We will discuss the details later but it relates to what we have discussed before The world you know is a reflection of a deeper world which Hungry Eye and I are from And this strange brand well enemies will be waiting for us when we return to our version of the Nexus This can probably threaten even them
Allowing this snake to exist is a constant danger Enmya interjected
NeveahÆs smile seemed apologetic You are correct And considering how fraught the next ten minutes is likely to be it is possible he will escape So if you insist if you want justice for what was done to Wyndaos I will turn him over to you to be handled as you see fit
Lowanna closed her eyes The past few months had been so chaotic it was entirely possible to consciously ignore her time in Wyndaos That foreknowledge of the Cult of the SaviorÆs attack that had weighed against her heart for years How every warm smile from an aspiring Nether Warrior had sunk a needle into her heart until she felt numbed and hollow How she had sent as many as she could away but still walked away from her people
On the one hand she wanted vengeance She would feel catharsis to have the Prophet die by her hand On the other
Perhaps I donÆt yet deserve it Lowanna sighed She waved a hand and Neveah bowed When the other woman remained still dragging the feeble Prophet Lowanna raised an eyebrow Ah of course We approach the end of this reflectionÆ yes
Indeed We need to secure one more piece but it is now time for you to discuss the hopes you have for the Nether People with Hungry Eye
Lowanna smirked and put a hand on her hip Just the Nether People
No To create a miracle Lowanna Hungry Eye would like to borrow that power you now freely wield
Chapter 2328
Ten years had passed since the Patron of FeathersÆ father had completed his grand weapon and she had emerged from the Dungeon on the cusp of death It had been a triumphant affair for all her suffering However when they had moved South to reinforce Homewell WestrisserÆs forces found an immense barrier bisecting the Aetherlands
All attacks harmlessly sank into the wall Some scouts were sent through but none returned
At first the remnant Aether armies had feared that this was some grand new Nether ploy but the Nether forces on this side seemed even more confused than the armies of Malloon Most of the data WestrisserÆs people gathered on the barrier was from the crazed intensity that the Nether had assaulted it to no avail Both set up camps on nearby hills waiting for the purpose of this event to become known Aether and Nether existed in an uneasy peace broken by infrequent skirmishes between the two sides to expel the tension Eventually they settled into a new normal with a huge chunk of the known lands vanished But both sides posted forces nearby watching the barrier
And ten years later word came The barrier had begun to crumble
The Patron of Feathers stood on the highest Skyisland in MalloonÆs airspace looking at the small detachment of forces hurrying South The technology might have originated from Nether King Hungry Eye but for the crowded city of Malloon it seemed only natural that they had engineered their own knockoff versions And Faelmac Westrisser would always take the highest throne for himself
She a minor character in her fatherÆs life was allowed begrudging squatterÆs rights
The Patron of Feathers found it strange at first that her father didnÆt react with more vigor to the news but the more she thought about it the more she understood his tepid response First the success of WestrisserÆs great weapon only invigorated his lust for research Especially when the weapon could not be utilized The fact that it wasnÆt possible to test was a taboo subject at the few strained Westrisser family dinners instead of facing this issue he redoubled his efforts to duplicate the process although it just led to a dozen of his subordinates going insane during the long isolation
Also Faelmac Westrisser was cautious Without knowing what lurked beyond the barrier he would not commit a significant force to its location The war between Aether and Nether was far from the minds of the people with the main leaderships of both sides having vanished But if the barrier came down and the leaders returned
The Patron of Feathers blinked slowly In the end it was difficult to care about her foolish father Because she had begun to drift It was difficult to articulate the constant pressure she felt while moving through daily life As though her thoughts were liquid and a certain amount drained away each moment So if she wasnÆt careful she might slip reflexively back into memories without even noticing
Sometimes the Patron of Feathers couldnÆt tell if she was in the past or present She might have survived the process of creating the unused weapon but she did not escape deep scars across her psyche
Like now she blinked several timesù Nether King Hungry Eye stood next to her admiring the view
You The Patron of Feathers said cautiously She racked her mind different images sloshing around But she couldnÆt seem to recall a time in the past when she had stood like this with the Nether King
A Nether King who should be locked behind the barrier Yet now she supposed it had collapsed truly After ten years of being paused the world began to spin once again
Patron of Feathers I have several matters to discuss with you Nether King Hungry Eye said His aura seemed different from when she had last seen him so different the gap was apparent after ten years More vast More exhausted Yet his irises shined with an intense emerald radiance that was difficult to ignore I believe I have some answers as to your current suffering However perhaps that should wait until later If we do not act soon this world will collapse For now I need your help
What do you need The Patron of the Feathers felt serene If anything the prospect of the world ending almost felt like a relief At least then the strangeness would cease But also that light in his eyes stirred something in her
Lowanna nodded All that beauty comes not from the images and Nether that have been scattered up there but from the useless sludge generated when Aether and Nether are forced together Yet my heart is a simple one I see it and think beautifulÆ For that at least I am thankful
They sat there and stared up at the brilliant failure until Nether King Hungry Eye finally returned
Enmya stood as they approached he recognized quite a few of the people Hungry Eye appeared with including Hungry EyeÆs strange companion Neveah and some of his followers including the gunslinger who had joined the conflict on the side of the Nether forces Yet one figure in particular made his skin crawl His fingers tightened into fists and his chest heaved with fury Why is he here
Faelmac Westrisser his alabaster feathers glittering snorted and looked up to the sky without responding to him Nether King Hungry Eye nodded slowly More than anyone else Faelmac Westrisser set aside his morals during the lead up to this war I understand your anger I empathize
Yet you work with him Nether King Hungry Eye Lowanna stood Her voice contained less heat than EnmyaÆs but Enmya could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was just as mad Enmya felt a strange thrill of triumph this false Nether King had likely harmed his chances of any joint attempt You come here hoping for my power aiming for cooperation between our peoples Yet if that plan requires us to cooperate with Westrisser I do not believe our goals are aligned
Hungry Eye rather than seeming defensive scratched his cheek let me clarify I have taken away the temporal weapon of Faelmac Westrisser when he refused to be reasonable Ever since he has followed me and pestered me Even I have difficulty understanding how he has kept up with my movements Whatever business you have with him feel free to engage in it He is a nuisance
Everyone turned to Westrisser The Feathered Serpent crossed his arms Tch you bastard I simply wished for time to review the offer you had made before I accepted