The door was set deep into an archway. A mural ran over its surface in bare gold lines. It was simple yet vividโit almost seemed to move as Zane looked at it, like an optical illusion.
It was the Red Moon Emperor, sketched out. A bright-red disc flared behind him, a big halo. Before him stood a field of enemies. They were casting thick gold lines at himโlines that bounced right off his red shield thing.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐๐ช๐๐ฃ'๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐.
boomed a smooth deep voice.
Zane looked around. He didn't see anyone.
๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค. ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐.
Oh.
๐ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐ค๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐. ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ . ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐คโฆ ๐๐ ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐, ๐ ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ, ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ.
Zane blinked.
"Cool," he said.
โ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ช ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐, ๐ง๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ป๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ช.
Neat.
๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ! ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ก๐๐. โ๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ'๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐.
It went quiet again.
Only then did Zane notice that the door didn't have a handle. But when he looked at it in the Astral Plane he saw oneโbig fat gold thing, right in the middle of it. He gave it a twist and a shove. And the whole thing rumbled. Slid aside.
Beyond lay a simple redwood staircase. It went off into the gloom, seemingly into nowhere.
Zane went on through.
It was like he'd gone into some alternate dimension. The only things that stayed were the thick red mists billowing about, snaking around his shins, hazing the distance. He thought there was a night sky overhead at firstโit was all dusky grays and purples. But instead of stars golden runes blanketed the sky, twinkling softly. Wrapping around him in some vast bowl.
Then he saw someone striding toward him. A figure coming through the mists, growing clearer.
It was an old man. The Pagoda Spirit? It was ghostly, wispy at the edges. Its faint body was colored a faint red. It was bushy-browed and long-bearded. It was very small. Then a bank of mist passed, and Zane saw it in full.
It stood there, hands clasped behind its back. Looking all stern, like a drill sergeant. Its eyes were leveled at Zane's waist. It looked like it meant business.
Then it looked up.
Its eyes popped. It went quite still.
"Hello," said Zane.
Its mouth slowly dropped open.
"โฆ"
The Spirit blinked. Blinked again. Looked Zane up and down, toe to shin to knee to belly to head.
โ๐๐, said the Spirit at last. โ๐๐๐๐.
A pause. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐โฆ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐โฆ
It seemed at a bit of a loss. Zane knew that look. He got it a lot. He scratched his head.
"โฆI know," said Zane.
๐๐ ๐ฆโฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐.
"Yes."
The Pagoda Spirit swallowed. It gave him another once-over. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐โฆ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ค. โ๐ ๐ฃ ๐ โ๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐, ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฆ๐๐.
"No."
๐ธ ๐ก๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐?
"Don't think so."
โฆ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ช?
Zane wasn't sure what to say to that. "I'm Zane."
โฆโ๐๐ said the Spirit again. It didn't say anything after that. Just stared at him. It started walking around him, giving him a bit of a 360, getting a good look at him from a bunch of angles, frowning all the while.
โ๐๐.
"Uh," said Zane. It was getting a bit awkward. "So. What now?"
๐ธ๐. ๐๐๐ค. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃ said the Spirit. It sounded a little strangled. ๐ธ๐ค ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ. ๐ธ๐ค๐ค๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ. ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐ค ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐. โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐'๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐.
"Nice," said Zane.
๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐, it said absently. ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ช ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ชโฆย it trailed off.
๐๐๐ชโ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ ๐ ๐โฆ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ, ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ค? ๐๐๐๐คโฆ
It was doing another lap around him again. Like a horse breeder admiring an award-winning stallion.
๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐คโฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ค ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ชโฆA pause. โ๐๐. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃโ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ. ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐.
It shook its head, frowning, like it was trying to remember its script. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃ. โ๐ ๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃโฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฅโฆ
"โฆ"
โฆ
๐๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐ค๐ said the Spirit, coughing. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃ. โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ . ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐จ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐ '๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค.' ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐'๐ค ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฆ๐.
"Okay," said Zane.
๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ. ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฅ๐ช. ๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃโฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ฃโฆIt cleared its throat. ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
It gave Zane a dubious look.
๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐โฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅโฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐๐ชโฆ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ โฆ
Another long pause.
โ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ-โ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ.
"Yes."
๐ธ๐.
The Pagoda Spirit looked suddenly relieved. Like things were finally starting to make sense.
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐โฆ ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐โฆ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ช ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ฅ, ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฆ๐๐. ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐ช.
"I guess?" He wasn't sure how he felt about being called a specimen, though.
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ค. ๐น๐ช ๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
Zane shrugged. "I think so."
๐ ๐ค๐๐. ๐ ๐ค๐๐. ๐๐๐คโ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅโฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐คโฆ ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐โฆ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ.
Another pause.
โ๐๐๐๐ฅโ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐,said the Spirit. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฃ. โ๐๐ฃ๐โ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐จ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ.
***
The mists before him shifted. Splashing with colors, painting a new scene, a projection. It seemed to be a very similar situation to the one Zane found himself in. Same setting, same background. Same spirit, even.
It was speaking to a different person though. The guy looked very much like the statue outside, just less wrinkly and more muscular. It had to be the young Red Moon Emperor.
The young Emperor was cringing before the Pagoda Spirit, who drew up to its full height. It was actually taller than the Emperor here.
๐ป๐๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐! It boomed. โ๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐?
Zane was surprised. Here it sounded much more imposing. And its voice sounded much deeper too. Maybe because it was all scaled up.
"Yes!" growled the young Emperor.
๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ค. ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐โฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ. โ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ค ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐! ๐ป๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
"Yes!" roared the young Emperor again. This time with gritted teeth, eyes shining. He balled his hands into fists. "Constellation Order," he breathed. "You bastardsโonce I become the true master of the Red Moon Pagoda, you'll all pay!"
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ said the Spirit. It nodded. ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐ชโฆ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐. โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ช?
The Emperor nodded.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ค ๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐.
The Emperor gritted his teeth.
All around him, though, mists began to swirl. Began to heat up, glow with an otherworldly crimson light.
And right above him, the air began to tremble. A terrible ghost blossomed thereโa phantom creature, the flickering head of a dragon, tendrils of ectoplasm smoke trickling from its snarling lips.
It opened its massive mouth. There, lodged in its throat, was a ghastly gray-white storm. Gathering fast, shining bone-white...
It didn't feel like any normal Skill to Zaneโthere was very little essence in it. In the physical world. But in the Astral Plane it flared quite bright. If it struck you, your body would be untouched. But your soul would immolate instantly.
๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐, intoned the Pagoda Spirit. ๐น๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ป๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐!
The attack roared out of its throat, a translucent white tornado making landfall. Right on the young Emperor's head. He screamed, threw up his handsโand a pale red moon flared out of him. So dark you could hardly tell it was there. But it was.
Zane sensed the barest trace of a certain auraโthe aura of the Pagoda. Mysterious, fathomless. Trickling out from him.
The red shield caught the raging white. And for a good few seconds, it held.
Then it cracked. Straight down the middle. Just as the dragon breath sputtered out. And the Emperor dropped to his knees, face deathly paleโhe hacked out a mouthful of blood. Then another.
But the shield had taken the brunt of the blow. He'd lived.
โ๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐๐, said the Pagoda Spirit.โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ. ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ช, ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ, ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ช! ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐คโฆ
The Spirit paused. Softened a little. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐. ๐ฝ๐๐จ ๐๐ . ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ค. ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฅ. โ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐. ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ค. ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐โฆ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ. ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐.
The young Emperor nodded. There was a fierceness in his dark eyes. "Yes!"
The scene faded.
***
Then it was just the Spirit and Zane blinking at each other again. It was a bit strange to see the Spirit at gnome-size again.
The Spirit coughed awkwardly. โฆโ๐๐๐๐ฅ. ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ. โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆโ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ. ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ.
"Cool," said Zane.
The Spirit hesitated. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐ง๐, ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐. ๐ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐โฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐โฆ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ค. ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ. ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ง๐. ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ง๐โ๐ฅ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐ฆ๐ค๐. ๐ธ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆโฆ ๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃโฆ ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐โฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐๐ช, ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐โฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐๐ช ๐๐ค. ๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ค๐. ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ค... ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฅ.
"โฆ"
The Spirit let out a strange noise. ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ค ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ค! ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ฆ๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐คโ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐!