Ch. 17 The Dragon Mother

This is a continuation of the Apocalypse Saga

For the other chapters in TAS, click here

For more stories in the world of Astra outside of TAS, click here

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The trio stood together. Panic set in as the goddess stood in the air high above them. If Lady Vey was alive, Seijun and Akashi thought she might be hyperventilating. Even without seeing her, they could hear her heavy, overwhelmed breathing.

“Auntie, it’s okay. We’ll figure this out.” Seijun said as he sheathed his sword.

“Yes. Yes, that’s a good plan! Sheath your weapons and grovel. Grovel right now!” Vey implored.

“We do the will of other gods or whatever, won’t that stop her from trying something?” Akashi asked, still gripping his revolver.

“Don’t be foolish.” Vey spat in a panic, “She is a greater deity – one of the three creators. These we’ve been dealing with - Omnibek, Centinu, the Void Tyrant - are merely lesser deities compared to the creator gods. But The Dragon Mother… she is above. She only cares for her will. Her creations. Her own desires. And above all else, she cares that she is respected and feared. That is all that matters now or ever to her.”

Akashi hesitated and put his revolver away. “Okay, so what’s the plan then?”

“Auntie’s right. We grovel.” Seijun bowed his head, and Akashi tipped his hat over his eyes as he lowered his own head.

She took her time walking down her glowing, false steps. When she reached the bottom, she stood floating several feet off the ground as though there was land to stand upon there.

Seijun dropped to one knee, “Dragon Mother,” he announced, “we apologize for the intrusion, for we -”

“Hush.” She swiped her hand in Seijun’s direction, and he went silent. His eyes widened as he realized he had become mute. “I will do the speaking here.” She said calmly.

Akashi flinched, “Hang on a second –“

“Oh, you too.” She raised a hand to Akashi, and he began to choke. Her porcelain features contorted into a grin. “A champion to the storm goddess. That little brat. Who does she think she is. And you?” She looked to Seijun in disgust, “I’ll deal with you and your kind later.”

She leaned down, her body craning down down down until she was eye to eye with Akashi, “A champion of Centinu. Your mommy’s a troublemaker, did you know that, undead one?”

Akashi stared in terror. If he could push back against Vajra, he would, but instead he stood in silence, his face contorted as he heaved for air he didn’t even know he needed until the Dragon Mother had decided he did.

“Now, what’s this I feel?” The Dragon mother turned her neck away from Akashi, focusing down at Seijun’s sword. “I see you in there. Come out. Out. Out.” She hissed, her neck twisting like a snake coiling to strike. “OUT!”

Lady Vey appeared, immediately falling to her hands and knees, “Dragon Mother, I am but a humble servant of the Five, please spare us – hear us out at the very least, oh great one!”

“Oh! A little spirit, how fun.” Vajra hissed. “Such temperamental beings, these spirits returned.” Vajra pushed Seijun back with a look of her black eyes and raised a hand to Veyeni. Her body turned to pure essence and rushed to Vajra’s palm like it was magnetic. The goddess contorted back into a humanoid shape and took the place where Seijun had once stood. She spun Vey’s essence around in her open hands. Seijun lifted a hand in protest, but the goddess’ face melted into an angry frown. Her voice crescendoed, “I did not say you could speak!” She threw her hand down at her side and Seijun’s body became too heavy to hold. He slammed into the cavern floor.

“You’ve made the mother angry; you are but an insect. Buzz buzz buzz… fly away little bug. Before you are squashed.”

“Bedlam? Not now. Cas! Come here!” Her voice was harsh and irritated. When it echoed off the walls, rocks were jostled loose from the ceiling, falling around them. She turned to Akashi and raised him off the ground. He floated before her, his body seemingly pinned by invisible stakes as he was suspended before her. “Now, what do I do with you? I think I’d like to take you apart. Keep every part of you beating and alive… and then spread each and every bit of you across Astra… except your heart. I think I’ll keep that for myself. Would you like that? I know just the slumbering dragon that would love to devour your brain.”

Akashi’s eyes twitched as he tried to fight for freedom against the goddess, but there was nothing he could do. All three of them were at the mercy of the Dragon Mother, their bodies so easily contorted, twisted, and made inhuman by the simplest of her wills. Her mouth creased into a grin, sharp, spiney teeth revealing themselves in layers upon layers of clean white teeth. She began to open her mouth, her jaw flexing into an impossible angle, her mouth growing to meet the size of Akashi’s skull -

“Vajra, that’s enough.” An unsteady voice announced from behind them. Akashi couldn’t crane his neck to see, but Seijun could. Centu stood behind them. In her much more humanoid form, she looked like a human standing up to a god. From what they knew of these two goddesses, she may as well have been.

“Oh, how cute,” The Dragon Mother let Akashi fall to the ground. Still, he couldn’t speak. None of them could. Vajra still held Lady Vey in the palm of her hand as she stalked towards Centu, “you think you can tell me what to do, child? Is that what you think? Tell me, what else do you think you can do? Send a champion to wreck my domain?”

Centu cleared her throat, “Leave them out of this.” She looked to Vajra’s hand that gripped Lady Vey, “All of them.”

“Or what?” The Dragon Mother asked, her words slithering from impatient lips that moved as though they had a lower frame rate than the rest of her fluid motions.

“Or you risk upsetting the Five. And myself. And the rest of our coalition. Would you upset the coalition before even being offered a place among us?” Centu asked.

“Not even a please, child? You should treat the creators with more respect.” The Dragon Mother forced eye contact with her. Her beady black eyes threatening Centu in silence.

“I – I –“ Centu casted her eyes away from The Dragon Mother. “Please.” She whispered.

“Better. Now, tell me, who else is in this very special coalition of yours?”

“Bara…” Centu tried to look nonchalant as she said, “Oran-Koh,” but she failed as an uncontrollable grin crossed her face.

Vajra let out a hiss, “Do not speak his name in this place!” She spat. “You disgust me, storm child. Fine. I’ll release the little spirit. But not because of you.” She opened her palm and Lady Vey shot like a bullet back to her place on Seijun’s hilt. Akashi fell and hit the ground with a silent thud. With control back in his hands, all he could do was turn and watch the gods converse. The three watched, their breaths collectively held as the two deities spoke.

“I know.” Centu barely squeaked out. “How about we leave the champions to themselves, and you and I go somewhere to –“ Centu swallowed, “We can go –“ She swallowed again, “Talk.” The words sounded sour coming from her lips, as though they didn’t belong.

“You want to talk? Talk?” The Dragon Mother asked.

“Yes. Just talk. That’s all.”

“Fine. Let’s talk. Just you. And me.” Vajra grinned, revealing her millions of spiny little teeth again. She placed a hand on Centu’s shoulder, her sharp talons digging into her pants suit. Before they left, Vajra rose her voice “Cas! I said come here! You have until this conversation is over to lead these beasts out of my temple or Bedlam will hatch.”

The gods they had so far met in the Astral realm often disappeared in flashy and magical ways. When The Dragon Mother left the realm, Centu in tow, all in view became overwhelmed with the screeches, snarls, and screams of agonizing terror and pain that made up the howls of dragons and the living pain of fiends. The very sound warped the realm, twisted everything in its path, and then just like that, they were gone, leaving Seijun, Akashi, and Vey sitting on the floor of the cavern gasping for breath.

“Holy shit.” Akashi finally said.

“We’re lucky…” Seijun said. He tried to take a deep breath, but the air kept getting caught in his throat.

“No, I understand.” Vey said, “We’re lucky she isn’t the one trying to end all things.”

Akashi nodded, rubbed his throat, and got onto his knees, “Yep. Wouldn’t stand a chance.”

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“And just what in the fiery blaze of the dead do you think you’re doing meddling in my affairs?” Vajra’s voice had a discomforting sweetness to the porcelain fire that she spat. She had thrown Centu back into the realm of the ancients – the realm shared between Vajra, Oran-Koh, and Raayyan.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Dragon Mother.” Centu replied, her voice as calm and even as she could manage.

“What do you think I’m talking about?” Her voice boomed around Centu. There was a creature’s thunderous roar booming within her words. “Your little toy? Your little creature. I have no time for your games. What in the realms do you think you were doing having one of your playthings in my territory?”

“Vajra, I had no id -”

“Enough.” Vajra finally appeared before Centu. Her regal scaled train wrapped around her waist like a heavy tail. Centu stepped back - purely on instinct - and straightened out her pantsuit. Vajra’s mouth jumped into a smile. Centu struggled to hold back her horror at the goddess’ porcelain lips. Her mouth was merely a smooth crack when she didn’t bare her teeth. Centu took a deep breath and slung her umbrella over her shoulder, popping it open as the rain began to fall. Thunder crackled overhead and the clouds flashed with hot lightning. At least she could control the weather in any realm she wanted. The Dragon Mother wiped rain from her brow. Her eyes jumped into place, staring at Centu’s shield of a smirk.

“You know how I feel about you, little thunder child.”

“I do.” Centu said, trying to hold eye contact.

“Then why did you allow one of your disgusting things into my domain.”

“Vajra, I didn’t know it was yours.”

“Don’t call me by my name.” Her smile shifted to a glare.

“Dragon Queen.”

“Better.” Her smile returned.

“Oh, great humble Dragon Queen, they were tracking the dictator of the black ocean realms.” Centu said, being as archaic as she could be, “The fact that you come to me, and not him - he who tried to turn your domain into a site of apocalypse - shows either negligence on the great Dragon Queen’s part, or that you’ve already chosen a side in the merging of the realms.” Vajra took an elegant step forward across the air, a blue light pinging where her pointed toes landed.

“Little girl,” She began, a talon rising to meet Centu’s chin, “you do not speak to my choices or opinions. Only a fool would support this idiotic child’s charade.”

“It would only be a charade…” Centu’s voice quivered under the pressure of the sharp talon, “If his gambits weren’t paying off. I think you would do well to take him more seriously. Just as I’m doing.”

“By sending idiots into my ancient relics?”

“Not on purpose, your highness, but did you see the countless creatures he brought to your front door? The things that my champion - and the Five’s champion – dispatched for you?”

“For me?”

“Consider it a gift, my liege.” Centu bowed in a traditional manner. “Consider it something performed as a duty to the mother of one of the most ancient beings of the mortal realm. I merely want to preserve what you have created, oh great creator.” Centu was playing the game harder than she thought she’d ever have to, and it made her sick. And she knew that the Dragon Mother knew.

“You’re lying… to a degree. But even through your lies, you are speaking some truth. Some.” Vajra stepped away from Centu, “See, little goddess, even though you aren’t being fully honest with me, I’ll be honest with you.”

Centu let out a deep breath as the talon pulled away from her chin and Vajra circled away. Her entire body relaxed and her grip around her umbrella loosened. At least she wasn’t getting wet. Unlike Vajra.

“I didn’t know he was there. Had I known, he wouldn’t have survived for however long he used my temple as a nest. Based on my champion’s cries, I imagine he was rallying fools to his cause there for weeks.”

“Weeks? Why did you ignore your champion?”

“Champions,” Vajra spat, “they’re foolish, stupid little creatures. Don’t you know, they cry to get their god’s attention all the time. Cas and Bedlam, they whine and whine and whine. I figured this was merely more whining. But I’m sure you’ve figured out the Void Tyrant’s greatest upper hand by now, haven’t you?”

“He defies omnipotence.” Centu said. “None of us can find him – feel him.”

“Indeed. Until he decides to reveal himself, no one – not I, nor Oran-Koh, nor Guaya could even feel him. But even your champion’s presence - he was like a crack breaking in the foundation of my temple. I felt it so strongly, that it made me sick to my stomach, but I felt something more. Cas and Bedlam’s relief. Relief. How strange a feeling for my champion to feel.”

“It was because he was being saved.” Centu replied.

“Again, you’re correct. And they call you stupid. Clearly, they were wrong.”

“You call me stupid.” Centu corrected.

“Ah. No matter. My point is, where my champion cowered, yours rose to the occasion. Mine should’ve thrown himself on the fire, and yet he didn’t… why is that?”

“Dragon Mother, with all due respect, you didn’t care about Carja’s impact, so why should he?”

Vajra nodded thoughtfully as she went behind Centu, running a talon along Centu’s shoulder blades. “That is indeed a point, child.”

“Maybe if you helped us –“

“You want my help?”

“Dragon Mother,” Centu swung around to meet her face-to-face, “you may be our last chance at saving all the realms. Guaya refused. If we could have all three of the great creators, we could definitively place this tyrant in the ground when the time comes.”

“Tell me something first: How do you know so much? And no more lies.”

“The Fates and the Five have guided our champions. We’ve collaborated much within our coalition to get as much information as we can.”

“Again with the half-truths. Lovely try, but now I’d like to hear the whole truth. And this is your last warning. No. More. Lies.” Centu growled. She rose higher into the air, intimidating Centu.

“The Man with a Million Names has joined our plight.” She said, lowering her head.

Vajra recoiled in disgust, “The Vulture?”

“I believe he prefers ‘The Brahman.’”

“Well, he isn’t the Brahman. The Brahman is dead. He’s the vulture that took what was left of the true Brahman.”

“Brahman is but a title, Dragon Mother. Anyone can carry such a title -”

“Doesn’t matter.” Vajra waved the point away and thought for a moment. She gave Centu an unsettling grin, “Fine. I’ll talk to the estranged so called ‘peace goddess.’”

“Really? That’s all it took?” Centu asked.

“Sometimes you just must ask, child. Of course, I don’t want the apocalypse to consume the realms. How will I devour you and all your followers on the day the last dragon dies if there’s no world left?”

Centu felt a chill run up her spine. She changed the topic, “I’ve been visiting with the Duchess to curry her favor. I believe we’re close to reaching a deal. Is there anyone else you can think to convince?”

“Ah, that whiney excuse for a god? How is she?” Before Centu could answer, Vajra waved a dismissive hand, “I don’t want to know. Anyway, I’ll get in touch with my disgusting son. I feel the twins will have much to say as well.”

“What can the twins do?”

“You’d be surprised, child. You should’ve come to me from the start. I won’t sit and do nothing like my brother, nor would I ignore you like Guaya. All you needed to do was come before me.” Centu doubted the very words that poured from the Dragon Mother’s mouth. She knew better than to trust her, but for now it would have to do.

“And what of your champion?” Centu asked.

“What of them?” She replied with a flippant stare.

“Perhaps they could join mine and the Five’s –“

Vajra cackled, cracking a grin of amusement, “My champion is but a boy. A child. He – neither of them – could handle such a thing. Their souls are… broken. No, the babies must stay home. It’s time for the gods – the true gods – to handle this business. Your champions may do as they please, but I expect that what will matter most is what the most important people do. Us. The gods. The truly powerful.” Vajra began to walk away, taking steps up into the air, each one landing higher as she climbed the stairway to a portal that screams and growls echoed out of. “Oh, and one more thing: Get out of my realm.”

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Almost as soon as the Dragon Mother and Centu disappeared, a figure was standing in their place. It was a man – or perhaps a monster.

“Hey!” Akashi shouted when he saw him. “I remember you. You’re the guard dog, huh?”

“Guard dog?” The man spat. As his face twisted in disgust, a voice hissed in disdain all around them, “My name is Cas.” Now that he was standing in the open, Akashi could see him more clearly. His skin was a bronze and purple mesh of scale and dusted brick overlapping each other with a viscous slime caking him. His pointed teeth and feral yellowed sunken eyes accented his weary tired face. He had two grand horns jutting over 12 inches from his head that ended in filed down stumps. Practically wrapped around the horns was a crown of flowers – clearly taken from the cavern’s spring. He wore loose pants that barely were kept up by an old, studded belt. His chest was covered in lashings - fresh and scarred. His long tail dangled under his head. He was floating upside down. None of them could remember him ever turning over, and yet he suddenly was.

“How are you - you can fly? Who are you?” Seijun asked.

“I don’t even want to know.” Akashi added with a sigh. “Let’s just get out of here, Seij.”

“Voices voices voices… oh friend, I guide you away from mother.” His mouth didn’t once open as the words echoed across the temple.

“I’m Cas.” The mess of a creature said as he anxiously rubbed one of the horns. “That annoying little giggle that’s been in your head is Bedlam.” This time his mouth did move. “We’re one in the same. The whole two souls and one body thing. It’s a trip, but it’s life.” He said with a depressed sigh. “Just… come on, let’s get you out of here before Mother comes back and decides to release a different apocalypse on the land just because I didn’t follow her directions.”

“So, you’re the Dragon Mother’s champion?” Seijun asked as he cautiously approached Cas.

“And you’re… what, part dragon or something?” Akashi added.

“Two two two questions. He plays games. Mother would not be pleased… too many questions, no right answers.”

“Bedlam, enough of the games.” Cas sighed. He flipped over and his feet landed on the ground, “Follow me, would you?” Cas walked towards the spring in silence. Bedlam’s laugh followed them through the caverns.

“At least he’s laughing again, huh?” Akashi said.

“Yeah, it’s better he’s happy than not.” Cas said with a nervous laugh. “Bedlam’s a dick.”

“So you were the ones messing with our heads, huh?” Akashi asked.

“It’s not that simple but -”

“Games are games are games, we play - I play - mother loves it, she takes care, we love together. We protect the cave… until protection is gooey.”

“He’s a little childish, but yes. The Dragon Mother has tasked us with protecting her holiest of sites... among other things. Its my curse - our burden. It’s the most satisfactory ending we could possibly have to a life of torture. Some lives longer than others…”

Seijun rolled his arm, trying to loosen up his tense muscles from the fight. “Dare I ask?”

“Please don’t.” Cas replied. “It’s too exhausting to explain.” Cas smiled a sharp grin, and his forked tongue slithered between the gaps, “Let’s just say I learned the hard way how dragons hatch. And until Bedlam grows up and I grow old, we have no choice but to be inseparable.” Cas gave a wink, and then his face contorted into a sickening smile,

“A parasite to which mutualistic taste. Our desire becomes love.” Bedlam spoke through Cas’ mouth.

Cas slapped himself, “Cut it out!” He shouted. He turned back to the others and gave a guilty grin, “Sorry, I hate when he does that.” He growled and shook his head, “Either way, we have to get you back. Just stay away from Mother’s people and places of power, please. I don’t want to track you across the continent again to make sure you don’t cause trouble for her again.” He ran a long-nailed finger along one of the lashes on his chest, “We’ll pay for this.”

Uncharacteristically, he shrugged, gave a wink and smile, “We like the way it burrrrrnnnnnsssss.” Bedlam hissed through his lips.

“Bedlam! Stop!” Cas shouted and a childish giggle erupted from the walls. “Asshole.” Cas shook his head, “Sorry, sorry. Right this way, gentlemen.” Cas coaxed Seijun and Akashi into the water. Once they were, He put his hands out to both of them. Akashi and Seijun both hesitated. Cas sighed, “Look, I know, I get it. I’m disgusting, I’m a freak, I’m weird. Even for a champion,” He eyed Akashi as he said the last part, “but this is how you get out. So take my hands, close your eyes, and trust me, would you?”

Akashi and Seijun obliged quietly.

“That’s better. Now, eyes closed.” As they closed their eyes, they both felt an intense wind gust through them. Their feet were suddenly free of the ground.

“Gods above, that was horrifying.” Lady Vey said through a quiver.

“Sorry, I should’ve instructed you to close your eyes too. Can you even close your eyes?” Cas asked.

“I –“

“You can open your eyes, by the way.” Akashi and Seijun were standing again in the dark of the cavern tunnels, facing away from the temples.

“What did you see, auntie?” Seijun asked Vey.

“I saw… I saw a horrible beast of a dragon. It devoured the world in a single gulp, but it slumbered. Slumbered on the dead for millennia.”

“Unfortunately, when I use certain… abilities on other people, Bedlam gets to weasel into frame and show whatever he wants. Again, sorry for not warning you more specifically, I guess.” Cas let out a nervous laugh and rubbed the top of his horns with one hand. His other hand absent mindedly reached for a flower on his clown, plucked it. and popped it part way into his mouth. He casually chewed it and spoke with his mouth full, “Please, don’t let there be a next time. Nothing personal, but I never want to see you again after this. Got it?”

“Heard.” Akashi said with a nod. “I think I’ve had enough of the Dragon Mother and Bedlam – no offense, guy – to last a hundred more lifetimes.

“None taken. Oh, and I almost forgot her arrival brought an earthquake down on Dragon’s Heart. Town’s on a tsunami watch. You shouldn’t go down there anyways, but that’s just one more reason to steer clear of the coast for a while. But also, just don’t cause any more trouble with Mother. Don’t give the people another reason to be terrified for their lives. They’ve been through enough as it is.”

“We understand. We’ll leave in peace.” Seijun bowed his head and stepped away. Together, Seijun, Akashi, and Vey – who appeared in her bodily form between them – completed the walk out of the tunnel. Cas followed behind, stalking them like a beast in the night, waiting for them to make a mistake. To their surprise, Lou was sitting on a rock under a nearby tree. He had some scrolls with him that they hadn’t seen before, and when he saw them a large grin parted his mouth.

“Oh, thank the gods you’re still with us. When the earthquake hit I –“

“We’re all good here, friend.” Akashi said with a smile.

“Oh, I don’t think so…” Brahman said, his smile holding firm even though he blinked rapidly.

“YOU!” The words came from both Cas’ mouth and Bedlam’s voice. It was the voice of terror, of horror, of rage, of hunger. “Why are you here?” Cas shouted. “Who told you you could be here?” Cas melted down, falling to his knees in the mouth of the cave as Bedlam hissed and growled.

“Okay, okay, let’s all settle down now.” Akashi stepped between Cas and Brahman, hands raised to both of them.

“You need to leave. You need to leave. You need to leave –“

“I think they get the point, Cas.”

“Shut up, Tao!” Cas hissed at Brahman. He stood up and pointed through Akashi directly at Brahman.

“Leave now, or she will devour.” Bedlam’s slithering wet voice crept from Cas’ lips. His eyes turned to narrow dots, his skin became more viscous than before, “The Mother will have you. Then she will taste the blood of the dead and wipe the soul from the little kitten. Oh, she will feast. Oh, she will love you. Murder murder murder. Let me have a taste -”

“Okay.” Cas snapped back into control, tears running down his face, mixing with the slime that coated him. “I think you get the point.” He said as he struggled to breath. “Please, please, please just leave. Leave.”

“Alright. This is us going. We’re going.” Akashi began to back away, his hands up. “Brahman, pick up your things. We’re out of here.”

“Right behind you.” Lou stood up, and walked away, “Cas, we’re going to have to talk this out one day!” He shouted over his shoulder.

Cas’ voice rose like a roar into the sky, growing louder as he screamed. They could only make out one word for certain in the mixture of screams and screeches: “No.”

Brahman immediately began trekking down the mountain, the others in tow behind him.

“So… what the hell was that about?” Akashi asked.

“Story for another day, my friend.” Lou said with a wink.

“And you know all that happened to us?” Lady Vey asked.

“That I do.” He replied. “Fates aren’t good at keeping quiet when big things happen.

“I never want to come back here again.” Seijun said as he steadied his breath.

“That makes two of us.” Akashi added.

“Three.” Vey corrected.

“Come on, you haven’t even been in the city proper! There’s a lot of beauty if you ignore the nasty unsettling horrors. I say you boys oughta lighten up.”

As they made their way away from the city, Seijun decided to spark up a conversation, “Lou, what were you doing with those scrolls before we came out?”

“Ah, I was conversing with the Fates. They send me prophecies upon these scrolls, and I send them tales of those passed.”

“And what did they say?”

“Well, they said a deal has been made. Between our gracious goddess of the storm and The Duchess.”

“The Duchess?” Seijun asked. “Who’s The Duchess?”

“Allow me,” Vey said with a grin, “The Duchess is the goddess of fire and rage.”

“Ain’t that the truth. She may not be the toughest out there, but she is the angriest.” Lou said with a chuckle.

“The Duchess?” Akashi asked. “I know where this is going…”

“Exactly. Now, here’s the deal: You need to go to Caaremen and do her a favor. Apparently, you do this for her, and she’ll join the coalition.” Lou said.

“I wonder what the favor may be.” Vey pondered.

“If it’s the Duchess and Caaremen? Then it’s going to relate to Zanth. Bet on it.” Akashi said. “But, only one way to find out. Right, V?”

“Indeed. I suppose we’ll need to travel a little ways back west then.” Vey said.

“And carefully too. You can follow the rail tracks that connect Dragon’s Heart to Caaremen. You just travel down alongside it, and you’ll make it to Caaremen in no time.”

“You’re not coming?” Seijun asked.

“I’ve had enough of Zanth to last a few hundred lifetimes. I’m keeping east for now. But I’ll tell you what: You gentlemen meet me in Zephyr’s Pass when you’re done with whatever needs done in Caaremen, you hear? I’ll get you the rest of the way from there.”

“And how do we get there?” Seijun asked.

“Follow the mountain range that splits off from Dragon’s Spine. Once you’ve followed it long enough, you’ll pick up a trail that cuts into the mountain. Then you’ll find the most beautiful little city nuzzled in the valley of the mountain. That’s Zephyr for you. I’ll be there. I’ll book a hotel or something for you, and we’ll all take a nice long rest before the last legs of this journey. You’ve been to where he was, now it’s time to go where the tyrant god is going to… eventually.” He lowered his voice to a whisper, “When he gets his head out of his ass.” Brahman winked and chuckled, “But first, you need to go back west. Shouldn’t take you long at all.”

“How hard can it be, right?” Akashi asked.

“You know Caaremen?” Seijun asked.

“Sure, I know of it. Place hasn’t had a break in decades. Before Ravyn’s End, that old city-state got the brunt of Zanth’s attacks. They’ve stood up better than most to Zanth’s expansion. Not sure what they’ve got brewing, but based on this deal, I bet they’ve got their god on their side at least.”

“I’d say you’re right,” Lou said with a wink and a turn of his heel as he traveled away from the trio, “all too right.”

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Hello everyone! Thank you so much for reading!

For our inspiration this week, I would like to share a beautiful Taoist mountain/collection of temples I visited in China: Mount Qincheng. This place was unreal to visit. It was such a humbling experience in ways I don’t have space to discuss here. But man was it beautiful, and very inspiring. I especially loved these temples built directly into the mountains. Unreal stuff.

I haven’t decided if I want to release the next chapter, The Legend of the Fire Tamer, next week, or if I want to do the next episode of Marrow Chronicle, so if you have strong opinions one way or another, leave me a comment and let me know what you’re feeling! The next chapter will have ~broader implications~ to Astra, and I’m excited to introduce some side characters in need!

I also wanted to draw attention to a little special someone introduced in this chapter: Cas! Cas actually has his own novella that I wrote most of last year. I was going to serialize it, but I sort of just lost steam and never finished it. Honestly, his story sort of unsettled me in a way that stopped me in my tracks. I do want to go back and finish it one day though. It’d be the creepiest story in all of Astra if I ever did, that’s for sure. If that sounds interesting to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

In the meantime, things are staying as busy as ever over on my end, but I’m happy to have this space to write, share, and read (which I need to do more of soon!). Thank you so much for reading and I’ll catch you next week!