Endburn: Chapters 11-12 (Patreon)

Chapter 11

As wonderful as their marital journey had been, Fiyu was also pleased to return to their community along with Lifemate Nauda. Yes, it was returning to a war, but since none of her close companions had died, their presence was enough to overwhelm the tensions.

After being alone with just Lifemate Nauda, it was almost too many people all at once. Under normal circumstances, Fiyu would have been happy to sit among them, absorbing their presence as she adjusted. Given the circumstances, however, it was important to rush all of their reunions. If marriage had taught her nothing else, it was that some relationships were too precious to delay.

First they had just traveled with Friend Theo, but when they returned to a Blacksilver base for recovery, numerous others joined them: Ally Krikree, Ally Navim, Associate Senka, Ally Homez, and soon even more. Though she had yet to see Relative Guchiro, she had been reassured that he was well, currently fighting on the western front.

Though everyone came to greet them first, a surprising number greeted Friend Theo as well, as if it had been a long time since they had seen him. His posture was unusually stiff, which at first she attributed to injury, then she realized the truth. The way Friend Theo kept rubbing Ally Krikree's head, the way he lingered near Ally Navim... he hungered for their presence in a way he refused to admit.

"Seems like he's been fighting constantly." Lifemate Nauda came to stand beside Fiyu, bumping their hips together companionably. "Seems like it's been rough on him."

"I was thinking the same." As she agreed, Fiyu slipped her arm around Lifemate Nauda's waist. "Theo is mostly suited to solitude, but not entirely."

"Oh, give him a day or two and he'll be sick of everyone again."

Lifemate Nauda was using lyingwit in jest, but Fiyu thought that their true evaluations of Friend Theo differed slightly. He was entirely capable of operating alone, and she suspected that in some ways a solitary Friend Theo would be more dangerous, carrying the lethal focus she had seen on the battlefield before they arrived. The trouble was that he was also dangerous to himself in that state, and like so many sharp materials, was brittle as well.

What was the best solution for Friend Theo? In the short term, she believed that travel along with close companions would be good for him, but was that sufficient? She wondered if he needed a companion, though it was difficult to think of who would be appropriate. Perhaps a very different Fiyu could have gone down that path, but even trying to contemplate that now was like imagining a different person.

"You won't mind if I go spend time with Blacksilver, will you?" Lifemate Nauda asked. "You're welcome to come, and I assume you'll meet them sometime, but some of the celebrations..."

"Yes, I understand, Nauda. I am no more offended by that than you would be when I go to speak to Guchiro."

"Good, just checking."

They shared an easy smile, since they had mostly worked this out during their marital journey. Some Ichili couples were together constantly, but others experienced occasional solitude. It seemed their relationship fell into the latter category, and so far the balance had worked quite well.

Future plans were made, more than Fiyu could easily keep in her mind. Ally Krikree was going to leave to prepare for the war along with Associate Senka. Ally Homez clearly wanted to speak to them, likely about more personal matters judging by the uncertainty in his posture. Ally Navim had some more business-like issue to discuss, but was willing to defer it.

Before any of that happened, Friend Theo returned to them, recovered in more than one sense. Once it was just the three of them, he returned to seriousness.

"The Dominions want to meet with us," he said, "in order to discuss how best to use the two of you in the war. Before that happens, I think we need to get some of our own plans straight."

"I'm still having trouble keeping all the different fronts straight," Lifemate Nauda said. "Tymetron is basically trying to sweep the continent north to south?"

"That's how it started, but the fronts have broken up. The Asplundat Movement built up a great trench and wall that has stalled them, at least so far. They've tried to send Dominions against it and we keep matching them. It looked like they were going to break through the Wavefront, but when Melitta closed her trap that really hurt them. The Ruling Cities are the most chaotic, because their armies are all split up."

Fiyu nodded her understanding. This endburn policy meant that there was no strategic benefit in the empire attempting to turn the different factions against one another. She imagined that the smaller nations on Norron would soon be adding reinforcements, if they had not already.

"Whenever you talk to Guchiro," Friend Theo shifted toward Fiyu as he spoke, "try to convince him to take the next step. I think this is the best time."

"I will learn his thoughts, Theo," she assured him, "but are you sure that should be our focus? You had finished so much of your Stronghold floor, surely you are close?"

"Yes," Lifemate Nauda agreed, "we were looking forward to seeing what you've done."

Friend Theo shook his head, yet the way his body relaxed, it seemed like he had been looking forward to it. They linked and shifted into his soulhome, which after so long soulcrafting with Lifemate Nauda was like returning to a familiar old waystation.

The first thing that Fiyu noticed was that Friend Theo had significantly upgraded his shielding wall, then she observed the pyramid of bricks that had been placed at the top, including several rods to redirect lightning strikes: clearly Friend Theo had been preparing. When she floated into his top floor, she saw that he had polished the interior to a shine, and beyond that he had carved patterns into every single chamber.

"You've been doing a lot of carving," Lifemate Nauda observed.

"Getting use out of this Esoteric Chisel." Theo tossed it from hand to hand with a strange expression. "I'm not sure how much I'll be able to use it at Dominion and beyond, though... once you two are done with it, we should think about who to give it to next."

Meanwhile, Fiyu was observing the central chamber and noted that, in addition to the glossy black coating, there was a sort of metallic paint that glinted blue and red. "What is this material in the center?" she asked.

"Oh, I noticed that the binary singularities at full power were putting stress on the interior. Trying to cram this many monuments into three floors comes with risks, so I needed to adjust. That's Deuxan paint I got from Dave, half of it corporeal and half ethereal. They each balance the excess power from the opposite singularity and keep things stable."

"Sounds like you've thought of everything." Lifemate Nauda pretended to strike Friend Theo's shoulder, though of course her spiritual fist passed through. "So why haven't you actually ascended to Dominion yet?"

"Honestly... there hasn't been time for it." Friend Theo raised both hands in a strange gesture mimicking helplessness. "I'm called into battle almost constantly. And trying to ascend anywhere Tymetron detects would be a mistake: they have so many soulcrafters in reserve, they'd definitely try to punish any battlefield ascensions."

"Which is why you'd do it another world, obviously."

"That's the plan, but it means two more weirkey jumps, and that's time for a lot of things to go wrong. Now that the two of you are here, maybe it will work. But enough about that, I want to see everything you've been soulcrafting!"

Friend Theo's earnestness nearly made Fiyu laugh, but she restrained herself. The truth was that she was quite eager to show everything that they had done as well. She glanced to Lifemate Nauda, who barely shifted her jaw such that it moved a muscle in her neck. Last year that would have meant nothing, but now the exchange meant that Fiyu would begin.

"I fear I cannot show you everything," Fiyu said as she invited them into her soulhome, "not because I do not wish to, but because my Ethereal Floor is sealed. We discovered that it is not possible to enter it, even in spiritual form. I may have been overzealous in my attempt to make it completely impervious to cantae."

"It seems like just about everything is done," Friend Theo pointed out. "Other than building a structure for ascension, what's left?"

"I needed to spend a great deal of time polishing my final floors," Fiyu explained. "My work on my basement progresses slowly. Most importantly, now that the Ethereal Floor is sealed, it must completely finish saturating cantae."

"Is that a strict requirement? You have to ascend with a full Ethereal Floor?"

"That appears to be a matter of some argument." Fiyu shook her head as she considered the arguments of her relative and her allies. "Nothing prevents me from ascending without it. However, it is generally agreed that to maximize an Ethereal Floor, one needs to saturate cantae many times more than the normal limit prior to an ascension."

"Then we can't predict how long that will take? Well, I don't know when we'll find time, but it sounds like you can probably ascend before too long."

"There is one more thing for you to see: Nauda and I needed to finish our marital materials. One band is placed on my statue, which is inaccessible now, but there is another on the floor below."

They descended and Friend Theo immediately spotted it: the silver bracelet that hovered within the heart of the volcanoflame in the center of her floor. It bound the two of them together, and so long as Fiyu transferred her techniques through it, Nauda could not be harmed by her cantae. That would always occur, due to Fiyu's spiraling design, which was one of the reasons they had done it this way instead of the reverse.

"And Nauda has a matched material in her soulhome?" Friend Theo asked, eyes alight. "This is fascinating... what sublime materials are they made out of?"

"Sorry, Theo, it's not that simple." Lifemate Nauda elbowed him as she approached the flame. "The material isn't useful unless its been saturated in the cantae of two people for a very long period. I don't think you could pull it off unless you get all mushy with someone."

"Don't underestimate my willingness to start a relationship solely for a slight boost in soulcrafting."

Fiyu hovered near the two of them, smiling at their facetious words. This was one thing she could not provide for her lifemate, except in small quantities as a surprise. Relationships seemed much simpler without lyingwit, but she was happy the two of them could partake of it.

"It may not be useful to you," Fiyu said once they were done, "but you could see the band's partner in Nauda's soulhome, if you want."

"Of course I want to, this is fascinating." Friend Theo glanced over at Lifemate Nauda, who shook her head as she guided them out. For the first time there was a bit of tension in her back.

"I'm not as close to ascension as the two of you," Friend Nauda explained as they entered her soulhome. Fiyu didn't see how her lifemate could be so self-conscious about her soulhome, which was filled with gorgeous life. Her garden between her towers, more than anything, had blossomed during their marital journey.

When they ventured into Lifemate Nauda's staff tower, Friend Theo was appropriately affirming, as a companion should be. Only one chamber was still filled with Deadgold, which had been carefully crafted into a mirror of her gauntlet to enhance those techniques. The second had a large dais that held a band just like Fiyu's, rotating within a larger copy of that band.

"This is great work," Theo said as his fingers ran over the dais, "but why is it different on this end?"

"The identical bands link us together," Lifemate Nauda explained, "and there's another copy on my statue, which keeps me immune to her cantae. This one links the other way: it lets me send my cantae over to Fiyu."

"Huh, that sounds like something only married people could do."

"Or those who have trained together, as they do in certain Tatian monasteries. But the important thing is that I can support Fiyu if she ever comes up dry."

"It is not a perfect transfer," Fiyu spoke up to clarify, "and so it is not as if our soulhomes are a single linked space. However, we have already tested it, and Nauda can help support me when necessary. We hope this will make us a more effective unit."

"Definitely sounds like it will." Friend Theo was already moving on to the third room, as eager as always. "So what's this? Looks like... a staff? Very similar patterns to the one you have on your first floor."

Lifemate Nauda stepped into the room and her hand ran over the smooth surface of the pillar that spread from floor to ceiling. "Good eye. You remember our original blueprints, right? Well, after actually using it, I don't think that one floor of staff materials is enough to link every single floor. The plan is for the fifth floor to be a reinforcer, with energy running through all the floors in between."

"It's no accident you chose the fifth floor, is it? You're thinking that the ninth...?"

"That sounds too ambitious, but yes. The staff tower will be capped with staff chambers at both ends with a reinforcing floor in the middle. Don't ask what I'm going to replace the deadgold room with. I'm not sure, other than that it needs to link into my techniques, like the band."

"I'm impressed."

"You won't be when you get to the other side." Lifemate Nauda dropped down the stairs and crossed her walkways over to the main mass of her body.

Along the way, Friend Theo noted that the walkways themselves had been reinforced, preparing them for the next step. He didn't comment on it, since Lifemate Nauda seemed so distracted, but he glanced over at Fiyu and she nodded. It really was a good soulhome and Lifemate Nauda was simply being unnecessarily self-conscious.

On the other side, Lifemate Nauda gestured vaguely at her main rooms. "So I have one major material in each room," she said, "but they're not quite ready."

"This used to be a ghostworm heart," Fiyu said proudly as they moved to the death chamber. "We worked together in order to fashion it into a good source of cantae. I think Nauda simply needs more supporting materials to use such a material."

"Oh, I'm not complaining about any of your work, Fiyu. Then in the center we have my statue, which is just as good as it's always been. But over here..."

In the last chamber there was nothing at all on the floor and the eye naturally drifted upward. A tree grew from the ceiling, embedded in a circle of soil that had to be bound into place because it didn't follow the same strange rules. Fiyu was not as familiar with this material, but Lifemate Nauda said that she had requested it from Friend Theo.

"Oh, so that's what you wanted it for," Friend Theo said with an approving nod. "I've been carrying that thing around ever since the Archive of Misery. I'm glad you made it work."

"Only sort of," Lifemate Nauda said with a sigh. "It's not growing nearly as fast as I'd hoped. Even watering it is tough, because the sublime water flows in the wrong direction. I mean, it's a reverse tree... I can't fault the raw power, but everything seems turned around."

"I admit, I'm not sure exactly how to handle it, but surely we can figure it out."

Lifemate Nauda looked over his shoulder to Fiyu, wordlessly asking permission. This was exactly the sort of thing they had discussed, and Fiyu was truly happy that her companions would help each other. She and Lifemate Nauda had soulcrafted a great many things together, but they would not be able to soulcraft to the peak without other companions.

She passed out of the soulhome while the two of them made plans for how to raise an inverted tree. At first it seemed that there was nothing else to do and Fiyu wondered if she should perhaps take additional rest before the inevitable battles. It would also be lovely to speak to Ally Navim without so many people around.

Before she could move in any direction, however, her decision was made for her: representatives of House Blacksilver were appearing, desperately asking for their assistance. Even though Fiyu was still uncertain about the precise details, she understood that a Tymetronese army was piercing into the Ruling Cities, threatening one of the new Blacksilver bases.

Fiyu turned back to warn her companions, but they had already left Lifemate Nauda's soulhome and begun preparing for battle. Friend Theo repositioned his collar, his eyes regaining the hard edge that they needed for battle. Lifemate Nauda rolled the fingers of her gauntlet and twisted her arm as she prepared to fight. As she watched them, Fiyu's heart overflowed with joy.

She knew that war was not a game and that there would be sorrow as well as joy. But in that moment, as the three of them arrived on the battlefield to defend their allies, Fiyu was happy. They flew into battle and the enemy fled before them.

-

Chapter 12

Somehow they managed to roll through three battles, one after another, without exhausting themselves or taking enough injuries to force them to stop. Theo could have handled most of the situations himself, of course, but he couldn't have done so nearly as efficiently without Nauda and Fiyu.

They had been effective teammates before and their new combinations only improved how well they could leverage their strengths. In particular, Nauda could pin down opponents and leave them open to Fiyu's techniques. Since both of them also couldn't be harmed by his singularity thanks to the felinesolars, the three of them could use strategies that Tymetron had yet to adapt to.

So far, they'd only faced one Dominion, and she had retreated before the battle really got started. Theo was almost disappointed.

Less strategically, but perhaps more important in the long term, Theo was glad to see what had changed in Fiyu and Nauda's relationship. They frequently stood together closer than before, yet they were equally fine on opposite sides of a room, simply exchanging long glances. After so long slowly testing their boundaries, actually exploring marriage seemed to have been good for them. Other than a few kisses, they were mostly quite contained in public, so he was glad they'd gotten the early marriage days out of their system.

As much as Theo disliked thinking about his life back on Earth, he couldn't help but compare to his own failed marriage. There had been good times, even if they had been buried by so many difficulties and growing distances. But had his marriage ever been as close as theirs? He didn't think so, because it hadn't been tested nearly as seriously before it began.

Sometimes he felt like he should do everything possible to make sure they didn't make any of the same mistakes. Other times he thought he should stay far away to avoid infecting their relationship with his own bad habits.

Fortunately, there was absolutely no barrier to their friendship and everything slipped into old patterns despite the months apart. It was nice to have people who were on exactly the same page about their overall goals and approach to the war, especially compared to the local Dominions. The only disagreements were about the best way to reach their next objectives, particularly ascension.

"I think you should try it now," Nauda was saying as they returned to Outpost #127, which had been built up into an Asplundat Movement base. "We need to take the risk eventually, and things seem calm now. How long are their aeon-class soulcrafters going to stay off the field?"

"They might be here," Theo argued, "they're just waiting for an opportunity to strike again. You didn't see how close they came to ending the war without really engaging their strongest."

"But they're not going to instantly know you're gone. We've just fought multiple battles and they might not expect to see us immediately anyway."

"We have visitors," Fiyu interrupted quietly, gesturing to all the movement below. "I believe their news may affect our decision."

She was right, because it looked like all three Dominions were waiting for them. The three Norronese Dominions were mostly free of injuries now, but they looked worn and exhausted. Despite all the heroic efforts they had gone to, Tymetron still had twice as many Dominions and the ability to continually press their advantage.

It was entirely possible that Tymetron was just waiting for attrition to wear them down, then they'd try another aeon strike. Theo had to admit that if that was their tactic, they weren't doing much to stop it.

"The three of you have been extremely helpful," Citizen Dominion said as they approached, "and we are grateful. But we think you could be of more use to us."

"You're useful on the battlefield, but you'd be more useful as a Dominion." Crintak folded his arms. "We'd like to contribute some. It's no more than you're due, after you've fought so much of this war for us. It isn't even your war, yet..."

"No, this is my war too." Theo stepped up to speak to them with a thin smile. "But if you're offering help, I'm listening. We just need enough space that Tymetron won't break through while we ascend."

"Actually, we had more in mind offering sublime materials. For example, we have acquired a number of materials that can ease the difficulty of an ascension, so-"

"Don't need them." Theo waved the offer aside. "You want to help? Find me Dominion-tier stone matching my soulhome so that I can start soulcrafting immediately after I ascend."

"That... may be possible." Citizen Dominion glanced over at Crintak, who nodded begrudgingly. "Your requirements are strict, but pooling our resources we may be able to come up with something."

"There's something else," Melitta said quietly. "The Wavefront has been saving something called a mountainpearl that is said to pave the way to Dominion. It was meant to go to our best Stronghold... unfortunately, he fell in battle. We would like to offer it to you."

"I take that offer seriously." Theo took a deep breath, forcing himself to remember that this was politics, not just soulcrafting. "I respect that you're offering help as it makes strategic sense for all of us, not just a gift or payment. I still want the stone, and we'll try to put the mountainpearl to use. But if you want to maximize our value, we need more than that. Nauda could use a material to finish her staff tower, for instance."

That led to a pause among the Dominions and they didn't have the nerve to contradict him directly, but Theo could see what they were thinking. Nauda stiffened slightly but didn't let it get to her, while Fiyu actually bristled more.

"We need Dominions soon," Crintak eventually said. "There's no question that she's been a potent Stronghold, but the ascension to Dominion is unlike any other."

"Nauda is nearly ready," Fiyu insisted passionately. "She is deserving of your attention."

"Never let it be said that we aren't open to negotiation. But if you're concerned about enemy Dominions, what do you need from us? You must be close, and your relative has been essential on the front lines."

"I need nothing except more time. Whatever you would give to me, give to Nauda."

That sort of matrimonial sacrifice was all very nice in theory, but Theo doubted it would play well with these leaders. He needed to remind himself that Dominion was an exceptional tier for them and they were a little threatened by three young soulcrafters contemplating the same ascension so easily. If they hadn't been facing an existential threat, they could well have faced more opposition instead of assistance.

"We can figure out all the details later," Theo said before the argument could continue. "We're grateful for your offer, and whatever you give us will be repaid many times over. But in the short term, the bigger problem is earning enough space for an ascension."

"I've made progress in negotiations," Melitta said, a little smile sneaking onto her face. "We finally have an ally beyond Dominion, if a reluctant one. I was saving her for if Tymetron sent their strongest again, but they might be aware."

"That could be a good move. Distract everyone with a new ally, and even if they don't fight for us in the long term, it buys time for everyone else." Theo nodded firmly to the Dominions. "Check with your people and make arrangements. As soon as we're not needed on the field, we'll make preparations."

It seemed they were satisfied enough with that for now, so the three of them departed. Hopefully the next time they met, the Dominions would be bringing important materials. Theo didn't think he needed anything for his own ascension, but he was concerned about finding sublime materials for Nauda in the middle of a war this chaotic. There was certainly no time for material hunts or tournaments now.

"So you're willing to ascend after all," Nauda said, folding her arms.

"Always willing, I just don't think it's the best decision now." Theo turned to the two of them again, but he didn't want to reiterate the old arguments. "Fiyu, is your relative here? The main reason I wouldn't ascend is if Guchiro can make progress instead. Another aeon would be far more important than me."

"He is here," Fiyu said, unable to contain her smile. "I have been holding back due to the seriousness of the conversation."

"Let's go talk to him, then."

Due to its central location, Outpost #127 was used as a meeting point for soulcrafters all across the northern warfront. Someone in the Asplundat Movement had built a replica of the Orphic Cabal's device, which Theo had to admit was smart. Tymetron had already failed once due to everyone evacuating, so they might be warded off by the potential of the same thing happening again.

Of course, if they ever chose to test it, there would be no miraculous saves this time. There were usually enough strong soulcrafters to ward off a Dominion, but if Tymetron sent an aeon...

They found Guchiro sitting in a room that had been rendered pitch black by physical darkness over all the windows. Fiyu was undisturbed, of course, and went to embrace her relative. Theo could orient himself well enough with his gravity sense and he noticed that Nauda didn't seem troubled in the darkness at all. They hadn't mentioned it, but he wondered if her ability to operate in darkness had improved during the honeymoon.

"I am glad to see you, Fiyu." Guchiro put an arm around her shoulders, but his mass shifted to focus on Theo. "I suspect, however, that you are here to try to persuade me."

"The local Dominions are going to buy us time," Theo explained, "and they might even have a temporary aeon-class ally. This is the perfect opportunity for you to take your step backward."

"It has not been so long since we last discussed this. I remain unprepared for such a drastic step."

"Surely you are more than capable." Fiyu offered surprise support from her relative's side. "I have made so much progress in a short time, and your foundations have had years longer to be solidified. Surely this method is not so difficult?"

"It is a rather severe test of one's soulhome. You do not know the details."

"I would love to learn them. We must speak of everything, and perhaps I can assist you."

"Fiyu is right," Theo agreed. "I think we should use this break for you, not me. Think about it strategically: if I ascend under pressure, I'll be stronger as soon as I'm done. But you need to take a step back, so doing that in battle is impossible. You should rebuild while you have the opportunity."

"There is no opportunity," Guchiro responded tersely. "You have seen how outnumbered our Dominions are. It would be easier for me to leave the battlefield if you were able to fight in my stead."

Though Theo had to admit that the other man had a point, he still argued his own side. They went back and forth a few times before they mutually acknowledged that it wasn't effective to keep debating. Fiyu stayed with her relative, eagerly asking him questions about everything they had learned from Senka about the preparatory step. Nauda wandered out to speak with contacts in the Asplundat Movement, and while Theo wasn't sure exactly what she intended, he assumed it would help.

For his part, he actually wasn't sure about the best use of his time. It was a fair point that he was delaying on his ascension, which would have seemed so irrational to him not long ago. But now that he was considering more than his own advancement, and so many overwhelming opponents, just rushing to the next stage of power didn't seem so important.

How many trump cards did they have remaining? The Ruling Cities and the Asplundat Movement kept hinting that they had weapons of some sort, but they clearly weren't ready or they would have been deployed. Theo thought that the Senka automatons were losing effectiveness, and Senka herself probably only had a blast or two left. His only remaining aeon-class asset was the Orphic Vial that could heal one Dominion. He had plans with Navim, but there hadn't been enough time to develop any of them to a useful stage.

That didn't feel like enough: they needed to conserve those advantages for when the enemy brought out their strongest weapons. Yet the longer passed without using them, the worse the calculus of the war became. In a sense, Theo might be making the same decision as Guchiro: holding off on taking a risk because of how much was at stake.

Just when it seemed like there would be no solution at all, a small figure appeared in the sky by the outpost. Not anyone he recognized... it was a dark green Siatan. Theo remained cautious, just in case Tymetron had a surprising ally, but the Siatan didn't seem inclined to attack.

Instead it observed the outpost until it spotted him, then floated down.

"I have a message for you," it said in a chiming voice. "You once spoke to the Caretaker and placed a sublime plant in his care. That plant is now ready."

Theo blinked in surprise as everything changed. The crestflowers with the Caretaker were one of the major variables that had been holding him back, and now it seemed he wouldn't have the excuse. To get them, he would need to speak to one of the aeon-class powers that he didn't understand, one who claimed to stand aside from all such conflicts.

That meeting might make their decision for them, or it was equally possible that it could throw out all their plans. Either way, he knew where he needed to go next.