easy thing to accomplish, even for soone of his power. He could sense many tenth-tier monsters in the mountains, and even a couple eleventh-tier mages struggling to get higher.
But he was undeterred. He had a week at most to linger in Lancefoot before venturing to the Seventh Iron Order to seek their aid, and he wanted to do so with Kavad’s Lance in hand.
Then, maybe, he might have the strength needed to save his city.
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