Rakshal bested Igni in combat in the most unusual way—at least, it was unusual in his mind. He and his mentor had sparred for several hours, and he didn’t recall feeling tired once, even when Igni pushed him to use yousotyu simultaneously.
When he landed the hit, Igni had smirked at him, the motion slow and careful, and Rakshal distinctly recalled sensing the older god’s unseen eyes scan the bou against his pale jugular. “Not bad, Raaki,” he had said. “Took ferev’r but…M’satisfied. Ain’t got nothin’ else I wanna teach’ya.”
He then went on to walk to the jungle as if nothing happened, leaving Rakshal in the middle of a crater within Garwados’ destroyed land.
Blowing damp locs out of his face, Rakshal muttered to himself while taking a bath in a hot spring—because of course there was one in the jungle.
He glanced back to observe Igni for a moment. His mentor stood nude beneath a waterfall with several white snakes curled around his feet. A small one rested around his neck, bringing a slight frown of curiosity to Rakshal’s face.
After many months with the snake god, he now recognized Igni’s many “children”, but this small one was new.
Where the fuck did they come from—and did Rakshal really want the answer to that question?
He slightly grimaced, idly eyeing Igni’s form before drifting his gaze to the hot water.
No, he really didn’t.
With a sigh, he let his eyes close.
A year and one month. It was finally time to infiltrate the Soon Palace. When he first made it to Yake Meresta, he arrived with a hope and a broken, suicidal plan to take the long way around to get inside it. Not now.
He felt ready.
The heat of the water soon infused itself into his skin, putting him into a contented, hazy, meditative state. He stared off, his eyes deeply slanted, but not quite closed. The sounds of wind, water rushing, steam, distant thunder, and Igni’s quiet humming became pleasant background noise.
I wonder what Nee is up to…?
His eyelids fluttered.
Wukong said the world of gods was “strange” lately. So busy he had been, trying to train and focused on his goal, Rakshal hadn’t considered what that meant when he heard it then.
How was Huaaguo Shaan faring? Far more than a few years had passed since he last thought of his birth home.
His eyes flickered closed, a fond smile forming as he recalled one of his oldest memories. He was so, so young then, still clutching onto his mother’s back or chest, still living on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit with his monkey oshinokous cousins…
“Raaki.”
Igni’s tense voice snapped him out of his recollection, and he opened his eyes to see the older god standing on the other side of the pool. Igni was dressed in his signature long white tunic, chains waving ominously in the surrounding air.
Rakshal stiffened. He had never seen this before.
“We gotta go. Some’n took Jak…and killed m’daughter with ‘im.”
“Shit.” He pulled himself out of the water and reached for a pair of dry clothes already waiting on a nearby branch.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait to dry, using yousotyu to force the water down his body and into the ground. Dressing quickly into a pair of pants obtained from Zurooei, he called out for Goku with a chirp. A responding hoot told him his companion was on his way.
Igni disappeared, there one second and gone in another while Rakshal fastened a dark red tunic over his chest. He had just buckled his boots on and tied a black chainembedded sash around his waist when Goku landed on his shoulder. He gathered his bag and turned to face Igni just as their surroundings changed.
A sulphur smell, familiar but distant, permeated his nostrils. His eyes quickly adjusted to the sudden darkness, revealing they stood in a small alcove within a part of Chicheol. He followed Igni out, glancing around with furrowed brows, realizing something felt off about the Faifeleth underworld.
Paranoia. He could sense it palpably in the air.
Eyes glanced around with greater caution than normal. People seemed jumpy. The only ones who appeared tired and jaded were those who lived there; it was easy to tell them apart from visitors.
“What happened?” he muttered.
Igni hummed. “S’cause o’ the dis’ppearances.”
Rakshal looked up at him. “Jak and Quan weren’t the only ones?”
“Nah. They been dis’ppearin’ real fast, an’ ain’t nobody know why. S’only Faifethinn, too.”
He sucked his teeth, leveling his gaze to eye the many people giving them a wide berth. “Wonderful. That’s probably got people hostile to one another.”
“Ah.”
A thought came to him. “Should we check out Walehlami?”
They passed beneath a low pathway where people skittered across in a hurry. Igni took a long stride, ducking beneath it, with a hum.
The Khabeyht underworld wasn’t any different from Chicheol, save for existing in another plane with a different dominant culture. Rakshal preferred it over Chicheol despite its intense heat.
“I’ll go,” the older god finally decided. “Keep close an’ focus on yer goal, Raaki.”
“Alright. I’ll go to Qudu one last time, then.” Rakshal eyed a familiar low building in the distance. “Gotta get some stuff first, though.”
“Ah. See ya. Don’ be doin’ nothin’ ya shouldn’t.”
He started thanking Igni when the white form disappeared. Giving a withered glare to the empty space, he exhaled patiently through his nose.
Goku softly chirped before diving into his tunic, bringing his lips up in a small smile. “Well, then…”
He kept the building in his sights, using his peripherals to scan for any unusual people or activity. Now that Igni was no longer at his side, people were less wary of his presence.
The building was one of many storefronts with large sword props hanging from their thresholds. Unlike most stores topside, it didn’t have a doorway that divided the goods it sold from the eyes of the customers. A heavily tattooed woman stood behind a low partition, her teal eyes scanning people with a bored visage, and her arms were crossed.
As he approached, she took notice of him. Her expression slightly brightened with surprise. “Well, well.”
He trod over, flashing a casual smile. “Well, what?”
“Thought you had disappeared like all the others,” she sighed, rising from her bent position. “What can I get you?”
“General replenish,“ he said, bringing his bag from his shoulder. He gently placed it on the nearest table at her left.
“Need any clothes?”
He cracked a small smile, recalling how that was always something he seemed short on. “Not this time, though I could use some belts. I destroyed most of mine recently,” he huffed.
After a few short minutes at the store, he left with his bag a tad heavier than normal that he adjusted over his shoulder. Standing a few paces from the building, he looked out at the underworld from a ledge.
Where was he to go now? He could sense that the sun was out, so it wasn’t his most ideal time to go topside. Briefly, he shut his eyes and gave Goku a few gentle scratches beneath his tunic.
“Guess we’ll wait a bit,” he whispered to his companion.
Night fell some hours later, the moon hiding behind black clouds on a warm night. By then, Rakshal was already maneuvering in the streets towards the eighttiered monastery in Yake Meresta. He walked at a casual pace, despite feeling otherwise. It was possible Zurooei didn’t know her brother and his best friend were missing yet.
Turning a corner revealed Qudu Monastery. He scanned the perimeter, on the lookout for soldiers, then approached. The general area was bare of people; fortunately, it was a month into the new year, meaning he likely missed any festivities that may have occurred.
He took two steps up the staircase at a time, observing how the doors were wide open. Briefly, he took another glance around, then entered.
Inhaling pleasant incense in the air made his shoulders even out. The monastery was dimly lit, easy on the eyes, and his gaze immediately darted towards the statue of Atiti Yiwa further inside. But it wasn’t his intention to pray just yet…
He spotted a nun walking down the hall and parted his lips with the intention to speak until he realized she was approaching him.
She bowed. “Rakshalshen. Would you like to speak to Zurooeikhalit?”
The corner of his lips quirked. “Yes, please.”
With a nod, she motioned for him to follow, then led him out of the hall and towards the statue. However, they walked around its left side to an open, wide doorway at the back of the circular space.
Once they neared, the nun stood to the right of the doorway and bowed. He took two steps in, revealing a much darker room lit by nothing but dim moonlight from a back window and incense sticks. Sitting in the center of the floor, Zurooei softly murmured prayers atop a large rug.
Not wanting to interrupt, he started backing out when she stopped. “Come in, Rakshal.”
Hearing her voice mended something inside him, and he broke into a wide smile, tail flicking happily. “Zooiyiba.” He came to sit beside her as she turned to look at him.
“How are you?” she asked, gently brushing some of his hair out of his face. “It’s been a while.”
He gently leaned against her, but only for a moment. “Yeah. Igni makes for an…interesting teacher,” he said with a soft chuckle. “But what I’ve learned is invaluable. I feel ready for what I want to do…but…”
She slightly tilted her head. “But?”
His expression dropped. “Igni said something happened to Quan and Jakumar. Something involving the Faifeth’hai.” He looked upon her face, watching her expression turn morose.
She faced forward and closed her eyes. To him, she appeared conflicted. “The disappearances,” she finally murmured.
His lips tightened. “Yeah. Igni said the Faifeth’hai are gathering ‘subjects’, but he isn’t sure what that means yet.” His gaze dragged towards the floor.
“I see.” She emitted a deep, steadying breath from her nose. “What do you intend to do?”
“For them, all I can do right now is search and gather information. But I do still plan to enter the Janchitei and get Keekaa.”
Her head bobbed in a slow nod. She quietly gathered his hand into hers. “Promise me you won’t get caught?”
“I promise.” He brought her closer in a onearmed hug. “I also promise we’ll get them back, Yiba.”
Lips pursing, he didn't dare add they would get her brother and his friend back, no matter what condition they were in.
Yet, he felt as though his aunt knew this, anyway.
“Shiayni, Rakshal.” She returned the hug with both arms.
He shut his eyes, holding her in a firm but gentle embrace. “Likewise, Yiba, for everything. We might not be able to meet so easily again.”
“But we will meet again.”
“Yes.” Looking over her shoulder, he stared darkly at the wall. “We will.”
After a few more moments of silence, they broke apart. He stood and quickly left, certain he would become emotional if he stayed any longer—however that may present itself.
Returning to the main room, he paused. He still wanted to pray, but wasn’t as interested as he had been. The strangest feeling gnawed at him, one of uncertainty mixed with something else.
Glancing at the statue’s back, observing the long marble hair, he only kept the gaze for a second before lowering it. Shoulders rising and falling, he scrunched his lips and walked slowly to the front.
Instead of praying formally, as he walked past the statue, he looked at it with pleading eyes.
“Atiti Yiwa…Protect my mother.”
Rakshal stood before the Isay Baanen, his hood raised and eyes fixed on the guarded, glossy white doors. During the walk from the monastery to the White Road, he contemplated the abductions around the city. He wondered if it was only happening in Yake Meresta or elsewhere; when Quan and Jakumar were taken, where were they? If further from the city or even in another country, there was always a wayward chance the empire wasn’t behind the disappearances.
That didn’t mean, however, they might not use it to their advantage.
His ears twitched, picking up conversations around him. The cityfolk were even more paranoid than those in Chicheol; everyone from warriors to former soldiers were disappearing. Bandits and pirates, understandable. But soldiers and warriors, people who could aid or be loyal to them? Would the Faifeth’hai really do that?
After a moment of thought, his expression darkened.
Foolish question, Rakshal. Absolutely foolish.
Scoffing, he idly swayed on his feet, sensing soldiers briefly glance his way.
Enough dawdling.
The glasslike barrier around the Jancitei, AshehVitra, shimmered in his vision. Nodding, he mentally calculated the distance between him and the top, then softly thanked Igni for teaching him.
He recalled how if a bashmut or bashud tried to pass through the AshehVitra, it would obliterate them. According to Igni, that was true. It wouldn’t let any living creature in…
…that was mortal.
He teleported to the top of the barrier. While he didn’t bother with hiding, he knew no one saw him disappear; there weren’t any gods in the area, nor were there any divine.
At least, not now.
Landing gently, the barrier didn’t so much as creak beneath his feet. He whistled, “Look at that.”
Bright lights scattered over the dark landscape before him as he beheld Yake Meresta from a rare position. The Isay Baanen stretched for miles, seemingly endless, surrounded by buildings and open land for as far as his eyes could see. Only with his newly enhanced vision could he just barely see the end over the horizon.
Goku rustled in his tunic before peeking his head out to look. He emitted a soft coo.
“Yeah,” Rakshal sighed. “It is nice. A real shame.” His gaze lowered to look at the barrier.
As the AshehVitra was transparent, he could see the entire Court of Feasts below his feet. Every building was glossy black, nearly glowing like a myriad of eyes staring at him. His upper lip twitched.
If he had his way, he would prefer to go in with bloodshed.
His shoulders relaxed as he looked at the sky. “Atiti Yiwa…Shiayni nochi Gekai.”
He went to one knee and placed a hand on the surface, noting how malleable it felt. Perfect. With a single motion, he created a slit and slipped inside the Court of Feasts.
From here on out, he was going in completely blind.
After taking a moment to watch the barrier close behind him, scattering across the slit like a ripple of glass, he stayed airborne. His tunic soundlessly fluttered in the warm breeze, and his nostrils twitched as he took in the air. It differed from Yake Meresta, just by a bit. He simply couldn’t put his mind to a word for it.
At fucking last, he thought while looking around. I’m in.
His tail flickered behind him. He was so high up, he could even see the entire Soon Palace. Small patrols of K’etishao moved along the perimeter of the Jancitei, glancing in and poking into what appeared to be fishfilled water that aligned with the white wall to ensure nothing hid inside.
He stared at the palace. Something was inside, and this time he knew. It was his mother. His hands immediately clenched at his sides, but he forced them to even out.
Soon, Keekaa.
The wisest thing was to believe someone knew he had infiltrated, so he quickly moved from his spot and landed silently atop a tall building. His next step was to sneak into the Palace. Even with his new skills, that wasn’t so easy; he did not yet have the gift to look through objects, something even Igni didn’t know how to teach him.
He closed his eyes, sensing for any other bashmut in the area. The building he stood on was empty from the highest floors to the midsection, allowing him some grace. However, the ground swarmed with nobility; they appeared to be walking somewhere further into the city.
“Will you come on?” he heard someone say, their accent entirely foreign. “I don’t want to miss the opening act!”
Someone grumbled as they caught up to their complaining companion. Opening his eyes, he hummed to himself. Something was happening, then. Hopefully, it worked in his favor as some sort of distraction.
He lifted himself off the building, hovering over the tiles, and flew to another without landing. If he wanted, he certainly could just cross the entire city in a few steps or by simply flying over. His instincts told him absolutely not to.
Rolling his eyes, he made the smallest of huffs, but he wasn’t in the mood to toy with fate.
Goku softly cooed, echoing his thoughts.
“Fine, fine,” he whispered, giving the monkey a few pats on his head, “I’ll take my time.”
He took off again, traveling swiftly and silently over buildings while taking frequent stops. He hid beneath awnings, around corners, and even on balconies. Infrequently, he closed his eyes and listened to the nobility live their lives.
Their very carefree lives.
He overheard conversations about the disappearances. The aristocracy felt safer than ever, as the abductions had yet to occur in their “noble city”. It brought a deep frown to his face. This was opposite to what the denizens of Chicheol, and even the common people, believed as fact.
It worried him.
A small patrol of guards passed him by, and he watched them, crouched on a balcony. Arms crossed, he observed this patrol arrive at the house of a noble family and begin escorting a young girl somewhere. He looked after them as they left, lips tightening.
Wukong was right. If he had gone in swinging, yearning for blood, he would have killed her. A child.
Fuck. He’s always right.
He panned his gaze towards the Palace, then looked higher up. Something large stood atop a part of it, something like a randomly placed flag that fluttered gently in the wind. Perhaps a person, even—but they would be a very large person…
His ear twitched. He flew to another building and hid around a corner.
A person of masculine build appeared where he had stood. Dressed in dark blue, they wore a simple, unusual navy blue mask that also covered what appeared to be a lot of hair. He watched them from the shadows, a brow rising with interest, but they shortly disappeared, running with advanced jooryovaa elsewhere.
Turning forward, he frowned deeply. Was someone else also infiltrating? He briefly considered it before exhaling deeply from his nose, flying from the spot. He would think about it more some other time.
As he flew, he glanced up towards the palace.
The strange thing—or person—was gone.
Early morning had reached the sky by the time he finally made it to the western side of the Soon Palace. He came to a corner and glanced around before crouching.
“Alright, Goku,” he whispered, reaching to bring the small form out of his tunic. “It’s time.”
Remaining perfectly quiet, the monkey took his finger with a barely audible coo.
His expression wilted. “I’ll…be fine,” he lied, voice strained. In spite of his words, he brought Goku into his arms and hugged him. “Be careful.”
His grasp gradually lessened until Goku jumped out of his embrace. The brave little monkey didn’t look back as he skittered off, jumping on a hold up the palace wall. Rakshal watched him climb until he sensed someone nearing.
Closing his eyes, he disappeared.
When he reopened them, he stood behind a tree in the woods around the exterior Janchitei. He looked up at the imposing white wall, then dragged his gaze to stare at the grass.
Through Goku’s eyes, he saw that the monkey was already inside the palace, climbing across a ceiling beam within an empty hall. He slightly smirked with pride.
He’ll be alright.
Slipping his hands into his pockets, he teleported from his spot to search for Quan and Jakumar in Chicheol.
AFTER THE CHAPTER
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