I stood with Sania at the window of the meeting hall. It provided a good look down on the dwarven tunnel. We watched grimly as the dwarven craftsmen packed up their tools and left Far Reach.

“What do we do about the barracks they’ve built?” Sania asked. “If this goes bad, that’s a hell of a thing to have underneath our town.”

“If it goes bad, then the tunnels get dropped. I know it won’t do much good. You see how fast the short arses work,” I replied. “Do you think if Devotion rejects our terms, Darkness will assist her in taking control of Far Reach?”

“If they do, we will deal with it,” Sania said confidently.

“We both know we’re completely fucked if they turn on us. And they won't even kill me. Just everyone else. Hell, I know we just got settled here, but I think we might have to consider legging it. There’ll be few that can catch us, and with our numbers now, if we stay mobile, we should be able to survive.

“Are you forgetting our elders and children? And where would we go?”

“I’m not forgetting them. They’re still a damn sight faster than most through the mountains. As for where, south. Darkness said, the region where the Goddess of Life’s followers live, isn’t at war yet.

“That’s a very long way to travel and we’d have to run the length of Malatia. Or if you’re feeling extra crazy, we could go through Knuntang.”

“I have the maps memorized don’t worry. But if Darkness turns we’re finished and…” I was interrupted with a notification:

Warning: You have 3 minutes remaining to choose your Ascension path before all unallocated experience is lost.

“Ah, my fucking life,” I groaned, before passing the good news on to Sania.

“Did you know there was a time limit?” was her response.

“Of course I bloody didn’t,” I replied, trying not to snap.

“The timing for this to happen is not ideal.”

I ground my teeth, “Do I risk it?”

“Do you have a choice? How long can you keep throwing experience away? There’s no reason to assume anything will happen yet. I may have developed reservations about Darkness, but I can’t see any reason why he would lie about that.”

“Fuck it. Let’s do this, then,” I said with far more confidence than I felt.

She watched me intently and I could feel her fear mingled with excitement. This was a huge moment. A big day for both of us. Whether the seed awoke or not.

I selected the Path of Attack, the Weapon of Ascension. Mentally indicating that my demon arm would become that weapon. As soon as the choice was made, my whole body locked up. I was wracked with a tingling so intense it bordered on pain. It was like being violently tickled from the inside.

My Neuma surged and writhed in response to whatever changes were taking place and I felt close to blacking out.

After a few minutes, the sensations began to settle down until they finally ceased. I could immediately feel the change in my body, but apart from the Spiritual Stats, all my other stats had gone up by +3. I felt much improved, and I couldn’t be sure if it was due to the stat increase or actually becoming an Elman. I assessed my body and discovered that despite not growing, I had become broader. More muscle now coated my frame. Not masses, but I’d definitely gained a more body builder vibe than strong, athletic physique. Next came the stream of notifications:

Congratulations. You have leveled.

Level 40:

You have 10 points to assign.

Congratulations: You have Evolved to the Elman Tier of existence.

You have chosen the Path of Attack. You have Unlocked:

CLAWS OF BRUTAL DISMISSAL.

Congratulations: You have reached Level 41

Congratulations. You have reached Level 42

You have 30 points to assign.

It was a huge relief not to have received a notification relating to any damn seeds of creation awakening. What did catch my attention was that the world now seemed to sparkle. It was only subtle, and I put it down to being an Elman now. Or an Elman cross Demon, anyway. Satisfied nothing bad had occurred, I allocated my points. Ten each into Internal Connection, Constitution, and Intelligence:

Level 42

Physical statistics:

Strength: 55

The capacity to exert and resist force.

Dexterity: 23

Skill and ease in hand-based activity.

Agility: 23

How effectively the body can move into a range of different positions.

Speed: 53

Rate at which the body can move.

Stamina: 53

Period at which body can effectively sustain prolonged activity.

Constitution: 113

The ability to withstand physical punishment.

Mental Statistics:

Intelligence: 43 (-5 Racial Trait)

Knowledge and its application.

Charisma: 18 (-5 Racial Trait)

Charm, coerce, inspiration.

Perception: 23

Awareness of surroundings

Spiritual Statistics:

Ethereal Awareness: 0

Attunement with the Gods and spirits of Gulithea. (Necessary for Ethereally supplied magical ability.)

Internal Connection: 50

Attunement with oneself. (Necessary for cultivation of one’s own inner power)

Singularity: 3

Innate understanding of universal essence (Neuma). Will increase with personal level. (Cannot be leveled by other means.)

World sense: 4%

Knowledge of Gulithea.

Xp to next level 30/2050

I didn’t even see it at first. It wasn’t until after I’d allocated the points and had a final check of my stats that the anomaly stood out. Sitting just below Internal Connection on the list, all innocent looking. But with my hugely increased Intelligence, I knew exactly what it was. Because there was literally no other reason for the stat Singularity, to have miraculously appeared unless it was in relation to the goddamn seed.

What I couldn’t understand was why there had been no notification relating to it. I felt tricked, but either way the end result was the same. I was seriously fucked.

“Clive, what’s wrong?” Sania asked. She must have sensed my mood shift. I could barely articulate a response. “The seed… it’s awoken, Sania. I… can see it now. I can see the friggin Neuma everywhere. That’s why everything’s fucking sparkling. Can you sense anything? Any change at all in me that Natom might detect?”

“I can’t. There’s no noticeable change apart from you looking a bit chunkier. What’s sparkling?”

“There’s little lights in the air a bit like when you rub your eyes too hard. But when I look directly at a person or a tree or the ground even, It’s more intense.

If I think about the lights when looking at you, then you start radiating energy, to my eyes at least. Luckily, it’s like a switch in my mind. Like, if I just want to see you normally I can. Apart from that little extra sparkle.”

“So you're actually seeing the Neuma all around. That is amazing Clive.”

“It would be normally, yeah. But even if Natom can’t sense it. Others are going to be able to see it. This going to change everything?”

“It has awoken.” Came the chilling statement of fact from Danivra through the bond.

“Oh, fuckery. Can you feel it from where you are?”

“Only because of our bond. Otherwise no.”

“Do you think that means Natom won’t be able to either?”

“I can’t be sure, Lord Clive, but I would be extremely surprised if he could sense it, if I can’t from this close range.”

“Thank fuck for that,” I replied, feeling a wave of relief.

“Whatever happens Lord Clive, we are with you,” Grigor added to the bond conversation.

“Yeah. Sorry about that guys. We may need to plan an escape route in case Natom comes. The tunnels of the Nideland don’t look too inviting at the moment.”

“They’ll still be better than being dissected by Natom,” Sania said.

“My people will come with us. We are comfortable underground. Perhaps we could travel North into Kalabri and continue to recruit and build our forces.” Danivra said. “When we fled Helvien, we were overwhelmed and desperate, but with what we have here, and our manoeuvrability, I think we could do great things.”

“I don’t know, Danivra. I suppose if we could actively hunt for reinforcements that would be good. Is there anyone up there who is strong as fuck and might help me fight Natom?”

“Yes!” She said with the most excitement I’d heard from her so far. “Halak, the mage of Rushing. It’s a Dokalfar city to the north. He is stronger even than I, and he may be able to help us if we can reach the city.”

“There is Wind of the Wild too,” Grigor added uncertainly. “He is the first of all Wultr and very, very strong. But then I doubt he has any reason to come here, if his own pack is safe. They live in the Palathi Peaks, which are incredibly high and essentially impassable. Come to think of it, I don’t even know how we would reach him if Kalabri wasn’t crawling with enemies.”

“Also, it’s worth noting,” Danivra added. “Neither of them would be able to kill Natom outright. That said, they would certainly give him something to think about. These two are not threats to be dismissed by him so easily. If we could bring them to our cause we could be so much stronger.”

“I agree.” Grigor replied. “It is worth… Grimstrom has returned. Give me a moment to speak with him. He’s waiting at the tunnel entrance.”

“Okay Grigor, let me know what he wants.”

We waited for a few moments until Grigor spoke again. “He wants to speak with you, Lord Clive.”

“Not gonna happen, tell him, to tell you whatever he has to say.”

“He will not agree to that. I can tell you with certainty. Perhaps if Sania attends, he may speak with us both.”

“You okay going in my stead, Sania?”

“Of course. We don’t even know if we will remain allies, so letting him know about the awakening would be foolish. I will simply tell him that unless he agrees to your terms, you have nothing else to say on the matter.”

“Yeah, that’s not bad, actually. A good excuse. Shows a bit of bravado, too. Be careful around him, though. He’s dangerous.”

“I will go too. I am more dangerous,” Queen Danivra said with a surprisingly sinister edge to her thoughts.

“Okay, Grigor. You heard the ladies, they’re on their way.”

As Sania took over the main conversation with Grimstom, Grigor relayed Each part of the conversation back to me by. Danivra only speaking to fill in other details if she felt Grigor had missed something important.

The Head Guardian of Nuinaer really wasn’t happy with my avoidance tactics, but still spoke freely to Sania.

To all of our astonishment, Darkness and Devotion had accepted my terms. With only one addendum. Only the town of Far Reach and a ten-mile radius around it, would be considered our territory. Not the full Southern Craster mountain as I’d demanded.

Sania had argued that we would need the full area to hunt, to which Grimstrom informed her that as an ally to Malatia we would still have full roaming rights across the mountain range.

Honestly, I could live with the change. That was the one area I had been taking the piss with. Though if things continued the way they were, I did intend to absorb more land in the mountains as we expanded.

“He’s asking when you will be ready to speak with him,” Sania said. “What shall I tell him?”

“Dunno. Just tell him I’m still a bit pissed off with the dirty tactics.”

The bond fell silent for a little while before she spoke again.

“He’s not happy you're ignoring him, Clive. He said it’s one thing for the gods to agree, but you will still have to host a meeting with him and the Mother to arrange everything.

“Yeah, we can do that. Well, you all can. I sure as shit won’t be there.”

“Agreed. Darkness and Grimstrom might be our allies again to the point that I would consider telling them about the seed. But there is no way the Mother should find out.”

“Exactly. Despite all of this, we still can’t guarantee she’s not in league with Natom. She did send me to him, and he did bring them here, after all. Despite whatever shit she tries to fill us with.”

“Grigor has arranged a meeting tomorrow. We’re letting them bring up the two hundred guards. The Dwarven builders are coming back in, too. If that’s alright.”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s fine, I suppose. Did Grimstrom say what was happening with his two thousand dwarves and Malatia’s three thousand troops approaching?”

“Danivra’s asking now,” Sania answered.

“They are still approaching, but will stay outside of the ten-mile area until we have spoken. Grimstrom’s troops are extending the barracks to accommodate themselves down the tunnel in the opposite direction away from Far Reach.”

“Huh, funny. A week ago I’d have been overjoyed to hear that. Now I’m just deeply concerned.”

“Once we’re on a firmer footing here, we’ll correct the imbalance with people from Kalabri, I promise,” Danivra said.

“Agreed,” Grigor added. “We need good people with no links to any of these gods as quickly as possible. Soon Far reach will be a match for anyone.”

Once the connection was broken, I spent some more time looking over my stats. Revelling in all of the increases, but most of all my Intelligence. It gave me the ability to really understand how Neuma made my physical stats almost worthless other than the survivability of my body. Just as Natom had once told me. Constitution was everything. If I could level that up to three hundred, which would be the entirety of twenty levels. I might be able to survive a Natom attack.

Next, I focused on my core. Even before I looked, I could tell that it had been altered from the evolution to Elman, but I wasn’t prepared for the dramatic difference when I meditated. The core was so now much bigger. More so than an increase in three levels would normally provide. And I could see more detail within the roiling mass of the light side and the slow swishing of the dark side. Still, that wasn’t even the most fascinating thing. All of my meridians had split into three separate channels. Each slightly narrower than the original before the Ascension filling my arms, legs and head and even more radiating around my torso and into my chest. I was excited to practice with them as I anticipated they would give me far more control and precision than I ever had before. Not just in flight, but in so many other different areas. I would need the extra Intelligence just to be able to explore the potential of these extra meridians.

I let the Neuma flow out of the one of the meridians in both of my arms and lifted from the floor by only a foot. Then I used the meridians at the back of my arms to propel me forward slowly before doing the reverse.

As I worked, I found I was so much more in tune with the power. It was invigorating to watch as the Neuma slipped away from me only to be replaced from the air and walls around me. I watched in awe as it flowed into me as if I was a magnet pulling it toward me. Despite my initial concerns with the amount of information I would have to process to use the multiple meridians, I found that I was completely comfortable with it.

Sania’s presence drawing nearer put a stop to my testing. I could sense Joel was with her though I wasn’t completely sure how. It was like I could sense his specific energy signature and on some fundamental level, I must have already known what his energy felt like.

“Sania said you’d be up here hiding,” he said loudly as they entered. “She explained why, too. So I thought I’d come up here and check on you.”

“Thanks man. It’s great to have company I can trust.”

“Sure. Though we have some great people here that I trust. Sania told me that the Mother was coming up here and they’ve accepted your deal?”

“Yeah, man, I’d still rather be free, but it’s not a bad deal is it, and we should hopefully get Mal back in one way or another.

Joel smiled. “As much as I want to stay mad at the bastard, I’ll be glad to have him close by. These churches of theirs have me worried, though. I hope they don’t try recruiting the Neutrals we’re bringing in.”

“Yup. It’s a worry for me, too,” I agreed

“That’s why Danivra’s idea of us setting up a temple for you is such a good idea!” Sania said. “Did you know he can revive people if they’re his followers, Joel?

“Yeah, I saw Grigor, remember? But being Clive’s servant is literally the worst thing I could ever imagine. I’d rather sign up for Destruction, thanks.”

Sania looked shocked by his words, but I just laughed. “Well fuck you too, Joel. I wouldn’t want to be your follower either.”

“Glad we can agree,” he grinned.

“We can. But did you also know that all of the followers of the Gods are actually soul bound in the same way Grigor is and Sania was.”

“Does that mean Mal is under Devotion's mind control?”

“Well, I don’t mind control anyone, mate. But essentially, as far as I understand it. yes. If Devotion told Mal to do something directly. I think he’d have to do it. And that would explain why he’d been a bit distant, and happy to ditch us when he left.”

Joel nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. That’s pretty fucked up Clive.”

“It also means we literally can’t trust anyone who isn’t Neutral.”

“Or sworn to you,” Sania added.

“Can you bond someone who’s already bonded with a god?” Joel asked

“I honestly don’t know. It’s a good question though. Danivra might know. She seems to know a ton.”

“I can’t believe you bonded her as well. Can you give people powers?” he asked scratching his beard nonchalantly.

“Not so far as I know, mate. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“You should try. I’m sure Grigor would be happy if you could give him Neuma projectiles and flight. And I mean, if that was something you could do, and you weren’t lording it over anyone, then it might be worth setting up your own temple after all. And no, not a restaurant temple.”

I laughed. “Come on, man. It’d be perfect!”

Joel groaned as he looked back to me. “You’re fucking mental mate. Is it not time to let the restaurant go? You know this is on a par with how determined I was to go back home even though it made no sense?”

“Then you should know it’s a defense mechanism to keep me sane. Let me dream that somehow, life’s gonna settle down and I’m gonna be able to run my restaurant. Rather than the reality, that I’m gonna be constantly hunted down by psychotic gods for something I had no part in.”

“Fair enough. It’s nice to have a dream.”