P. Into The Maw (Pt.2)

“The Arachkin’s heart has already been judged. This Jury has denied him.” The voice in Jake’s head now echoed through the cavern itself. The doors pulsed for a moment before they once more began to open. Jake’s jaw tensed, his teeth scraping together. He would not be denied so easily. He told Chul he would try.

“He was trapped here by people who don’t even know him, all because he’s an Arachkin! He doesn’t deserve it!” To his statement, there was no answer, no response. The doors continued to open. The flames burned unimpeded. Even the light in the doors continued to glow without so much as a flicker. Jake felt anger build within him as he realized time was running out.

“I offer my life! Anything! Give him another chance!” Jake shouted as he stared at the two doors.

Suddenly, the stone screeched to a halt. They were nearly fully open but now stopped in place. The lights on the doors coiled and dimmed before blanking out. The flames in the two pits were snuffed out, plunging the cavern into a veil of black.

“What did you do, boy?” Chul stepped out of his corner and approached the platform. Jake took a few steps back, retaking the center position on the raised platform.

“Uh, I’m not sure?” Jake looked around in the dark, waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly, the doors began to move again. This time, they moved with purpose. The heavy weight of the rocky doors dragging quickly across the ground caused the entire cavern to tremble powerfully. The strength of the shaking forced Jake down to his knees, lest he fall over and off the platform itself. The tremors caused the ceiling to loosen and several large rocks fell to the ground, landing with heavy thuds all around the doors. Chul’s fangs chittered and he hastily moved over the top of the platform, protecting the boy with his body from the falling stone. The doors slammed closed, and the rumbling in the ground finally stopped.

In the next moment, the platform lit up. Bright red lines cut through the sigil and Jake felt the strength fade from his body. The sigils on the doors lit up in a similar red. Jake was pulled down to his hands and knees as Chul was pushed away from the platform by an unseen pressure. The Arachkin released a high-pitched wail as it skittered away from the door.

“Your offering has been granted. A second Trial of Heart will be conducted.” The voice boomed its decision into the cavern. Jake glared up at the doors and tugged at the restraints holding him down. Weak and without any knowledge of what to do, he was helpless.

“Step forth, Arachkin. And be judged.” The two sigils on the doors flared brightly before two large stone faces emerged out of the rock, pushing outwards from the center of the lines of power.

Chul stood at the back of the platform, his eyes switching between the trapped boy and the doors. He hesitated, his fangs chittering as he mulled over what to do. Jake gave the restraints another tug but was reminded that he could do nothing, so he waited. Chul eventually let out a huff and stepped forward. Jake had gambled, so he would at least play his part.

“Speak your cause, Arachkin. Let Us be the judge of your heart.” The voice beckoned. Chul looked between the two faces and then lowered his head.

“For a long time, I have acted as Guardian of the Ravine. I made many mistakes during my youth and I have long since recognized the errors in my ways. I have served my role diligently, thus I ask of the Gods. Grant me a chance to atone for my sins.” Chul’s voice rumbled through the air as he pleaded his case. Jake watched, a slight smile creeping into the corners of his lips.

The two faces, remaining stoic, receded into the door. The red lines of power remained but began to pulse and burn even brighter. The doors shuddered and cracked open. Once more, they dragged across the floor as they opened slowly.

“Child of Rastua, your words have been heard by the Goddess. We have watched you, just as you have watched every Adventurer who has stood before Us. You have proven steadfast in your duties as Guardian of this Gate, the Ravine, and its people. Now, you will be the Guardian of this Child.” The red light receded, quickly being replaced by blue once again. The two flames relit, flaring to life even more brightly than before.

Jake felt the restraints holding him down fall away, allowing him to finally stand back up. He rubbed at his wrists, whisking away the odd feeling of the ghostly bindings tickling at his skin. Focusing more on the voice than his actual surroundings, he was caught off guard when the platform beneath him changed color again. This time, it shifted from blue to purple. Not only did the color change but the lines etched into the stone changed as well. New lines cut through the rock and the letters within them were replaced by entirely new ones. When the formation of the new sigil was complete, an exact copy of it appeared beneath Chul’s feet.

“A binding?” Chul muttered, looking down at his feet before he turned and looked behind him. Jake met the mass of eyes, slightly concerned about what was happening and unsure of what to do.

Before either could do anything, though, the sigil at Jake’s feet pulsed with power. A line darted outward, cutting through the floor and linked Jake’s sigil with Chul’s. Heat washed over Jake’s feet and then raced up into his body. He felt light once more and his vision became foggy. His stomach tensed, his breath caught in his throat, and he was forced to his knees as he felt the heat gather into his left shoulder.

“Your kin have brought many terrors to the Overworld while you have been here, Child of Rastua. This task will be your redemption. Reclaim what is yours and earn your rightful place at the Table. She will be watching you.” The burning in Jake’s shoulder rose in temperature as his skin started glowing beneath his shirt.

The boy grit his teeth and pulled back the short sleeve, revealing what was happening to his body. At first, just a bright purple light was leaking from his skin. However, the burning was the staining of black in his flesh. Like ink, the magic coursing within his body carved an image into his sun-kissed shoulder. The Mark Of The Arachkin. A thick carapace, eight sharp legs, and a tight array of four red eyes organized into a square in the center of the spider’s small head. On the abdomen, a small purple marking was etched into the black ink.

Jake heard Chul’s fangs chitter along with a faint hissing of pain. When he looked up to see what was the reason, he watched as a similar event happened to the Arachkin. The same purple light bled into the air on Chul's abdomen as he too was given a marking. As the magic centralized into Chul’s back, the purple marking that was on Jake’s shoulder emerged out of the light and burned into Chul’s carapace. When the formation of the marking was complete, the purple marks both flashed one last time in unison before the lights faded entirely.

The doors were now open and the way beyond was lit by faint glowing crystals in the ceiling. The two blue flames flanking the doorway burned casual on, resolute in their task of providing light until told otherwise. The heat in Jake’s shoulder was gone and he felt rejuvenated. The soreness in his muscles had faded away, the fatigue in his mind was gone and he felt as though he could handle another climb if needed. The boy took another look at his shoulder to admire the new bit of skin art he now had.

“I guess I had a little bit of luck left,” Jake chuckled as he stepped off the platform. Chul moved aside a bit and glanced down at the boy, his eyes following as Jake walked up to the doors. Jake stopped just before them, his eyes tracing the frame as he looked for any sort of barrier or something potentially in place to keep him from moving on. Seeing nothing, he stepped through. The doors remained unmoving, the flames unshifting. Satisfied, Jake looked back to Chul and shrugged.

“Guess we passed,” he grinned. Chul’s fangs chittered as he too approached the door. Although, he approached with far more caution. Jake walked forward into the tunnel, stopping just beyond the path of the doors. Chul reached a single leg out, testing the air to see if he too would meet some form of resistance. When nothing happened, he took a step through the threshold. Then another. Then another… He walked through the doors, over the top of Jake, and into the tunnel.

When they were both clear, the heavy doors began to pull closed. They did not slam shut nor did they close in haste. Slowly, steadily, the two stone doors sealed themselves closed, locking Jake and Chul inside of the tunnel beyond the Ravine.

“How did you know that would work?” Chul asked as he reached one of his legs up to the door. It didn’t react to his touch. Jake just shrugged.

“I didn’t, I just didn’t want to give up so I spit out the one thing I thought might work.” Jake let out a laugh as he planted his hands firmly on his waist, proud of himself. Chul stared at the door for a few more moments before he turned and looked at Jake. Those bright yellow eyes blinked a few times before he lowered down to Jake’s level.

“Thank you, Humankin. For this gift you have given me, I will do my best as a Guardian to aid in your travels.” Chul’s voice radiated from the spider, his tone far lighter than before. Jake’s lips pulled back as he grinned wide. He reached out and placed a hand on Chul’s carapace, brushing his fingers through the Arachkin’s furry face.

“I know you will, and I look forward to the places we’ll go, friend.” Jake gave the hard shell beneath that fur a few taps before he turned towards the tunnel waiting for them. “And this is where our little journey starts,” he said with a happy, excited tone. Indeed- this was the beginning, and Jake wouldn’t have it any other way.

Suddenly, a bright light flared behind the boy. Curious and taken off guard, Jake looked back just in time to see the Arachkin’s massive body reduce in size. The large beast shrank to the size of a spider that could practically fit in Jake’s palm and it crawled up Jake’s back. Chul took up position on the boy’s shoulder, lowering down comfortably as he stared ahead into the tunnel. Jake raised an eyebrow, more surprised over the choice of location rather than the magic itself. Jake had told himself to be open-minded about being an Adventurer so magic of all things wasn’t something he would let himself be ignorant to.

“Ready?” Jake asked. Chul nodded resolutely.

“I have waited far too long for this,” Chul rumbled. Jake chuckled as he set off into the tunnel. With a pip in his step, he moved quickly through the dark, letting the crystals guide him to their next stop.

* * *

The rocky tunnel went on for what felt like forever, which sapped Jake’s energy for the most part. As excited as he was, it was tiring walking for so long. After several bends in the deceptively long route and an annoyingly steep ascent that twisted along through the rock, the tight path opened to a large circular room. Crystals lodged in the walls gave some light to the room but it was far too large for their faint glows to fully illuminate every shadow.

In the middle of the room, the dark was fended off by a clear, dimly glowing crystal protruding from the ceiling. Its tip pointed straight down towards the center of a spell circle that was etched into the floor. Eight statues surrounded the large spellwork, and each one took the shape of a different race. There was even a Dragon among them, a creature Jake had been told was one of the long-forgotten races. For it to be here, Jake knew this place was old.

Curious but unafraid, Jake stepped into the cavern and approached the edge of the large circle. Chul hopped off his shoulder, his body glowing as he expanded to his larger size. While Jake inspected the lines on the floor and some of the statues nearby, the Arachkin made his way around to the far side. The Arachkin investigated the statues, his eyes taking in each of their figures before he finally stopped at one that looked like an Arachkin.

“What is this?” Jake asked, placing his hand onto one of the lines. The lines were actually dug into the stone and a white grainy substance lined the rock. A thin layer of dust and dirt had mixed itself in with the white, but there was enough residue to see the leftovers. Even after so many years, possibly centuries.

“A reverse summoning circle. In exchange for an offering, one may speak to the Gods.” Chul finished his encirclement and then peered at the circle. Jake took a step away from it, feeling uneasy about the ‘Gods’ part. Chul’s fangs chittered for a moment before he tilted his head up towards the large crystal in the ceiling.

“The crystal is the medium. And the circle is the catalyst. The offering looks to be blood.” Chul took a few steps to the left, moving halfway around the circle again, his eyes taking in the numerous markings, letters, and smaller nested sigils that made up the much larger spell. The Arachkin must have recognized the work from somewhere. He was quite confident in his information so Jake decided to trust his observation.

While Chul did more poking into the power of the spell, Jake took a less intelligent look around the room. He observed the circle and the statues and then looked up at the crystal. It was all foreign to him. He couldn’t read any of the letters on the floor, didn’t understand what or who any of the statues represented, nor did he understand any of the symbols. Even the crystal overhead was a surprising sight. All he could do was trust Chul and hope the Arachkin wasn’t about to use him as some kind of offering.

“Will it work?” Jake asked, toeing the edge of the circle as he tested to see if it would randomly trigger. Chul hummed for a moment as if he was already trying to figure that out. The Arachkin walked around the circle again as he thought, stopping at Jake’s side once more. He didn’t seem satisfied with what he saw from the sound of his heavy sigh.

“There is no damage to the sigil, and the crystal seems intact.” Chul paused for another moment, staring upwards. Two of his yellow eyes changed to a faint green as he eyed the massive object. The eyes shimmered and glowed faintly, and then dimmed as they returned to their yellow color. “The magic inside of the crystal is faint, but it should still activate at least once more before it is spent. Everything here is old, older than I. I cannot be sure.”

So, this was even older than Chul? How old was this guy?

Regardless, that was enough for Jake. They had come this far and were presented with an opportunity to possibly trigger a meeting with supposed Gods? Jake wasn’t exactly needy on the holy front but he found it odd for there to be such a spell put down directly after a Trial of one’s heart. It was as if the expectation was if one passed the test, they would then be allowed to use the circle. From what Jake had learned after listening to stories from his Father and other Adventurers- oddly placed things always had a reason.

“Only one way to find out.” Jake shrugged and stepped onto the circle. Chul’s large mandibles tapped together as the Arachkin considered saying something. He chose to keep his worries to himself and stepped away from the circle.

Jake approached the center, following the lines of power to its exact middle. There, in the very center of an even smaller ring and tiny scratchings in the rock, a tiny hole was cut perfectly in the floor. It looked to be just the size for someone to stick their finger into. Jake looked up at the crystal overhead and found that its tip aligned with the hole as well. That was when he noticed that the statues were also perfectly positioned equidistant around the outside of the circle. A perfectly symmetrical spell circle.

“Huh,” he muttered. He knelt on the floor and looked down into the hole. At first, he figured there might be something inside of it, like a needle, which would poke his finger and get the blood out. So, he stuck his thumb into the hole. When he found the inside to be perfectly smooth and with no bottom, the boy was once again stuck. Except there was something familiar about that inner ring surrounding the hole. The markings. He had seen them before.

The boy raised an eyebrow and pulled the artifact tucked beneath his shirt out. The Ulnoc talisman. The markings which were etched into its pearly white sides matched the style of the markings on the spell. Jake’s lips pressed together as he pulled the talisman off his neck. Putting two and two together, Jake lined the talisman up with the hole and found that it practically slid right into place. A perfect, smooth fit.

“You knew I’d come here…” Jake muttered as he pulled the talisman from the hole. He grit his teeth, a bit annoyed for several reasons, all of which he didn’t want to think about at the moment. Rather than linger and let himself get angry, the boy pressed the tip of the talisman against his finger. The sharp end pricked his skin and with a few harsh twists, he was able to wet the tip with blood. The boy shook his hand and sucked on his thumb, writhing a bit from how bad that hurt.

“All is well?” Chul called from the edge of the circle. With his thumb stuffed in his mouth, Jake could only answer with a loud grunt.

Once the pain faded a bit and became tolerable, Jake continued with his task. He checked the talisman to ensure he got it bloody enough and then lowered it back to the hole. He took in a slow, deep breath. Then, he stuffed it in. The talisman slipped down and nestled itself into the stone with a satisfying tap. Not even a moment later, the talisman began to glow faintly.

“Why does everything glow?” Jake’s eyes narrowed a bit as he stood up.

After a few seconds, the room shuddered and the light poured out from the talisman. Like water, a faint blue light spread outwards to fill in the lines and the lettering. The crystal overhead similarly came to life in a brilliant display of color, the various rays shooting down and touching each of the statues. One by one, the eyes of the statues opened. Bright white lights poured out of them.

“Boy!” Chul shouted at the same time as the last set of eyes opened. Jake blinked and looked out towards Chul. The Arachkin took a single step towards him, but then a bright wall of wind shot upwards from the circle’s edge. It cut them off from one another, isolating Jake in the middle of the circle.

“Ah-” Jake’s mouth opened and he raised a hand, but there was nothing he could do. The wind cracked and whistled loudly, the noise rising in pitch until it brought pain to his ears. Jake plugged his eardrums with his palms and clamped his eyes closed, wincing as the noise peaked. The wall of wind accelerated until the noise finally hit its crescendo. With another crack, the noise cut off.

Jake opened his eyes, blinking away the throbbing in his head as he took a look at his surroundings. Much like what happened at the door, he wasn’t in the Ravine anymore. Instead, he was surrounded by white. In every direction, the pale and boring nothingness stretched. He was free to move but he felt there was no need. Something told him that wherever he was, he was fine standing right there. Though, he couldn’t tell if that was a good feeling or not. More like a threat that if he moved, something he didn’t quite like might happen.

“A visitor?” An elegant-sounding male voice rang out. It came from his back right, and Jake turned to see an Elf standing behind him. The Elf, coincidentally, was standing where the Elf statue had been. The Elf was thin, tall, and wore beautiful gold and green robes. He also had a funny-looking headdress. A book dangled off his hip.

“It seems so! And he’s one of mine! Look at that! I’ve won the bet!” A loud, booming laugh erupted from beside the Elf. Out from the white, a man who sported a strong chiseled jaw, barbarian-like armor, and a mighty battleax held easily with one hand over his broad shoulders, marched into view.

“Yes, I guess you do.” The Elf sighed.

“How long has it been?” A large Tiger-looking Beastfolk thundered into view to the Elf’s left. His burly, furry chest was fully exposed. He had countless scars across his body and a large broadsword strapped to his muscular back. He wore a pair of very plain, baggy pants tied to his waist by a clean leather strap.

“Too long, Old Friend. If only it wasn’t another Human.” A Sahaugin emerged next to the Beastfolk, carrying a trident that clanged loudly every time he knocked it on the floor. He wore a massive, gilded crown imbued with an array of jewels and crystals. Both of his hands were covered in rings and his wrists had at least five bangles and bejeweled bracelets. But he wore… not much else. Only a loincloth to cover his waist.

“I think it’s lovely to have another Human here. Oh, and he’s so young… How exciting.” A Demoness strutted into view on his left, her outfit skimpy and revealing far too much of her charcoal skin. Her black wings were neatly folded behind her, and her hair was braided gallantly down her back. Her heart-tipped tail swayed behind her wide hips, ticking back and forth as if trying to lure Jake into a trance.

“Stop with your foolery. He is our Guest, not another suitor.” Far more gallant than the Daemoness, a large-bodied and familiar creature stepped forth. Her lower body was the abdomen of an Arachkin, but her upper body was human. She wore a tightly fitted black top that hugged her bosom and her hair was tied in a complex but elegant way down her back. A style fit for a queen. The Goddess of the Arachkin, no doubt.

A dragon emerged next, this time from the air. Jake was unsure of their gender as they landed without a word. The creature eyed him for a moment, scoffed, and then lazily squatted down onto the floor as if waiting for the entire procession to be over with. The Dragon set its head down onto its massive claws and closed its eyes. Jake found that to be rude but he held his tongue.

The final individual to appear was a stout Dwarf. He stepped out with a powerful stride and took his position at the head of them all at the top of the circle. The Dwarf wore a black apron over his dusty black clothes and set down a massive hammer in front of him. It landed with a powerful thud, silencing all of the side-talk. His two, massive paws rested on the upturned handle of the battle hammer. A large ruby jewel was set in the pommel and it glistened between his fingers as he caressed it.

The Dwarf eyed Jake for a few seconds, as did the others surrounding the Boy. When he finally looked like he was going to speak, the Dwarf instead turned his head and eyes to look up at the Arachkin beside him. He looked annoyed.

“Why do you take that form? Is it because he’s human?” The Dwarf asked, his tone flat.

“It is familiar to him.” The Arachkin crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows. “Something wrong with that?” She retorted. The Dwarf shrugged.

“Just odd, is all.” The Dwarf waved it off and turned his attention back to Jake. The Elf scoffed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. The Dwarf shot him a glare but the Elf ignored the nasty look, instead deciding to inspect something he found interesting beneath his nails.

“Human Child, what is your name?” The Arachkin asked, shifting slightly on her legs as she spoke. Jake took a look around him, once more observing the array of personnel around him before his eyes settled on hers. He took in a slight breath, quelling the nerves.

“I’m Jake… Jake Furrow.” Jake folded his hands neatly in front of himself, unsure really of what to do with them. The Elf groaned suddenly, and then the Dwarf began to laugh.

“Furrow?” The Dwarf parroted. “Are you the son of Alan Furrow?” Jake found the question a bit specific and his stomach tensed. He hesitated in answering but eventually nodded. The Dwarf let out another rumbling laugh.

“Oh, the chances! To meet both a Father and Son! I love it!” The Dwarf bellowed from behind his hammer. The Arachkin smiled and closed her eyes as she waited for the Dwarf to collect himself. Jake clenched his teeth and looked around, a bit confused- the Beastfolk and Sahaugin were whispering to one another. The Elf rubbed at his forehead. The Human squinted at Jake and rubbed at his chin as if trying to put the pieces together. The Dragon remained… asleep.

“It was a long time ago, runt, but your father stood before us just as you are now. Of course, he looked a lot bigger and a lot less scared than you- but I can see the resemblance.” The Elf spoke, crossing his arms and tapping his fingers along his bicep. He wasn’t anywhere near as amused as the Dwarf. What was his deal?

“Ahem…” After having enough of the distraction, the Arachkin cleared her throat to get her compatriots to quiet down. The Dwarf caught his breath, ceased his cackling, and regained his composure. When he was ready, he gave her a brief nod.

“The location you called us from, I recognize it Did you meet one of my kin?” The Arachkin questioned, her eyes looking at him curiously. He knew exactly who she was talking about and nodded without hesitating.

“I did. Chul E’tana. He’s with me.” Jake looked towards where he had last seen Chul, but he wasn’t there. The Human and Elf were standing in that same general direction and both looked at each other for a moment, unsure if he was looking at them. The Arachkin peered in the same direction. She frowned, then extended a hand. Immediately all of their eyes settled on her as the air seemed to grow a bit heavier.

“What are you doing?” The Dwarf asked as her hand began to glow. Tension in the room spiked as even the Dragon opened their eyes to look. It seemed this woman wasn’t fond of following norms.

“Calling him forth.” She spoke bluntly as if what she was doing wasn’t already obvious.

“If I am not mistaken, his name means that he had been banished. Yet you wish to summon him here? Is that not foolish of a decision?” The Dragonkin spoke up, rising from their lazy posture on the ground. The Arachkin did not answer and continued her spell unabated. A moment later, Chul appeared behind Jake. The large spider was of medium size so that he could fit within the circle. Chul blinked as he took in the view, likely confused as to what had just happened. Once he realized where he was, he immediately bowed his head.

“Chul E’tana. I see you bear the Mark of a Guardian.” The Arachkin said, folding her arms across her chest once more.

“I do, Lady Rastua.” Chul lowered his voice and answered respectfully, never raising his head.

“Rastua?” Jake looked over at the female Arachkin, and she stared back. If this was her, didn’t she already know that?

“I always regretted never interfering when you were outcast, Chul, but rules are rules. What they did to you was unfair, but I hope you understand why we could not help.” She gave a sharp glance towards the Dwarf, who only smiled and didn’t dare meet her eyes. “Watching you become bound to that stupid place was painful, but we are thankful for your efforts in the Ravine. After all these years, I am glad to see you in good health. Do not make me regret my decision to change your judgment at the Trial, Chul.”

“I… Thank you, Madam.” Chul’s fangs chittered together for a moment. Containing his emotions, he returned to silence. Lady Rastua’s harsh expression softened, her stern eyes and thin lips turning more motherly as she stepped forward.

“Look after him, Chul. Don’t let him become like you were.” She spoke softly, her voice warm as she placed a hand gently on her kin. Chul shivered from the touch, and he seemed to close inward on himself.

“Yes, Lady Rastua.” After his words, her hand began to glow once more and Chul’s fangs began to rattle. His large carapace filled with bright color, several scars, and wounds fading away.

“A gift, for enduring your hardship and as an apology for my mistake. Be well, Child of mine.”

“I... I am not worthy, Lady Rastua, but I will carry your gift with pride as one of your kin.” Chul slowly rose again as Lady Rastua stepped back. His eyes were alive with renewed vigor and the Arachkin stood tall in front of his Goddess. Satisfied, she smiled and sent him back with a faint wave of her fingers. Chul let out a hearty roar into the God’s space. It was a powerful and strong outcry that thundered through the air of the God’s Realm. The Gods all stared at him as he disappeared, likely back to the cavern.

“Quite the show,” the Elf muttered. The Beastfolk to his side snarled.

“Pay some respect, Elf. That Guardian has seen more tribulations than you can imagine.” The Beastfolk snapped, his fur rustling. The Sahaugin reached over and tugged on the arm of his friend.

“Be calm. He knows,” the Sahaugin muttered.

“I am aware, Beast. Rastua, your kin always seem to be in some form of trouble. Why is this?” The Elf crossed his arms and tapped his fingers against his arm again. A possible tic.

“Ask your kin for that answer, Faurus. Is it not your people who have hunted mine for centuries?” Lady Rastua returned to her spot at the edge of the circle. She placed a hand on her hip and stared blankly at the Elf. The Elf opened his mouth to retort but the Dwarf raised and dropped his hammer. It landed with a loud clap, silencing the dispute. The Elf sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. Rastua shrugged it off and turned her eyes back to Jake.

“Now then, what to do with you..” She observed him closely for a moment. Her eyes seemed to peer into his very soul. Without saying anything more, she shrugged. “He is too young for one of my gifts.”

“Too innocent for one of mine,” The Demoness called out. Innocent?

“Too foolish for one of mine,” The Dragon scoffed. Did she call him stupid?

“No spirit will take to him,” The Elf sighed. A what?

“He is no beast,” The Beastkind called. Obviously.

“Can’t swim. Worthless.” The Sahaugin laughed. How did he know that?

That left the Dwarf and the Human Gods. They looked at one another, and the Dwarf only grinned.

“Son of Alan,” the Dwarf called. “If you could change the world, how would you do it?” He asked, slowly turning the hammer in his hand. “Would you do it through battle? Would you carve your lineage into the bodies of your enemies? Conquer battlefield after battlefield and fight side by side with your brethren until the last of your days?” The Dwarf stole a glance towards the Human God, whose grin closed into a broad smile. “Or would you do it through wit and craftiness? Through a trail of kind deeds and unparalleled stories of your trials? Would you travel to far-off lands in search of riches, jewels, and treasures known only by a chosen few?”

Unsure of what the questions meant but not wanting to give some half-assed answer, Jake decided to take his time answering. If the Gods had enough time to fool around, then he had time to think of his choice. From what he had just learned, his answer would likely decide to which God he would be best aligned. Though, like the trial at the gate, Jake wanted to be sure to give his more heartfelt answer. Anything less and he felt like he would be lying.

The boy crossed his arms and stared down at the ground. He nipped at his inner lip and swung his foot, kicking a phantom rock as he mulled over what to say. The Gods looked on, some more patient than others, but all remained silent. Even the Dragon God eventually opened an eye to stare at Jake. The boy used his time wisely to have a long internal look at his own personal expectations of his future. He had boldly decided to become an Adventurer after running off to the Ravine, but he had learned quickly that it wasn’t so easy of a task. Even more so, when he earnestly thought over his goals, he couldn’t come up with anything close to what the Dwarf had suggested.

“I don’t want to change the world,” Jake finally said. This caught a few of them off guard it seemed. Even the Dwarf looked taken aback as he raised his brow. Jake took a look at each of them for a moment before he settled his eyes on the Dwarf. While a few didn’t seem satisfied with that response, a few of them smiled. Lady Rastua was one of them.

“I don’t want fame or riches. That stuff is boring. I just want to go on Adventures as my Dad did. I want to see things he saw and experience the beauty of the world. Most of all, I want to make a lot of friends.”

The Elf couldn’t contain himself. He let out a heavy laugh and pinned his hands onto his hips. “Friends? Adventures? You come before the Gods of this Realm and you don’t even ask for something far more… greedy? Grandiose? Like others of your race? Seriously?”

“Not all Humans are so simple, Faurus.” The Demoness intervened before any of the others. Her tail swishes energetically back and forth, practically whipping behind her wide hips. Her thighs were rubbing together, too. Was she… attracted? “That was such an adorable response. I think I’ve changed my mind! Would you like to join my harem, Child?” Her pupils glowed as they took the shapes of hearts. She smiled sweetly at him as she leaned forward. Before she could take a step, the Dwarf let out a soft rumble.

“Oi, hands-off. You already cast your vote.” The Dwarf snipped and the Demoness sucked her teeth. Her expression soured, but the rubbing of her hands on her arms seemed oddly… lewd.

“With that kind of answer, I cannot give him a gift of mine even if that is what he wishes.” The Human admitted. The large man sighed and shook his head. The Dwarf cackled.

“No. No, you cannot. The only two in this circle who could provide for this child are me and you, Ferynith.” The Dwarf peered over toward the Dragonkin, but they remained silent as they stared at Jake. From the look in their eyes, it seemed they were pondering deeply over something.

“Want to change your mind?” The Dwarf rumbled. The Demoness hissed loudly, frustrated she hadn’t been given the same treatment. Rastua reached over with one of her long legs and whapped the seductress over the head before shushing her.

The Dragon, now interested, slowly turned their head towards the center of the circle and leaned forward towards Jake. A bright red jewel glimmered in the center of their horned head, one that was bristling with power and glamor. Jake peered into the jewel for a moment, staring into its depths. It was almost as if he was being drawn to it. As if his soul would be sucked in if he stared too hard for too long. To avoid that abrupt end, he pulled his eyes away and lowered them to settle into the Dragon’s. The Dragon huffed, dissatisfied, and retracted its head. At the same time, it slowly lifted onto its feet. Just the movement of its massive body changed the pressure in the air. After shifting to better face Jake, the Dragon settled back down and lay on the floor again.

“One more question, Child.” A female voice emanated into the air from the Dragon’s direction. A ‘She’?

“It seems you will.” The Dwarf laughed briefly and then went quiet. He leaned forward against his hammer, eager to see what would happen next.

“Four men enter a room and sit around the table. One a Mage. One a Warrior. One a Common man. One a Thief. None know the profession of the other. They are all dressed the same.” The Dragon begins, speaking slowly and pausing until Jake nodded, showing his understanding. “They start with drinks. Two men order wine. One shouts for ale. One man asks for water. When it is time for food, two ask for a salad. One bellows for meat. One asks for stew. When it is time to pay, one pays for two, one does not pay at all, and two pay for themselves.” The Dragon paused at the end of her riddle, then lowered her head onto her hands. Her eyes partially closed, but the large jewel continued to shine. Jake could already tell he was once again being judged.

“Who is who?” She asked. Jake clenched his teeth and lowered his eyes as he went to work with getting his answer.

“That’s a stupid riddle!” The Human behind him barked.

“No, I think you’re just an idiot.” The Elf waved him off and shook his head.

“Oh, yea? How about you answer it then, pointy shoes!” The Human God hissed.

Just as the Elf began to open his mouth for a retort, the Dragon slammed her tail heavily onto the floor. They both froze up, stiffening in their shoes.

“Silence. The boy is thinking.” She reminded them of their guest and the two pacified. Verbally, at least. Their eyes still lingered on one another as they continued to challenge each other, before that they both looked toward the boy.

Jake rubbed at his chin and his face, mumbled to himself as he thought, and he began to pace around in a small circle. When he got bored of walking and that hadn’t helped him, he sat down and folded his hands neatly in his lap. Then, he raised his hands to his face and bit down on his index finger.

“Here.” After seeing the boy struggle for long enough with no assistance, the Demoness stepped up into the circle and knelt beside Jake. She held out a hand and summoned forth a quill and a piece of parchment for him to scribble on.

“This might help.” After handing him the writing tools, she rested her hand gently on his shoulder for a brief touch. Her hand felt hot and he felt the tension in his body fade for a moment from it. He thanked her for the gift and she returned to her place at the edge of the circle. Jake began to draw on the parchment and asked a few times for details to be retold. Each time, he adjusted his scribbles and took notes that he felt were important.

He first thought each man would follow a rule. A rule which followed their described classes and the expectations he might have for them if he were to see them in a pub. Then, he thought maybe they might try to cover themselves and act like someone else- especially the Thief. Certain choices didn’t seem to match up with what he first thought. But even then, something was off. Maybe there wasn’t an exact process for their choices. Like the Demoness had said- not all Humans were simple. Maybe one of them was just… different?

It was hard to fully understand the specifics without having eyes on the men directly but then he also figured those additional details were useless. If he looked at each man and focused only on their descriptors, then it became a bit easier to draw a conclusion.

“Well?” As the quill was lowered to the floor, the Dragon narrowed her eyes curiously. Jake stood up with his parchment in his hands and stared at his answer. He still wasn’t certain about his answer but it was the best he could think of. Unless there was some trick she was hiding, then he would have to roll with what he had. The Gods finally stopped their impatient fiddling and looked at him once more. While Jake was thinking, they must have grown bored. Had he been thinking for that long?

“The Common man ordered water, the Mage and Thief ordered wine. The Warrior ordered the ale. The Common man orders a salad, as does the Mage. The Warrior orders stew and the Thief calls for meat. The Warrior pays for two. The Thief pays for himself. The Common man pays for half. Then, the Mage covers for himself.” Jake read his answer from his parchment, scratching his head halfway through as a bit of doubt set in, and then he looked up at the Gods. Once again, a few exchanged looks but their eyes all eventually leveled on the Dragon. She hummed for a moment, then coaxed him for an explanation. She wanted to hear his thought process.

“Well, the Warrior is loud and my dad always drank beer when he came back. But, he never paid a lot for dinner. He always bought something with meat and potatoes, and it was cheap so that I could eat too. He’ll likely pay for himself and the Common man. The Thief will buy meat because he can afford it, along with the wine, but he’ll be cheap and only pay for himself. The Thief of course won’t buy beer so he doesn’t get drunk, in case one of the others is a thief too.” Jake spoke more confidently as he read off his reasoning, making sure to look at the Gods all together as he fed them the details he had come up with. If he pictured the scene in an actual bar or bazaar, it became easier for him to understand.

“The Mage, probably someone fancier, will buy a tastier wine but nothing as cheap as beer or ale. They’ll probably also buy salad because I hear it does wonders for magic restoration. The Common man is poor, so they’ll order the water and the salad, and still have barely enough to pay. The Mage will pay for himself but will offer to help with the common man's cost. Since the Warrior is already paying, though, he won’t have to.” With that, he offered his paper to the Dragon, as if she would want to look over his writing as well. She eyed him warily for a long time, her eyes glancing between him and his paper. After coming to her decision, she rose up and stepped into the circle. Rastua and the Dwarf both smiled as she lowered her head and offered him the gem.

“Touch the gem, Son of Alan. I shall grant you a gift, one that will aid you in your travels.” Lady Ferynith peered up at the young boy and waited for him to reach out to her. A faint smile crossed his face but even though he had been instructed to move, he still hesitated. Uncertain, he looked over towards the Dwarf for permission. The bearded fellow grinned and nodded.

“Go on, Child. Take your reward before she changes her mind!” He said aloud. Lady Rastua also dipped her head slightly, coaxing him to continue. Jake grimaced, but resigned himself and looked at the gem. He reached up and placed his palm against it, gently grasping the colorful object. A bright light flowed from the center of the gem, making him squint from how bright it was.

“I gift to you the Blessing of the Dragonkin. My gift is one of magical prowess. Much like my kin, you will find yourself compatible with every element, every language, every spell. So long as you seek it, knowledge will come easily. You will not know everything, but learning will become second nature to you and with it great power. As one of my Apostles, I also grant you access to my Eternal Library. A location full of boundless pages of wisdom that you may access to your heart's content.” Ferynith spoke into Jake’s head directly and provided him with visuals of his gift. She even gave him a brief view of the library itself- a massive spiral tower full of neatly organized shelves with books filling every slot.

“The library contains everything you could possibly hope to know. From the history of the World to battle tactics, to magical spells. All you have to do is think of the library and you will be brought to it in your mind. But be careful, time flows differently within the walls of the Library. Though it does not stop entirely, it slows significantly. Time in the Overworld, however, does not change. So do not think you can simply escape to it when you’re in a pinch. Nothing in the library can leave the library, but you will retain the knowledge you gain inside of it. As a parting tip, if you think of it before bed, you will come to it in your dreams.” With that, the jewel’s light dimmed and Ferynith pulled away from Jake. The Gods looked on curiously, but the Dragon God said nothing. Jake looked down at his hand and then his lips drew into a wide smile.

“When you return, your body will bear the seal of my Kin. Consider it an additional token, a small reward for putting such effort into a simple riddle. Present it should you come across one of my kind, and they will show you at least some form of kindness. Though, beware of those with Dark Scales. They have abandoned my following and will attack those who bear my seal. I recommend covering it, as their numbers are growing in the shadows.”

“Thank you, Lady Ferynith.” To show his gratitude, Jake bowed his head and lowered himself to a knee as he accepted the gifts from the Dragon God. Ferynith narrowed her eyes on him.

“You have potential, Child. Don’t waste my gift and do not bring shame to my name, or the next time we meet I will give you a curse instead.” She warned, and the Dwarf let out another laugh. Jake nodded and clenched his teeth.

“Well then! You have been rewarded for your curiosity, Child! I was worried you might walk right on by the magic circle, but you indeed are like your father in that aspect. Always touching, always prodding.” The Dwarf spoke loudly and entered the circle, leaving his hammer behind. Several of the Gods narrowed their eyes as he approached. The Human stiffened the most.

“Thaedraun,” The Human God warned, his voice low as he gripped his ax. His feet shifted and Jake could tell he was coiled like a spring.

“I know the rule,” Thaedrun raised his hands to calm his compatriots. He showed his hands, letting them all see that there was no magic channeling within them. Then, he pulled out a small crystal from his pocket, which he also showed to the others. A thin rope was fed through the crystal and looped like a necklace, done similarly to the Ulnoc talisman.

“I will not give you a gift, as you may only receive one. But, I will give you this as I too have high hopes for you.” He dangled the crystal in front of the boy for a moment before looping it over Jake’s head. “It is a Finder Gem, a rare artifact found only in the deepest parts of the largest mountains. The gem will glow when you are near an artifact or something of great value. Pour a bit of mana into the crystal to fuel the sigil within it, and it will lead you to the object. Hold it over the object and it will even tell you of its properties, or at least what it is.” Thaedraun patted the boy on the back and then, like the others, returned to his spot at the edge of the circle. While he walked away, Jake held the Finder Gem between his fingers. Inside, a magic sigil floated in the crystal.

“I have faith that you will provide quite the entertainment for us, boy. And consider that treasure an investment in your ability. Go forth, and explore. But be wary- the world is not as kind as you think it may be. Remain curious but be watchful. Do not let complacency be the reason we meet again.” He chuckled and firmly grasped the handle of his hammer. He raised it and slammed it down thrice.

“This meeting is adjourned. Safe travels, Adventurer.” As Thaedraun spoke, the circle on the floor once more began to glow and the white world grew brighter. Suddenly, all of the Gods straightened as their eyes too started glowing.

“May the seas and winds always be in your favor.” The Sahaugin belted.

“May you see grand things and find beautiful sights!” The Beastkin rang.

“May you fare well in battle and always find the strength to defeat your enemies!” The Human cheered.

“May the Spirits guide you whenever you are lost.” The Elf urged.

“May you never stop learning, and never lose your imagination.” The Dragon hummed.

“May love always fill your heart!” The Demoness winked.

“May bravery guide you through peril.” The Arachkin bowed.

“And may you find fortune and good ale wherever you go.” The Dwarf bellowed.

The Dwarf raised his hammer once more and slammed it down powerfully onto the edge of the magic circle. In a flash, the Gods were gone and Jake found himself standing in the middle of a familiar room- the cavern he had been in before. The bodies of the Gods were replaced by their stone statues and the magic circle was no longer bright. The Realm of the God’s was gone, and Jake had returned to the cavern within the Ravine.