908 - Looking For a Fight
“There are no tracks, physical or magical, of any kind.”
The report wasn’t unexpected, but that didn’t make it any less welcome. “Have you attempted a scrying?”
The question was an insult rather than an inquiry – as a selu’taar’iva, an apprentice to one of the selu’taar, the High Mages who were they apex of their people’s skill at interacting with the mystical forces of Creation, it was only to be expected that a scrying would have already been tried – and his companion bristled. “The titan is keeping his presence hidden. Doubtless he seeks to avoid being questioned about the actions of his patron and her pantheon.”
“Doubtless,” he repeated, his voice dry. “Which is why we were tasked to capture the titan and bring him before the Vice Coronal. And yet our spellcaster” – he deliberately used the human term, making no effort to hide his disdain – “is unable to locate our quarry, despite his master having once helped to bind a god.”
The look on Vystalaran’s face was one of abject frustration, but he managed to keep his voice level as he replied. “My lord Loraestil, I suggested earlier that the echoes of the battle that was fought in this valley – as well as the demigod’s death – would make it very difficult to investigate anything from here. While I can understand, and appreciate, your idea that we should first examine the scene, I would humbly submit that my magic would prove more fruitful if we put this place behind us.”
Loraestil sneered at the weak excuse. Before he could answer Thilaera – the third member of their group – spoke up from where she’d been communing with the land. “My lord, I concur with Vystalaran’s suggestion. The tapestry of nature has come unraveled here, and I’m unable to find out anything that happened. I cannot even confirm if the titan survived the battle or succumbed to his wounds.”
“Of course he survived,” snorted Loraestil. “If he hadn’t, there’d be some evidence of his passing. A body, fallen equipment, something. Since there isn’t, he must have relocated elsewhere.”
“Which is what I believe we should do if we wish to continue our search, my lord,” interjected Vystalaran.
Loraestil sighed, resting his hand on the pommel of his sword as he pondered the matter. When he’d set out, he’d mostly thought of the glory he’d achieve when he succeeded in this mission – perhaps enough that his father would recommend him for an office higher than simply being the Coronal’s Huntsman, a position he’d been stuck in for nearly a century now – rather than the petty details that would go into completing it. After all, he’d hunted down and slain balors and pit fiends, creatures that were among the most malevolent of demons and devils, respectively. A titan shouldn’t have been much different.
But the Vice Coronal had assured him that this particular hunt would be unlike the ones he’d been on before, his quarry having somehow managed to slay a demigod. Yes, a weak and pathetic example of one, but still; for a titan to triumph over a divinity was no small triumph. It had been why he’d wanted to send out no less than three of their High Mages – as well as an entire complement of bladesingers to accompany them – to bring the supposed godslayer in. It had taken Loraestil considerable effort to win the privilege of leading the mission himself, mostly by pointing out how they could ill-afford to spare so many of their finest warriors.
Even then, he’d been unable to avoid having these two tagalongs assigned to him. Vystalaran was a competent enough mage, but had never left Foelvan, and had no experience of the practical difficulties that went into a hunt. Likewise, Thilaera was a dedicated aspirant of Gladoneral – the god in charge of their people’s presence on this world – but was one of the or-tel, those of the woodlands whose reverence for nature often blinded them to the glories of art, music, dance, and other pastimes that their shared culture had elevated into artforms.
The thought of having to share credit for bringing in the titan with these two was enough to make Loraestil’s heart ache with embarrassment.
“Very well,” he said at last. “We’ll exit the area, and then our mage” – he used the proper term this time, knowing that to do so again would have been petty – “can try and track him again.”
“And our guide?” murmured Thilaera, glancing at where the four-legged beast was staring at the shattered valley, head down and ears folded.
Loraestil managed to keep his frown from showing on his face. He’d found that lowly creature on one of his last expeditions, and had taken it with him more as a curiosity than anything else. Still, it had proven unexpectedly useful, being passingly familiar with the area where the titan had been spotted; not enough for Vystaran to accurately teleport them there, but enough to get within a few days’ travel.
And it had knowledge of the titan that they were hunting. It was all secondhand, and most of it old and very outdated, but to an experienced hunter like Loraestil, that was far and away better than nothing.
The fact that he’d been able to surprise the Vice Coronal by knowing the titan’s name – Lex Legis – was proof enough of that.
“It might still prove useful,” he declared after a moment’s thought. “Just keep it out of the way until we need it again. And make sure it doesn’t run off.”
“Allow me,” volunteered Vystaran, likely looking to assuage his wounded pride. Which, of course, had been why Loraestil had ribbed him in the first place; he knew from experience that having something to prove was the best motivator.
A few murmured words came from the apprentice High Mage, along with several complex gestures. A moment later the beast stiffened up, its body turning a dull gray as the petrification spell was complete. Loraestil couldn’t help but notice the slightly surprised look on its face, as though it had realized what was happening just as its body turned to stone. It was amusing enough that he had to concentrate on holding back a snicker, not wanting to lose face in front of his subordinates.
Another spell from Vystaran caused the four-legged statue to shrink, and in moments it was the size of a figurine, smaller than a leaf from an elm. Looking quite pleased with himself, the mage pocketed the shrunken statue, tucking it in his belt pouch. “Shall we be off?”
Letting the cheeky comment pass with merely a nod, Loraestil led the other two out of the broken valley.
One way or another, the titan would be found and brought back for interrogation. No matter how long it took, he was committed to seeing this hunt through to the end, until he’d brought his prey back before the Vice Coronal in triumph.
His pride as an elf demanded nothing less.
Four days.
It had been four days since Lex had left so abruptly, shutting their telepathic connection and heading out into the wilderness before vanishing onto some other plane entirely.
But I’m not worried, Solvei reminded herself. Not in the least. Lex is off doing...whatever he’s doing, and once he’s finished, he’ll come right back. It’s not like he’d abandon us, or Drafty, or even Adagio, and just go home to Equestria.
Even so, there had been plenty of time for her to wonder what it was he was up to that would take so long, or require him to leave the world altogether. Her best guess was that he’d gone back to Darkest Night for some reason – maybe the Night Mare wanted to reward him for his victory over Kryonex – but she knew he hadn’t gone anywhere near the Shrine of the Starless Sky. Of course, now that he was a titan he might not need to; if he could slay gods and resurrect the dead, moving between worlds was probably as easy as breathing.
But that didn’t stop her from wondering when he’d come back.
Fortunately, there was a lot to do in the meantime. First and foremost was getting to know her parents; Tulok and Alasie had both died when she’d been young, and reconnecting with the two of them now was proving to be equal parts heartwarming and awkward. Not to mention that she was constantly being asked about the Night Mare, or cajoled into retelling some of her adventures with her master, or called on to demonstrate some aspect of the magic she’d gained.
If she hadn’t been worried about where her master was, Solvei might have found the entire thing fun.
Nenet was in a similar position. The sphinx was clearly still upset over Lex leaving, but was burying it in constant work. Or rather, constant study. To Solvei’s surprise, Nenet had started having long conversations with the village elders, prompting them to give long lectures on everything from the adlets’ cultural history to the proper way to build a turf hut. It was the sort of thing that Solvei – and almost everyone else she knew – had slept through when she’d been younger, but the sphinx seemed to be a bottomless pit where new knowledge was concerned, paying rapt attention to even the most boring of details.
But the biggest surprise had been Mei Li.
Just like Solvei and Nenet, the kumiho had elected to spend her time out among the adlets of the village. Given how badly she wanted to turn her clan over to Lex, Solvei would have thought that she’d be in a rush to try and figure out how her new tails worked, since Mei Li had mentioned that she’d need them to try and contact the rest of the Pimao Jingzhi. But other than spending her evenings sitting quietly with her eyes closed – she’d called it “meditation” – she’d seemed quite happy to spend her time helping with the sewing, cleaning, whittling, and other chores that occupied most of the domestic-minded adlets’ time, always with a smile on her face and a compliment at the ready. By the end of the second day, she was already at the center of a group of new friends, laughing and sharing stories.
Her smile was never so large, however, as when the children came to play with her.
Given that most of the adlets who were tasked with keeping up the village were mothers, it was inevitable that Mei Li found herself in the company of the youngest members of the tribe. Each time a pup stopped what they were doing to stare at her large, fluffy tails, her face would light up, and she’d invite them to come over and rub them. It had been completely against Solvei’s expectations, having thought that she’d want to keep the beautiful patterns and markings unruffled. Instead, Mei Li seemed to delight at having the little ones lose themselves in her fluffy fur.
The result was that she quickly became the most popular person in the village. Certainly, the male members of the tribe all thought so, and more than once Solvei witnessed a would-be suitor striking up a conversation with her, only to walk away dejectedly a few moments later. Mei Li might have been unfailingly polite, but once she made it clear who her master was, that was enough to let even the rowdiest fellow know that she was off-limits.
No one wanted to provoke someone for whom slaying Hvitdod had been an opening act.
Of course, not even Mei Li was entirely comfortable with how things were. But once again, Solvei found herself surprised, as the kumiho’s concerns weren’t the same ones she’d been struggling with over the last few days.
“Perhaps it is because he wishes to wait until he has returned home and retaken his country before he has children?” she asked as Solvei prepared dinner, a nervous tone in her voice. “That way, he can wait until he has proper nurses and tutors for them. Such things are very important.”
“Maybe he’d prefer to only have one child at a time,” offered Nenet from where she was lounging on a pile of pelts. “Adagio didn’t care about any of her offspring, and so she had lots. I bet Master would want to give all of his attention to just one child.”
“But if that were the case, wouldn’t Eld-, Solvei already be pregnant?” reasoned the kumiho. “She’s the first wife, and yet he used prophylactic magic when he was with her, as well as you.”
A few days ago, that topic would have made Solvei cringe in embarrassment. But the issue of Lex apparently not wanting to have children had apparently been weighing on Mei Li’s mind, and she’d brought it up without fail every evening, to the point where Solvei was growing used to it.
And found herself thinking more and more about Drafty as a consequence. Maybe I should go see her. She’s in that pony village, Bright Night. I know Master said to stay here, but-
“Solvei?” Nenet’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Are you alright?”
“Hm? Oh, I’m fine.” Shaking her head, Solvei went back to cutting up dinner. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“Mei Li was wondering if Lex has any children already, and that he doesn’t have any more so there’s no issue with choosing an heir,” answered the sphinx. “Do you know if he has any kids back on Equestria?”
Not on Equestria, she sighed inwardly. “I don’t think-”
She didn’t have a chance to finish as a horn sounded from outside, blowing three notes that were long and loud.
Solvei dropped the food she’d been preparing, her eyes widening as she recognized what that meant. “Something’s approaching the village!”
Mei Li tilted her head, her expression curious. “An envoy of some sort? Or perhaps another tribe?”
“If they were peaceful, they wouldn’t have sounded the horn three times,” murmured Solvei, starting toward the door. “That’s the code for danger drawing near.”
Nenet and Mei Li exchanged worried glances before standing up to follow her.
Outside, adlets were running to and fro in the late light, Yotimo organizing the warriors as those who weren’t trained to fight rushed to their homes, dropping what they were doing as they moved to safety. But Solvei was less intent on them than she was on her grandmother, seeing Yura striding toward where Yotimo and the others were gathering. “Grandmother-”
“I’m going to contact the spirits to try and figure out who’s approaching and how close they are,” snapped Yura, a lifetime of being a shaman coming to the fore. “It’ll take time, but if this is some sort of distraction, this will tell us. You summon some ice spirits and send them out as a vanguard!”
“R-right!” yelped Solvei, belatedly garbing herself in her black crystal armor before starting a summoning. Even as she did, though, she took note of the fact that her connection to Lex hadn’t changed; he was still on some other plane of existence, cutting off her ability to communicate with him. Master...
Behind her, Nenet took a trembling breath. “Do we know it’s an enemy? Maybe it’s those mares you were traveling with before, the ones who fought Grisela and everyone outside of that shrine you said you went to.”
“Or perhaps our husband spared some other of Kryonex’s victims,” added Mei Li, though she looked doubtful. “If they escaped the fighting, they might-”
But she didn’t have a chance to finish as several adlets – Solve recognized them as being part of another scouting party – rushed into the village square, causing her to gasp. They were all limping, nursing broken limbs and covered in blood. “Couldn’t...s-stop him...” groaned the first, almost collapsing before Yotimo ran over and caught him. “Strong...too strong...!”
Yotimo opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out, a bellow ran from the edge of the village.
“YOU CAN SEND THAT PUNK TITAN OUT, OR I CAN COME IN AFTER HIM,” came a booming male voice. “S’ALL THE SAME TO ME!”
A moment later, the owner appeared, and Solvei’s eyes widened.
The earth stallion might have looked unassuming – having mud-brown fur and a chestnet-colored mane and tail, both cut short – except for how huge he was. Whereas Lex, after returning from Darkest Night, had gained several inches of height and notable muscle definition, this pony was brawny beyond belief. Each and every one of his muscles had swelled to an unbelievable size, turning him into a walking slab of chiseled flesh that even on all fours towered over the adlets by a head, and was almost as wide as he was tall.
“BURLY BRAWL CAME LOOKING FOR A FIGHT, AND HE AIN’T LEAVING ’TIL HE GETS ONE!”
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Welp, I certainly did not see that coming. For a hot second, I thought Lex's hard work of resurrecting and rescuing the adlets would have been undone by what I assume to be an inquisition sent by the other pantheons to investigate Lex and probably eliminate him if necessary. And judging by how they referred to Kyronex, they are likely to be on a whole other level compared to the demigod...or their arrogance is just that absurd though I wouldn't be surprised if they had the power to back up that arrogance.
Anyways, Burly Brawl's knowledge of Lex's status as a titan is rather curious as is his presence here though I think a certain war based deity of the pony pantheon might be the reason for the earth stallion being there. Regardless, given that he allowed the adlet scouts to flee, his intentions might not be as dire as the inquisition...maybe.
Burly looks to have extreme cold resistance as well as other pantheon enhancements, so I take it using Aroga and leaving him sat in mid air, not able to interact with anything wont work due to him having Air Punch or similar ranged attack and disruption against flyers etc?
11806713 Well, we've never seen the full extent of what Burly Brawl is capable of, just that he's apparently a powerhouse in his own right. Now, to be fair, what we've seen suggests that he's strong in the traditional get-in-your-face-and-clobber-you kind of way, so in theory using something that bypasses issues of strength would be able to neutralize him. The problem there is the implication that, in a world with as much magic (and monsters, interventionist gods, etc.) as Everglow, you don't get to be as strong as Burly without encountering those problems, and so have figured out a way to deal with them.
11806663 Given that we knew that the elven gods were already primed to look suspiciously at Lex's ascension, this was most likely inevitable. Really, the only question was how they'd react, and an expeditionary force with no divine presence (or so it seems) is about as low-key as it gets. If anything, this is the divine equivalent of sending a diplomat with a few questions, albeit in a bit more "law of the jungle" kind of way. Which, when you get down to it, is still how things operate. The various pantheons are (to use an analogy I've made before) like nation-states, and with no supra-pantheon governing council (or at least, none with any actual police powers that we know of) to manage things, each group of gods can and will handle things as they see fit. Which is something Lex is going to have to deal with...while the Night Mare is out of commission.
Of course, Burly's presence here is an unexpected variable in the situation. Given that he knows that Lex is a titan, but doesn't seem to want anything except to throw down, it's hard to say what his effect will be. Especially given that he's eager for a fight, despite (apparently) knowing what he'd be up against. As for how it all shakes out, well, that remains to be seen.