Realm of Monsters

A pair of hands grabbed Stryg by the shoulders and helped him to his feet. “Can you stand?” asked Gian.

Stryg stared at the old vampire’s hands, then looked up and studied his features. Gone was the child’s button nose; His nose was long and straight. The salt and pepper beard was cut short, well-oiled, and groomed. He had crow’s feet and deep set lines on his forehead. But his scarlet eyes were the same.

“Stryg?” Gian asked uncertainly. “Are you alright?”

“I’m sorry, Gigi. I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Gian furrowed his brow and fell back a step. “What did you say?” he asked in a trembling voice. “Who told you that name?”

Stryg frowned and held his head. “I did? No. It wasn’t me. It was… I… I was there. I saw Lunis burn, with Stryga. It was like I was watching her and at the same time, I was her. You were so young… That was the day she left, wasn’t it? She never came back… did she?”

The old vampire’s expression grew tired. “No, she didn’t.”

Stryg wiped the tears from his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Gian reassured him. “My sister saw something that day, it changed her. I never knew what it was, no one did. Did you— Did you see it?”

“Whose death?” Gian asked. “Ravellan’s? Uncle Syrak’s? They never found their bodies or anyone from her battalion.”

Stryg closed his eyes and grimaced at the memory. He could still feel Stryga’s terror gripping his chest.

“Leave the questions for later, Uncle. He needs rest.” Gale helped Stryg down to a chair and rubbed his shoulder. “It’s that book, I told you to wait.”

Stryg stared at the book in his hand. “I didn’t realize it’d feel so real. I didn’t just see her, I was there. I lived it, through her.”

“Well, it certainly was an experience. You tipped over and fell on your head like a damn rock,” Jahn chuckled. “Look,” he pointed to the skull-sized crack on the floor’s wooden planks.

“You should get some rest, my lord.” Gale reached over and grabbed the book of memories.

Stryg pulled the book back and jumped to his feet, stumbling for a moment before he gathered himself. “No. Not yet. I need to speak with someone.”

Gale sighed, “Fine. I know how stubborn you can be. I will not stop you. But you are not the only stubborn one here.” She stood in his way and looked down at him with a glare. “You’re not going alone. Understood?”

“...Yeah, I get it,” Stryg relented.

Gale nodded and stepped aside, falling in behind him as he walked out.

“I only ditched the guards a few times,” Stryg grumbled.

“You are the lord of a Ruling House, you don’t get to do that anymore.”

“If I’m the lord shouldn’t I be able to refuse guards?”

“Not a chance.”

~~~

“It’s odd. Kaleidrog’s brood haven’t returned to the Rupture Mountains,” said Lunae, her silver eyes glazed over with an inner light.

“Well, Kaleidrog is dead. They may be fighting for leadership before returning to their home,” guessed Holo.

“If Caligo really did something to Zavinti’s mind then the only worthy heir is her brother, Reldros,” said Melantha. “Where are they now?”

“They’ve been traveling around the Valley. Right now they’re somewhere in the hills a few dozen leagues to the west. I’ll see if I can—” Lunae stopped and blinked, her eyes returning to their normal silver hue.

“What is it?” asked Holo.

As if to answer her question, the doors opened, and Stryg walked inside, Gale right beside him. His eyes lit up at the sight of the three goddesses, “Perfect, you’re all here.”

“Yes, child?” Lunae asked patiently and patted the empty pillow next to her.

Stryg nodded and plopped down next to her.

It was a little odd seeing the titan goddess in the form of a woman barely taller than himself. He knew she couldn’t walk around in her true form inside the barracks the Sylvan had turned into her temporary residence. The ceiling was too low, her upper body would have ripped right through.

Despite her stature, Lunae held the same features as always. A dark silver complexion, long snow-white hair that trailed on the floor, and silver gleaming eyes that seemed to look right through him.

Stryg squirmed under her warm gaze but met it with conviction. “I need to speak with you.”

“I’m listening, Little One.”

“My mother left me with this book,” he pulled it out from under his jacket.

A look of recognition crossed Lunae’s eyes but she quickly buried it.

“A book of memories,” Holo recognized it. “That’s old, powerful magic. I didn’t know Aurelia knew the spells to make such complex enchantments.”

“She didn’t make it. My great-grandmother did. Stryga Veres. Her memories are stored inside.” Stryg took a deep, shaky breath. “I saw our father.”

Melantha perked up at his words. “You saw Death? Are you sure?”

“He was attacking Stryga and her soldiers. He killed everyone.”

“Yeah, that sounds like him,” Holo said dryly.

“That’s just it. I don’t know why,” Stryg admitted. “Lunis had fallen. My grandmother was marching to meet up with Hollow Shade’s main forces when Stjerne appeared. Why was he even there in some random village?”

Melantha and Holo shared a silent troubled look before pointedly looking at Lunae, who shook her head subtly. Stryg didn’t notice, his mind elsewhere.

“If my father was angry about Lunis, why didn’t he just stop them before the city was destroyed? Better yet, why didn’t you?” Stryg asked Lunae. “In all the stories, the Traveler is said to be carefree, even fickle at times. I understand why he wouldn’t care about goblin-kind, it’s not as if he is the patron of goblin-kin. But you are.”

“You shouldn’t listen to the mortals’ stories about immortals. However, in this particular case, there is some truth to the tales.” Lunae stood to her feet, her long white hair trailing behind her. “Your father is a complex man, few ever know what he is truly thinking. He always does what he pleases, no one can stop him, not even me.”

“Then what about you? You're the patron of the Sylvan, of Lunis. Where were you when the city burned?”

Lunae caressed his face and smiled softly. “I’ll tell you someday, but not tonight.”

“Wait, I have questions—!”

“Not tonight, Little One. I’m tired.” Lunae gave him an apologetic look, then walked out of the room.

“I’ll be back, stay here,” Gale whispered and hurried after her goddess.

“She could have at least answered one question,” Stryg muttered, confused.

Holo shrugged, “Lunae gives everyone a cold shoulder, you’re lucky she likes you.”

Stryg glanced at his sisters, “Do either of you know what that’s all about?”

“It’s not our story to share,” said Melantha. “Give your Mother Moon some time, she’ll tell you when she’s ready.”

Holo placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder and looked at Stryg, “If you want to know more, why don’t you look into that book of yours.”

Melantha cocked an eyebrow, “What are you—?”

“Bye, Stryg,” Holo raised her free hand and wiggled her fingers. The sisters disappeared in a cloud of orange sparks, Flickering away.

Stryg glared at the spot they had just been. “Damn you, Holo.” They were clearly avoiding whatever had happened 300 years ago and he didn’t know why. Stryg stared down at the book in his hands. Maybe Holo was right. If he wanted answers, he’d need to find them himself.

~~~

Lunae lay face-up on the rooftop of the barracks, her hair spread out like a halo around her. The moon was only a sliver in the night sky. How she missed seeing its face.

“My lady?” Gale called out cautiously. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. You need not worry about me. Instead, look after the Little One before he does something stupid. He’s quite prone to such things.”

Gale bowed and headed back downstairs.

Lunae sighed and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to remember, but try as she might, memories of that night floated back into her mind’s eye.

~~~

Silvana ran through the halls of the temple, her ornate white robes slowing her down. A pair of guards ran by her side, spears at the ready, their eyes scanning the marble halls for threats. They came upon a pair of massive ebonwood doors and Silvana pushed them open. “My lady!”

The room was dark. Whatever candles had been lit were now long dead. The magestone lanterns had been deactivated. The only light filtering into the room was from the sconces in the hallway. A giant woman lay on the floor, curled in a fetal position.

“My lady!” Silvana rushed to Lunae’s side and grabbed the woman’s hand. Her small fingers barely gripped around the goddess’ pinky.

Lunae slowly opened her eyes, they were bloodshot and swollen from hours of crying. She stared at the goblin, but there was no light behind her eyes.

“My lady…? It’s me,” Silvana said worriedly. “Your loyal servant, your high priestess.”

“...Mm.” Lunae turned her back to her and curled deeper into the fetal position.

“I know you demanded to not be disturbed, but—”

“Then what are you still doing here?”

Silvana bit her lip, “I can’t imagine the pain you must be feeling after Solis—”

“Leave.”

“The city is under attack! Please,” Silvana pleaded. “After the Realm Bridges fell, the orc warlords declared war upon us. You told me to deal with it, that you didn’t wish to be disturbed. And I’ve tried, I have my lady. The Lunar council and I sent the city’s armies to face our enemies, but our allies have betrayed us! Holo’s Shade army is at our door! What’s more the Warrior Elect is siding with them; they say he opened the city’s gates for the Ebon Lords.”

“...I don’t care,” Lunae muttered.

Silvana’s heart sank at the pitiful sight of her goddess. “My lady… The city is on fire. We need you. Please.”

Lunae closed her eyes, “...I can’t. I can’t save anyone… Run, save yourselves.”

Silvana bowed her head, shoulders trembling, and clenched her fists. She turned to her two guards standing at the doorway, “You,” she pointed, “Unblock all the protective lock enchantments in the underground tunnel and prepare it for travel.”

“Yes, Silver Mother!” the guard nodded and dashed away.

“And you, gather all the warriors and mages you can find, do not let a single orc, drow, or vampire through the temple gates, no matter what.”

The guard’s expression hardened at the implication of her words. He slammed his fist into his chest and spoke solemnly, “We will fight to our last breath, Silver Mother. It was an honor to serve you, my goddess.” He bowed his head, then he ran off to meet his death.

Silvana turned back to Lunae and took a deep breath, Brown and Black mana flowing into her veins. “…I know you’ve lost your Sigte and how the pain suffocates you. I know it feels as if nothing matters anymore. …I know all you want is to lay down and die. But you saved me when no one else wanted to even look at me. I’ll be damned if I let you burn in this place!”

Dark tendrils shot out from Silvana’s shadow and wrapped around Lunae’s giant body and held her close. Brown mana surged through Silvana’s muscles and a bronze metallic sheen covered her limbs. She reached under Lunae’s back and with a heavy grunt, she gritted her teeth and lifted Lunae onto her back. The small goblin trembled underneath the weight, but her yellow eyes were hard with resolve. She took a trembling step forward, then another, and marched to the tunnel.

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