SING CRIER CH.11 The Fox, The Shark, and The Remora Plop. I look up. Plip plop. 「 Gii... 」 I wipe my eye against my sleeve. They say you'll get bad luck if you allow a raindrop to hit you in the eye, but as someone who keeps their eyes shut all day long, isn't this a critically bad omen? To still have gotten hit... The Goddess must be in a melancholic mood today... I continue my ascent up the ancient eroding steps, my hands tugging down on thick straps of my rucksack. The plips and plops around me become pitters and patters whilst the rain picks up in tempo and volume. Thump. 「Sorry mister. 」 I wasn't expecting to encounter anyone on the way up... I lightly bow my head to the man and resume my ascent. As time marches on, rainwater soaks in and adds more weight to haul. Droplets spring off the rainforest leaves, bombarding my shoulders and cheeks. The greenery, woefully desaturated by the slate-coloured overcast... The uncomfortably humid air, the smell of dampening soil... It feels like I'm wading through a waterfall here. Thump. 「 Gi- ...Please forgive me. 」 I bow my head again, then step off the path. It's fine... I'll just walk on the moss for a bit. No, it's fine... don't worry about me... I'll step back onto the stair path further ahead. I'm facing a group, so it's better if I just go around. It can't be helped... squinting is the best I can do during the day. Combined with the rain and desaturation, it's unusually hard to see. Trying to push through them would be disrespectful as well... It's just better this way. ...Now seems like a good time to move back. Thump. 「 ...Busy day today. 」 If there are this many people, I must be close to the top. I say that, think that -- but I still trip on the last phantom step of the stairway. My rucksack curves over my head. I look up and hold out my hands. I catch a glass vial with a twisted shape, it's filled with swirling purple contents. I breathe out and put it back in the lower pockets of my rucksack. Hopefully, it'll stay there this time, but I won't hold my breath to that. Magical items typically don't get along with each other, in my experience... I slow my beating heart as I scan ahead. It's so peaceful... I can't see a thing. I breathe in. Then, open my eyes wide. I see... a sea of bodies running bright red in the rain. At the far side of the shrine courtyard is a giant monster lying on its side. The corrupting iron spears of men are dyeing its white fur a red hue. I feel sorry for it, but it's none of my business -- and I'm afraid to get close. Still, I have the courtesy to bow. This seems to have been its home. I tightly shut my stinging eyes and then blink a few times for good measure. Once done, I peek out from between my eyelids and resume my usual squint. You might think it's a bit tedious to have to do that just to see, but I don't mind it at all, I think it's something you just need to get used to. 「 I'm coming in, sorry for the intrusion. 」 I think about taking off my boots, but after seeing a rusty knife on the ground I change my mind. I don't really feel like losing my foot today. ...Thinking back, I didn't see him when I was taking in the view. Could it be... that I've gotten here before him? That doesn't happen too often... lucky me? I keep my head down, eyes to the ground, and get moving. It takes a bit for me to get into it, but I eventually do... Weaving between the felled bodies, that is... I see a lot of faces, mostly men, but some women. I see many a set of armor, mostly leather, but some cloth and iron. I see a lot of weapons, all of them very cheap, mass produced... I pick a random body, it turns out to be a woman, and start sifting. I sift through her robes and pockets, I think she's a white mage. I pat around her face and hair. I feel rounded ears; a human? Around her neck I feel a string, I hold it and bring my face close. I creak open one of my eyes just a bit more to examine it. It's a brilliant dark blue crystal, with tiny white imperfections within. It's not a great practical magical accessory, but it certainly looks nice... ...I'll leave it alone. If it had more magical affinity or function I might have swiped it, but I'm not in the business of selling less than one-of-a-kind aesthetics. I really just wanted to know where these adventurers were from anyway. Information can be sold too, it's just a bit harder, that's all. The mineral impurity implies it was from the southern plains- ...My antennae twitch. I hear footsteps behind me. I'm almost certain that I know who it is, but just to be especially careful today... I turn my body and head, just enough to see past my bigger-than-me inventory. ...Mmhmm, it's who it should be, and I'm not the target today, so I'll be minding my own business, scavenging the commons... I know better than to get in his way. The footsteps end somewhere on the monster's side of the courtyard. Some time passes in relative silence, where I feel relatively noisy in comparison. 「 ...Kill me. Do not get overconfident. 」 I perk up and turn to the sound of an echoing, weak, and womanly voice. I don't pick up the voice with my antennae... I hear it inside of my head. Despite that, I can still tell from across the courtyard that giant white monster lying on its side... had spoken. Its mouth isn't moving... yet I just know for certain it had spoke. Is this what The Goddess's fanatics call... "The Divine Voice"? It doesn't feel very comfortable. It feels a bit like an invasion of a sacred space. 「 I may be wounded... but commit to defiling my spirit -- I'll deliver you unto ashes. 」 It feels as though she's speaking in an archaic tongue, yet I can understand her clearly. It feels weird... Perhaps... this monster... is actually a rogue lesser god? Then... is she his target for the day? She feels like one of those "Let me live in peace" types. Honestly, I'll be a bit sad if he came here just to send her off like this. I return to scavenging. I can't hear his side of the conversation from this far away in the rain, so I scavenge in their direction and hope they don't notice me. Intel aside, I'm personally curious about where this conversation is headed. 「 Do not lie to me. We may not have met, but I know you well. 」 Just a bit closer... Don't mind me... Just scavaging this swordsman... Quietly... over here... 「 ...Forgive my trespasses, Alphaezai, White Ash, Princess Agehatate. 」 A...Alphaezai. Huh? He's changing faiths?! To this rogue god?! This one? Are you sure? This one is on the brink of death though? Are you drunk, perhaps? I'll bail you out if you are, just give me a sign. 「 Please allow me to tell you my story, so that you may know where my loyalty lies. 」 Oh goodness, he's serious. If he becomes loyal to her we're technically going to be enemies of faith. The lesser god I follow is under The Goddess, so if he assigns himself to a rogue lesser, I'm technically supposed to fight him on the spot because of a Goddess axiom. ...But that sounds like a hassle. 「 ...I bless your words with weight. Few people in these trying times know my name.

「 Spare the story and formalities, speak your business, death knocks. 」 I don't think our relationship really changes if he follows a rogue god... but this information... it could be enough to retire on if I play my cards right. Who should I sell it to? A lot of people are looking for casus belli against him... 「 I have come to tribute a vial of Red Roses, and to nominate an avatar. 」 「 !? 」 I catch two potions and a book bag falling out of the top of my rucksack. Then shuffle them back into my luggage whilst listening for approaching footsteps. ...Silence. ...He seems to have overlooked my noise this time. That could have turned very sour, very quickly... But Red Roses?! If it were anyone else saying that, I'd brush it off... Knowing him however... does he... does he really have it? Nevermind retirement, if I had that, I could buy a country! An ancient concoction lost to time, said to be brewed by devils to grant eternal youth, and to raise their armies of underworld demons. Some even say The Ancient Shadow King was driven mad because he drank it, and some further attribute The World Fall solely to the assertion that he did. That one-of-a-kind legendary concoction... is being offered to an unheard-of rogue - lesser - god... by The Dream Eater, who, lest we forget, is at the same time aligning his faith with her. This... this is kind of a big deal! I almost can't help but turn around to look and see if it's true, but if I do that, he might actually turn around and kill me. I can't be greedy... I should be thankful he let me hear that... This is amazing... everyone... who do I tell? To whom do I sell this to?! 「 ...You are a strange entity, Dream Eater.

「 I accept your tribute of Red Roses. 」 She accepted it... 「 However... this... avatar. You surely don't mean this

「 sinful rat desecrating bodies in my presence? 」 I cringe. That's... that's, mmhmm, she's talking about me. Not a rat though, a bee. You know... antennae and all that... 「 They are not suitable. If you wished me to kill this rat,

「you need not ask in such a roundabout manner. 」 「 ...Says the monster too lazy for jouou. 」 I get up with my hand in my pocket and pull out three coins between my fingers. The rogue god's fur ignites into whirling blue flames which congregate and are then sent spiralling towards me in a fluttering lance of flame. I throw the coins into the air and make a cross with my wrists. Smells like burning. 「 Artibeus! Solid Gold! 」 〖 Got Change? 〗 Where the coins hit the ground, magic circles appear. Transparent magic obelisks rise from them, forming a barrier. I shift one leg back to get better footing. Crash! Fwoom! I cough as the dust settles, my eyes widen after. The moment I felt the barrier breaking... I thought I'd underestimated my opponent. Honestly... if it were just that, I think I wouldn't have minded, I have two good legs. But no... I just had to be mistaken with who my opponent was... Standing over me... is The Dream Eater with his back to the rogue god. His delicately clothed arm is out to the side having shattered my barrier in one hit. That's right... he's loyal to her now... silly me, we're enemies now, how could I forget! 「 A god? You're a nobody, nobody's heard of you, not even these dumb adventurers! 「 Dream Eater is sparing you with Red Roses and you're looking down on me? 「 If you didn't want a rat, maybe you should have performed jouou on the bodies- 「 Oh wait, you can't! 」 「 Polimion. 」 「 Mak-! 」 「 Polimion! 」 I spit blood into the rain. He looks down at me. I look away. 「 ...She doesn't deserve this. 」 I don't... care if she's a rogue lesser god, whatever. Mak always has to put up with people's self-righteous crap. Seeing him submit to this monster I could take on is ridiculous. 「 ...Hey, what are you- 」 Mak Jing'ra turns his back to me, and kneels on the floor. He bows his head and prostrates himself to the four-legged god. I don't know what to say. This is... worse... and now it's my fault... ...I sigh. ...I feel bad. The goddess's fur is still aflame, despite the rain. So... I kneel too, and bow my head, pressing my forehead into the tiled stone. A lot of stuff falls out of my rucksack and into the rain. I'm praying nothing delicate is getting soaked... 「 Polimion. 」 Of course that's not enough. I take a deep breath. 「 I am sorry. Please, forgive me my trespasses. 「 I offer you whatever fell out of my rucksack as tribute.」 「 ...Accepted. Keep your worthless knick-knacks. 」 THIS. GODDESS. 「 Thank you. 」 ...I look up at him. He's... never said that to me before. The lesser god's flames extinguish. She rests her head on her outstretched limb. 「 ...The avatar I believe is in your interest, is not here. 「 I wish to bring them to you... however... there is a condition...」 There's a brief moment of silence. He takes the silence as permission to continue. 「 There are two girls, I would like you to take on both. 」 「 That is not possible, Dream Eater. Only one can be my avatar. 」 「 One may be your avatar, the other may not... but you need take both. 」 「 ...You are asking me to mother a child. 」 I look at Mak. He doesn't move an inch, like a statue... or a scarecrow. 「 ...I will consider them, should you bring them to me,

「 because you are, who you are.

「 While I am formally above you as persons are above mites,

「 you are not far from my eyes. I see you as a son of mine. 」 I flinch as Mak raises his head suddenly. Did... being called a son make him happy? Wait, that probably means he's been accepted as a follower... Does this mean... it's over then? He reaches into his own pocket and pulls out a vial. It's dark red and sluggish, like aged blood. Carefully, he walks forward, and leaves it at the goddess's forelimbs. It's promptly levitated into the air, and vanishes in a distortion of burning air. I stare down at the ground. ...I guess that's it then? Just like that. Why do I feel so bad? The rain feels so heavy now... I feel a tapping on the back of my head. I look up at Mak. He's holding all of my things in his arms. One of his arms is extended out towards me, palm up. 「 Gii...? 」 I take his hand. He grabs my wrist. 「 Let's go. 」 「 Go? Wait, I'm going with you?」 He pulls me up and drags me along. My wares are stuffed back into my rucksack. 「 Hey! W...Where are you taking me! Lemme go! 「 We're enemies you dolt! Hey! We are not friends!」 He's not listening to me. I look over my shoulder. The goddess... what was her name... White Ash? Agehatate? She watched us leave, but once I made eye contact she looked away and went back to resting her head on her limb. 「 ... 」 「 Don't trip. 」 「 Giiyaa! You! You... 」 「 This is a business relationship, don't misunderstand. 」 「 That's... my line... 」 I glare at him as he looks ahead. He's always like this. What's so nice that he has to look ahead all the time anyway? 「 Open your eyes. 」 Don't read my mind-! Oh. ...That's not too bad. I look up, shielding my eyes from the sun. The summit is in sight... not much longer now. I grasp tightly the straps of my rucksack and resume climbing. I really thought the climb would have gotten easier after all this time, but I barely feel any less bumbling than my first time here. Maybe it's all the added weight I'm carrying. I'm a mix of glad, and annoyed. Why did she pick a mountain? No wonder that rogue goddess has no followers. At least the bodies got cleaned up. But the stairs are still worn and unkempt. I spot the last step of the stairway and land my foot squarely on it. Finally, I let out my held breath. You won't beat me this time mountain. I adjust my rucksack one more time, then open my eyes. My vision is filled with blue. I flinch back and almost fall back down the steps, but I somehow land my foot back on the ground. My heart beats. I almost just died. I sigh, then straighten out. It was a fluttering blue butterfly. I hold out my finger, and it lands there. Quaint. 「 ...You're a deadly one huh?」 It flutters up into the air and across the shrine courtyard. There, I find her, the rogue goddess, White Ash, Agehatate, sleeping in the evening sun. She has two tails instead of one now, and she's surrounded by blue butterflies. The courtyard has been cleaned up but is still dented from combat. Otherwise, it's much more spacious than I remember. 「 I'm coming in, sorry for the intrusion. 」 I take off my boots this time and feed them to my rucksack. It seems to have gained a life of its own over the course of my journey. Click click. My chitin skin... immediately warms against the stone.

It should be fine to walk barefoot now. Actually, I could get used to this quite easily. It feels really nice... Butterflies approach and flutter around me as I cross the shrine, but they return to Agehatate once I've gotten close enough. I didn't notice it then, because of low visibility conditions... but there's a fairly sizable building behind her, bigger than her even. Was that always there? It feels strange to have missed it... I look around, then back to her. The goddess remains silent. I grimace a smile. 「 ...I'm back? 」 A moment passes in silence. Her body doesn't move except to breathe. 「 ...Where is The Dream Eater. 」 I... look down at my feet. I knew this was coming, but it still stings a bit. 「 He... passed away. 「I'm completing the journey in his stead. 」 In the time that I was looking at the ground, she raised her head silently. Now, she's facing forward, looking directly at me with both eyes. The butterflies feel as though they're fluttering a lot slower... 「 ...and the girls? 」 I look over my shoulder at the coffins attached to my rucksack, then back to her. I meet her gaze with a melancholic one of my own. A cloud passes overhead, blocking out the sun for a bit. I notice that Agehatate's eyes are glowing. 「 ...You have brought me dead. 」 「 You have Red Roses don't you? Just bring them back to life. 」 I blink. Neither of us make a move. 「 Polimion... you naive... little insect. 「 Look through my eyes for just a moment. 」 The butterflies don't look like butterflies anymore, they start to burn, and look more like flames. 「 I send out my son, accompanied by someone he trusts, that I do not trust myself. 「 But he begs me, and promises me, pleads that it will all be okay. 「 Thus, I do, because he is my son, my one and only. 「 He promises to bring home my daughters. 」 Flames begin lacing the courtyard, but I don't look away, I keep my eyes forward. 「 That someone, a woman, later comes to me... alone. 「 A girl revered, infamous for her greed, her worldly avarice. 「 She comes to me carrying the dead bodies of my son and daughters. 「 Then asks me for my most prized possession, my son's last gift. 」 I feel a heat around my legs, climbing my body. It licks my bag and hands, but I willingly stand firm. She moves her face close. I swallow my breath... ...Until the flames suddenly pull away, and so does Agehatate. I let out my breath and gasp to fill my lungs again. 「 Polimion... you are not a child anymore. 「 So you will understand when I say, I cannot do that. 」 I try to respond "What?" but I'm still shovelling in breaths of air. 「 In merchant terms... 「 My promise, was to consider them once they were brought to me.」 My eyes widen. 「 You have brought them to me. I consider that they are dead! 「 I will not lend my son's last breath to a businessman! 」 I raise my arms in defense as a sudden galeforce wind bellows me away. I grit my teeth and bide my time... Just... keep looking ahead... My feet slip. I throw out a coin. 「 Artibeus. Lock In. 」 〖 Bets placed! 〗 Magic circles appear around my hands and feet. I dig in and hold on with an ephemeral grip against the goddess's lament. I'm actually a bit glad, seeing her like this. I was worried Mak was being used. If she's losing her wits in this way, I'm fine with believing she actually cared. ...Me too, I also cared -- so I'll need to prove that. The wind slowly dies down. I keep my breaths steady. Butterflies slowly reappear from the fires. My knees lower to the ground. The wind... stops. 「 Ar...tibeus... I fold... 」 〖 Nice work out there. 〗 The magic circles vanish. I land on my hands and feet. Just keep breathing... savour each breath... I can take my time now... I'm my own boss... I have my own schedule now... Hah... I look up. Her azure gaze is turned up at the sky. I did that too... back then... when I learned... She looks back down at me. Obviously, if I'm still here, I have something to say. ...I'm glad I came back here, she seems like a nice person. 「 For a little while then... I'll bring them back... 「You can decide then if you want to revive them, okay? 」 I brush the hair out of my eyes and tilt my head. She glances at me, then closes her eyes and resumes her resting position. Dust is kicked up where she lies down. Butterflies quickly scurry to clean it up. Well... that's enough of an answer for me. I turn and walk back, tightly gripping my rucksack's straps. A purple sky just barely leaks into the far horizon. My shadow stretches far down the mountain shrine's steps. Small shrine rooftops poke out of the treetops on the way down. Much farther in the distance, where the rainforest abruptly ends, I see a town and rivers exposed in warmly coloured rolling plains. A few homes have begun turning on their lights for the night. ...Good timing; I can keep my eyes open with the sun now behind me. [END]