Black Magus Chapter 288 The Walk

The formation of the Death Gate created a surge of necrotic healing energy, resulting in the road thinning to the width of a cunt hair. Yet, when I opened my eyes, I saw neither reality nor the necrotic world of Death's Road but an inversed amalgamation of the two.

Reality had been painted in the borders of Death's Road, creating a field of sea-green fire solidified into the geometrical shapes designed onto the floor beneath me, the roots around me, and the cavern beyond. The arachnids and crawlers of the underground were like cold blots of darkness against the sea-green backdrop of reality, almost like seeing Venus pass between your frame of reference and the Sun.

It was within that field of green that I noticed two human-sized figures standing close by the entrance and then approaching to interrupt my meditation. Rather than be annoyed, however, I was eager to move on to the next step. I opened my well, after all. And Etan would have come in to check on me sooner or later.

And so, I turned, seeing two eerily similar androgynous faces of gray-violet skin. Locks of web-white hair flowed from their ebony scalps, tied with a familiar elegance so as to not allow the strands to fall before their crimson red- almost vampiric eyes as they stared and gasped with equal parts disdain and awe.

<> The woman, dressed in a gossamer robe and tattooed with white webs throughout her body, was the one I assumed Etan called Matron Etyl. How familiar she looked. How familiar they both looked. Their noses, chins, eye shapes, how they wore their hair, and most of all their brooches were all so much like Abbot Eiriol.

So much like…

<> I inquired, eliciting a curious twitch of the eye before her expression feigned amiability.

"Bool," She said, a word for something both interesting and unexplainable in my mother's tongue. Or, as Iris interpreted it, a weirdo. <>

<> I snorted, mostly at Etan's dour expression, but also at her reminding me about a certain emperor. <>

Another twitch of the eye, but this one was followed by a wicked smile. <> A single snap followed her words, spurring Etan to meekly step between us with a blue sash held at arm's reach.

<> I admitted. <> After all, it worked for all the nations on the outside.

<> Etan hesitantly nodded. <>

Etyl, seeming to grow impatient with our small talk, pushed Etan aside rather forcefully and stepped before me. <>

I couldn't help but notice the confused and shocked gaze of Etan before he shielded it behind a mask of stoicism, and then turned to guide me to a strange portal. It looked like a giant, glowing flower petal of purples and reds, sitting alone inside of an alcove.

Tentatively, I followed the other two onto the petals and watched in morbid awe as they lifted to close around us, and after a burst of spores or pollen, the petals unfurled to reveal the same unassuming hut I met Etan in.

<> the monk turned at the door, <>

Changing was only a matter of unraveling the wrappings and pulling one of the hundreds of outfits made by Giorno straight onto my body from my shadow pocket. A lightly winterized version of my standard garb minus the feathered robe elicited curious gazes and subtle remarks from the drow as I stepped out into the bleak winter night.

After checking up on the girls, of course, still training with Eiriol, under the careful eye of the Owl. Though, they would join me soon.

I was, however, surprised to see Peter and the others waiting outside. Two drow, a male and female, stood closely by their sides. Ever scowling, it seemed. Except when their eyes turned meek upon meeting the gaze of Etyl. That, and the looks of reverence, confusion, and mild contempt they turned towards me.

Not to mention the disdainful scorns given to Rua as he approached me.

"They speak of showing us the way, yet they deny me mine," Rua said, meeting his calm eyes with mine. In turn, I shifted toward my… supervisor. She evidently had the most authority around here.

"Calm, Elg-Horr." She said, waving to Etan to explain.

"We understand Rua needs his weapon. He will be the only exception. The rest of you are to use only what you find during your walk."

I noticed a sudden glean arise in Etyl's eye as Etan nodded to Rua's instructor. <>

There was no reaction from Rua, but a small rendering of his visage appeared in the corner of my vision, followed by his voice ringing through my head. 'I do not like this one.'

'Yeah, she's crazy.' I sighed internally. 'Just hand it to him. We already know what'll happen anyway.' I rolled my eyes.

With a deep groan, Rua disconnected from the Net and simultaneously released the sentient weapon into the drow's hand.

As if a titan tilted the Mortal Plane, the drow fell forward with a scream of curses and howled once his hand pressed between the indignant weapon and the unyielding ground with a sickening crunch. The shouts of confusion and pain then turned to gasps of relief as Rua approached, retrieving his weapon and healing the lad's hand with a few quick snaps and pops.

"What does it mean to be worthy?" he looked up at Rua, rubbing his hand gingerly. But the young monk only turned, smiling.

"Perhaps you will learn."

"Enough wasting time!" Etyl randomly snapped, shocking the drow to a standstill. "Choose a direction and walk!"

We, however, were equal parts bemused and amused, exchanging gazes between each other before I causally shrugged. "North." Then I started walking, hearing Peter say he'd take the south, followed by Rua taking the east, and Veil of Shadows taking the west while I watched them mark out the paths through NoxNet.

'I hear you are without a family name.'

It hadn't even been five minutes of walking. However, the way in which she signed the words stood out to me. Not that I've seen another drow use our sign language other than my mother and those here. But my observations in the Halls coincided with my mother's explanation of 'dialects' in the unspoken language. That said, I knew not if those dialects varied by region or bloodline. Unlike our spoken word.

<> I flatly said, but the darkness muted the words like a soft whisper.

<> She promptly said, and much louder than me at that. Then, after I gave her no response, she nearly shouted. <>

<> I laughed. <>

<> Etyl hissed with pride. <>

<> I snorted.

She seethed. <>

<> I nodded indifferently, although a small part of me became a little more attuned to the waxing and waning voice in my head.

Coincidentally, Etan took advantage of the silence, stepping close enough to whisper. <>

I explained it as casually as I would anything else. And that seemed to make Etyl boil. <>

<> I shrugged again, giving them both pause as I stopped to look up to the moon. <> I turned my gaze to Etyl, giving her a nod before my eyes drifted to the illuminated rocks floating in the southwestern sky. <

<> I playfully grinned. <>

<> Etan motioned to the muffled cacophony in the distance. <>