Of Ice, Death & Monsters

Chapter 104 : And Make a Trail

21 Days Ago.

The Nawia was the same as I remembered. Not even the great battle could have changed the land. We landed on the same mountain pass, overlooking the same River: The Smorodina. 

That collection of souls and spirits. The damned and the forgotten. It bubbled and crackled like a witch’s brew left on standby. I felt them call out to me, reaching like hands within a crowd.

It pained me to abandon them again. I was leaving them to suffer in a Fate that they did not deserve. The only reason they suffered was because they existed here. 

Alas, unfortunate Destiny, one that perhaps shall become brighter once I return. I shall ensure they shall be saved, that they will be separated from their cage of ever-evolving cognition. It was with that purpose that I strode ahead, marching with Dela, Topher, and Derek. 

“I’ve never seen you at the parties, Dela. Whatcha doing?”  Derek leaned in as if trying to check her out.

”Stimulating myself upon the ship’s vast information network and trophies.”

“Huh…” Topher nodded along as if trying to process what she said. 

“I’m surprised you guys are not that surprised with all the new tech. I thought y’all were old, be flabbergasted by the time skip and all the ways we have to kill each other.”

“You travelers come here often. Every few hundred years, there’s a new expedition. New tactics, same story. Some of you die, some of you join us, and some of you simply disappear. And killing each other? Death is a constant, it’s another tale, another story, death follows life in a never ending and infinite exchange. But to us, it does not matter at all. Live, die, pleasure is what we seek, and you all desire it as all don’t you?”

Topher and Derek simply shrugged along and nodded as they spoke together. “Yeah, that we can agree on.”  

As I walked towards the Smorodina, with the constant pounding of the rain nearly deafening my ears, I swiftly turned to face Dela. “You’re quite well read. And you don’t seem to act like the other Fae, are you by chance from another location within Galfania?”

She shook her head. I couldn’t tell what was under the mask, but that only made me more curious. 

“We all seek our own pleasures and drives. What drives me is the pursuit of knowledge. To learn and to know.”

“Ah.” Derek exhaled aloud. “So you’re the book work type? Super smart and savvy, no?”

“I wouldn’t say so. I don’t do it to increase my intelligence or awareness. It simply is because I wish to have the knowledge. There’s no point in my making any use of it; I have all that I need. Now, I simply desire my wants.”

Interesting, it’s like a case study to those who are truly self-fulfilled and content… Or well, I don’t think calling the likes of her, content, would be accurate. She still wants more; perhaps it’s out of necessity? No, it’s not, fae are always like this. 

They have no need of any earthly thing. All their necessities are filled in life, but they still have desires, and they seem to constantly grow. Hmmm, at least they’re not hurting anyone, or better yet, they’re still helping me.

“Hoarding it for the sake of the hoard… An interesting desire.”

“Kinda weird if you ask me.” Topher said aloud as he looked around, admiring the scenery.

“It’s much akin to making love for the action itself, the thrill of the act. Not to bear children, but simply to relieve your own stress, tension, and to feel at peace.”

“Oh…” Derek and Topher stared at each other, finally getting it.

I, however, was focused on something else. That was: the Kalimov Bridge. It was there that the dragon Zmey was guarding… Or well, that’s where he was supposed to be. Instead, I found a familiar face standing in robes of white and black.

“Mollie?” I called out, instantly causing the twins to snap their heads forward, their eyes widened like mine as we looked upon her.

She had a new makeover, with her hair in a bun, her face much paler, and her body somehow… Morphed into something more model-like. She also didn’t have what most folks back home would call ‘resting bitch face’ anymore.

“Oh wow! You guys are back here quick huh.” She gave a little wave to us as I simply stared at her, wondering what had happened.

“Why did you stay here?” I asked as Derek and Topher were trying to process seeing their old friend.

“I uh didn’t really have a choice.” She gave out an awkward laugh and scratched her head. ”I kinda accidentally crossed the bridge and struck a deal with Zmey.”

Derek pointed in the distance where a black mass seemed to be circling around a willow tree. “The three-headed dragon?! What kinda deal did yah make with him?”

“Listen, uh, it’s a long story- yes, I did make a deal with him to be his uh…” She focused a bit as if trying to come up with a story. “Companion… yeah, companion.”

I stared at her for a moment before realizing how, for lack of a better term, ‘dolled up’ she looked and immediately understood the context. “Ah, I see. So shall this be your permanent residence?”

It didn’t really matter. If this be where her journey ends with us. Then that is her prerogative, her Fate, and her Destiny. She was to be where she belonged, and as she had followed her path, I must follow my own.

Topher frowned as if still not getting it. “So you’re gonna stay here until you die- wait, can you die here?”

“Depends on what you mean by death, but uh…” Mollie stared at her hands. “I don’t think I can really die here, or be allowed to die, Zmey can kind of reverse that. But I’m just here to help give him company. What are you guys doing?”

“We’re passing along.” I started before the others could speak in case they mess it up. “We are to reach the Mokoshans and ally with their goddess.”

Mollie thought for a moment. ”Well… It doesn’t sound like you need to enter through here at all, so just be careful, guys, don’t anger the dragon… Especially cause the last time.”

She then stared at the twins, who pointed at themselves. “What did we do?”

Dela had to answer for them as she pointed to the Smorodina before pointing to their hands, as they both had a collective look of realization.

“I-It’s not our fault… We were just-“

“Following orders. Plus, he’s the one who kinda made us dip his hands in.”

Mollie scoffed. “Yeah, that’s kind of the only reason he didn’t instantly fry any of you guys when you entered. Plus, you’re with her.”

She pointed to me as I smiled. “Correct, I shall bring peace and harmony across the land. There is no reason to annihilate me.”

“Wow…” Mollie laughed a bit as she rubbed her head. “Peace and harmony across the land? I thought it was to study it, or escape it, or kill Jane? You really get bigger and bigger goals, huh?”

“That whore is simply the one who shall cause the chaos and destruction across the land, as her allies did in Phorash. Disposing of her is simply one of the steps to help guide this land to the path it needs to be. First and foremost, a connection shall be made, and that connection shall be with those who are deserving of it. A civilized society, of course, was the most natural option.”

Mollie nodded along with that, but I could tell she didn’t really listen to half of what I said. Many people were like that, those who are so deaf and blind to the truth of the world. Sometimes, they are a blessing; they make the process easier. But sometimes they are a curse, a problem to be removed.

How happy I am that she was making this much easier.

“Well, good luck to that then. What’s your plan after world peace? Come back home? Heal your man?”

“Yes. And to, of course, bring peace to the world there as well. I must share in my discovery, in my power, in my gift!”

“Uh, well, alright then. Good luck to you then.” Her eyes darted towards the twins. “Huh, so you guys got laid and converted… Well, good for you guys, too.”

Derek grinned like a demon. “Yeah, best day ever. We even got cool suits and-“ He pointed to the golems following them. “That! We can ride them now, too.”

Mollie’s eyes widened as she nodded along approvingly. “Holy fucking shit, that’s awesome! Haha, you guys definitely won the long end of the stick.”

Topher smiled ear to ear and leaned against a golem, nearly falling down before it helped him back up. “Yeah, they’re powered by spirits now and have Fae helping us. So we don’t need to be the Watchtower anymore to control them.”

“Huh…Do you guys know how to use it?”

Silence pervaded the area before Derek waved his hand. “Ehhhh, no need for training. I mean, it’s all intuitive… Right?” He turned to me, to which I simply shrugged. 

“I do not know the answer to that. I have never worn such a device.”

Topher sighed but kept his smile. “Guess we learn with trial by fire.” 

Mollie leaned against the bridge. “Well o hope for your sakes then that you all are quick learners… Huh, good luck, all of you. I really hope you don’t end up here with the rest.”

There was a bitterness to her voice. A sense of regret. Was it because she was trapped here? Or was it something else?

It felt like guilt more than anything, as if someone came by here that wasn’t supposed to. Oh well, whoever or whatever it was. It didn’t matter at all. “Thank you for telling us. We shall be on our way now.” I bowed my head in respect and looked to Dela, who led the way while the others said their farewells.

Luckily, we didn’t have to deal with the dragon, although the twins kept on watching over their shoulders as if waiting for an attack to come or not. However, nothing went wrong and decimated us, so I took it as a good enough sign as we approached one of the twisted roots.

Dela caressed her hands over it, muttering something so soft that I could barely make out what it was. Instantly, the roots began to unravel, molding and shaping themselves into something less knotted and less complex, becoming closer to a tree.

“Enter, when you are ready.” 

And of course, I walked towards it as soon as she gave the go-ahead. As I made contact with the trunk, everything in my viewpoint changed. It darkened completely, becoming nothing more than the void before my consciousness was spread outwards, completely and utterly.

It felt like my body was burning, being flayed before forcibly being smashed together. However, my mind at that moment crystallized, and I found myself within a cave. It wasn’t dark at all; in fact, the walls seemed to be all lined up with some sort of luminescent light that illuminated the area.

Suddenly, from the ground below, the rest of my followers came up, from Dela, Derek, Topher, and all the rest of the golems. The Faerie simply stood up and began to walk towards the tunnel, only saying:

“Let’s continue.”