Fey stood infront of me, her brows furrowed with concern. Dark mist curling around her from.
"You saw didn't you?" She asked in an amazed voice. "I did not expect that you had such affinity to-."
That's when my knees turned to jelly, and I lost consciousness.
When I awoke, I was suddenly aware of Fey cradling me, my head resting on her plump thighs.
We were still alone in outskirts— the Serzar had not found us yet. Perhaps I would have found the situation strange if my mind wasn't so preoccupied with something else.
Fey answered my silent question. "You saw very ancient memories, Mason. Memories so powerful they could destroy an unprepared mind."
"So...you were trying to kill me" I said weakly.
Fey laughed. "I had a hunch you would survive, though I couldnt be sure.
But if you had died, it would only mean that you were too weak to be of any use to me. And it would've saved me a lot of trouble. "
"But now that Im certain," Fey said, "We can begin."
'Begin what?' I demanded.
'Just listen. The memory you saw was of ancient beings known as the endless; among others, Marduk and Nerferti.'
This Is a history known only to a very few:
When one of the endless is concieved, they need to devour an entire world before maturation can be begin. This is the reason why this particular host vistied the earth eons ago.
Marduk, ruler of his pantheon had finally sired an heir after several million years. And this was the world chosen to nourish it. So the pantheon claimed a land for themselves and waited to welcome the birth of the young ruler.
But as you saw: A banished member of his pantheon: the blood empress Nerfiti, took his life through deceit and trickery. Murdering the young prince, and all the other endless as well.
She would return millions of years later, when the first of humankind crawled out of the mud, to create the Vampiric race.
But the land where she had spilled the blood of gods remembered her sin.
And where they died, their ichor flowed out freely, forming a river of wrathful divine fire so powerful that it irradiated the entire land with their hate and resentment.
The first dragonshifter— the progenitor of our kind — was an enslaved human fleeing from his dhampir captors. He stumbled miraculously upon the divine river. A single drop of the ichor that flowed within cured his ailments, healed his injuries, gave him ancient knowledge of divine magic, and blessed him with this impossible, supernatural power.
'Then it could heal even Hera's injuries.' I interrupted, my body shivering with excitement.
Fey nodded. "And it would also strengthen her beyond your imagination. But Mason, the river is not so easy to reach. It nestles deep in the nether wastelends, surrounded by hordes of demon beasts
Several generations of Serzarian heroes have tried to find it with no luck.'
'But you believe we could ,' I said. 'Together — thats why you saved me!'
Fey hesitated. 'I saw your face in a vision when Xerxes ordered me to divine a path to the river.
I wasnt sure what it meant at the time. But now. . .'
'It doesn't matter to me what your reasons are anymore.
This is no longer a choice to me.'
She stared at me, then her lips curled into a creepy, victorious smile.
'Alright ' She said. 'Let us depart.'
———––––––—–
—–———
——
For a while we rocketed through the landscape.
"We're close now. Lets keep going." Fey reminded.
There were several roars reverberating in the distance. 'Demon beast?'
The horizon glowed a molten red.
And strangely, we seemed to be accelerating towards it.
Like some invisible force unbeknownst to us was pulling us in.
Then we reached the edge of a cliff, and I finally saw our destination.
"There it is," Fey said."The Sea of Death."
Before us spread an endless expanse of magma, fire, or sulpur—it was impossible to tell which as it all broiled together.
Sulphurous red matter churned, crashing in waves and surging up meters into the air.
The expanse stretched nearly as far as I could see— at its end, crimson waves lashed against a cliffside.
Solid ground broke away and vanished into the destruction.
A bolder the size of monolith tumbled over the hill, dissolving into the swirling chaos.
Everything, from other chunks of earth, to strange emaciated carcasses, and dead trees all vaporized into nothing after touching the waves.
And now I could feel it pulling us in, too. Instead of continuing forward, I was instinctively, warily retreating against the attractive force.
I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop if I got any closer.
"What's that?"I asked.
Fey was solemn as she responded."The Sea of Death. The place cursed with the lingering resentment of the endless— the sea is an amalgamation of their hatred and wrath."
"And how do you plan to get us across?" I joked. "I don't know how to swim."
"No swimming," Fey agreed. She stretched open her palm and a fiery glyph burned above it — it was symbol I hadnt seen before.
Then something amazing happened. Down in the broiling see, a large boat— almost yacht-like— floated serenely, unperturbed by the destructive elements.
Several runes glowed powerfully on the boat's hull. Somehow I knew that they were what was keeping the boat from dissolving into the sea— what was warding off the corrosive resentment of the endless.
"A boat," I said in awe.
"How did you—"
Without answering me, Fey leaped right onto it. But I found myself hesitant to follow jer lead.
Now that we had reached this point, Something about this quest was rubbing me the wrong way.
It was bad feeling.
Then I locked eyes with Fey.
A silence passed between us.
"Trust me." Her eyes wordlessly said to me.
I don't know why I followed after her.
The eternal night was cruel, and the destructive elements around me were unrelenting, but when I leaped on board I suddenly felt protected, as if runes etched into boat were casting a protective ward over me.
In the middle of the boat was a chamber made of wooden blanks. The chamber smelled warm and familiar—like a fireplace.
"Come on in," Fey encouraged. "I doubt the trip is going to be smooth."
I followed her voice inside.
My pupils dilated when I saw her again.
She had somehow changed clothes in the brief time that had passed. Droplets of water slid across her skin like she had just stepped out of the shower, turning the thin linen robe transparent as it clung to her skin.
She fixed me with her pitch black eyes. When she smiled, heat flooded into my groin from all over my body. In that moment I would have done anything to keep jer eyes one me. Perhaps If she'd asked me to jump off the boat and into the Sea of death, I would've done it with no hesitation.
I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. She was bemused as she observed me— a hint of satisfaction in her expression.
She waited until I was in control of myself again, then gestured amicably for me to sit on the mat opposite her.
My motions were stiff and uncomfortable.
I had a hard time looking at Fey without being entranced. There really wasn't
any feature of hers that wasn't soul stealing – and now that I could see the outline of her ripe, voluptuous body. . .
I silently scolded myself, This is was the betrothed of that monster Xerxes! She was not my companion!
"This is the magic you spoke of?" I asked when I could focus again.
"I see that it intrigues you."
"It does." I sighed. "But I doubt I have the talent for it."
Fey nodded. "It takes traces of the blood of the endless to use this reality warping power—because it originates with them. Which is why it is a power that has only been known to giftend scions of Serzar.
But very rarely, there have gifted ones who have been able to weild it as well. Albeit to a lesser degree. I believ you are such an individual."
"Me?" I echoed uncertainly.
Fey looked at me curiously. "Yes, you.
I do wonder why you are so different. . .so special. . .
But I do not doubt your affinity to magic. It is the only way you could have survived the memories of the endless."
I considered her words. "Is it really possible?"
"It will become clear soon enough," Fey promised, "I am willing to teach you— if you wish to learn that is.
And I only have one condition."
'What is it?' I asked curiously.
She flashed me seductive, mischievous smile. 'That you call me master from now on.'
Her request caught me by surprise. I raised a suspicious eyebrow.
She explained. 'Ive always wanted a disciple despite my not being a very patient teacher you know? And a male disciple at that— oh how exciting. '
I shrugged, it wouldn't really take anything away from me, but the word still felt very strange to say.
'Master..' I whispered very softly.
Suddenly, Fey's breathing sped up and her face and neck blossomed with red. Her eyes were oozing a desirous emotion.
'Woah!' I recoiled from her like a frightened cat. 'Are you alright?'
She replied bashfully: 'It's nothing really . .. It's just . . well never mind. . .we can begin.'
Next chapter title: Peace