TREE OF AEONS 5

- Still not ready to return. But they will. -

- Kapakulartajam says some of them are not doing well. -

- Not all were as talented as I hoped, - Snek countered. - The world on the other side is. -

- Highly advanced, - the den lord answered.

Snek nodded. - IÆd like to invite more to travel over, if I may. -

- And return them like Kapakulartajam? Glistening with power? -

At that point, Kobra joined the two. He greeted the den lord in the Ularan way, which was some kind of strange hiss of their forked tongues. - Den Lord. Old one. -

The den lord looked at Kobra. - Would you choose to stay permanently in Ulara or with these. travelers? -

Kobra paused and then answered honestly. - I would like to stay with them. If I may, IÆd like to request permission to bring my entire family over. -

The den lord stared. - What? -

- Den Lord, I do not mean to challenge your authority, - Kobra answered. - And, unlike the old one, who still hopes of reclaiming our homeland from the demons, I believe IÆd like to give my siblings and future offspring the opportunity I received outside of Ulara. -

Snek stared at Kobra, feeling betrayed. - Kapakulartajam! -

- Those who chose the old ways can stay, old one. Why create conflict? Why upset the balance? - Kobra countered. - It is better to just move. The protection, security, opportunities, and facilities are just so far ahead, and having lived there for the past three decades and some, I cannot imagine coming back to Ulara. -

Snek wanted his people to return as heroes. As liberators. - You! We are supposed to rebuild Ulara! -

- There is nothing left for us here, old one. Not when weÆve seen whatÆs back there. My friends, they feel the same way. Having tasted the fruit of prosperity, how could we ever return to the harsh life of the tunnels? -

The little snake spirit felt heartbroken.

Yet it was the exact answer the den lord wanted to hear. - I see. I happen to have a list of individuals IÆd rather get rid of. Feel free to take them. -

Snek stared at the den lord, equally furious. Was he using this facility as a means of removing people opposed to his rule?

To some extent, we treated the Ularans with kid gloves, especially much earlier on. There was always a Valthorn on standby to step in if things ever got too dangerous. Snek said we could not afford to lose any of the Ularans.

I thought one or two deaths were expected, especially after all these years. After all, lifespans and accidents were a thing. So, kid gloves. Valthorns watched them like hawks, but as time went on, the Valthorn presence was just insurance.

The once - young Ularans adapted well, though they were still an incredible rarity on Treehome. After all, there were less than a hundred of them on Treehome.

We would like a permanent settlement for them, somewhere. Not Treehome, because it was way too crowded and too high risk.

If there were large - scale Ularan migrations, it would be to Tropicworld.

It remained the single, safest place of all. With no demons.

The only downside was generally weaker ambient mana, but that was a problem that I could fix with my new Subdomain ability.

I was now nourishing the worldÆs health. A healer of worlds, literally.

Kobra and Snek exchanged some rather unpleasant words, but ultimately, Snek couldnÆt force them to do what he wanted.

- This was what you wanted, - I reminded him.

- Not at the price of abandoning Ulara. And not splitting our society into two, - Snek answered. - I did not envision this. I hoped to restore Ulara to a single united Ulara of the past, with the aid of knowledge, technology, and weapons of the wider world. -

The little Snek went through much. - Your people have minds of their own. -

He sighed in a way a little snake creature could. By flapping his head about. - I spoke about my dreams, but it seemed my fellow Ularans have their own. -

- They didnÆt see how they could change their world, - I answered. - I believe this could be a good thing. If there is an alternative Ularan society, the original Ulara could be convinced to change. This is just like training Ularans, but at a larger scale. Build an Ularan nation far bigger, far more prosperous, with far more population. Then let them retake Ulara. -

Snek paused. - That would take decades or centuries - time that IÆm not sure my world has. -

- I think it does, - I answered as Lumoof spread my roots through the Ularan dirt. IÆd gotten better at sensing a worldÆs health, and I was fairly certain Ulara would last at least four to five centuries.

A planetary core wasnÆt a weak thing that would crumble so easily. It was a node, a key to the wider system. The right to vote.

Now that I knew what roles the world played in the bigger picture, it made sense that demons would prefer to - occupy - rather than - destroy. - They just needed the core; everything on the surface was ultimately expendable. It was for this reason they didnÆt hesitate to destroy us, because we were useless to them.

But, as long as they didnÆt destroy the core, the core could be healed, and then the world rebuilt through the powers only a planet core had.

Lumoof turned to face the little Snek head on. - We will assign Administrators , Builders . Take the Ularans to Tropicworld. Rebuild the old society of Ulara from those willing to follow. There is no other way. -

- There is. -

- None that would work, not in the short term. Play the long game, just like you used to. -

Snek paused and realized Lumoof had a point. - Very well. -

SnekÆs announcement of his intentions to the not - so - young pioneers like Kobra and his peers actually won support. Most of them were a lot more optimistic than the idea of retaking their old world from the demons, and so the pioneer Ularans agreed to be SnekÆs messenger, to take the message back to Ulara and collect those willing to go.

It was true that the den lords had Ularans they didnÆt like anyway, but ultimately, there was little risk. With the Valtorn Order ultimately underwriting their security and providing the basic infrastructure, they would not have to start from scratch.

And so about fifteen thousand Ularans, from the various dens throughout Ulara, went to Tropicworld and set up their first city and nation from unclaimed lands of the Tropicworld.

They named their fledgling nation New Ulara and their first city Newden.

I hoped they made something better and didnÆt constrain themselves to what Snek had in mind. What their old society used to be like should be a reference point, but not followed as if it was dogma.

- We should be taking out these demon mothers as much as we can. - StellaÆs next focus was to reclaim the demon worlds. Each demon world ultimately supported the demons - voting bloc - in the System.

- There is no need to act hastily, - I countered. - The System moves slowly. Changes happen over decades. LetÆs take worlds that we can hold. -

We had to take stock of where we were. After my clone vanished on the demonÆs comet, it now sat in my reset timer. IÆd have that clone back by Year 271.

Where were we now?

I took a moment with my artificial minds to review the status of everything that was in play.

We faced a wave of meteors, and there were already large - scale constructions throughout Treehome. The void mages had restarted the moon base without my clone, but they didnÆt need it. It was good for them to practice setting up a base of operations without my involvement, even if that meant they were totally away from my observation area.

Once the moon base was operational, they would start construction of the space - mounted weapon arrays, and the plan was to move those weapon arrays into location from the moon.

Mountainworld was doing fine and would face a new demon king much later, only by Year 268. That was another four or five years to go. My spies and agents were actively working the message into the general populace that we would not tolerate another dwarven kingûlike incident.

We were still recruiting well, so luckily, the incident didnÆt really dent how we were received.

Threeworlds recently had their demon king, and they wouldnÆt need to deal with one up until Year 278. With the crystal king imprisoned, my forces quickly began to set up shop in Maelga, effectively claiming it as my own.

It was surprising that a Giant Attendant Tree could hold the domain holder, but then again, all I did was destroy its outer shells and attempt to regenerate its limbs. I left its core untouched. I was fairly certain it had magical ways of communicating, which I could not block.

But a message was sent, and the world was a mess. One thing was clear: I was going to make changes, changes that the insular crystal king didnÆt like.

First, I wanted trade, and so I commanded that the war with the Sandpeople to cease immediately, and next that new trade routes opened. The Sandpeople had robust trade networks within their own cities, and the same applied to the humans and Centaurs. But trade between the three was tense and dangerous, and so it didnÆt occur all that often. There were, as always, those who tread those sensitive lines, but they were clever enough to stay out of the limelight and never transact in anything too high risk.

After all, when it came to demigods like the Three Hegemons, no argument would ever really pass muster.

Zhaanpu was both relieved and worried, and I could tell. Open trade and communication between the three races of Threeworld had never occurred in the recent centuries. The last time it happened was many, many millennia ago, in a time when the gods touch was strong.

The Centaurs couldnÆt even muster a response as their own Centaur leaders scrambled meeting after meeting whether to oppose us, out of respect for the old pact, or to side with us. But trade was something they accepted. They were still recovering from the consequences of earlier demon king attacks, and they needed all the advantage they could get to restore their land.

Then there was Tropicworld.

This was the brave new world, the world restored. Canari, humans, and dwarves claimed most of the land, but there was more than enough land for me to carve out a large area for the new Ularan Nation.

The Canari reacted to their presence generally well. These dog - people had enough land, more than enough that the Canari lands fractured into four nations about five years ago. Still, not much fighting broke out, since everyone was busy building up their own level of strength. The fact that TropicworldÆs terrain continued to change as the coreÆs strength recovered meant most of these settlers had enough environmental issues to deal with.

I thought of sending them to Houndworld. Canari, after all, seemed like a natural fit for that sort of core. But I chose not to reveal its existence just yet. From my experience with the Canari, who were generally territorial, they would likely demand Houndworld entirely for themselves. They may even view it as their promised land. Or perhaps I could dangle it as a reward, position myself as some kind of guide to their promised land. Would that win their loyalty?

Regardless, the new generation of Canari were friendly, and in time, once we were ready to properly repopulate Houndworld, I would allow them first cut.

Then there was Lavaworld, my - Hell, - and also where I conducted my demonic experimentations. A land now filled with demonic trees. Other than the now - improved mana situation, I wasnÆt sure what to do with this world.

I could attempt to free it from the hands of the demons by mounting an offensive to the core. With my stronger forces, it shouldnÆt be much of a risk.

Still, for now we held this world as it was.

Cometworld remained traveling into the far distance.

- I think IÆve gotten my trajectory wrong, - Stella said.

- What do you mean? - I asked my void holder.

- I shouldÆve thought about it, but when we arrived at Beastworld, where the native deity claimed that they are out of range of both the gods and demons? -

- Yeah. -

- I shouldnÆt have missed that datapoint. I think that I should be sending my void explorers in the other direction instead. Looking at the data I have now heavily suggests that the gods are on the other side of the demon sun. -

- Shit. Can you get there? - I had hoped that reaching the gods would be the equivalent of getting the cavalry. If they were on the other side.

- I mean, IÆm going to start redirecting two of my new void explorers in that direction. ItÆs also likely not all gods are in that direction anyway. -

- There might be some that we can reach, - I said. - ThereÆs nothing to do but try. -

Stella nodded. - Yeah. ThatÆs what I thought. But the one thatÆs still going, IÆll let it keep going? -

- Yup. - We probably needed to plan how to use my node trees. I could fire my node trees like little seeds, but weÆd have to find a suitable place. If the gods really were on the other side, I could fire my nodes in that direction.

Oh wait. I couldnÆt. TheyÆd slam into the demonÆs barrier and burn. IÆd have to hop around the barrier to reach the other side.

- As for the void archmages close to a domain, itÆs time they start doing more risky stuff, along with our new domain holders. Kafa and Ezar can help explore our new worlds. -

- Got it. -

31

INTERLUDE - GATHERING OF THE DOMAIN HOLDERS

Lumoof assembled the group that now formed the inner circle of A/ in a place not far from Freshka. Lumoof looked around the quiet room in one of many secret Valthorn fortresses around the Central Continent. Edna was the first of them and Lumoof the second. Then came Stella, Roon, and Johann. Alka. Now Ezar and Kafa.

Eight of them lifted from mere mortals and now transformed into demigods.

Alka was still asleep, waiting for his revival. So the seven gathered.

The air in the room was thick with power that anyone else would feel as if their air was suffocating. But each of them felt nothing. Their domains protected them.

There was a sense of comradeship that they shared in the great struggle of their kind. A/ Æs words - revelations, really - of what the greater system was only amplified the urgency and importance of their cause. The demons could essentially unravel the entire System once they conquered enough worlds. The gods, elevated to a different system, were resisting but had handicapped themselves.

- Should Aria or Lilies avatar be here? - Roon asked.

- No. They would not understand, - Edna said. - Our power was gained through war. Through A/ Æs assistance. Theirs from a longer period, from things outside war. How do you two feel? -

Kafa glanced at Ezar, both peers. - Incredible and yet overwhelmed. -

Roon just gave the two a pat on the shoulder.

No words were said, but theyÆd all been there.

- I will not spare you the niceties. At this point, thereÆs really no point. The scale of this war is far, far larger than even what we first expected. Each time A/ pushes a little further, weÆve only see this warÆs scope expand, - Edna said. - When A/ first spoke of his goal, he only sought to end the demons invasion of Treehome. -

Lumoof nodded. - And yet it only set us on a path of even more invasions. We are still not safe. -

The two new domain holders gulped.

Stella nodded, and then she spoke up. - I asked Lumoof to gather us here for a few reasons. A/ believes we have time, - she said.

The new domain holders looked at each other.

- But my sense now, it is a risky gamble. We donÆt know how much time we have and what the current balance of power is between the demons and the gods. My models suggest that the demons already control around one - fifth of the known realms, and they continue to expand. We need to start invading demon worlds and freeing them from their demon mothers. -

Kafa and Ezar looked at each other. This wasnÆt too bad. - So we need to start retaking demon worlds. -

TheyÆd seen the demon mothers. TheyÆd fought simulations in A/ Æs Dream Academy . They could do it.

Edna looked at Stella and then at Lumoof. - Is A/ listening? -

Lumoof paused. - At the moment, no. -

- Good. ThatÆs just the battle part. ThereÆs something Stella isnÆt saying. -

The domain holders present gulped. Lumoof looked at Edna and sighed. - Edna, let me handle this. -

Edna just smiled. - Sure. -

- A/ relies on us to ensure he doesnÆt stray, - Lumoof answered. - More specifically, he needs our presence to tell him where he has gone wrong. As someone who has shared minds with A/ . it is an overwhelming sensation. To see time as if itÆs just weeks, to see all the worlds at once, to feel all the things altogether. ItÆs absolutely overwhelming. Even with all my expanded and borrowed mental abilities, it is still too much to take in. -

Roon and Johann looked at each other. So did Ezar and Kafa.

- So A/ tunes it out. A/ delegates certain thoughts to his mental assistants. Some of them, to us, to the Valthorns. IÆve shared those thoughts, and at times, I tremble at the power and knowledge I have at my hands. -

All the domain holders gulped. The bomb was coming. Edna only sighed.

- I alone cannot be A/ Æs moral guide. I share too much in his thoughts. I lean too close to his power, - Lumoof answered. - I try, but there are days when I blend into that avatar mode, and I feel his thoughts, his senses, his ideas, and I feel like I am him and he is me. Though I believe in A/ Æs divinity, I do not believe in his perfection. -

- A/ doesnÆt make very good choices, - Edna said. - Perhaps he has become too focused on the demons, or perhaps our lives are too short that what seems like a moment of suffering doesnÆt matter, if the goals are achieved. When years are just weeks, a year of suffering feels like nothing. -

Lumoof looked torn but nodded.

- ThatÆs where I need all of you to come in. -

- We, the domain holders, and his inner circle, are the only ones that can steer him back. To remind him that there are other perspectives. To balance the needs of those present and those of the future. To take things back to the small, instead of the big picture. Because, from A/ Æs zoomed - out perspective, itÆs all just little bumps in the sand. -

Ezar spoke up. - A/ would not listen to me. -

- No. YouÆre wrong. He will. Because you are now a domain holder and a member of his pantheon, and believe it or not, he trusts all of you, - Lumoof said. - We are the ones that can accompany him on this quest. We are the ones that will be there for the day we put an end to the scourge. Do not sell yourself short, Ezar. We must speak, because A/ , unchecked and out of touch with time, will be. -

Edna completed what Lumoof couldnÆt put the words to. - Horrifying. -

- Horrifying? - Kafa gulped. - That seems a little. harsh. -

Edna looked at Lumoof. - The stakes have only increased with time, and A/ prioritizes our survival. The difficult choices, such as that whole incident with Ken, that hero - friend, we will just see more of them in the future. -

The priest and avatar nodded reluctantly. - A/ is a creature of nature. And his sole unwavering ethos is survival. Above ethics. Above values. Above morals. All these things can be discarded, if the circumstances deserve it. He would sacrifice thousands. Millions. If it ensured the rest survived. -

- And there lies the clear issue. ItÆs all up to us in the end, - Edna said.

- Us? -

- You may feel overwhelmed, Ezar and Kafa. You may feel this power is immense. It will feel terrible that I am pouring cold water on your achievements. But it is our reality. Even as we stepped into the realm of the gods, we were just at the first step. We are still too weak. A/ was blackmailed by Chung into keeping Ken alive against his will. The reason that can happen is simply because we were too weak. We needed that selfish hero. -

The domain holders glanced at each other.

- We must achieve combat power equal to or above the heroes. -

- I spoke to him before A/ allowed him to pass, - Stella elaborated. - To A/ , keeping him alive was like a doctor putting a man on a horrific medical treatment for a week or two. ItÆs nothing. He doesnÆt think itÆs a big deal. Maybe to us, extending oneÆs life by a week or two through painful medical procedures isnÆt suffering. But that is A/ , on a larger scale, with longer timescales. Very few things are a big deal. -

Very few things were a big deal.

- But Ken lived it. Years, he endured A/ Æs energies swirling in his body, forcing him to live against his will, - the void mage continued. - It was intense. It is suffering, even if most of it was asleep. -

Stella looked uncomfortable. - We understood the circumstances. The demonÆs comet was too dangerous, and A/ needed all hands and all the tools. But it is a terrible choice, and in the future, we will only have more such choices. This time, it was KenÆs life. Someday, it will be someone else. -

- Worse, someday, itÆll be more than the life and suffering of one person. All because we are weak, - Edna repeated. - Strength is the answer. A/ doesnÆt think so and would not say it so bluntly that we are weak, but in the larger scheme of things, our contributions have been limited. -

- What do you have in mind, Edna? - Roon said.

- The hurdle we need to cross is simple. We must be able to take on a demon king without assistance. That will allay the bargaining power of the heroes and prevent future blackmails from less - friendly heroes. The present group of heroes are generally on good terms with us, with the Order, but someday we will face heroes that turn against us. I even suspect that Chung would turn against A/ very, very soon, - Edna explained.

The remaining domain holders were quiet. Ezar and Kafa had secretly practiced battle against heroes and generally came out to a loss - or at best a stalemate under perfect conditions. The sheer firepower of a hero was insane, and in combat simulations, only Lumoof, Alka, and Edna managed to win in specific circumstances.

Alka mainly won by taking the heroes down with him.

- If we can do so, it would allow us to fully move away from the fading gods and the need to support heroes, because we can do so ourselves. It will also give A/ better options, and we can then steer A/ toward better decisions. -

Ezar asked, - How far are we from that? -

- For you two, at least fifty more levels, - Edna answered. - For me, IÆm not that far. Lumoof and Stella, too. If each of us can reach level two hundred, my current knowledge indicates that is the point when we are on par with the heroes. In a straight fight, we can hold our ground and, depending on what powers we receive, even produce the damage and destruction we need. -

- Oh, A/ . - Roon looked at Edna. - So whenÆs the next demon king? I didnÆt need a pep talk, but now that I got it, I want to go kill some demon kings. -

- The one on Mountainworld. -

- Yes. But thatÆs not all. We will go and free up more worlds, take on the demon king, and collect a loose alliance of allies. A/ needs new worlds, and he takes too darned long to decide, - Edna explained. - Stella? -

- Yes, yes. A/ already wants more void domain holders. WeÆre getting there, - Stella said. - Void mages donÆt grow on trees. -

- I wish they did. - Edna laughed. - I really wish they did. -

Edna smirked. - No matter. The issue of the other worlds is important to us. Us domain holders will be A/ Æs emissaries to the new world. A/ . I sense a growing resolve to handle things more decisively, but I fear for those worlds. -

Kafa sat and sipped his thick tea uncomfortably.

- These other worlds, worlds that do not have domain holders or have weak ones, their fate is an eventual doom. The gods will fade, and they will fend for themselves. Ultimately, our decision on how and what to do with these worlds determines the lives and fate of those who live on them. If we ignore them, they may live on, but some day, they will be destroyed. If we establish relations and decide to maintain a position, we can support their defense and hopefully train some of them up into future domain holders. -

Edna stopped just to drink her cup of water.

- I know A/ believes that each world deserves a choice on what they want to do, and if they want to fend for themselves, they should be allowed to do so. But thatÆs A/ Æs thoughts. If you are asked to choose to establish a presence on a world, deal with all the troubles that come with it, for that remote chance of saving them in the future, would you do it? -

Roon looked at Edna like she was an alien. - Shit, Edna, I didnÆt think itÆs that? -

- ItÆs just the harsh truth. A/ Æs presence is like giving an orphan child an opportunity to train to be a Valthorn. Most of it turns out to be average. But some of us are here today. -

- Man, if only. -

- A/ doesnÆt have clone seeds for all the worlds. Even with the node trees, there are more worlds out there than we can count. We will be visiting more worlds with StellaÆs powers, and that is the weight of our choice. If we feel strongly about something, we must speak to A/ , because those are lives that will fade away unnoticed, - Edna explained.

Lumoof glanced at everyone and chuckled. - With A/ Æs level two hundred fifty choice, he would only be assaulted with more information, more decisions, more worlds. I hope there are more of us here eventually. Because this duty weighs heavily, and IÆll need all of you to help scout the path ahead. I donÆt mean just Ezar and Kafa. I mean all of us. Because we need all of us to act as a stabilizing force for A/ . Combined, A/ will definitely listen. -

Stella nodded. - This meeting wasnÆt meant to put you two on the spot. I generally echo Edna and LumoofÆs thoughts. Only together, we can balance this ship. Because thereÆs nothing else. -

Kafa tapped his chest. - I may not know whether I am up for it, but I will try. -

Ezar nodded along.

Roon and Johann looked at each other. - You three should really tell us more about all that shit that goes on in your heads. You canÆt just unload this on us suddenly. -

Lumoof smiled. - I apologize. But after tapping into A/ Æs avatar mode a little too often, I realize I cannot be trusted to be objective. I need all of you. -

Roon and Johann gulped. - Well, IÆll tell you for sure if you fucked up. -

- Please do. Worlds get fucked if we fuck up, - Lumoof said, mimicking their language. - ItÆs a burden too heavy for me to bear. -

32

INTERLUDE - LIZARDFOLKS 3

Ever since they returned to Branchhold, Wetport Lapule never faded from his mind. Chief Jaan dreamed of the place, and there were times he daydreamed of it. He could see little glimmers of it in Branchhold.

There were many other lizardfolks in the world of Mountainworld that did the old ways. Jaan saw it when he saw new groups of migrants. He wanted to try it, but his heart was unsure whether the matrons would support him. He summoned the matrons and asked them for their views.

He didnÆt conduct a vote. He wasnÆt that daring. He still couldnÆt let go of his role as chief, and as chief, his role was to decide. Perhaps one day, where the next generation of lizardfolks were all strong, powerful lizards, he would have to relinquish his role and decide by vote.

But for now, he asked for views.

And he listened.

To his surprise, it was the eldest of the matrons, the oldest one, that found Wetport Lapule to be a model worth following. She was most enamored with the idea of a great lizardfolk city. A lizardfolk nation that even the greatest of humans or the other races would fear.

It was ego.

Pride.

She had pride in lizardfolk.

They wanted that. They wanted to have pride. There was a saying lizardfolk heard too often.

- In battle, one man is worth many lizardfolk. -

It was true, of course. But it was also an insult that gnawed at them personally. That each of them was worth less than a man. But now they knew that this was not the only way.

- No one in our world tried to walk the path of the strong lizardfolk, - the eldest matron declared. - If the gods grant us the vision of how it was done, then it must have been for a reason. -

Jaan thought that was a little on the nose. A/ guided them there for a reason. Education. In fact, he even felt maybe this was what they wanted. So he challenged the matron then. Even if he would have accepted it normally. - What if this is what the Great Tree wants us to do? WeÆre falling into its trap. It wants us to be like the lizards of Wetport Lapule. -

The matron nodded. - But if we are strong, who cares whether thatÆs what the Great Tree wants? Do you not forget why we moved away from our old home? Because we couldnÆt protect ourselves from the demons or the old kings. Every war, we send our younglings away to war, where only a few out of hundreds return. Why? What for? What mother would do that to their child if it is not a necessity? -

- Younglings are younglings. They live, and they die. Those were your words, matron. They are not true lizardfolk until they return from war, - Jaan called out the matron then. It was hypocritical of her, too. She wasnÆt one to care about younglings. In fact, she was the cruelest of them all.

The other matrons looked at the eldest, a little surprised.

But she answered. - We do what we need to do to survive, Chief Jaan. Our hearts cannot take it to lose so many of our own for wars fought by others. So we respond with cruelty. We kill ourselves to allow it to happen. But do you not see that the other way is better? We could be like the other races. We could have strong children. -

- And this price - you will pay for it? - Jaan remembered her words. - We will lose our traditions. We will stop being the lizardfolks of Mountainworld, but more like the lizardfolks of Wetport Lapule. -

- Yes. I rather have one child who can step into the heavens than a hundred who will die in the wars. The traditions can burn in the depths of the hellfire swamps if they donÆt work. -

- Matron! - It was another matron who rebuked the old matron. - That is too much. Our traditions brought us where we are today. -

- And they will be inherited by the millions of lizardfolk rotting away in their villages all over Mountainworld, - the matron countered. - How many times have you met a famous lizardfolk only to find them lacking? -

The unspoken answer was all the time. Famous lizardfolk on Mountainworld was at most level seventy, and even at that level, they were weaker than their peers.

- Remember that lady? - The matron looked at Jaan. - The class one? -

Of course he remembered. She was a living goddess. Just like that lizard Valthorn. Kafa. Now that was a living god walking amongst the lizardfolk.

- I will trade her for any famous person. No. All of them, - the matron said. - If we had someone like her, weÆd finally be able to build the foundations for a proper lizardfolk nation. -

- But we donÆt, - Jaan countered.

- Alas, - the matron said. - We have you. -

Jaan frowned. - IÆm still the chief, matron. IÆll let that insult slide, this time. -

- But the foundation must be built. We must try. The first generation of new lizardfolks will set the path for generations later. Then Mountainworld will witness the rise of a new kind. -

Jaan sighed. - It sounds like you agree with it. -

The matron nodded. The rest of them were a mix.

Jaan closed his eyes and decided to go for a walk.

After a while, he felt he needed more evidence. This was such an upheaval for the lizardfolk way that he needed to be sure. So he asked for another trip to Wetport Lapule.

The Valthorn guardian of Branchhold repeated, and then he checked the travel approvals. - We have a travel vacancy in two months. Come back and arrange your move. You will only be able to return after six weeks. -

- Six weeks! - Jaan said. But ultimately, he arranged for another of the matrons to be in charge. In the safety of Branchhold, there really was nothing much for Jaan to do.

Branchhold was no village at the threat of monster attacks. Branchhold was in many ways a fortified supercity. One of the matrons laughed. - Go, Chief. WeÆll be free of your meddling for six weeks. Stay longer if you want, - the matron teased.

Without the existential threat of monsters or demons, Jaan had to admit he spent most of his time being a busybody, poking into the affairs of every other lizardfolk. He called it being - informed - and - concerned, - but his matrons just said he was a busybody.

- Fine! - He frowned.

The day came. He nodded at the officer and felt himself warp over. Treehome. The air. The stench or lack thereof. It was beautiful. It was the first time he traveled alone, and this time, all he got was a single Valthorn chaperon.

The chaperon was a lizardfolk from Treehome. - Greetings. IÆm Solvis, your assistant for the duration of your trip. Please, do as youÆd like. My task is mainly to ensure your safety while you remain on Treehome. -

Jaan and SolvisÆs claws met briefly. - Well met, Solvis. IÆll be headed to Wetport Lapule, and if I can, IÆll visit the other lizardfolk nations. -

Solvis nodded. - Certainly. Let me guide you to the beetle stations. -

- Please. -

In Wetport Lapule once more, Jaan rubbed his nose. The stench of the city had pretty much marked itself on his nose ever since the beetle entered one of the main freeways that led to the heart of the city.

He wouldnÆt have a fancy rich man to guide him this time. This, in many ways, was a personal trip. He wanted to see the city for himself. Whether it really was what he wanted to create back home.

Solvis merely grinned when Jaan explained his quest. - IÆm not sure what you are looking to find, Chief Jaan. This city, well, itÆs quite like diving into the belly of a giant swamp monster. It stinks. If you want what lizardfolks could be, this isnÆt it. -

Jaan chuckled, of course. Some lizardfolks of Treehome themselves aspired for a different kind of life. Solvis spoke of those who migrated out of the Wetport and back to the small villages, where they tried to blend both the city and the old village ways of the lizardfolks. The irony was not lost on him.

Even if it was baffling. And hilarious.

There was an old saying among lizardfolks: be happy with the tail you had. Not that anyone followed it anymore.

- Well, your quest starts here. District VI. The ports of the Wetport. - True to its name, the piers, the floors, everything was wet. And slimy. The ships waves caused the slimy liquids of the sea to wash up and stick to the piers and the docks.

There were groups of lizardfolks wiping and cleaning, but only in one or two piers.

- Those are the more exclusive piers. - Solvis laughed. - When youÆre rich, you can afford cleaning services and magical spells for your landing docks. -

Jaan frowned. - Are you able to help me, I donÆt know, get in touch with some pirates? I want to speak to them, just to find out what lifeÆs like here. -

Solvis shrugged. - Just go to a bar or a tavern, Chief Jaan. Pirates and scum aplenty. But let me hold your money for you. -

- What? -

- YouÆre going to get pickpocketed in a bar. Especially with your kind of money. -

Jaan had gotten used to the relative tameness of Branchhold and realized he may have had a bit more than he expected. He decided Solvis advice was wise and handed his pouch over, except for a little bit of coin.

At that point, another Valthorn agent appeared. He took the coin and then vanished.

He gulped. - Who? - ? -

- The city general assistant for Valthorns. We have folks like that in every city to help us out with mundane stuff like banking. -

- That - that was more like a spy. -

- You can call him that. - Solvis laughed. - Come. LetÆs get you to the inn, and the innkeeper will have recommendations for the best bars for lowliest scums of the swamps. -

Jaan paused. - You - you donÆt like the pirates very much? -

- They are a nuisance we tolerate, - Solvis said. - Much like every other nuisance on this damned planet. -

- Are we a nuisance? -

Solvis paused and laughed. - To be fair, everyoneÆs a potential nuisance. A/ believes in the principle that nuisances promote growth. ThatÆs why he tolerates it. The challenges created by nuisances are obstacles that others overcome, and so we gain levels. ItÆs part of a cycle. Without an adversary, we canÆt improve and gain levels. -

- Oh, - Jaan said.

The innkeeper was more than happy to recommend a few famous taverns, but apparently some of them wouldnÆt have an empty seat. Not for a nobody like Chief Jaan. High - level Valthorns didnÆt usually participate in taverns, though most of these taverns would happily make space for them if needed.

Unable to decide where to go, Jaan sat in the innÆs dining area. It was quiet. Most lizardfolks used the inn as a place to sleep. Daytime was time for business. Evening was time for drinks and mingling with powerful lizards.

He looked around. The inn itself was rather well decorated, if dated. But Jaan glanced at the innkeeper, a lovely old lizardfolk lady, and realized maybe he should start somewhere nearby.

- Actually, madam, IÆll buy you a drink if youÆd talk to me. -

The innkeeper, Madam Squama, gladly obliged. - Why, I donÆt really need an excuse to drink with my guests. - She laughed.

- How long have you been here, Madam Squama? -

- Call me Miss Squama. I refuse to believe IÆm seventy. - The madam of the inn laughed.

- YouÆre seventy? Wow! - Jaan was surprised. He was old himself, having seen wars and death of his own. But Miss Squama was older than the matron. He sighed. - IÆm Jaan. Tell me, were you here from the beginning? -

She laughed. - No. No one alive was here when the Wetport began. ItÆs been here for as long as it has, but it was still a city. There were many kings and old lizard lords that ruled from this city. -

- Really? -

- The Wetport used to be home to three separate lizard kingdoms. On this side with the old lizard city of. I canÆt remember the name, I believe itÆs Lapa or something. Then thereÆs the Pula clan of lizards on that side. Then thereÆs the Mirrin clan somewhere further upstream, along the river that meets the Lapula Bay. Ancient history. They all died. -

- Oh, - Jaan said. That sounded very much like their own lizard kingdoms. - What changed? Do you know how this place became, well, this? -

- Rottedlands incident, - Miss Squama explained. - And the subsequent lizardfolk repopulation program. I was one of them. So that answers your question. I wasnÆt here. I was brought here by the repopulators. -

Jaan soon got a rather extensive overview of the history of Wetport Lapule. The city went through many ups and downs. Mostly downs, due to typical lizardfolk infighting. Then the Rottedlands occurred, and vast amounts of lizardfolks died overnight.

The Order decided that they wanted to restore lizardfolk population through vast breeding programs and selected Wetport Lapule, then the cities of Pula and Lapa, as one of the suitable habitation grounds of the new lizardfolks.

The Order was way too strong for the local lizard kings to resist, and those that attempted to resist were swiftly killed. In the end, the Order gave the old royal families noble titles similar to the other nations and a cut of the bayÆs taxes, and in exchange, the old families relinquished the management of the entire bay.

It made those old families rich. But as with all typical lizardfolk families, that money was squandered away in internecine struggle, and within the past hundred years, only one or two heirs of the original three royal families remained.

The vast repopulation program, the privateer project, A/ Æs swamp expansions, and the Valthorns naval academy somehow caused the stars to align and the Wetport LapuleÆs status as the de facto capital of the lizardfolk was sealed around four decades ago.

Jaan stared, realizing that the city came to be due to luck.

- How much of this bay is our choice? -

- All? - Madam Squama laughed. - Many chose to move here. The repopulation program ended decades ago, and the Wetport has tripled since! Most of those who are here came here on their own will. People like me, weÆre the minority. -

Solvis, who was happily listening, said, - It means Madam Squama is filthy rich. The old pioneers still receive Order stipends. -

Squama frowned. - Shh. DonÆt say that part out loud! -

Jaan appreciated the lesson, of course. It was context. It explained how it all came to be. But it didnÆt answer the doubt in his heart. - Do you think. do you think this Wetport made lizardfolks better? -

It was Madam SquamaÆs turn to stare at the middle - aged chief of BranchholdÆs lizardfolk. - Better? I donÆt know about better. If you ask the youth, theyÆll tell you itÆs better here than the villages. Here, they have opportunities. They have jobs. They have a chance to make something in a larger market. But if you ask those like me, some of us miss the quiet life of the villages. -

Jaan frowned. He remembered his nomadic life in the villages. - IÆll say none of my matrons miss the villages much. ItÆs a life of constantly fearing for demons or the human kingdoms and breeding younglings for other peopleÆs wars. -

The innkeeper looked horrified. - Which part of the Central Continent are you from? Lizardfolk villages were officially direct protectorates of the Order since - since eight decades ago, and lizardfolk youngling forced drafts by non - lizardfolk nations were banned around the same time. -

Solvis clarified. - HeÆs a visitor from the other world, madam. -

SquamaÆs eyes widened. - Oh, the burning A/ ! So thatÆs why you have a Valthorn bodyguard! YouÆre an actual otherworld lizardperson! I must call my friends! They will want to meet you! -

Jaan instantly felt like he had outed himself as a circus freak. - That wonÆt be necessary, Madam Squama. IÆd like to visit in peace. -

- No, no, no - I have a friend. HeÆs been curious since forever, and heÆs been waiting in line for a ticket to visit. HeÆs been cursing those damned tour quotas every year. -

Jaan glanced at Solvis. - Tour quotas? -

- ThereÆs a limited number of travel slots between worlds. ItÆs a lottery. But there are different schemes? -

- But I got it? -

- Outbound travel from TreehomeÆs really popular with the nobility, - Solvis said. - Inbound travel less so. Eventually itÆll be a lottery on both ends. -

Squama ran to a crystalline rock and tapped in some things. - Hey, old Vurvis! Come to my inn now! ThereÆs an actual lizardfolk from the other world here! -

- What! Really? IÆll be there! -

Squama walked to the magical shelf and took out two more bottles of wines. - Since old Vurvis is coming, gotta open up the old swamp wines. Made from real Snake blood! -

Solvis squirmed. - Not my thing. -

Squama offered it to Jaan. Jaan took a sniff, and it smelled absolutely like vomit. - No thanks. -

Old Vurvis walked in barely ten minutes later. He looked like a war hero, with scars throughout his body, and some of his claws were missing. - Old Vurvis! This is Jaan! He came from Mountainworld! -

VurvisÆs eyes looked at Jaan, examining every part, absolutely bewildered. - Holy cow. It really is a Mountainworld lizardperson! You even have distinct bumps in your shoulders. -

- ThereÆs a bump in his shoulders?! - both Solvis and Squama asked at the same time.

Jaan didnÆt realize it, but now that he did, the bone structures of the lizardfolks were slightly different. Hidden under armor and shoulder plates, it wasnÆt an easily visible difference. - Huh. -

Vurvis stared. - Have you ever tried breeding or mating with our worldÆs lizardfolk? Do you know whether itÆs possible to mate? -

Jaan couldnÆt believe it. - Wha - No. I have not tried. -

Squama gave Vurvis a glare. - Old Vurvis! So thatÆs why you wanted a trip to the other world! You wanted to touch scales with some damned alien lizardfolks?! -

Vurvis immediately looked offended. - No, no, no! ItÆs truly an academic question! -

- Then why is it your first damned question?! -

Jaan and Solvis just glanced at each other while the two bickered for a bit. The two old lizards were clearly very old friends. The two eventually calmed down.

- I apologize. It was something thatÆs on my mind ever since the Order revealed the presence of the other worlds. IÆve been curious to meet other lizardfolks. You see, I used to be a pirate, but then, along the way, I realized I was fascinated by all these old remains and lizard bones, and so I left piracy and joined one of the Magical Research Institutes as an independent research assistant, focusing on lizard bones. -

Squama clarified. - It means heÆs the mageÆs bodyguard, most of the time, even though he tries to do his own research as well. -

- Hey! IÆm a level twenty - six Lizard Bone Analyst and a level thirty - four Pirate Warrior ! -

Jaan paused, then asked, - You are allowed to take two main classes? -

The three lizardfolks present now gave Jaan the judgy stare. But it was Vurvis who intervened. - Ah! That makes sense. Pre - Rottedlands, village lizardfolks also didnÆt have role flexibility. To answer your question, Chief Jaan, yes. We do. City lizardfolks can change jobs and roles. -

- But how do the villages ensure their needs are met? -

- We pay, - Vurvis explained. - ThereÆs a lizardfolk merchantÆs guild that helps to match classes to jobs, and so lizardfolks move around to fill the role, and if the payÆs no good, they leave. -

Jaan was surprised, but then realized there was no village chief to stop them. In Mountainworld, every villager reported their class to the village chief. The village chief would then assign tasks in accordance with their class, and if they developed new classes, the village chief could reassign them. But that hardly happened.

The idea of lizardfolks moving from village to village to work? That was even more wild.

Lizardfolks of Mountainworld stuck to their own cities, and when the village moved, almost all moved together. Those that didnÆt would find a new village.

- In that kind of world, what do village chiefs do? - Jaan asked, wondering how his own job would change.

Vurvis drank the old snake wine like water. He burped. The stench almost made Jaan vomit. - I believe they just coordinate jobs, hirings, resources. As long as everything runs, who cares, right? -

- But thereÆs no - That sounds as if thereÆs no relationship between the chief and the village. -

- That is a drawback, - Vurvis acknowledged.

Jaan didnÆt like that. That was power taken away from him. If every lizardfolk had no loyalty to the village, then who were they loyal to?

33

YEAR 265

More LumoofÆs Travels

- Another one. - Lumoof nodded as he checked his equipment. - WhereÆs Kafa? -

- On the way. - Stella nodded. - Though IÆm sure you will be enough, we do want to increase our teamÆs experience. - The void lady smiled. Kafa and Edna both walked in.

- Both of you? -

Edna shook his head, but Kafa nodded. The new lizardfolk domain holder was ready. An exploratory trip to a new world. Most of the time, it was Stella, Edna, and Lumoof that did the visits. But Stella found more than one world, and so there would be another team. Roon, Ezar, and Edna would go to the other one.

Stella had to be on standby for the demon meteor shower. StellaÆs void explorers , now three of them, moved faster. There would come a time where theyÆd most likely discover more worlds than they could explore safely. - Ready? -

- Never. - Lumoof chuckled.

- Off you go anyway. - Stella laughed, and the void portal sucked them through.

They landed in what appeared to be a lush field of greenery, teeming with life. Bugs. Insects. Kafa looked around and sniffed. - I sense a great disturbance in the fabric of reality. -

Lumoof nodded as he felt it, too. He expanded his senses, tapping into the grass and the bushes, and felt it instantly. It was very far away.

Reality. Both of them experienced how it felt to have reality tear apart before their eyes. There were ripples everywhere. Something was wrong. And they both knew it.

But this world shouldnÆt be like that. Lumoof reached out and sensed the worldÆs core and felt it intact. Lumoof briefly looked up to get a sense of their location. This world, discovered by the void explorer , was not linked to any others they knew. But it was linked to three other worlds. There were paths they could see.

Kafa tensed, sharing LumoofÆs vision of the stars. - But there are no demons? -

- Then what could it be? - Lumoof looked back as a cloak of magic appeared around him. To most people, he was as good as invisible. KafaÆs scales transformed; his lustrous scales functioned as if they were the scales of a chameleon, shifting color to match his surroundings.

Camouflage.

The pair rushed through vast forests and fields of animals.

They moved, sensing the unusual disturbance in the reality of space. But as they got closer, they began to sense the source of it. It felt like powers similar to the void.

- A native void mage? - Lumoof said.

It was not impossible. Void mages could occur naturally. If there was some kind of people like the Zaratans.

LumoofÆs eyes widened. The information was relayed through the artificial mind network, and they returned with a confirmation. It matched most signatures. - Zaratan. -

It was a land of life, but as they sped up, they heard the roar of battle.

- Attack the creature! - The command came from a dwarven warlord of some kind, surrounded by an army.

There was a gigantic Zaratan in a half - dried lake, attacked by the natives. The natives were dwarves, and they had cannons. Those weapons bombarded the Zaratan, and the Zaratan attempted to defend itself with the use of void magic. But it was clearly injured; there were multiple deep cuts that had rotted throughout its body and signaled the presence of combat some time ago. Its use of void magic was different from Stella. It twisted reality in order to deflect the shells.

Lumoof landed nearby and quickly tapped into my network of minds to figure out what was happening. We connected with all the leaves and surviving plants in the battlefield and listened to the dwarven attackers.

- How long before we can cut this turtle up and make weapons out of its shell? - one of the dwarves complained to the other.

- A bit more. Its magic is waning. This is it flailing at its last breaths, - another of the dwarven attackers said.

The lord commanded, - Keep attacking. We must not let this opportunity go! -

The connected grass focused on the aides and sycophants around the dwarf lord. It was always lucky that aides and shoe polishers existed to recite the plan to everyone present. - With the Void turtleÆs body, we would be able to attack the void creatures in the depths and reach the ores. WeÆll finally be able to match the other dwarven lords in power! -

Lumoof looked at Kafa. - IÆll provide aid to the Zaratan. Hold them off. -

Kafa nodded, and in a blink, he was gone.

The dwarves cannons attempted another volley of attacks, but they all smashed into a magical shield. The lizard warrior activated a magical item that contained shield spells and landed in front of the dwarven army.

- Cease this attack at once, and IÆll let you live. Continue, and I will not be merciful, - Kafa said with practiced arrogance. His domain holderÆs aura radiated outward.

Lumoof landed right next to the surprised Zaratan. - Careful, Kafa. The weight of your domain can hurt this injured Zaratan. -

The dwarves froze in fear.

- Old Zaratan, allow me. - Its throat and neck was injured, but the moment LumoofÆs hands touched its body, a link in the mind was established.

It sent an explanation. This place was a trap. A place with just enough surface water for Zaratans to warp in, but not enough to provide cover or protection from their foes.

Through Lumoof, my healing energy spread into the ZaratanÆs injured body. I felt its memory, and it shared attacks. We recognized some of them, and it soon explained through its thoughts. Demons, men, dwarves, mermaids, and the trogs. This Zaratan had been attacked many times.

I shared thoughts of our own. Vallasira, the first Zaratan we met, and the old giant Zaratans. Stella and the void mages. I felt its relief, and instantly, its resistance to my healing energies faded. My healing powers now moved unrestricted and began to mend its old wounds.

Healing injured old giants from old wounds would prove tough for even level one hundred healers.

But I was almost a god, so this was easy.

The dwarves stared, dumbfounded, as they watched the injured flesh of the Zaratan heal before their very eyes. Regenerated.

The dwarven lord couldnÆt move. KafaÆs presence made them freeze. Though Kafa was one, he had an ability to create little shadow copies of himself, and now those shadow copies were at the necks of the leaders.

The Zaratan healed in about twenty minutes, and its voice regained. Its telepathic voice was linked to its throat, as if the means of projecting its message was in the throat.

- This Sundhilla thanks the TreeÆs avatar. A friend of my fellow Zaratans is a friend of mine, - Sundhilla spoke, fully healed. No longer injured, it no longer needed to warp reality around itself and could resort to regular defenses.

- Our paths were enabled by your brethren. Without their guidance, we wouldnÆt be able to reach the stars, - Lumoof answered. - It is nothing. -

- Such is the eternal cycle, - Sundhilla spoke. - Avatar of the Tree, please touch my head again. I shall transmit a gift for your aid. -

Lumoof did, and instantly, I felt it transmit a copy of its memory of the local star system. A star map of the local area, with notations. I shared it with Stella instantly. - Much appreciated, - Lumoof responded.

- May it lead you closer to the goals you seek, - the Zaratan said. - I shall now take my leave. -

The dwarven lord struggled. - No! You must not let it leave! We need its body! Without it, we cannot deal with the dark creatures beneath us! -

The Zaratan shrouded itself in a cloud of mist, and in a blink, it vanished. Lumoof landed back on the dried lake. Lumoof walked to the dwarven lord, and this time, Lumoof didnÆt bother hiding his aura. The entire dried lake shook as water seemed to pop out of the dried lake. - IÆm saving an old friend. Do you have objections? -

The entire dwarven army paled. The lord, his muscular legs wobbly, whispered in response, - No, great one. -

- Good. Now you will take me to your city and tell me everything, - Lumoof said. - And show me these dark creatures you speak of. -

- What? - The dwarven lord shrunk. This was going to be hard to explain.

This was a world of dwarves. There was no one other than dwarves in this world, and so Kafa horrified them. Kafa, a lizardman, in their eyes, was a monster. Lumoof, with his tall height, looked like a giant dwarf.

The dwarven lord reluctantly led them to the city of Greyhold. Not only did they return empty handed, they had to bring the potential enemy back home.

- Who are these people? - The dwarven lordÆs court was filled with hushed whispers. - That man is so tall, but his companion - he is a monster? - Lumoof didnÆt need much help to spy on those around him. The dwarven city was built into the mountain, and there were remains of old tree roots that he could easily tap into.

- Creatures - guests, - the dwarven lord of House Greyhold clarified. - Of the other worlds. They were able to speak to the Void Tortoises. -

Zaratans. Void Tortoise. There were different names for the same things. WeÆd called this world Dwarfworld, but we soon discovered they called it Delvegard, home of the delvers.

- And you bring them back? - one of the ministers of the lord said.

- They will kill us if we donÆt, - one of the aides defended the lord.

- And risk the life of all who live on Greyhold? -

But we didnÆt need interactions to learn about these people. With roots, with trees, we stalked the city and soon learned of the existences of magical mineral veins in Delvegard. The mineral veins all produced unusual types of metals, but they were also protected by the creatures known as the Darklings.