Monsoon117
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380 A Changed Albony
🕑 Added 2023-03-14 01:35:26 +0000 UTCI shook my head at how insane the situation was, and seconds passed like eons. We all looked around before a flash of mana crossed over us. A muscled albony appeared, black stripes lining his furred body. He glanced around, his eyes pale and blind from birth. He stared at his hands.
"And here I imagined you'd all be too stupid to figure it out."
He squeezed them into fists.
"Looks like I was wrong."
He smiled at us.
"Excellent work, uncle...And Harbinger."
Chapter Begin
Obolis walked up, his hands shaking. Helios put a hand on the Emperor's shoulder.
"You survived. As the Carnage of Ostaltia should."
Helios lowered his arm before narrowing his eyes.
"Victoria wasn't savable then?"
Obolis winced. Helios tilted his head.
"Hm. You're emotional, aren't you? Perhaps the worst has happened?"
Obolis's arms fells to his sides. Helios nodded.
"Then the Empire is no more."
Those words sunk into the place like a knife between the ribs. Obolis reached out his hands.
"Helios."
His nephew put a palm on Obolis's chest, stopping the hug. Helios raised his brow.
"This weakness isn't fitting for a king. The Empire needs you more than ever, so make yourself whole from these pieces."
Obolis trembled. Helios made a fist and gave his uncle a light punch in his chest. Leaving his hand there, Helios stared at Obolis.
"The albony need you, not this shell you feel you've become."
Obolis tried speaking, but his words bled into nothing. Helios leaned close.
"Be what you must be, not what you are. Isn't that what you told me? Hm?"
Helios walked away from Obolis, leaving the Emperor there in a state of shock. Near us, Helios peered at his own corpse before sneering.
"I appear to have been blended into a fine paste before being reborn. Blegh."
Shalahora and I peered at each other before I turned a hand to Helios.
"Uh, shouldn't you give him a hug or something?"
Helios leaned close to me, his eyes like slits.
"What do you think we were given in our time of need? No words of encouragement, I assure you."
Helios leaned back and snapped a finger, the void ice shattering around his corpse. The freshly melted blood pooled down before he picked up his clothes, armor, and possessions. They dripped with fluids and chunky bone, but Helios left his mask fragments behind. He simmered.
"Agh. Why must everything be so disgusting?"
Helios turned to us.
"Surely you all must be busy? Let's move."
I frowned.
"What's going on here?"
Helios shook his head.
"I'm joining your guild...If you would allow it."
Obolis stared at Helios. Obolis's jaw slackened when he heard the words, his eyes watering. Caught between a rock and a hard place, I raised my palms to them both.
"I'm not a part of this."
Helios raised a hand to me.
"Oh, but you are. Know that I wished to end this without theatrics, but it wasn't meant to be so."
Helios's face wore an empty smile.
"You should stay and learn much of what Obolis understood before entering the lottery. Of what he hid from even us, his loyal subjects."
Helios's ire transformed from angst to deserving rage in an instant. Obolis shook his hands.
"No, Helios, there's a misunderstanding. I didn't know-"
Obolis turned to me. His expression changed as the Emperor peered back at Helios.
"I can explain. If I told you all about the lottery beforehand, then Schema-"
Helios shouted, "You wanted to rebuild the Empire, so you risked our ignorance. We walked into a deadly game without prior knowledge, something you had on hand. You could've taken away our positions, but no. You knew some of us would die and measured that risk."
Helios put his hand on his chest.
"We, who gave you everything. Our loyalty. Our dreams. Even our lives. You converted us from your kin to a measurement. We are no longer people to you. We are a calculation for your gain, your legacy, and your history."
Helios took a step. Void ice spawned from his feet.
"I am a calculation no more. I will no longer walk in your shadow to a valley of death."
He took another step, and my hair stood on end. Helios's voice hardened to iron.
"I will walk my own path. I will forge my own way."
Obolis grimaced.
"Everything I've done is for the albony."
Helios walked off, opening a warp to Mt. Verner.
"All you do is for yourself."
The warp closed behind him, and we sat in tense silence. Plazia coughed on his hand before melting into the ground. Wishing I could just leave like that, a while passed before I let out a long sigh.
"We should go."
Obolis simmered.
"You should."
I turned, walking out of the room and floating upstairs. In the medical bay, Shalahora sighed.
"To this day, I still lack any knowledge of familial affairs. To press onto that nerve is beyond me."
I put my hands on my hips.
"Me too, buddy. Me too."
Plazia's eyes melted onto a wall, and a mouth of jagged rock hissed.
"Perhaps Florence may help you?"
I snapped a finger to the wall.
"Good idea."
One of the albony surgeons looked at us. She dropped her scalpel and turned to the doorway.
"I'm not paid enough for this."
True to her word, she left the building for a different path in life. I couldn't blame her as Plazia molded out of the wall, walking out of magma. The twisted Sentinel sliced through dimensions before sighing.
"I bore of drama. You individualized species reak of it."
He stepped through, reaching Mt. Verner. Shalahora followed, and Kessiah had already evacuated earlier. That left me for last. I put a hand through the portal before it clamped onto my arm. I pursed my lips before Obolis stepped up. He wrinkled his brow.
"Will you accept him into your guild?"
I shrugged.
"I don't see why not."
Obolis's face gnarled up like old roots.
"Doing so is an insult I'm unwilling to bear."
I sighed.
"Unwilling to bear? Holy shit. Ok, I didn't want to have to do this, but-"
I walked to him, the portal trying to grind through my arm.
"If I have to choose between you two, I'm picking Helios every time. He hasn't lied to me. He sticks to what he says and doesn't take advantage of people. Sure, he's gruff around the edges, and the guy can have an attitude. That's all surface-level. Underneath, he's a good guy."
I tapped Obolis's chest plate.
"We both know you're not. From our talk on L-7, you agreed with Schema aiming to cull the weak rulers. Separate the spoiled from the spoilers, right? Hell, from what Helios is saying, you looked forward to having your empire cleansed."
Obolis leaned back.
"I-I never considered the implications-"
I raised my brow.
"Helios mentioned everything that needed to be said. You could've gotten rid of the albony's titles. They didn't have to be rulers, but now you're trying to say you never considered that? You're trying to lie to me like you tried lying to Helios."
Obolis took a sharp breath. I frowned.
"Yeah, I saw it. He did too. You're off your game right now, which makes sense. You've lost everything, and this must be a shock. However-."
Obolis closed his eyes before squeezing his hands into fists. I lowered my arm.
"You need to take this loss on the chin and quit ducking it. It's not befitting of a king."
I turned to leave. Obolis snapped.
"The artifacts? The income? If you accept Helios, then you lose them. It's in your hands now. This relationship continues or ends because of you."
I glared back and leaned over him.
"That's where you're wrong. I'm not ending anything. You're letting your ego get ahead of what's best for your people. You did that in the lottery."
I gestured to the empty room.
"Look at how that worked out for you."
Obolis glared while heaving for breath. I grabbed the tightened portal over my arm and pulled it back open.
"I'll be here whenever you calm down. Till then-"
I gave him a two-finger salute, and Obolis bristled. I walked through the portal, stepping into Plazia's lair. Insects cleaned Helios's possessions, and the icy albony stood tall. I walked up.
"It's good to see you again."
He gave me a curt nod before I pulled the lug into a hug. He leaned his face away at first before sighing. He squeezed back, and I let go. Helios sneered.
"You weren't going to let go until I returned the gesture?"
"Hell no."
Helios grinned.
"You're as obnoxious as Florence."
I pointed at him.
"Speaking of, he needs to see you."
Helios raised a palm.
"I wish to clothe myself first beforehand. I want my dignity."
That made sense. Before anything else, Shalahora manifested from the shadows.
"Do not blame Obolis for his words. He has lost everything, and he is falling apart."
Helios frowned.
"Why do you care?"
Shalahora peered down.
"I...I feel for his pain."
I nodded.
"I'm not taking it personally. If anything, I feel bad for the guy. He's obviously bitten off more than he can chew, and now he's starting to choke."
Shalahora dispersed.
"It is a burden he chose to bear, but it is one he can no longer undo. Now, he wears the mantle of his species. It will crush him as it crushed me."
Shalahora's words lingered.
"Do not let it crush you, Harbinger."
After he faded, Helios sneered.
"He's cheerful, isn't he?"
I shrugged.
"What can I say. The guy has a...Dark side."
Helios facepalmed.
"To think I missed this idiocy."
We exchanged banter, but in the back of my mind, Shalahora's warning rang out. Despite my jokes, I took the Sovereign's words to heart. He had a reason for everything he said, and I would heed the wisdom in them.
While we talked, Plazia finished sanitizing Helios's clothes. Helios put them on, taking his time and being meticulous with every article. I watched as he did, fascinated that an upright, fully furred tiger wore clothing and armor.
Helios scoffed.
"Enjoying the show?"
I raised my brow a couple times.
"Always."
Helios laughed before shaking his head.
"When was the last time you've even worn anything?"
I looked up.
"I think during that dinner party that Ophelia and Florence organized. Was it a suit or something?"
Plazia read a dusty book.
"No. At that time, you molded your armor into a suit. My children told me it looked awful."
I spread my hands.
"You were spying, even then?"
Eyes of magma opened in the walls.
"I am always watching."
I put my primordial wake over him, knowing how insidious it felt.
"Me too, buddy."
Helios narrowed his eyes.
"You've mastered your primordial energy. That is incredible fluency."
My eyes grew distant.
"My lottery was...Challenging."
Helios grimaced.
"Mine as well. I need to discuss the details of it with you and now."
"Same. I'll get the others."
When I opened my status, Helios put a hand on my arm.
"There are details of my experience that the others shouldn't hear. It will be a burden for them to bear."
Remembering the psionic liquid and my other secrets, I nodded.
"Ah...Alright. Who needs to know?"
Helios pointed at Plazia.
"Aside from that informational kleptomaniac? Torix and you. That is all."
Plazia cackled.
"I am of many faces. To wear them, I must know them."
Helios grabbed his gauntleted wrist.
"Seeing and knowing are distinct concepts. You should learn the difference."
A wall smiled.
"You speak of sight? Would the blind preach to the able?"
Helios inspected his hand.
"There is more than one way to see."
Plazia cackled.
"And there is more than one way to be blind."
I raised my brow.
"Remind me not to try and one-up Plazia."
Helios stared at me and clasped his armored hand into a fist.
"Enough chatter. There's much to discuss and little time to do so."
I frowned.
"About the lottery?"
Helios's face gnarled.
"No. Of Elysium. Of Schema...And of my uncle."
Comments
Olatunde
I wanted to know if new chapters were still being posted given that it has been several months since the last post. Are chapter releases over now that a book was released?
William Christie
Super heart wrenching. Great job expressing how both sides are feeling. You did a fantastic job showing Helios’ deep pain and hatred towards Obolis, due to Obolis’ betrayal of his family. Loved it! Thanks again!
Brandon Daniels
Man i wasn't expecting that! Nice twist!
Cirex123
Thats some funny shit lol … I mean … tragic! Yes, very tragic!
alexander julian
The main thing I've always loved about your story is its setting and its weakness has always been character so working on them is always wonderful. Even in relation to setting. Obolis isn't just dealing with losing his family. It's his empire and everything he's worked for. Character relationship to setting. And seeing where that conflict meets with his actual personal relationships gives its more gravity and depth which otherwise often lacking and reliant on direct reader buy in (which we still do because the thing is objectively cool but making characters reinforce it is 10 times better)
William Christie
Yeah Monsoon somehow always is able to have his characters express themselves very accurately, always makes reading this story more enjoyable
K
I really enjoy the more dramatic relations between other characters. It lets me think about sections of the story that aren't Daniel-centric, making it feel more like an actual world. You've also been great at conveying Plazia's thoughts/feelings through means that aren't human at all, which is really cool to me. See you again in (hopefully) 2 days!
Ben Andrews
The dialogue and conflict were well executed. I also feel like you left different outcomes available. Plus, the lighter banter with Plazia adds to.the enjoyment.
thaughton2
Yeah. Not going to lie, it really didn't hit me how much Obolis knew in advance until Helios showed how much disgust he felt.
FlawlessMovement
So I’ve been trying to figure out how to phrase this. I’m impressed you managed to have that large of an emotional response in your characters without it breaking their character..? Like helios was wrathful but it was cold and calculating rather than fiery. He said exactly as much as he needed to to cut the emp to the bone and left when it would hurt the most, just like his character has always been, ice cold and calculative.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
FlawlessMovement
I’m over an hour late to the chappy….this is a tragedy
Daddy Taffy
I've been absolutely loving the recent chapters, both in terms of quality and quantity. Definitely happy I resubbed to the Patreon to support the writings
Zachary Smith
Man that twist is amazing! I never expected the lottery to be such a powerful plot point. Great job monsoon.
Rafael Nehou
I don't know how you do it man... I mean, the chaps keep getting better and better. I'm 100% with you in involving more of your caracters' personality in their decision making/relationship. It makes it so that we (or at least I) can get a better feeling of where they stand regarding various situations. Take Helios for example, while he is more prone to voice his opinions than others, he has rarely done so with Obolis, and the fact that you made his stance really (like really) clear in a timely manner is not expected and yet gives us more insights into his personality. Over with my rambling ahah, loved the chap and take care of yourself !
Chance Rose
Awesome chapter man, glad Helios is joining the gang officially! I'm super pumped to hear what Helios has to say about the whole ordeal, and I'm a little tempted to see Daniel wipe one of their planets from existence just to prove a point.
Justin Drake
TYFTC
Monsoon117
Sorry for the late chapter, but I was super busy today. Anyways, I'm trying to put more time into the character conflicts in the story before I post them. For me, it takes time to sit on an event and feel it out, but I never gave myself that allowance before. I am now, and it's giving me more confidence. That being said, I'm trying to handle more drastic actions from the characters but in a way that's logical and fits their motivations. It's a higher risk, higher reward tactic, and I've also avoided it in the past. Let me know if you guys enjoyed it or what needs improvement/changes. If I really missed the mark, the chapter could even use an overhaul. Aside from that, thanks for reading the story and being so engaged. This has been such an awesome comeback for me because of you all. I was hella worried about it, but you guys are like old friends. Even if we haven't talked in years, it's like a day hasn't gone by when we chat.
Alex R
Hellos calling out the Emperor for allowing them to die was an unexpected but a very nice touch.
Etez
Hahaha thanks for the chapter, just wanted to go to bed, it's the perfect bedtime story :D
