Double chapter: one today and one tomorrow at 1 PM (Brasilia time). The chapter is already finished, translated, and edited. I've even set it on a timer (Webnovel).
As always, if anyone wants to support me or just read 3/7 chapters, you can do so on my (P)(A)(T). If not, I still appreciate you reading my stories.
That said, good night and happy reading!
(P)(A)(T)/CalleumArtori
[...]---[...]
POV: Dylan
The rain was falling rapidly outside the Humvee, drop after drop, seemingly endless. The density and intensity were so great that everything seemed to be covered by a curtain of water.
The sound of the rain was so loud that without the barrier covering us and the sound matrix, even talking would be impossible. The wind was blowing fiercely, so fast that I wouldn't be surprised to see trees uprooted.
It must be cold, too. Not as cold as in Winterhord, but still… It must be cold out there.
"This isn't normal… Not even a little bit normal…" I muttered with a heavy tone.
The entire sky was dark, as far as my eyes could see, covered by layers and layers of gray, dark, almost black clouds…
The most terrifying thing was that I knew it was only the beginning of the afternoon. Around noon. Not a single ray of sunlight passed through the thick layers of clouds… The only light besides the Humvee's headlights was the lightning snaking like serpents between the clouds…
The sun seemed to have been swallowed by the darkness…
"The three-day storm or the endless lightning?" Selina's tone was playful, but I could detect a slight tremor in her voice.
"Both, but not just that… Everything seems so wrong…" I hesitated, unsure how to express my thoughts.
Storms lasting days weren't common, but they had happened before. The same with the enormous amount of lightning, though this amount was by far the most I had ever seen, let alone witnessed.
But this storm now…
"At the same time that everything is chaotic, it's also…"
I gripped the steering wheel and looked at the muddy road while searching for the right words to express myself. Gilbert took advantage of my hesitation to speak.
"It's like everything is also calm, isn't it? Peaceful. It doesn't even feel like we're in a storm…" The old merchant grumbled. "What a strange feeling…"
"Yes…" I agreed with his words. It was the same confusing conclusion I had come to. "I can't explain it, it just feels like everything is… So calm… So wrong…"
Strangely, no one disagreed with my words, paradoxical as they were. Everyone inside the Humvee, without exception, seemed to understand what Gilbert and I were talking about and agreed with us.
"It feels like there's something in the darkness, doesn't it?… It's like something evil is watching us from the shadows…" Melissa spoke in a low tone.
I could see in the rearview mirror her pulling the blanket closer to her body as she watched the rain falling outside. She wasn't the only one.
Even with the temperature matrices on and the internal temperature of the Humvee comfortable, almost all of us were covered with blankets.
It wasn't really for the warmth, but for the sense of security the fabric provided. Outside was dangerous, cold; inside was the opposite, cozy, safe…
I really hoped it was…
The interior of the car remained silent for a few moments. I focused my attention on the road but couldn't help occasionally glancing at the darkness between the trees of the surrounding forest.
I wouldn't be surprised if something jumped out at us…
"How much longer until we reach the kingdom?" Melissa's question pulled me from my thoughts. "Weren't we supposed to have arrived by now?"
I remained silent for a moment before answering.
"Yes, we were supposed to have arrived yesterday, actually." I didn't deny it. "But I'm not as good a driver as Devas. The rain also complicates everything, and while we won't get hurt if the Humvee flips over; righting it, as we know, would be a hassle."
I could see in the rearview mirror Melissa, Darnell, and Gilbert simultaneously turning to Selina.
"I'm not to blame for anything. I'm not taking responsibility." Selina raised her hands. "I'm innocent."
Her actions served to lighten the tense atmosphere inside the Humvee a bit.
"I'm taking a break from missions, I don't know about you guys." Darnell seized the opportunity to change the subject with all his might. "A month or two of vacation will do me good."
"I'm of the same opinion." Melissa agreed. "I need a vacation, a well-deserved vacation in a warm place. I don't want to see a single snowflake for the next few years."
"I'd recommend a beach, but I don't think that's safe right now." Gilbert added his two cents to the conversation. "No coastal village should be really safe at the moment…"
No village should be really safe right now… No place, outside the kingdom's walls…
I casually looked at the forest around us for a moment in silence and kept my thoughts to myself. Voicing them in this situation would only make things worse; some things were better left unsaid.
"Your friend will be fine." I commented after a few seconds. Gilbert stared at me through the rearview mirror as I continued. "Don't worry, he'll be fine."
"You seem pretty sure of yourself, small leader." Selina stretched her leg and poked my shoulder from behind with her foot. "Did you turn into a seer by any chance? Need help setting up your tent? I'll want my cut of the profits, mind you!"
Small leader… The title was more amusing than anything else, to be honest…
"No visions of the future from me." I denied and pointed with my thumb at Gilbert. "It's just logical to think so; after all, Simon lived with Gilbert in his youth, if that didn't kill him, this storm won't either."
The interior of the Humvee was silent for a moment before Gilbert's booming laughter filled the space. The man's shoulders even trembled as he laughed.
"You're right, Dylan. I'm worrying for nothing. Simon is tough. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already on the road to the kingdom right now!" His tone was cheerful and amused, still slightly worried, but less than before.
"You know, I have some stories from my youth to tell. Want to hear some? I have one that's really good." As he spoke, I could see Gilbert looking at the seat beside me.
The passenger seat, as Devas had called it. It was where Robyn was sitting, wrapped in several blankets, only her head uncovered, hugging her animals while she looked at the stormy sky through the window.
She had been the only one who hadn't spoken for a while…
"Sweetie, are you okay?" The concern in Gilbert's voice was evident.
"I'm fine, Dad. Just… thinking." Robyn hummed in a low tone before raising her voice. "Are you going to tell the same old story? How many times have you told that one, a thousand times?"
The change of subject was obvious, but Gilbert didn't push it. On the contrary, he took the opportunity to lighten the mood even further.
"I haven't told that story that many times. A few dozen at most!" Gilbert seemed offended by the statement. "And you don't even know which story I'm talking about."
"Tell the story then." Robyn adjusted herself in the seat and spoke.
Gilbert coughed into his hand twice, as if to warm up his throat before starting. Robyn spoke along with him.
"The story goes like this. I must have been about seventeen when, on a certain day…"
"Even the tone of voice she used is the same as his."
"Want me to tell the story for you?" I didn't look to confirm, but I was sure the smile on her face was triumphant.
Gilbert was silent for a few seconds before he started laughing.
"Actually, I'd love to hear you tell this story, sweetie." The man said amusedly. "Come on, I want to see how it's narrated by someone other than me."
Robyn copied her father's actions, staying silent for a few seconds before starting to laugh.
"Alright, you win." She sat up and adjusted herself in the seat. From the corner of my eye, I could see her shaking her head before murmuring. "I need something to occupy my mind anyway…"
The next few hours were peaceful, even fun. After Robyn narrated her version of the story Gilbert wanted to tell, everyone continued to talk in a lighter and more playful atmosphere.
Much of this fun came from the changes Robyn had made to the story. Even without hearing the original, the alterations were so exaggerated and funny that it was obvious Robyn had made them up.
Nightfall, contrary to what I expected, was clearly noticeable when it happened.
The lighting itself hadn't changed much. The surroundings were still lit only by lightning and the Humvee's headlights. But somehow, everything seemed to get darker…
It was as if the darkness had gained physical weight. The shadows between the trees seemed denser, and the headlights' beams appeared to weaken with each passing moment.
But the real change happened in the sky…
It was subtle at first, but I could increasingly notice the yellowish color of the lightning becoming darker, until it turned a dense blood red that, somehow, seemed to emanate cruelty.
This hadn't happened before…
The previous nights had been bad, gloomy, but they didn't even compare to the feeling this one gave, that this storm gave. Even the nights in Winterhord, with the Deerclops prowling the town, were more pleasant…
What a horrible feeling…
The Humvee's defenses were already at maximum. Since the storm had started, they had never been lowered. So, the only thing I did was activate the Purification Powder matrix that had been inactive.
The Purification Powder circulating inside the Humvee alleviated the horrible feeling. It didn't disperse it, far from it, but it wasn't as suffocating as before; the sense of helplessness wasn't as overwhelming…
Silence took over the environment for a few moments before it was broken.
"What are the chances this isn't natural, Dylan?" Selina murmured the question.
I hesitated for a moment before responding with the only answer I could find.
"I don't know…" I really didn't. Not after the Deerclops…
"Damn…" Darnell spat the word in a low, rough tone. "It's like that damned deer all over again… Everything all over again…"
"No, it's not… It's nothing like that…" Robyn retorted instantly. Her voice trembled slightly as her words came out quieter until they were barely more than a whisper. "We're alone this time…"
No one had a response to Robyn's statement, either agreeing or disagreeing. Everyone remained silent…
"Are you going to keep driving, or are you going to pull over?" Selina asked after a few seconds. "Pulling over seems safer… or less dangerous, actually…"
I shook my head and looked at her through the rearview mirror.
"It's better to keep driving. As much as pulling over seems safer, the best option is to reach the kingdom as quickly as possible." The faster we get back to the kingdom, the better.
Selina didn't insist. In fact, from the sigh of relief I heard, it seemed she was hoping I'd say exactly those words. No one disagreed either.
It seemed everyone wanted to get back to the kingdom as quickly as possible, just like I did…
As the hours passed, no one really managed to fall asleep. I didn't have that option, but those who did couldn't manage more than a few light naps, being woken by any noise or movement.
And this, considering the Humvee's matrices kept the vehicle's stability almost perfect and muffled practically all noise.
"Need a break? You've been driving for hours." Robyn spoke in a low tone. Whether it was to avoid waking the others or for another reason, I couldn't say.
"I'm fine, don't worry." I shook my head. "I'm used to spending nights studying, this isn't much different."
It was, actually. Studying didn't require as much concentration as the current situation, nor did it keep me on full alert like now, paying attention to everything outside the Humvee, but that didn't need to be said.
Robyn nodded and fell silent again.
With the conversation over, I focused entirely on driving. I let my eyes wander in front of the Humvee and to the sides, focusing on the shadows between the trees and especially on the puddles on the ground.
Puddles of water. I repeated to myself. Of water…
After a few minutes, Robyn started another conversation.
"The blankets…"
"What about them?"
"You're the only one who didn't want one. Why?" I could see out of the corner of my eye her adjusting herself in the seat, pulling the blankets closer to her body.
"I don't like anything covering me when I'm concentrating." I gave part of the reason. "It makes me feel suffocated."
I really didn't like studying or working on anything with something covering me, like a blanket or a sheet, but that wasn't the only reason I hadn't covered myself.
The other reason was: I didn't want the mental comfort a blanket could bring. I didn't want to relax. Even the Purification Powder was something I would have avoided if it weren't necessary to calm everyone down.
I needed to stay alert, as alert as possible. I needed to be completely attentive, I couldn't relax… At least not yet.
Devas had trusted me to lead the group in his absence. Trusted me to take care of everyone, and that's what I was going to do…
I trust you, Dylan, take care of everyone… Take care of yourself, my friend.
…and I could take care of myself once everyone was safe within the kingdom walls. Only then.
Robyn hummed softly at my response before continuing to speak: "You know… I really hate these lightning bolts…"
It seemed more like she was narrating her thoughts than actually talking to me, so I didn't interrupt as she continued to speak.
"I hate their color… I really hate from the bottom of my heart how the color red…" Robyn said in a trembling whisper.
I could see her extend her arm in the corner of my vision and touch the Humvee's window with her open palm. Her reflection in the glass had a frightened look.
"…makes it look like it's raining blood…"
I looked at the puddles on the road for a moment. Of water, I reaffirmed to myself once more. Puddles of water…
"Me too, Robyn…" Me too…
…because right now, they really did look more like puddles of blood.
[...]
We reached the outskirts of the kingdom at dawn. I could tell not only by the absence of the sense of foreboding but also by the rays of sunlight bathing the Humvee's windows.
The storm that had lasted three days had weakened. It was still raining, and the sky was still covered with clouds, but now they were much lighter, light gray, not black.
It was still bad weather, but seeing some rays of sunlight already made me feel relieved.
"Damn! What a relief!" Selina shouted with her head out the window. "We're finally back!"
"By the spheres… How I missed seeing the blue sky!" Darnell shouted along with Selina.
"Did the storm not reach the kingdom?" I murmured.
I slowed the car down for a moment as I looked around. No matter the direction, the storm clouds hadn't reached the kingdom.
All the regions around Terraria, for miles, had clear skies, punctuated only by a few white clouds casually floating in a vast, light blue sky.
"Is this the work of some matrix on the walls?" Gilbert stuck his head between the front seats and looked at the kingdom while speaking. "I don't remember seeing anything like this before…"
"I don't know. I'm not aware of any matrix that can do something like this…" I replied. At least not on this scale.
Changing the weather in a small room was relatively easy. All the greenhouses in the kingdom had a matrix capable of such a feat, but to do it outdoors, and on such a large scale?...
Ignoring the complexity and difficulty of creating such a matrix, the cost to keep it active and functional for just a few minutes should be astronomical, much less for hours or days.
Still, no matter how much I continued looking, the storm clouds didn't approach the kingdom and didn't seem like they would…
Terraria, despite seeming to be at the epicenter of the storm, was untouched.
"At this point, I don't care about the 'hows' or 'whys'. I just want to go home, take a bath, eat, and sleep." Melissa pulled Selina back inside the Humvee and put her back in her seat. "So, step on it, Dylan."
"The Humvee will draw attention when we get near the kingdom. I'd rather avoid being mistaken for something hostile."
I sighed before yawning. Driving all night while staying completely alert had taken its toll.
"Then call Mom! Didn't you say it was better to wait until we were close to use the Echo Mirror because of the storm's mana?" Melissa pointed forward with both arms. "Closer than this, and we'll be inside the kingdom. What are you waiting for?"
I nodded before yawning again. Melissa was right; I should have called Mom a while ago. It was better to let her know we were safe; she must have been worried…
Two taps on the Echo Mirror in my ear and seconds later, a voice I hadn't heard in almost a month came out of the jewel in the earring.
"Dylan! Is that really you, son?! Are you okay?! Is Melissa okay?! Are you all safe?!" Damn… I should have called earlier…
"I'm fine, Mom. We're a few miles from the kingdom right now. We'll be there in a few minutes!" I tilted my head to the side, avoiding Melissa's hand as I responded.
The first time she had yanked the Echo Mirror out of my ear had been the last. It didn't matter that it was unintentional and she had healed me afterward; once was enough.
"Which entrance?! I'm coming to get you myself!" Even before the last word left the Echo Mirror, I could hear my mother's hurried footsteps echoing. "By the spirits, Dylan, don't turn that thing off!"
Well, I guess I'd better step on it then…
Minutes later, already at the kingdom's main entrance, Melissa and I were crushed by our mother's monstrously strong hug.
After a not-so-emotional reunion, given the public place, my mother released us from her hug, and I finally could store the Humvee so we could really enter the kingdom and head to Oakwood Manor.
[...]
"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Your Grace, Duchess of Symbols." Gilbert bowed to my mother while thanking her in a completely formal manner.
Sometimes I forgot that the man was cultured, even if he chose not to act that way sometimes… Or almost always, actually.
The moment Robyn began copying her father's actions, my mother interrupted her.
"Please, you don't need to be so formal." She placed her hand on Robyn's shoulder and stopped her from bowing. I could see her looking at Robyn's two tails for a moment before continuing.
"There's no need to bow, and no titles either. You are my son's teammates and helped rescue my daughter; I should be the one thanking you."
Gilbert hesitated for a moment before standing up straight.
"I won't be so formal then, Miss Oakwood." Gilbert nodded and said in a serious tone. "As for thanking us, I don't mean to be rude, but that won't be necessary. As Miss Oakwood herself said, Dylan is our teammate; we just did what all good teammates would do."
Despite the exhaustion I was feeling, I couldn't help but smile.
My mother stared at Gilbert for a moment in silence before nodding with a slight smile.
"It seems the rumors I heard a long time ago about the Merchant Archer were true then." My mother inclined her head slightly in greeting. "Pleasure to meet you, Gilbert Jheut."
"You know him?!"
"You know the old man?!"
"You know my dad?!"
Selina, Robyn, and I spoke almost simultaneously.
My mother didn't seem surprised by our reactions and began speaking as she turned, motioning for us to follow her inside our house as she passed through the estate's inner gates.
"Your father was a famous contractor in my time. He and his teammate, the Fisher Lancer." My mother explained as we walked. "The two were talents I considered recruiting for my team back then, before, of course, their abrupt retirement."
Gilbert received the admission of having caught a duchess's eye calmly. He was actually the only one who had done so.
"My old man caught the Duchess of Symbols' attention?" Robyn murmured with clear shock in her voice.
"Why the shock? I said I was good at what I did in my youth." Gilbert smiled amusedly. "Still, I appreciate the compliment, Miss Oakwood. It's an honor to know I was considered for your team of contractors."
"If it's not rude, may I ask why you retired?" My mother inquired. "I remember looking into it at the time, but I couldn't find any information."
Gilbert frowned for a moment. It was subtle, but if I noticed it, I'm sure my mother did too.
"There were some issues between me and Simon, or as Miss Oakwood called him, the Fisher Lancer. We ended up disagreeing on some situations and went our separate ways." Gilbert explained, looking vaguely down the mansion's corridors.
"Simon ended up returning to our hometown, while I stayed in the kingdom and pursued a career as a merchant." The man looked at his daughter walking beside him before smiling. "I can't say I regret that choice. After all, it led me to have a beautiful family."
"I see… Thank you for the explanation." My mother didn't probe further into the reason for their disagreement.
The walk after that was relatively quiet and peaceful, at least until we reached the mansion's room for not-so-important meetings, or as my mother liked to call it, the tea room.
I could feel the mana of the person waiting for us inside even before the maids opened the doors: Charlotte…
"Your Royal Highness!"
… Or as she was better known: The Regent Princess of Terraria.
Everyone, except for my mother, knelt when they realized the Princess's presence. Even Melissa, Selina, and I were not exempt from this action. No matter how well we knew Charlotte from our childhood, she was still the current ruler of the kingdom.
Though, from the look I felt on the back of my neck, she didn't like this fact.
"I'm here as a guest, just like you. Please, everyone, stand." I could recognize Charlotte's royal persona the moment she spoke.
Gilbert and Robyn's hesitation was clear, so I took the lead and stood up first, with the others following soon after.
"Please, sit down. I know you all must be tired, but we need to talk." My mother gestured towards the table before sitting down next to Charlotte at the round table.
Selina and Melissa didn't hesitate to sit in the two chairs to Charlotte's left, respectively. Darnell hesitated for a moment before being pulled by Melissa and finally sitting in the chair to her left.
As for me, I sat on the opposite side of the table, almost directly across from Charlotte and my mother. Gilbert and Robyn chose to sit both to my right, leaving the chair to my left, the one directly opposite to Charlotte's, empty.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who thought of this idea, nor the only one to notice what had happened. I could see my mother and Charlotte's gazes land on the chair for a moment, though they didn't comment on it.
In fact, my mother hadn't asked about Devas's whereabouts at any point…
Before anyone at the table could speak, another voice echoed through the room.
The voice was feminine, something beautiful and sweet, the most beautiful sound I had ever heard in my life. Just by hearing it, I could feel part of my fatigue disappear, and for a moment, I relaxed enough to almost fall asleep right there…
"Where is he?… Where is Devas?"
… Until the words finally registered in my brain, and I widened my eyes in alarm.
I was prevented from making any rash actions when I saw my mother's raised hand, indicating for me to remain seated. She also didn't seem surprised by the voice, nor did Charlotte.
"I told you not to say anything, didn't I?" My mother sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You couldn't wait even five minutes!"
"I think it was less than that, actually." Charlotte commented beside her.
I paid only part of my attention to my mother and Charlotte's words while looking around the table. Gilbert and Robyn had fallen asleep, as had Selina, Melissa, and Darnell, all five of them leaning against their chair backs with their eyes closed.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. What is this being? Was just her voice able to do this?
I couldn't feel any mana... How terrifying...
My thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the table trembled slightly, and from its center, something started to grow in the wood: a doll made of intertwined branches, forming a thirty-centimeter tall body with a feminine appearance and leaves imitating a person's hair.
"You took too long to ask!" The doll pointed at my mother before turning to me. "DynDyn, where is Devas?!"
"DynDyn?" I murmured to myself before opening my mouth to respond: "Devas, he…"
Then I bit my tongue, hard enough to draw blood. My mana was circulating wildly within my body.
"I... What?..." Was I just about to answer? Why?
Why did I feel so at ease? Why wasn't anything inside me screaming danger when this doll was clearly extremely dangerous? Why?
I was pulled out of my thoughts a second time, this time by my mother, who slapped the doll hard enough to make it fly off the table and hit the wall.
"Rude..." The doll muttered as it got up. "Just because this isn't my real body doesn't mean you can hit me!"
"It's rude for you to let your charm leak like that. Contain yourself, Alalia." My mother responded without hesitation.
The doll froze for a moment before the wood composing its face literally turned red, as if it were blushing.
"Sorry... I didn't even realize, I think I got too excited." The doll scratched its head for a moment before jumping back onto the table and looking at me. "I apologize for earlier, DynDyn."
I blinked in confusion for a second.
"It's okay... I guess..." I was perplexed. "Who are you, anyway?"
"Me? I'm Alalia, a Dryad!" The doll smiled and extended its hand towards me. "Even though I know you, it's still the first time we're talking, so nice to meet you, DynDyn."
What was a Dryad?
I hesitated for a moment before shaking the small hand with two fingers. After releasing the wooden appendage, I turned to my mother, who was watching the scene.
"I have a lot of questions."
"I imagine so, I do too, but first..." My mother waved a hand at the doll. "Answer the desperate maiden's question before she has a heart attack from anxiety."
Can a plant die of a heart attack?
"I am not a desperate maiden!" The doll, or as I now knew her, Alalia, pointed at my mother. "And I can't even die from that! It's literally impossible!"
"How do you know Devas?" I ignored my random thoughts and focused. "And how do you know me?"
I was sure I'd remember a talking doll if I'd seen one before.
"She lives on the Oakwood estate just like you, Melissa, and Aunt Lena. She just hasn't revealed herself to you before." Charlotte answered for Alalia. "And she doesn't really know your group leader, she just likes to think she does."
"I do know him!"
"You saw him once and didn't even speak to him that time." Charlotte didn't hesitate to respond and pointed a finger at Alalia. "Devas doesn't even know you exist!"
"He does too!" The doll pointed back. "Why are you being so mean?!"
"You put everyone to sleep and tried to use your charm on Dylan! You tried to use your charm on me!"
"It was accidental! I already apologized for that! It was a mistake!"
I watched the two argue for a moment before turning to my mother.
"How long has she been living here?" I glanced at the doll from the corner of my eye. "Does Melissa know?"
"Your sister knows. Alalia revealed herself to her a few years ago." My mother explained. "And she has lived here basically forever."
I made sure to keep my face as expressionless as possible. Was I the only one who didn't know about her existence? Why? Was their lack of trust in me that great?
I drummed my fingers on the table and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
I could discuss this later, just like I did with Melissa in WinterHord. If they didn't trust me, I would show them I was trustworthy. It was simple.
Trust is something that is earned. I'll show that I am worthy of it...
"Alalia, right?" I interrupted their argument. When the doll turned to me, I continued: "Explain to me what you want with my friend. Without that, I won't say anything."
If the reason wasn't good, I wouldn't say a thing.
As much as I trusted my mother and Charlotte, it was the opposite with Alalia. She might know me, but I didn't know her...
I trust you, Dylan, take care of everyone... Take care, my friend.
... And I wouldn't betray the trust of the one who called me friend.
[...]---[...]
Another Interlude, but this time focused on Dylan's point of view!
I've left some clues (some pretty obvious, others not so much) about what's going to happen. Well, this specific interlude was a bit challenging to create, especially the more 'tense' description, which I had some difficulty with.
I think it turned out well, but feel free to comment if something seems off or strange. Well, I think that's it. Have a good night, everyone, and enjoy the read!