At least I should be able to use Prana Current. That’s something.
The Artifact Chakram would help immensely as well. Even if it couldn’t resharpen itself and fly around on its own like it did in the Ash. It was less lethal, too. Which, in this case, was perhaps a good thing.
He didn’t want to decapitate his opponents. Still, it’d have been nice if he could control their lethality. It would be useful to give his foes a glimpse of the chakram’s true power, before dialing it down. It’d force his enemies to be on their guard, limiting their options.
Of course, there’s Shan as well…
Vir looked at his Ash Wolf friend.
“Say, Cirayus? Do the Aindri fight with their beasts in this tournament?”
“Aye. Of course.”
“Is that a special provision for their clan? Or can anyone do that?”
“Nothing like that. Those who wish to fight alongside a beast may do so. Just that outside the Aindri and their Bloodline Arts, nobody does. Nobody’s managed to make beasts useful enough to fight against demons. Also, the rule about no killing doesn’t apply to any animal companions.”
“I see…” Vir said. That was a little concerning. Though if he was honest, Vir doubted there were many capable of killing an Ash Wolf. And Shan was no ordinary Ash Wolf. He wasn’t even an ordinary Ashfire Wolf. He was an Ashfire Wolf with Imperium pranites flowing through his body. A wolf who’d retained his sanity, and who’d learned to control his prana.
“Alright, lad, I think this is where we make camp,” Cirayus said, putting Vir down.
“Here? There’s nothing here,” Vir replied.
“That’s the point. Too risky to have you enter Camar Gadin without your tattoo. Wait here while I fetch the Thaumaturge.”
“Don’t take too long,” he teased.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” Cirayus replied with a wink, bounding high into the air.
Vir turned his attention to Shan, who locked eyes with him.
“Well, Shan? Would you like to fight together?”
The Ashfire Wolf’s howl was all the response he needed.
75THE THAUMATURGE
“Shan. Keep watch. Push me if you see anything or anyone,” Vir said, sitting cross-legged on the cracked clay soil of the Bairan countryside.
If there was one thing Vir loathed, it was wasting time. Rather than sit and wait for Cirayus, he had a better idea.
Closing his eyes, Vir entered his mindscape and summoned Shardul.
“So, you have returned,” Shardul said. “Are you ready to meditate again on the concept of the Life Chakra?”
“I think… there’s no need. I think I’ll be able to open it. I’m almost there,” Vir replied.
“Oh? What have you learned?”
“I… recently lost someone I cared about. A child, of Samar Patag.”
“I see. And you blame yourself for this child’s death, do you?”
“I do,” Vir said. “At least, I did. Though he was given explicit instruction to remain in a position of safety, he ventured out during an Ash Beast horde. He died protecting another.”
“The folly of youth,” Shardul said, shaking his head.
“Bolin’s death was a tragedy,” Vir said. “He was not the only one who died that day. And ever since then, I’d shouldered that weight. I’d convinced myself that I could have saved their lives had I been stronger or faster. I realize now that this was nothing but arrogance. No matter how strong I am, I am but one lone demon. If I am to lead this rebellion, I have to accept that there will be death.”
“It is a fundamental truth that all eventually learn,” Shardul agreed. “There is no effort without error. No risk without cost.”
“I understand that now,” Vir said. “But with that understanding came another. Death… is tragic, yes. But souls exist. Chakras prove that, after all. Death is tragic, but maybe it’s not the end. The cycle continues. It merely transitions from one state to another.”
It was a simple conclusion to make—hardly anything profound. And yet, speaking the words unlocked a gate within Vir. The stress of the pressure—the burden of responsibility he carried—eased ever so slightly, and Vir let out a confirming breath.
Vir fully opened his Life Chakra, and awareness flooded into him. The forest around him turned vibrant—new sights and sounds assaulted his senses from all directions, and suddenly, the forest felt more alive.
Birds chirped and squirrels and other rodents ran around. The meadow felt as though it stretched on forever, and the sound of the river through it tickled Vir’s ears.
Wait. River?
His eyes shot open. He hadn’t imagined it. Where before he’d sat in the middle of a small meadow, now, a small river—more of a babbling brook—flowed near him. Flowers grew along its green soil, with butterflies flitting among them.
“My mindscape… expanded?”
“A natural evolution,” Shardul said, admiring the scenery. “Quite peaceful. I must say, I approve. Mine was far less appealing.”
Vir was about to ask what this meant—what opening other Chakras would do—but a strange sensation made him pause. A pressure on him. On his back.
His eyes widened. “Shan!”
With a thought, the mindscape faded, and Vir opened his eyes to the Demon Realm… and to Shan, who stood in front of him.
“Thanks, Shan. I take it we have company?” Vir asked, rising to his feet.
Twenty paces away, two figures approached. A giant, and an even bigger giant, holding a large case of some sort.
“Cirayus?” Vir asked. “Is this…”
“Aye, lad,” Cirayus said with pride. “Vir, meet my granddaughter, Aida! She’s one of the best…” Cirayus trailed off.
“Is that… Is that…”
The enormous woman who towered over Cirayus stared open-mouthed, pointing. Not at Vir, but at Shan.
“Quite perceptive of you to notice,” Vir said. “Most people just assume he’s a prana wolf.”
Vir had always found peoples’ ability to rationalize anything they consider impossible somewhat astounding. It was the same phenomenon that allowed disguises to work so well. When people didn’t expect something, one could get away with all sorts of wool-pulling.
“I couldn’t be sure, but… There’s something different about him. Something regal. Dangerous.”
“Aida, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Vir said, bowing his head. “This is my good friend, Shan.”
Shan puffed out his chest and howled with pride, which caused Aida to take a step back.
Cirayus coughed lightly. “As I was saying, Aida’s one of the finest Thaumaturges in Camar Gadin. Aida, meet Vir.”
The giantess took a deep breath, then punched Cirayus. Hard. “Ajja, you know that’s not true. I’m middling at best. Got no chance in the Ash of competing with ancient relics like you.”
Like her grandfather, Aida was a four-armed red demon, though her height made Cirayus look like a child. Her arms boasted a number of azure Bairan tattoos, which were on display thanks to the loose-fitting black tank top she wore. Her arms and hands were stained black with soot, as if she’d been plucked from her place of work. Which, now that Vir thought about it, was likely exactly what happened.
Cirayus grunted in pain, even as he bellowed a hearty laugh.
Some family… Vir thought.
“This the kid, huh?” Aida said, finally wrenching her eyes off of Shan and onto Vir. “By Adinat, he’s young.”
“Aye,” Cirayus said. “He’s the one.”
“The Akh Nara, huh? In the flesh,” Aida said, walking up to Vir. She was like one and a half Cirayuses—easily over twice as tall as Vir, and he had to crane his neck to look up at the muscular red demon.
“Doesn’t look like much,” Aida grunted, making Vir frown.
“Do you judge everyone based on their looks? Or is that honor reserved just for me?”
Aida said nothing for a long moment, and Vir wondered if he needed to start cycling prana.