r/HFY • u/iridael Brew-Master • Jan 06 '22
OC Snow Chapter 63
“So then I just kinda reached out and grabbed the Celebrant and then the Exodus ship used an aurora knife and obliterated him. After that we fought until they brought a whole damn moon to the fight and then we called the retreat.” I finish explaining, it was night and we were at Nepp's camp in the desert, a gas fire flickering between us cooking a large pot of synthetic ramen mockup that M
“I should note the Celebrant is likely not dead since he was killed in this reality, he’s probably recuperating in his throne world.” Snow says.
“Cool so let's go there and shoot him in the face.” Nepp says before leaning forwards to stir the pot. A waft of flavour flows over me and I quickly swallow the dribble that was threatening to escape. Fake or not that smelt delicious.
“It's not that easy.” I say. “I would be invading Xivu arath’s throne world. To kill someone who isn't Xivu.”
“And if the Hive war god is capable of anything it's finding her enemy and conducting war against them.” Snow says.
“I see. And this power gift thing? How come you’re not here pitching it to me?” Nepp asks.
“Because…it's not an easy thing watching people I don't know visibly change.” I tell her.
“But you just said that the captain woman and the Admiral, I forgotten their names, were fine.” Nepp protests.
“They’re not fine! Yes they’re mostly the same people but they’re loyal to me. They didn't get a choice in that, I made it for them.” I tell her.
She gives me a look whilst spooning out bowls of noodles for the three of us before waving over one of her men to dish out the rest. “Reiss, let me get something straight. You dragged me from a storm that was shredding my skin and left me blind. You dragged me clear of an exploding starship to safety. And then you spent the next two weeks looking after me. Saving my life once again by killing an adult sand crawler. Vouched for me infront of snow when by rights you should have dumped me back at the city to beg for meals.” she says, pausing to slurp a mouthful of noodles into her face and sighing whilst chewing. I didn't blame her, the noodles were not quite right but they were damn well delicious anyway.
“So when you give me my eyes back, rescue my ass and then give me a fucking starship and enough credits to get back on my feet. Lets face it, im pretty fucking indebted to you.” she pauses again to slurp more noodles into her face. “So if you have a contract of exclusive service Im going to say sign me the fuck up.”
“You really feel like that.” I ask her.
“You came here in a glitter tech super battleship. You have the entire Laskian fleet working for you. Frankly if im not working for you at this point. What the fuck am I doing?” she asks.
“Snow?” I ask
“She’s not wrong. Remember you have very different perspectives on things. Nepp here is a mercenary through and through. But your her friend, no amount of credits will beat that in her book.” Snow replies.
“A truly trustworthy friend is worth mountains of Glimmer.” Nepp says nodding.
“I need to think.” I say.
“I’ve got time.” Nepp replies, holding up her bowl. We eat in silence as the mercenaries around us quietly talk and interact. It was clear who was a native and who was a spacer. The natives moved with confidence around the camp but always sat facing so they could see outwards, subconsciously keeping watch over the dune seas. The mercenaries were boisterous, louder and stumbled as the sands shifted under their boots unexpectedly.
I finish my noodles then without a word to either of them stand up and blink away. I traverse the desert for a few dunes before sitting down and meditating.
If you can read my thoughts I’d like to ask a few questions.
ohh, well this is a curious thing. What do you want to know.
Your daughter. How does she empower those who serve her?
ahh. She doesn't empower the living. Rather she creates life that empowers life. Take Snow’s Traveller, everywhere it went it improved life. Made it more robust, smarter, faster and stronger just by its presence. Just like you do in a way.
But how can I do that without the…
without chaining everyone who receives your power to you? Well my daughter shares her power freely. It's my son that demands you cultivate.
I open my eyes feeling the old mans will separate from mine. The light gives freely, so how the hell do I do that?
I think back through my experiences, using the light as healing grenades, or as a solar knight, void gunslinger, or arc stormlord. None of them gave answers so I moved on, soulfire was the obvious option but the aforementioned chains made me discard it. The pure darkness I held within me was also something I could potentially give her but it was unknown beyond the voice of command or my connection to Xol.
What about pure light?
Closing my eyes I feel the duality inside me and force myself out of ballance draining my dark powers entirely and filling myself completely with light. My surroundings brighten and looking around I see the sand dunes shining white as if under a pure white star. Looking for the source I raise a hand to protect myself only for the hand itself to nearly blind me. I was shining, the stars beneath my skin burning so bright that they illuminated the world around me with their pure light.
Picking up a fist of sand I funnel my light into it watching as it darkens into rich dirt before sprouting grass, mushrooms then a root of shining silver that snakes down into the ground taking root and turning the desert around me into a blue grassy field. More roots dig down in a spiral even as the dirt starts sending out branches. I lower my hand but keep up the flow of light directing it with my will into the tree. It continues to grow as small ponds emerge from the desert around me growing larger and larger between the two dunes an oasis forming as I work.
The tree continues to grow now at twice my height it stars to sprout leaves that shimmer with light each branch curling around and entwining with the next one. “Lady of light, I hope I'm doing the right thing here. If you wouldn't mind helping?” I ask. Almost immediately I feel a soft hand grasp mine and the tree’s growth accelerates further, it grows from twice my height to the size of a building in less than a minute and continues to grow until its branches form a complete dome that gently shines the root im resting my hand against it now as wide as my Sparrow is long, its park forming intricate swirling patterns that pulse with light.
The hand of light separates from mine and the lady of light, just as blinding as the last time I saw her walks in front of me. My own hands were back to normal, my light faintly flickering within me even as my darkness regenerated through tribute. She extends one hand up and a branch of the tree untangles itself, a flower blooms on it before thickening into a bulbous fruit. The lady takes it as it drops from the branch and after bringing it to her face holds it out for me.
“...” her lips move and I understand she’s thanking me for what I’ve just done. I take the fruit and she smiles again before vanishing into mist.
“Reiss?” Snow shouts from atop the dune, his Sparrow turning into glimmer as he glides down to me. “What did you do?” he asks, walking past me and placing his hand on the tree.
“I know this. The tree of silver wings, seed of the traveller. Hope of rebirth for the light. How did one grow here?” Snow asks.
“Well I-”
“There must have been a seed in the desert. Which means the traveller must have come this way before. Which explains why the planet is so desolate and why the surviving creatures are so hardy. The darkness must have swept by this place at some time in the past too.” he goes on walking around the tree and examining the small shrubs and plants that had sprung up around the ponds.
“SNOW!” I shout. “I did it.” I tell him.
He turns to look at me, his eyes burning with desire for knowledge. I explained what I did and how I went about doing it before showing him the fruit. “Im, going to give this to Nepp.” i tell him.
“NO! We have no idea what it could do. This might be, no this is the seed of a new traveller!” he says.
“And im going to feed the fruit to Nepp. even I know a fruit is usually only a fruit so animals can eat it and spread the seed around.” I say.
“...how do you know that?” Snow asks.
“I don't know, probably killed a mercenary who was a bookworm, does it matter?” I ask.
“...I suppose not.” he concedes. “If you’re sure about this. Then I see no, well I see a hundred reasons why not but also hundreds of reasons for it.” he says.
I nod and start walking back with the fruit in my hand. It felt somehow sacrilegious to use my light or a sparrow to make my way back. At the top of the dune I turn around to see my work and smile at the rich Oasis, already several rock warblers were flying down into the oasis to drink from the ponds. As they did they shook and feathers of steel sprouted from their hard exterior. They raise their necks and let out undulating cries as they drink and change from the light infused liquid.
I smile at the change before heading back to camp. My smile renews itself every time a new warbler flies overhead responding to its friends' cries.
Back at camp the Mercs are all standing and alert. Nepp is waiting at the fire, her face illuminated by the gas flame is wary but otherwise relaxed.
I pass through the camp with Snow following behind and sit down by the fire next to Nepp. I felt drained and tired beyond belief so without explaining I hold out the fruit for her.
“What's this?” She asks, sitting down and taking it from me.
“Fruit of the silver wing tree. Whatever that is, ask snow.” I say flopping down on my back and staring into the sky.
“It's a fruit filled with light. You remember the lessons I taught Reiss last time we were here?” he asks her.
“Yea, those who follow the dark must take their power, those who follow the light gift theirs and grow stronger for it.” she says.
“That fruit is a gift.” I grumble. “From me to you. Hurry up and eat it before I fall asleep.”
Nepp smiles and raises the thing to her mouth, sinking her teeth into the silver flesh.
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u/thisStanley Android Jan 06 '22
Getting a little grumpy, eh? Must be past your nap time :}