Demigod's Threshold
Ssshaaaak---
The cold wind atop the Ancestral Tomb whipped across Adel's face, and he slowly opened his eyes. The enveloping darkness had vanished, the snow-blanketed landscape filling his vision once more.
[You alright?]
Adel nodded at Kalderet's question. But his arm hung in tatters, scorched black as if burned by fire.
“Gonna take a while to get used to this.”
Adel muttered, clenching and unclenching his throbbing arm.
[That just now... that was you?]
“Yeah.”
[Not a perfect rift, but Alkan's barrier drew on rift power. Shattering it means...]
His voice trembled; he couldn't finish.
“Means he wields divine power without a god. He's toed into the gods' domain. Looks like he's been through Descent.”
Alkan said.
[Descent? Kid's leaped past the Mugeuk stage they call Descent—controls the god inside him by sheer will.]
“Controls a god?”
[Beyond you, who's never tasted God's Blessing. We name the act Mugeuk.]
“The realm of the Demigod...
[Aye. Your era knew them too, Alkan. But Descent? Housing a god in flesh.]
Alkan nodded.
[Power explodes, but it crushes them—they yield body to the god.]
“Right. Borrowing another's will? Puppet play. Not true strength.”
[Why you shunned contracts, despite gods' endless wooing.]
“My era had none. Gods vanished with Arun Asar in the Annihilation Age. Freed 'em after—no need left.”
[True. Your rift seals freed them. Liberator, they call you in tales...]
“Liberator? Me? Embarrassing.”
[Not embarrassing—cursed. My sealer a liberator? Absurd.]
Alkan gave a wry smile at Kalderet's grumble.
[Anyway... Even sealed, some gods lingered. You spurned them.]
“That you, Kalderet?”
Adel swept up the shattered bow shards, asking slyly.
[...Aye.]
Kalderet nodded, face twisted like he'd chewed grit.
“The one you sought sealed you, huh.”
Adel eyed them both.
“Shocking? Disappointing? Thought I had you pegged.”
[Sorry. Couldn't say. Sealing's why—no telling.]
“Explains your odd rapport at first meet. Your temper? You'd shred a sealer soul.”
Adel recalled their summit debut.
“Looked like kids bullying crushes.”
[W-what? Who's crushing who?]
“Khuk.”
Alkan burst out laughing at their banter.
“Adel. Self-paths aren't sole truth—now I see. You've opened new eyes in me.”
He nodded, conceding.
“Thought my enlightenment only truth. Vision narrow, it seems.”
“Fine. Natural. Body's one—even myriad roads, one direction.”
“Yet you seized two chances.”
“Without you? Same road as before.”
“Nay. You held power past life lacked.”
Squeeze—
Alkan caressed Adel's shoulder.
“Go. Train that insight now. Effort's stage awaits.”
“Understood.”
“Mind Kalderet well. No bond 'twixt us, but two with you. I wish no vanishing.”
“Sounds like sealing saved him, not slew.”
Adel burned curious—what passed between them?
Alkan: Liberator, summoning gods post-ancient fall. No god-hater.
Why seal an ancient god? Unavoidable cause? External force?
If so, uncover it. Felt vital.
[Sealer teaches contractor, god-bound swaps lore... None like you, ancient to now.]
They chuckled softly.
“Then.”
Adel turned.
“...?!”
Below stairs, preceding kings' shades bowed homage.
“Throneless, yet ancestors approve.”
Alkan smirked, pleased at vista.
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
Footfalls down Ancestral Tomb stairs, synced to thump!thump! of weapons striking stone. Pulse-stirring rhythm.
Next climb... for my weapon's completion.
And vow: desert's master.
“Adel.”
Descending, Alkan called.
“You've roused a sealed ancient god. Ripples will come.”
Adel nodded.
“Brace for tomorrow.”
Last step: chill lifted.
[Tomorrow past-life you never knew—farther.]
Alkan's voice, final bequest, rang mind—not ears.
[Someday, Night's Barrier. Aid awaits.]
“...?!”
Whirled—but entrance gone. One chance granted.
[Homeward. Kinghood brings meetings anew.]
Nodded to Kalderet.
Sunset now. Day unfinished, yet journey's end felt.
“Long time.”
“Yes. Safe trip? Newsletters stunned. Nest faded trivial.”
Heila spoke tense to Adel.
Nest-left long, continent roamed—reunion neared two years.
“Taller, seems.”
“Yeah. Sixteen now.”
Faint smile. Heights matched.
“You? Grew too—not stagnant. Yoran left you free.”
“Your grace. Nest fallout soured his eyes.”
“Ha. Glad. Outfit screams Muel's care. She'd loathe talent waste.”
“Jackals active, no formal. Said depart anytime you returned.”
“Yeah? Jackals elite—top Ulan packs. Mine? Two souls, nameless.”
“Three now.”
Satisfied nod.
“Things to show.”
Eyes alight—achievements aplenty.
Once Mad Kill. Past life: end. Now: surpassed. Expectant.
“Good. North Sea viewing.”
“Yes... North Sea?”
“Winter gear tight. Beats desert nights cold.”
“N-North Sea?”
Bewildered gaze trailed Adel's tent exit.
“Bones in desert, thought... Sea short, now North Sea...”
“Quit griping. Set.”
“Still off? No crime, fleeing like.”
“Who knows. Adel's scheming.”
Tomb-return: no rest, North Sea prepped instant.
Father meddles? Messy...
Soon known—but ancestors' barrier-shatter? No light pass, test or not.
Hien's face intrigued, yet North haste trumped.
Before Bin wounded.
Past life: scant ties. Wanderer Bin drifted rare-return, clan-forgot.
Adopted dodge of fray... Diary true? Aid lingers.
“Whoa-whoa—”
Days ceaseless, Adel eased Kargon.
“...Here at last?”
Harun stretched weary.
Screeeeech---!!
Head up: vast building rear, steam billowed white.
No building chimney.
Magic stones gone—east forest berserks culled some.
Black train's exhaust.
Undamaged station, Adel mused.
North Sea: no gates—rail pierced continent.
Past berserk east woods. Gogen duchy magic depot.
[Huh. Still stands? Arun Asar fall axed iron horses, thought.]
Kalderet eyed rails glad.
Duchy magitech digs relics. Sole Gogen of four dukes runs 'em.
[Oblivious, but they owe you. Berserks? Station dust.]
Someday debt-call.
No stone-hunt? Rails beast-ruin sure.
“Ease to coast—blessing.”
Low mutter at boarding train.
“Desert folk? East magic depot. Tokens?”
Guard neared.
Ulan crests flashed.
“Clear. North coast: thirty-six hours.”
[Thirty-six?! Flashy dud. Ancient iron horses: continent two hours.]
Why?
Adel blinked.
Even gates: nausea hops, two-plus hours.
“Sleep now... Nights ridden, aches everywhere.”
Harun yawned, scratched.
Kasla, Heila nodded mute.
“Depart soon—board haste...”
Guard trailed, eyes uneasy.
“Issue?”
“N-no... Overreach, but academy mages aboard. Ivory Tower bound.”
“Ah...”
Instant grasp.
“Kind warning. No fret—we'll mind.”
“Grateful.”
Nod, light shoulder pat.
“What reek? Rot?”
“Urp...”
“Windows! Open!”
Guard's fear precise—stairs scaled, jeers erupted.
“Desert scum unwashed?”
“Ugh, brute and filthy.”
Turn: robed mages crammed cars, sneers pinned Adel.
“What mouths? Huntless weaklings yap.”
“...Ignore. Mages-hunters bad eternal.”
Harun bristled, sword-hand twitched.
“...”
Mages delved robes unison.
As if baited.
“Cute.”
Adel snorted unwitting.
[Fools blind to measure. Robe-arms out? Severed.]
“Kids. Trainees, not mages proper.”
Pushed Harun's blade home.
“Clueless brats' taunt.”
“Right. Adel's word. Quiet—trouble's curse.”
Kasla nodded accord.
“Said no draw—not no move.”
“...Eh?”
Adel flung open mages' car door.
“Wh-what?!”
Front man yelped startled.
“Ignorants...”
Crack—
Adel seized his head, grinning.
“...need teaching.”