Book Two Chapter Fifty Nine: Power Fluctuation in LT

Book Two Chapter Fifty Nine: Power Fluctuation in LT

Qube dreamed.

She was immersed in numbers, and constantly fluctuating equations. She was travelling somewhere, reaching out for answers amongst the formulas that flickered like stars and pulled her onwards.

Was she doing the right thing? Was she being Good? Could she fix everything? Could things even be fixed? Was the Evil Emperor really Evil? How did he feel about being controlled by the Dark Prophecy?

Would she be able to face him without wanting to kill him for what hed done to her people?

She knew she should be compassionate, should think about how little choice hed probably had, how hed been forced into it, but she couldnt summon more than a shred of empathy. Instead, when she thought of him, she felt white-hot rage burn through her. It was scary, how intense the emotion was, but also exhilarating.

The numbers flew by, faster and faster, although she felt like she was somehow standing still. Their movement mirrored the swirling thoughts in her mind, and made her feel dizzy. The angrier she got, the more hate she felt, the faster she moved.

The movement-without-moving slowed, and she was travelling towards a castle built of numbers. Closer, and closer, until she passed through insubstantial walls that flickered equations at her. She was pulled into a huge hall with high arches overhead and hundreds of doorways lining the walls. It was filled with numbers, save a small hole torn in the digits, next to a jagged chair that overlooked the room.

That space-without-numbers drew her closer and instinctively she sensed that this was what had brought her here. She was meant to be there, to fill that space and mend the wound in the digits. Then the connection would be closed.

The numbers stuttered, and jumped, pulling her towards her home beside the giant chair.

In said chair there was a man made of maths. He was big, with a cape that shifted as the numbers changed. Why was he there? Did he have answers? Did he need her help? She reached out, and saw him mirror the action, his giant hand ghosting along her face. His head was a strange shape, oddly spikey.

No. That wasnt a head. That was a helmet.

She knew this man.

This was the Evil Emperor.

The mathematical formulas vomited out of his eyes as he looked at her, into her, tens of thousands of tiny numbers twisting towards her, grabbing, pulling at her, trying to take away pieces of her, trying to change her numbers, trying to make her fit. She staggered back, away from him, throwing up her hand to ward him off when

She was jolted back to awareness by Squiggles launching herself into her lap.

Im awake! she shouted into Squiggless flank. I wasnt asleep!

Nobody paid any attention to her, which was probably just as well.

That, Qube thought, had been a particularly disturbing dream. Clearly, sleeping anywhere other than in bed was a bad idea. She hoped that didnt mean that the Chosen One was having bad dreams. What if he was facing off against a digit-based version of the Evil Emperor too? Or maybe he would dream of fighting against the Evil Devs! That would be even scarier! She would have to warn him about the dangers of non-bed sleeping, and insist on them spending the night in an inn.

The image of that empty space calling her echoed through her mind and she shook her head, trying to dispel it.

Also, the music was back. Was it getting louder, or was she just getting better at hearing it? Was she starting to learn combat music? There didnt seem to be any combat happening though. Maybe this was non-danger music? Did that mean the Chosen One had to listen to this music any time there wasnt fighting?

That would be so annoying!

Thank you, Lady Squiggles, Sewer Bard said calmly from somewhere behind the mass of flesh covering Qubes vision. Oh, yeah. They were in the middle of a Temple. Life or death stuff.

If the spell wasnt supposed to affect them, Qube wondered, why did they need to cover their ears when Sewer Bard performed it? Or had they only meant that the singing afterwards wouldnt affect them?

Should we be further back? she asked the Mage and the Bard, drawing back into the chest room. The others instinctively clustered around her. What if

But before she could continue, the creature began to hum to the bugs.

It still wasnt singing, not in the way that Sewer Bard had sung, and it clashed slightly with the music still playing in the back of Qubes head, but it seemed more passionate, and directed, than the humming from last time. The beetles, who had stopped their rolling around to watch the party, started shivering in place.

After a few minutes the construct stopped humming, and turned around, wandering back through the chest room and towards the construct room, brushing past the party. The beetles followed after it for a bit, but stopped in the doorway to the chest room, piling up on top of one another.

Interesting, Definitely Bad Guy said as Sewer Bard backed away from the insect mob and joined the others milling around beside the treasure chest.

One of the beetles, who looked like it was from the first wave of bugs hit by Sewer Bard when he initially unleashed his spell, tentatively reached out, and tapped the floor of the chest room. When nothing horrifying happened, it tapped a bit further out. The beetle next to it mimicked it, tapping the sandstone tile next to it.

Soon all the beetles were tapping away, some on the tiles, a few on the walls, even a few edging into the chest room just so they could tap something like the others. It was no humming, which was probably a good thing as the mental image of a horde of insects singing had the potential to be horrifying, but it was still noise.

The whole party backed away as the tide of beetles rolled into the chest room. Rather than rushing after the bandage construct, however, they seemed content to mill about the chest room, tapping away and rubbing against the walls.

Qube looked down at Squiggles, who was watching the beetles with an expression of disgust.

Theyre a bit like how you were when we first met, Qube said to the sharktopus. Squiggles gave her a very unimpressed look. You were cuter, obviously, Qube reassured the team mascot.

Squiggles snorted.

Retreating out of the chest room and back into the bandage room, Qube noticed that the rest of the bandage constructs had started exploring their space. They would shuffle around, moaning and occasionally humming, stopping to stare at various sections of the walls, coffins, and each other.

Does that mean the spell worked? Qube asked, watching the bandage constructs.

Further research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn, Definitely Bad Guy said.

That just means you dont know, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady said, frowning slightly. Well, the poor darlings certainly look like theyre now thinking for themselves. And I dont feel like Ive been affected at all. I am still myself, whatever that means.

I dont feel any different, either, Qube said, then paused. Unless did the dream count? No, shed been having dreams long before coming to this Temple. Why, she was practically a dream expert at this point! I have been hearing music, though. Similar to when we were at the circus in the Thorny Crown Trials. So I dont know if its related or not.

The others all looked at each other.

I dont hear any music, Sewer Bard said thoughtfully. Only the song that forever resides in my heart.

Music thrills me, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady said, shifting so she was slightly taller, but I only hear them. She waved a claw vaguely in the direction of the bandage constructs. Have you infected my cute little Healer? she asked Definitely Bad Guy, raising herself higher still.

I hear no music, Definitely Bad Guy said worriedly. His eyes flared as he activated a spell and examined Qube. Given you were hearing music before the spell was even conceived, I find it unlikely to be related.

Squiggles just drooled on Qubes boots.

Oh, Qube said, before giving an Understanding Smile. Well, thats all right, then! Shall we continue?