Interlude - Madness

Interlude - Madness

A long time ago

Karya walked out of the meeting room barely able to contain her anger. She glanced to the side, seeing the others shuffling out as well. She met Anataliens eyes, saw her grimace and shook her head. She turned away and tried to calm herself as she waited. A few seconds later Erakael walked out, his brother by his side. Bolas was a head taller, a titan walking amongst the others of his kind, tall even for a drake. His black scales were rough and jagged, looking as if they would cut on the barest of touch. Compared to him, Erakael was the complete opposite, tall for a drakeyes, but not as tall as his brother. His scales were light brown, the color of the earth and sand, smooth, his eyes golden.

They approached her, and Bolas gave her a long look before turning.

Speak to you soon, brother, he said before walking away.

Karya watched him go, watched everyone else go until just the two of them were left in the corridor. Then, she turned and looked at Erakael.

I know what you are going to say, he said before she could even open her mouth.

You saw what happened in there, she waved her hand at the open doors leading to the meeting room.

It you know that we cant continue like this, Erakael said slowly. They dont allow us access to the best dungeons, they get the pick of any new ones that are discovered. Their expansion is unchecked, while we need to obey their directives as to where we can go. They are strangling our growth.

Yes, Karya agreed. But nothing will change or get better if Bolas keeps antagonizing and threatening them.

Erakael looked away. His trust and belief in his brother was hurting them too much. He couldnt accept that the brother he loved was gone, consumed by the madness that had come with his power.

They wont go to war, Erakael said. Verostion and the others have too much to lose.

You are underestimating just how insane all of them are, Karya told him.

He winced, then turned to look at her. Karya, please.

What? I cant just stand here and watch it happen.

Bolas is he is starting to lose trust in you.Folloow current novÊls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m)

She narrowed her eyes. What did he say?

I he is starting to think that you might not be on his side, Erakael said slowly.

Im not, she told him. I am on the side that will see all of us survive and thrive, not just those who he thinks are loyal.

He shifted his weight, looking pained. He looked around, almost as if afraid that someone couldve overheard her. Karya, please. If he heard

Let him hear. Ill say it to his face too. We cannot continue like this.

Itll work out, I know that it will. We just need to find common ground.

Karya sighed, she knew that she wouldnt convince him. He was delusional, and he loved his brother too much.

Karya walked into Erakaels office and found him leaning over the table, looking at maps. As she entered, he glanced up and then turned back to the map.

Karya stopped in front of the table, waiting for a few seconds. Then she spoke, not being able to take the silence. You asked for me?

He sighed. Yes.

Why? She could recognize that something was bothering him, she knew him well enough for that.

It wasnt my idea, he said slowly.

Karyas eyes narrowed. What wasnt?

He placed his finger on the map, far in the south from the core. She recognized the general area, it was the direction that their Iteration was allowed to expand in, to take territories there. It was a slap in the face, the fact that they controlled what and where they could go. She looked more closely to the area he was pointing, the exact territory, and then realized what it was.

That territory, its the

Yes, Erakael confirmed it.

It was one territory that none of their scouts had ever returned from. They had even sent an expansion group, it too didnt return. Karya thought that they had all agreed that the territory had to be a home to some pretty high tiered monsters, something that their teams couldnt handle.

One territory, it wasnt much in the grand scheme of things. Bolas had decided to leave it alone for now, he was far too occupied with trying to wrest more control from the First and the Second Iterations to deal with one territory that wasnt even hindering their expansion that much. They were just going around it.

What about it? She asked.

He looked uncomfortable, as if he was trying to find the words.

Just say it, she snapped.

Erakael raised his head, meeting her eyes. Bolas wants you to go there, investigate, claim it.

Karya frowned. He wants to send a team, now? Why? He wants everyone here and ready in case that things get out of hand.

Erakael shook his head. Not a team, just you.

Karya blinked, and then narrowed her eyes in anger. He wants me out of the way.

No, I

Of course he does, he doesnt like that I am a voice of reason. I go and die and he is happy, I go and succeed and he shares in the success of us getting another territory. And what if I refuse to go?

A few of my people, scouts, had come here, none had returned. I came to investigate, she said. It would probably be smarter not to say that she was tasked with taking the territory. Though by the looks of it, that was going to be a hard task to accomplish. Whoever this man was, he was very powerful.

Anyone that entered my garden uninvited died, and their bodies fed the growth of my work. Perhaps I could find some bones around here somewhere, the man said, looking around as if searching for bones.

Karya swallowed despite the pain in her throat. There was something wrong about him. Killing anyone that entered his territory? It was extreme.

I I dont want any trouble with you and your people. We didnt even know that anyone was here, we assumed that it was only monsters. Now that we know, we will not send anyone else, Karya said, it wasnt a lie. That would be her recommendation, though what Bolas would do was something else entirely.

He tilted his head again. I have no people, this garden is mine alone.

Karya blinked, surprised. She looked around, seeing every plant move as if it was a single being. She had assumed that this was the work of thousands of people following the same Class or Path. If it was all him

My name is Karya Cionaoith, I apologize for trespassing. If we can come to an accord I will leave without burning any more of your garden, and without you trying to kill me.

The man didnt answer, instead his eyes just kept looking at her. You damaged my garden, my work.

And I am sorry for that, I couldnt have known that it was here or yours.

He seemed to be struggling with what to do. His eyes got a faraway look to them, still looking at her, but not really seeing her.

Every blade of grass that you trampled, Ive shaped by hand. Every flower that you burned, Ive nurtured. Every tree that turned to ash, Ive sang to as it grew. You my work

What is your name? Karya asked, recognizing what was happening. She had seen this often enough, with Bolas, with Verostion and others. He was mad. She couldnt sense Qi, but she had no doubt that he had advanced down all three focuses. He didnt know better. He was like one of those who had left the core early, surviving in the wilderness beyond the territories that the others made safe. Gaining strength and power, but at a cost. They didnt know about the things that the others had realized, and even they didnt quite believe. She couldnt let him continue down the spiral.

He snapped, his eyes focusing on her.

Ender, he said slowly. Ender Ornn.

Ender, she said softly. I truly wish no harm to you or your garden. If you let me leave, I can promise that I will not return, unless invited. I will do no harm to what youve built.

He blinked, then tilted his head again.

You promise? He whispered.

Karya nodded. I do.

He narrowed his eyes, but then the roots let her go and she fell to the ground. She grimaced and then slowly got up.

Thank you, she said.

He looked at her for a long moment and then gestured. Come, follow me. Ill lead you out.

Ender led her through the winding paths, past plants unlike anything that she had ever seen. There were vines that twisted into murals, images that she recognized from Earth. Famous paintings, or just famous sights. There were sculptures too, grown out of wood, some familiar to her as important figures from Earths history, others unknown. He was from Earth, that much she was certain about now.

Then, as they walked in silence, she paused. A sight caught her attention, a group of flowers growing around a tree. They were the color of blood, with white stems and leaves, something about them was captivating. It was almost as if they were telling her a story. A story of innocence tainted by blood.

You like them, he asked, snapping her out.

She turned around, ready to apologize again, but she didnt see any ill intent in his eyes. They were more expecting?

She turned back to the flowers. They are beautiful, and sad.

He tilted his head. You really think so?

Im sorry if I

No, no, he said. Thats fine. I never had anyone see them before. Thank you for telling me what you think.

He turned and continued walking, and she followed after a few steps.

Soon, she recognized the area where she had entered, she saw the burnt ground and plants already moving to retake what she had destroyed.

Ender paused next to the tunnel, looking at it for a few seconds before turning to look at her.

There, you may leave, he said slowly.

She knew that the only reason he let her go was because she couldve done a lot of damage to his garden. Still, she didnt know what to say. She hadnt expected this.

I am sorry for intruding; Ill make sure that everyone knows that this territory is yours.

He nodded and she stepped around him to leave.

Here, he said, stopping her.

She turned around and saw him holding out something for her, it was a blood-red flower. You are the first one other than me that saw them. Take it, it will not wither.

She frowned, and reached for it slowly. It was really beautiful, but also evoked the feeling of loss, of melancholy, of loneliness.

Thank you, she said.

He nodded and then turned, walking away and disappearing into the shadows of his garden.

Karya stood there for a few seconds, and then turned, leaving the garden.