Chapter Two-Hundred

Chapter Two-Hundred

Nova

Nova listlessly glides through the rock near the border to the volcanic area, trying more to gather her thoughts than to hunt the fire elementals that try to sneak into Thedeim. She feels a little guilty about that, about letting the other wyrms handle the brunt of the work there, but well, its complicated.

Its not that she feels bad for the elementals. Shes seen what happens if one catches one of the spiders or other denizens that arent able to take the heat. Yeah, she has no problem eating them after seeing that, and they honestly taste pretty good. Her feelings get complicated when she tries to link her purpose to stopping them.

Shes not going to get the power to rival stars by just eating fire elementals. While shes not even sure she wants that kind of terrible strength her name implies, shes getting more and more sure she wants more than to just deal with invaders.

Shed like to do something with the delvers, but thats a whole different kind of complicated. Shes seen the grass smolder when she visits the surface, so its not difficult to imagine shed have a similar effect on the delvers as the fire elementals have on the other denizens. Even without Guide Thedeim not wanting to hurt the delvers, Nova wouldnt want to do something like that to them. She actually likes a lot of them.

Shes just bad at showing it. Like those two that got separated. She wanted to try to interact with them, but she surfaced right in front of the heat sensor and trapped them. That was just embarrassing, even if the Guide found it amusing.

She sighs as her thoughts settle on whats really bothering her: she doesnt know what she should do. Shes been trying to follow the advice of the other scions, to just get settled and try to get used to everything, but she feels like shes letting Thedeim down by not pursuing a goal yet.

Just because she knows thats silly, doesnt stop her from feeling that way. Its difficult to imagine Coda feeling lost like she does sometimes, considering how busy he always is. But shes heard the others say he used to worry if he did something wrong to make the Guide abandon him. Does she just need to be patient? Probably but can she?

She grinds her mandibles at the thought, then sighs and rolls over, trying to get comfortable. She should try talking to Coda about it. If he really was like her for a long time, maybe hell have suggestions for how to handle it? If nothing else, itll give her something to focus on.

She wallows in whatever it is shes wallowing in for a few more seconds, before pulling on her big-girl pants and tunneling to the labyrinth. Its well past dusk, and Coda should be working on the mechanical traps by now. Shes pretty sure he was working on the rotating T-intersection near the crucible ants last night, and she cant imagine something like that is a one-night job.

She takes the direct route there, though she goes a bit slower than one might expect. Shes just making sure she doesnt leave obvious marks in the tunnels when she dives up through them. Shes not trying to delay, nor does she have a sense of dread to overcome. Hes a fellow scion, not someone she should be nervous around.

She even mostly believes that by the time she pokes her head through the floor. When she spots Jello there as well, she almost slips back under, but her gelatinous friend burbles a happy greeting before she can pretend she was never there.

Friend Nova! Howre you doing? Did you want to watch Friend Coda work? Jello has been helping make parts!

That at least explains the pieces of metal floating around inside her. After a moments hesitation, Nova nods and slides out of her hole.

Yes er, no I didnt come to watch him work. It looks so complicated, and I wouldnt want to warp anything by getting too close.

Nothing to worry about there, Nova, explains Coda as he motions her forward with a wingclaw. Jello is keeping her parts at a stable temperature, and even once she gives them to me, they should be fine as long as you dont try to melt through the floor too close.

Queen? echoes Nova, and Coda looks just as lost.

Oh yes, Jello and Friend Queen talk a lot, and she admitted he didnt actually plan for her to be an Alchemist. He wanted her to be his new Guardian, since Friend Tiny kinda outgrew the sanctum. But she became an Alchemist instead on accident.

Huh, muses Coda

I I dont have to wait? whispers Nova, trying to wrap her head around the idea.

Nope! confirms Jello, and Nova just sits there for a good minute. The other two watch her with patience, letting her try to parse what shes just learned, and to see what shell do with that knowledge.

I she starts, and the two others lean in, eager to hear what she has to say. I I still dont know what to do, she starts, but she sounds more determined as she continues. But I know I want to go to the Southwood, to help fight!

Then I hope youre all packed, Nova. The Boss wants us to move out in the morning, comes the unexpected voice of the Voice, and Nova almost leaps through the ceiling in surprise.

Voice Teemo! I, uh

He waves her off. Just Teemo, Nova. If you want to go, the Boss is happy to let you. Hes been giving you space so you can figure yourself out. If you want to go help fight, you can go help fight.

Oh, can Jello come, too!

Teemo gives the cube of slime a sideways look. I mean, sure, but I thought you were having fun with the metalworking.

Jello starts to melt a little as she seriously thinks, before her shape snaps back into focus. Yes, Jello does like the metalworking. If they were undead, she might go fight instead, but that dungeon doesnt sound very tasty. Sorry, Friend Nova.

Teemo smiles at that, then turns his attention to Coda. How about you? You wanna go fight?

Nope. I have enough on my plate already, thank you. With that, the bat scion starts digging around in the mechanisms of the wall section. He calls back to Jello for parts as he works, which she dutifully hands over. Teemo smiles before focusing back on Nova.

If you want to go, you should head to the caverns for now. Fluffles will be coming along to relieve Rocky, and he and Leo are sparring and comparing notes in there right now. Once the dawn comes, well grab Honey and head out with whatever adventurers want to come help scout. That sound good?

It does. It really does.