Chapter 656: A Trace of Hope
The air was cold enough that Holo could see her own breath as white whisps. The temperature had to be almost freezing down in the underground chamber to prevent the bodies from decaying. Her assistants couldn’t stand to be down here for too long before heading back up to the manor Holo had built as a headquarters for the Singing Willow Troupe.
As for Holo, she didn’t mind the cold. She had swum in the deepest waters of the Hoarfrost Bay, where the sun did not reach, and even sirens would avoid for fear of hypothermia. A little cold meant nothing to her. In fact, she preferred it.
Perhaps it was because her mother had been a northern drow and she had grown up in the Northern Lands, in a castle nestled deep in the mountains. The snow had been a constant companion. So it came as a surprise to her when she had first stepped into the warmer islands of the Azure Realm, where the people had never known snow. A tragedy and a beauty all at once.
It had been some time since she had visited the Azurian islands and she made a note to herself to visit soon. Though perhaps, she thought as she examined the corpse on the table, that would have to wait.
The body had once belonged to a vampire, before a spear to the gut had relieved her of her life. Holo didn’t know much about who she was, save that her name was Natalie and she had been a soldier serving on the southern side of the shade wall. Or so the ledger had stated. A single sentence on a piece of paper. That was all Natalie would be remembered by.
Death had never bothered Holo, a trait she shared with her siblings. But unlike most of her brothers and sisters, Holo wondered who the dead might have been. Were they scared when they died? Were they happy when they were alive? Was Natalie? Would Natalie be angry for what Holo was about to do?
Questions that had no answers and yet Holo found herself asking them just the same. She raised her index finger and shapeshifted her nail into a sharp talon. With careful and precise movement, she pierced the corpse’s flesh and began to write a series of complex runes all across the body.
This time around, she would take her time. Holo had thought of improvements on the design and she was eager to put them into practice. It had to be perfect. Starting with the vampire Natalie.
Holo was so focused on etching the runes and imbuing them with her power that she almost failed to notice the footsteps walking down the stairs.
“I’m busy. Unless it’s terribly important, come back later.”
“Still playing with corpses, I see. You must be oh so terribly busy,” replied Melantha.
Holo resisted the urge to roll her eyes and instead continued with her work. “The body isn’t rotten, it’s in pristine condition. And I’m not playing. These new undead sentinels will be placed around our little brother’s home.”
“As protection? You do realize that anything that could harm Stryg will tear apart through any undead you create?”
“Our little brother has more enemies than just dragonbanes and gods. Many mortals see the return of Ebon Lords as dangerous and some might get it into their little heads to try and do something about it. My sentinels will act as a deterrent from most such people.”
“Fair enough.”
“And they’re not only meant to protect Stryg. The sentinels will be guarding the Noir manor as well. I’ll sleep better once I know my granddaughter has an army guarding her home every hour of the day and night.”
“You’re leaving Unalla in the city?”
“She has spent her whole life traveling. It’s time she learns about her roots. It’ll be good for her to spend time with the other Noirs.”
“She’d much prefer to travel with you,” noted Melantha.
“Oh, I plan to still be here for quite some time. The city is in shambles. I have a lot of work cut out for me.”
Melantha walked around the cold underground chamber, noting the various lattices of sigils etched on the walls. “This place is protected from all forms of farsight, yes?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Even Lunae’s?”
“Yes. What is this about?”
“What about your son and his wife? Are they staying in Hollow Shade, too?”
Holo clicked her tongue, but decided to let Melantha’s change of conversation go, for now. “Yes. Una has decided to mentor Loh and help her become a ‘worthy’ head of House Noir. Whatever that means.”
“I sometimes forget how little you care for nobles and their duties.” Melantha cracked a smile.
Holo scoffed. “Nobles. They think the whole world is counting on them to be a king or duchess or whatever. When the truth is, they’ll die in a couple of years and someone else will take up the job and the world won’t even notice.”
“My, you have a morbid outlook on nobility. Wasn’t your mother a noble?”
“That she was. And she was no different. Actually, she was worse. Sleeping with a god made her think she was special, integral to the grand scheme of things. She wasn’t.”
“Is that why you don’t care for nobility, because of your mother?”
“Not even close. Trust me, Melantha, after a thousand years, the affairs of nobles will seem quite ridiculous to you, as well. It’s why I never lingered with Atreus for too long at a time. He was different in his youth, but the older he became, the more he fell into the same follies of mortal kings.”
“I suppose I’ll find out someday. If I live long enough.”
“Now who’s the morbid one?”
“I’d say I’m quite hopeful.”
“Since when?”
“Since I found a legitimate clue to where Hope might be.”
Holo stopped what she was doing and looked at her sister, wide-eyed. “...My gods, you’re serious.”
Melantha nodded. “I wasn’t certain until yesterday.” She held up a weathered shard of rock. Thin, crystalized lines ran across its surface.
“I can’t believe it.” Even from here, Holo could feel faint traces of Hope’s energy coursing through the stone. “It’s recent… she must have poured incredible amounts of energy into this a few days ago at most. Where did you find this?”
“In the Ashen Realm, two decades ago. I estimate Hope made the crystal fissures in the rock over a thousand years ago.”
“What?” Holo frowned. “But then how—?”
“The stone began to glow yesterday on its own. It emitted a huge surge of energy and then it stopped. I don’t know how, but the rock is somehow still connected with Hope. Which means—”
“She’s alive. Hope is alive.”
“I have to find her. I’m leaving tonight for the Ashen Realm. If I can find any more traces of her, then maybe—”
“Tonight? What about Stryg?”
“You’ll have to watch him for me. This is more important. Tell him I’ll be back in a few weeks and to not slack off on any of his training.”
“...If you do find Hope, what will you do?”
“She is the only Calamity who could rival Father. If anyone can help us stop Queen Ananta and the dragonbanes, it’s her.”
~~~
“Can I offer you something to drink? Or eat?”
“No, thank you. That will be all.” Calantha dismissed the servant.
The old man bowed and left her alone in her study. When the door closed, Calantha heaved a sigh and fell back into the cushioned bench in the corner of the room.
How had everything gone so wrong? she thought as she stared at the ceiling.
The Lunar Elects had completely disregarded any negotiations Calantha and Vayu had tried. The Sylvan were going to war and there was nothing they could do to stop them. The Sylvan army was the greatest and the only real deterrent Hollow Shade had against the other Great Cities.
Now, with the Sylvan forces leaving, Undergrowth could retaliate, or even Frost Rim might seize the chance to attack. Calantha had hoped the Sylvans would see reason; that a war against Murkton, the city with the largest armies in the Ebon Realm, would be long and exhausting. Now was the time for the Sylvan and Hollow Shade to band together against their common enemy, Undergrowth. To rebuild their forces and mount an attack against the Thorns. But such a possibility was gone now. All thanks to Aurelia Veres.
The windowed doors of her balcony swung open with a gust of wind and Calantha sat up, her hand unconsciously gathering Yellow. A figure wrapped in a black cloak stepped out from the balcony; stooping her head under the doorway, before entering the study.
Calantha released her mana and dropped down to one knee, head bowed. “My lady.”
The stranger pulled down her hood, revealing scarlet red hair and two wolfen ears on the top of her head. Bellum smiled down at her Chosen, golden eyes alight with warm power. “Calantha, it is good to see you.”
“Forgive me, I was not aware of your arrival. I would have prepared—”
“Nonsense. I need nothing.” Bellum shifted and her body shrank until she was about as tall as the average mortal woman. She sat on the cushioned seat and patted the seat next to her, “Come, sit with me.”
Calantha dipped her head and sat down. Her back was rigid and she tried her best not to appear nervous.
“Why are you so tense? Relax.” Bellum smiled wryly.
“But you are a goddess, I am a mere mortal, your servant—”
“Please, you’re my Chosen. You know, I still remember the day we first met as if it were yesterday.”
“My family’s ambush at Glimmer Grove forest. You saved us. Thank you.”
Bellum waved the thanks away. “I was simply there at the right time and I heard your mother's cry for help as she prayed to me. Your mother was a good woman. I remember when she saw me and the first thing she did was to place you at my feet. You were so small, only a few months old. But you looked up at me and right then I knew there was nothing mere about you.”
Calantha blushed and bowed. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Now, tell me what happened at the High Chamber.” Bellum clapped her back.
Calantha almost pitched forward from the force of the pat and struggled not to wince. “It was a disaster. The Sylvans have it in their heads to start a war with Murkton. Winter will be here in a few months, supply lines will be cut off, and the orcs will have the advantage. Not to mention, it will leave this city exposed. The whole thing is ludicrous. I tried to reason with the council and the Elects, but they were both being swayed by the Veres.”
“This is not the Veres’ doing. It’s my aunt’s.”
“Lunae? But why?”
“She has decided to avenge her city of Lunis. I’m not sure why she chose to do so now, after 300 years, but she seems adamant in her decision.”
“...What will you do, my lady?”
“I am the patron of the city, I cannot simply stand by and do nothing. I am going to Murkton to see what can be done to shore up the city’s defenses. It will take a few weeks for the Sylvan army to march all the way to the Silent Marshes. Hopefully, we can mount a powerful enough defense that Lunae will be dissuaded from this bloody campaign.”
“And if she isn’t?”
“I imagine there will be war.”