Chapter 323 - Mother Of Terra And Nova (Patreon)

Author's note:

Sorry about the extended break. Got perfectionists block just before my trip, then was super busy throughout the last few weeks, most of it driving. Turns out my car isn't sufficiently soundproof to handle dictation.

Only one chapter today, but I'm finally settled for a month or so. I'll be working on building a roof on my Mom's place, but I'll be trying to work on chapters until then.

...Magelord...

Counter to the gait I expected after the earlier salute, the men who came to greet me shuffled awkwardly as they led me away. They even kept their hands firmly tucked in the pockets of their heavy cloaks as they led me out of the library.

If I thought I’d got a lot of looks on the way in, I’d been wrong. There was a veritable crowd as we ascended. Nobody got close, but it was obvious the men escorting me were easily recognized. George’s memories hadn’t included a lot of the later developments, those I had access to anyway. They each had System tags that indicated they were upper Cogsmen, but no further details.

Thinking over the other functions I’d spotted, I went back and found an organization chart. It placed them fairly high up in the maintenance department, though still several ranks below Head of Maintenance. Even at a glance, I could see the chart was a mess. There were several ‘contingency’ promotions that meant that who was in charge of certain departments depended on the current state of the maintenance.

It was interesting, though not something I could imagine implementing without computers or sufficiently advanced magics. Or, I supposed, the mind of a person several steps along their ascension.

While I was lost in thought, we passed upwards, moving towards the city center and the citadel that lay there. George’s memories did give me more context for that at least. Mostly because he’d been the one to design them.

Maintenance had been stretched a bit beyond its original scope.

Drawing closer to the center of the city there was a distinct change in the people.

Particularly, they became, for lack of a better word, more uniform.

Or maybe compartmentalized, since there were six distinct styles. The black and gold robes of my escort were only one of the six distinct sets of outfits that dominated the space around the citadel. If not for the headache, I might’ve inspected them closer. As it was, I was turned inward, trying to massage as much of the pain away as I could before the meeting with Evelyn.

Unfortunately, I was still suffering the aftereffects of the knowledge transfer when we landed outside the central tower. It was a six-sided building perhaps half the height of the six around it. Still managed a decent gravitas despite that, like an old excavator sitting amongst a bunch of jacked up trucks. Might’ve been smaller, but even a glance was enough to see it was different.

A man similar to my attendants stepped past, not acknowleding us even as the wind blew his robe wide. Instead of the underclothing I might’ve expected, had I given it a moment’s thought, there was a series of mechanical assemblies. It wasn't like the Forgeborn. It was more disquieting, because at several points those mechanical limbs met flesh. And not as neatly as the clerk who’d first greeted me.

They disappeared, my guides leading me inward silently. Despite flying to the tower, we were forced to land at ground level then ascend several sets of long sweeping staircases. It was almost reminiscent of my time with Bahama's test. Even had displays of the United Star Union dominating the gallery. However, there it’d felt like a scientific research project. Here the poses were a bit more… dynamic.

A statue with a giant, green humanoid, one who would outsize my escorts stacked atop each other, was facing off against a mostly regular human form. Mostly human, since most people didn’t have fire dripping from their lips and fingertips. I could probably pull something similar with a spell… but I wasn’t sure I’d ever want to. Beneath the ‘battling’ figures were the words, “Will you fall to a bunch of fungus? Answer the call!”

Just above it was another, this one with a picture of someone curled up with a bunch of kittens, apparently napping. “The hive mind never sleeps. Stay sane. Get yours.”

Halfway to the upper level was a display I almost mistook for another escort attendant. Dressed in similar dark robes, they’re flesh was also replaced by mechanical parts. Even their skull had been replaced with a smooth metal surface. The display's head turned to meet my gaze, had raising into the air.

Based off what I’d learned from George’s scattered memories, I didn’t hesitate slipping through space to the side before it could attack.

Only for it to declare in a mechanical voice, “The Altur Dynasty believe they are the masters of the universe. Will you allow them to win? Will you be the one end their line forever?”

Right. Might be a bit on edge. Just jumped at a glorified museum piece.

Thankfully, neither of my escorts said anything, despite having to wait for me to re-ascend the previous hundred steps. At least I knew I could teleport within the city easily enough.

After ascending what must’ve been over a thousand stairs, we stood at the top. The entire inside was a collection of stairways and displays. To those less educated in the ways of rune-craft, it might’ve appeared to be a massive waste of space. However, once I was standing on the last platform, tracing the lines of the six walkways that led to the chamber in the center, I could trace the pattern. There was a fragment of George’s memories that surfaced, bringing further clarity.

The entire center district could be used as a focusing array. And all that power was focused on the room where I’d be meeting Evelyn.

Unfortunately, even after ascending all those stairs, apparently we were the first ones there.

“My apologies, Head Percival,” one of my escorts said, giving me another salute. “The head of Research is having difficulty completing her part of the ritual.”

“Right. Does she expect it to take long?”

“No more than an hour, sir.”

Longer than I wanted but I wasn’t feeling spoiled for choice. Before I could think better of it and object, we were joined by a procession who’d made their way up the far side of the building. I’d seen them a couple times on our own ascent, but thought nothing of them except another group of locals.

As they stopped next to us, I realized that wasn’t the case. Each of them were wearing robes, though there were seven different styles. One of those styles matched the gold and black robes of my escort, though instead of large bulky robes, they only clad half the young man’s body, the other side only covered by a few thin braided ropes that held the robes in place. Before all the different cultures that had flowed in from across the Frigid Peaks, the style might’ve bothered me.

The one tribe that insisted a single cloak—one that was rarely kept closed—was all that was required. All else was an affront to the crimson goddess. So, a half-robe, half g-string was practically modest. Especially since the rest of the group wore the same, if in different colors and with different sigils on their shoulders. As if the outfits were insufficient, on the thong side, each of the young folk even had their heads shaved.

The fact they were all brunettes reminded me of Bevel's unruly mop, a pang of frustration and homesickness hitting me. Funny how I’d never once felt that way about anywhere on Earth. Shaking off the thought, I watched the group approach, and couldn’t help but note their hair was anything but unruly. Each of them wore their hair in seven neat braids along the right side of their head.

There almost seemed to be something of George’s friend Eve in their features, though it was immediately obvious they weren’t the Head of Research.

The seven of them approached in a rigid formation, with the shortest of the women in the center and the rest spread around them. They paused when they noticed the ornate door ahead was closed, and their faces suddenly filled with uncertainty.

They looked a lot younger in that moment.

“Guess we’re waiting together,” I said, deciding to break the ice.

Didn’t expect much, since my escorts had remained mostly tight lipped, yet the bald young woman in the center of the circle responded, “I’m certain the seven-faced goddess has her reasons for the delay.”

The waver in her voice and the way her hand kept twitching up to graze her freshly shaven scalp betrayed how little confidence she held in that statement. Or maybe it was just worry in general.

Still, that wasn’t the part of her statement that caught my attention. “Seven-faced goddess? Are we here for the same woman? Thought I was meeting the Head of Research.”

“An archaic yet accurate title,” the young woman said, turning to inspect me more closely. “Who are you to seek out our savior in such a manner.”

“Perry, Head of Maintenance,” I replied, figuring it was the only title that’d mean anything to her.

“I…” My response left not just the young woman but most of her escort gaping. Their eyes darted to my own escort, fixing on the cogs there, before breaking into a low murmur as they talked amongst themselves.

All throughout, they remained rigidly in formation.

“Enough,” the short woman said, cutting the air with her hand. “We’re disgracing ourselves in the presence of a divine.”

“I’m about the farthest you can get from divine,” I objected, holding up a hand before they could bow. Was bad enough when my own people did that. “Though I wouldn’t object to proper introductions.”

At a nod from the short woman, the attendants introduced themselves. The young man in robes the color of my escorts started, “I am Eve Septas.” The woman to his right followed. “And I am Eve Sextas.” They continued, each of them using a variant until they reached the short woman. “And I am Eve Primera.”

Wasn’t sure if it’d be rude to ask, so I let the strange naming go. “What brings you here today?”

“We are to serve as the goddess’s voice,” Eve Primera said, raising her chin. The rest of her entourage equally resumed their stance, their pride evident. “A duty we shall fulfill for the next year until she releases us from service.”

“Right.”

Either my awkward response, their declaration, or most likely, the combination of both, killed the conversation for the next few minutes. Which turned out to be long enough for the doors to swing open ahead of us.

The Eves led the way, holding their rigid formation as they ascended the short set of stairs beneath the doors as they swung open.

The doors themselves were silent but the grand orchestral melody began playing as the seven young folk started their way inside. I waited until my attendants stepped forward and followed everyone inside.

The room was the opposite of how I’d felt when I stepped into Astralis's room, where everything had felt overdone and gaudy. Instead, the room we entered used gold inlay was used to accent the natural beauty of the wooden furniture. Furniture was underselling it a touch.

The ‘furniture’ consisted of a set of six chairs set around a larger, grander throne in the center. Really those chairs were just smaller thrones but given they weren't raised off the floor and were almost austere compared to the one in the center, it was hard to grant them the same title.

My escorts brought me between two of those six chairs, directly across from the front of the central throne.

The Eves who stepped in before us were already in front of their thrones by that point. As I reached my position, they sat, the orchestral music in the background rising in time with their seating.

Then they began to sing, starting with Eve Septus, and Eve Primera joining last. Seven voices in concert, sounding almost like one, if not for the surrounding ambience. In a way, it reminded me of the Bladesinger performance of the Final Refrain. It was as the Eves hit a high notes, one of my escorts placed a hand on my back, directing me forward.

Whatever this was, it wasn't something George's memories had prepared me for.

Not until I had that thought at least, in the space of my stumble, a memory flashed through my thoughts.

**Magelord scene break**

“Eve, what is this I've been hearing about you experimenting with the methods of the Cultists of the Void Stars?”

“It bypasses the interference of the hive mind.” Eve waved a hand dismissively. “If we can isolate how it—”

“The cultists are a bunch of raving lunatics. We can't embrace their madness.”

“Oh please,” Eve said, not waning in her dismissiveness. “With proper scientific rigor—”

“Scientific rigor? You haven’t been applying scientific rigor. From what I've heard you've simply been using their rituals without any sort of study.”

“In case you missed it, we're at war, George,” Eve said finally, turning away to the lariatum. “I will not give up an advantage, not while there's a way to keep our people safe.”

**Magelord scene break**

The memory ended as quickly as it came. I was back in the chamber with the seven Eves upon their thrones. My escorts were already retreating from the chamber with a great deal more haste than they’d shown before.

The latest memory had apparently included the understanding of their song.

“O Mother of Terra and Nova, greatest Master of the mysteries, we greet you and request your aid. Oh Mother of Terra and Nova, we give ourselves to you that your word may be spread. Come to us, come gift your loyal sons and daughters with your voice.”

Pressure slammed across the room, similar to Bahama’s, though the ‘flavor’ felt cold in a way. Wrong. After a moment's consideration I realized I’d felt something similar before, though I struggled to place it.

Before I could, Eve Primera threw her head back, screaming upwards, a visible streak of crimson light emanating from within. One by one, each of the others followed until the full rainbow was represented. It would’ve been beautiful if not for the effect it was having on the Eves.

My eyes were drawn to Eve Primera as the flesh on her left side melted away to reveal bone beneath.

Only then did I place where I’d felt the aura before. A devil I’d destroyed with the assistance of Bevel. Abyss, the worst of Keeper's brothers.

When my escorts had pushed me forward, I’d gone along with the movement despite tracking the enchantment built into the entire room. After all, they’d been pushing me into a spot that was reinforced with protective shielding. There hadn’t been any threat to me.

I just hadn’t had time to inspect the rest of the room-sized enchantment. Anywhere outside the blue hexagon I stood upon was unsafe at the moment. Unless, I wanted to test the limits of my new regeneration, all I could do was wait for the screaming to stop.

Despite only persisting for a couple seconds, I was about to step out when the screaming came to an end.

The surrounding thrones sat empty even as the half-skeletal figure on the center throne rolled its neck once before focusing on me.

“George, it has been far too long since…” the voice was smooth and rich and full of confidence. Unlike Eve Primera, this was one the man named George had once known. The original Eve—or whatever monstrosity Eve had become—spoke through the young woman. Wasn’t sure calling her young woman was appropriate anymore. Despite her half-human, half-skeleton body, she still stood. I could see within her ribcage a beating heart, the division otherwise complete.

“You are not George,” the woman-thing concluded after several seconds of silence.

“I'm guessing you're Eve, Head of Research.” Not the most caring head of research, judging by the seven folk’s lives she’d consumed to make what was essentially a long-distance phone call. Those had been expensive enough in my youth, but the arm and leg had been metaphorical.

It didn’t leave me optimistic about how the rest of our meeting would go.