Chapter 1028: Children Need Boundaries (Patreon)

The dimension ship that ferried the army of energy vampires away from Pallimustus was large. It was a freight barge compared to the smaller and more luxurious private jet that Umber had used to move Jason. The magic used for the final step, passage into the corrupted afterlife realm, was likewise different. Jason had been moved by a small, hand-crafted ritual circle. In the bowels of the larger ship, in an empty cargo hold, a tall archway had been put in place.

The arch was made of thick, dark stone, with intricate ritual engraving carved over every surface. Set into the engravings was a very slightly less-dark stone. A long queue of energy vampires were shuffled into the hold and through the arch, where they vanished immediately. Looking on were Umber, who had arrived from his own vessel, and Thadwick Mercer.

“I cannot guarantee that the energy vampires will obey me,” Thadwick said. “My people will follow me, but your Order of the Reaper vampires have their own hierarchy, and I’m not in it. You have taught me how to convert regular vampires to energy vampires, but I did not sire the Order vampires in the first place. I have no means to command them should they decline to listen to me.”

“You are closing in on diamond-rank, while they are all silver or gold,” Umber said. “If you cannot control them, the failing is yours.”

“I acknowledge the point, but does it matter where the blame lies? Failure is failure, regardless of who is responsible. If your influence doesn’t extend to within the realm, then you must establish your authority to the point that they continue to obey, even when your power cannot reach them.”

“If I left sires amongst them who had created the others, you would represent a challenge to their supremacy, and they to your command. They understand that they are there to hunt Asano, and the consequences of straying from the path.”

“Even if they remain focused, what do you hope to accomplish? Many of these people are silver-rankers. How much can they be expected to achieve?”

“Every fishing trip requires bait. I would hope I do not have to explain to a vampire the nature of the hunt.”

“And if they all decide to pursue their own interests instead of yours?”

“I have made clear to the vampires that, in this place, they are the only ones with the power to die. Everything else, Asano included, will come back no matter how many times you put it down. What state it comes back in is a more open question. They know that the only way out of that place is through me, and only if they hold Asano for long enough. That if he finds a way out before your planet’s little goddess has finished her schemes, l will leave the vampires where they are. They will never be returned to your world.”

“What of me and my people?”

“Regardless of outcome, you will be taken back to Pallimustus, as per our agreement. So long as that outcome involves you still being alive. It’s my Order of the Reaper vampires who will be abandoned. Shipping them all one way was bad enough. I had to call in favours to get a vessel that would hold them all, and I’m not doing it again.”

“You’re going to leave them, even if they succeed?”

“Things will go more smoothly if you don’t tell them, but what do you expect me to do? Send an army of energy vampires back to Pallimustus? I may be above the concerns of most mortals, but that would garner the attention of people I would prefer pay me no attention.”

“So, you’re lying about taking them back once you’re done with them.”

“I am.”

“You just told me that I’d be taken back once we’d done what you needed.”

“So?”

“So, it doesn’t fill me with confidence that you’re lying about ever letting the energy vampires out, given that I am one of the energy vampires going in.”

“Oh. Yes, I can see how that would be the case, but I can assure you that you will be brought back.”

“Did you assure them as well?”

“I don’t think that ‘assured’ is the right word. ‘Implied,’ I will acknowledge. I might even go as far as ‘suggested,’ but to say that I made any kind of—”

“You promised them didn’t you.”

“Well, yes, but you’re different.”

Thadwick gave Umber a harsh side glance.

“It’s not like I have a choice. I’ve never seen contract magic that powerful before. Do you really believe that we have any kind of chance against Asano?”

“The energy vampires converted by you might not share your ability to turn other vampires, but they share your other advantages. Enough of you working in concert will be enough to give Asano a surprise.”

“I’m not so sure. Asano is famous for the strength of his aura.”

“And that would be a concern if he had it, but he does not. That isn’t Asano himself in there, but an avatar, sealed off from his astral kingdom. That means the avatar cannot call on the power of Asano’s soul. The aura it produces will technically be artificial, and certainly not as strong as usual. His expertise in aura manipulation will remain, but his strength will be quite average for his rank.”

“He’s close to diamond-rank. Like me.”

“Not close enough. Numbers will overcome.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then you will need to work harder. Get creative. You’re the leader, Thadwick Mercer. Finding solutions to challenges as they appear is your job.”

***

Thadwick was the last vampire through the arch. Shortly thereafter, it crumbled to dust. Copies of Umber’s body emerged from the shadows to clean up the pile. Umber then moved to the observation lounge where someone was waiting for him. A man stood in front of the large window, looking out at a white dimension ship. Much smaller than the cumbersome one to which it was docked, it was connected via an airlock tube.

“Lord Velius,” Umber greeted. “Have you come to make sure Father’s will is carried out? I can assure you that everything is going to plan.”

The Prime Vessel of the Reaper turned to face the Reaper’s offspring.

“That’s what worries me. You underestimate Jason Asano. I came to make sure that you placed him into the corrupted realm.”

“I think you overestimate Asano. He can be confounding, but it is done, he’s there. I find myself resentful of your lack of faith in me.”

“You would not have accomplished this without the Reaper’s aid.”

“And I am grateful, but the challenges were with the realm, not with Asano. Perhaps you can help me understand what makes him so special? Enough that my brother would give up everything to side with him forever.”

“It’s not about Asano. Not really. It’s about you, Umber.”

“Me?”

“How long have you been trying to show Shade the error of his ways? He has been trying to show you the error of yours for just as long.”

“By what? Letting me suborn his summoners and trap him time and again across the eons?”

“You are not foolish enough to think that he has allowed that cycle to continue without purpose.”

“What purpose? He thinks I’ll suddenly realise that I was wrong the whole time?”

“Not suddenly, but yes.”

“Then what changed? Why turn his back on our father?”

“Your methods have grown indiscriminate. You no longer care who you hurt along the way. Turning his summoners again him was one thing, but convincing his summoner to let you use soul engineering on him? To be turned into a tool that let you create what Thadwick Mercer has become? It was a step too far.”

“That has nothing to do with Jason Asano. Shade sanctioned himself in response to father’s actions against Asano while fighting over the Cosmic Throne. Why would he go that far, for him? How many summoners has Shade had that were far more impressive?”

“Many, but this was not truly about Asano. Shade was moving long before that.”

“What do you mean?”

“How many times did you suborn his summoners? Create rifts, or have them turn on him outright? Shade was willing to endure betrayal, but turning one of their souls into a crafting material was the last straw. He needed a summoner beyond your ability to corrupt, and to make you understand that he would never return to the Reaper’s feet. Even if that meant stepping away from the Reaper for ever.”

“And Asano is this special, incorruptible boy?”

“No, but Shade needed something different. His previous summoners were exceptional, paragons, yet you turned so many against him. When a potter needs to make a masterpiece, he doesn’t reach for a finished work. He finds fresh clay with the potential to become what he needs it to be, once enough work has been put in. Asano was far from perfect. On the contrary, he was deeply flawed, but perfection is not where a masterwork is formed. The flaws and idiosyncrasies of the base material must be worked around. Drawn out and turned from blemishes to features. Asano was someone that Shade could guide. Shape into a person beyond your ability to ruin. A companion worth standing alongside forever. This is why he had the Reaper place them together.”

“You’re suggesting that Shade was planning to turn away from father long before Asano came along.”

“That’s what you never understood, Umber: your brother never turned his back on the Reaper. He always respected your progenitor and his principles. Even now, that hasn’t changed. There simply comes a time when one must put away childish things, and become their own person.”

“The Reaper doesn’t see it that way.”

“Is that so?” Velius asked lightly.

“He was furious at what Shade did.”

“In the moment, while embodied in a mortal form, certainly. We mortals are quick to anger, but the Reaper regained perspective after leaving the mortal box Asano put him in.”

“If Father is not angry, why is he helping me do this to Shade and Asano?”

“Because they have a chance to do what the Reaper itself cannot.”

“And what is that?”

“It doesn’t matter. There was a chance to act through you and the Reaper took it.”

“You’re wrong. Father has finally realised how far Shade has wandered from the fold. That I was right all along and that Shade must be brought into line.”

“Shade was never out of line. He walked his own path, but it always moved in the same direction as the Reaper’s.”

“Will that be the case now? Father has helped me lock Asano away at a time that is very important to Asano. It wouldn’t have been possible without Father’s help. Do you think my brother’s summoner will be happy about that?”

“He will not, but he will do what the Reaper wants.”

“Are you sure you’re not underestimating him now? We speak of a man who is in this situation because he’s defying a god. Has defied my father before. Why would he do what the Reaper wants now?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. He will extract a price, but he will do it. Not just because he must, but because it’s right. It is one of the few areas in which Jason Asano is utterly predictable.”

“And what is it that Father wants?”

“It doesn’t matter. You have what you wanted.”

“I AM NOT A PAWN!”

“No, Umber, you are not. You’re a child, and children need boundaries. Then, when they are ready, they are allowed to make their own way. That is the difference between you and your brother: he grew up.”

“I am so much older than you that your entire life is a rounding error. You call me a child?”

“Being an adult is not about age, Umber. It is about taking responsibility for yourself and your actions. There are civilisations younger than you that understand this, yet you still cannot.”

Umber’s bodies emerged from the shadows to surround Velius.

“You should watch your words, servant. You have no idea of what I can do.”

Velius looked around himself like a daycare worker looking at children refusing to lie down for nap time.

“It’s true, I am a servant. Of your father. Do I need to call him?”

All but one of the shadow bodies vanished into the dark crevices of the room.

“No,” Umber said, his remaining body starting at Velius with burning orange eyes. “You don’t.”

“That’s what I thought. I’m going to go, now that I’ve confirmed that you have things well in hand. Goodbye, Umber. Try not to cause too much trouble.”

***

Jason stumbled as his consciousness returned but managed to keep his feet. He had become used to dimensional travel over the years, but getting shoved into a corrupted afterlife was a rough ride. He looked around what appeared to be a desolate moor, a bleak grey sky overhead. A biting wind blew over tough grass and low-growing flowers with muted colours.

In the distance stood a castle that had seen better days, with much of the brickwork crumbling away. It was dwarfed by an edifice that loomed much larger, despite being farther away. A monolithic tower, it was far broader and immeasurably taller than the castle, rising into the sky at a slight angle to where its upper reaches were hidden in the clouds.

“What is that?” Jason asked as Shade emerged from his shadow.

“I believe, Mr Asano, that it is a sword.”

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