[Chapter 31 part 1] Hope – Visiting The Shrines of the Lost

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I’m not jealous. High above the Blue Abyss, Kate was regaling everyone with the tale of Lily’s pyrotechnics. Below the gondola, the last of the supposed monster was being devoured. At least I got to see the sharks.

So apparently she’d missed out on quite a lot recently. While her exclusion from their first quest hadn’t bothered her much at first, Free had done an excellent job selling the experience when she’d dropped by yesterday. Running through tangled strips of land, battles with undead on an upside down island covered with tomb ivy… I’ve never even seen a goat. Where’d Emerit find one anyway? Swimming in the sky sounded like it’d been a blast… Dang it, I’m not jealous, just irritated.

Hope had fully recovered from her bout of optimism. Swearing and cynicism are back in style, dammit! She’d realized that, whether here or at Earth’s End, Enera was out to screw her. She’d return the favor with all firepower she could muster. Pent-up anger really helps motivate your work.

That’s why missing the outing was really a positive. It would fuel her dark humor for days. Same for not witnessing Lily roast a giant worm with a miniature sun. I could’ve been there for that one, dang it! She could enjoy this tour without risk of improving her mood. Are my thoughts entertaining enough, HEAVENLY DAO?

At least I’ll have company. Light had apparently withdrawn from the expedition’s second half due to an unfortunate bout of stupidity. He was currently recuperating under John Lavinda’s care, which meant he was absent today too. He’ll be even more upset than me. This warmed her heart. Humans are twisted creatures. They could find solace in knowing someone was more wretched than them.

“Seen enough?” Lily asked. She’d been showing a surprising patience, even suggesting this detour. Either she’s developed a caring personality, or she’s sensitive to motion sickness. I bet the latter.

Lily began maneuvering them back through the crowd of airships. I’m sure half of you came to escape the swaying. It’d confused the hell out of her at first. She’d suspected her gunfire had damaged her sense of balance, until she’d noticed flames swinging in their braziers. That’d made things clear. I got practice with unstable footing.

Hope had commandeered a building in the Empty City and converted it into a firing range. She’d then roped Soul into carrying down two barrels of bullets. He’s a helpful goodie two-shoes… and that feels wrong, even in my head. Her brother’s earnestness made guiltless mocking difficult.

Anyway, after half a barrel of fun, Hope’s accuracy had improved to the point where she could nearly match what Dawn had done on her first try. God I hate her sometimes. On the plus side, she’d learned that imagining the target as a despised person made everything more entertaining.

“It’s diminished a little.” Silver noted as they passed the Rose Palace. Good.

Hope was dreading visiting her workshop. Some of the bookshelves were top heavy… She now realized the error of her ways. In her defense, there’d been no reason to considered this scenario. Rooms shouldn’t move, dang it!

“There’s the entrance to the Shrines of the Lost.” Lily pointed to the stone archway on the south edge.

“So the Dark Gods are enshrined there?” Hope asked.

“Yes,” Lily explained. “Long ago, they would take avatars every few decades, wrecking havoc. A saint named Archibal Fane ended this. Arguing it was disruptive and unbalanced, he convinced the HEAVENLY DAO to restraint them. The shrines are the physical manifestation of that process.”

“Why don’t the Good Gods use avatars?” Free asked. “I’ve never understood this.”

Lily shrugged, “Mainly because negative emotions are more lasting than their counterparts.”

“What?” Free didn’t like this answer.

“It’s the truth. Positive emotions are transient by their nature. The more you have, the easier it is to lose. A love one can pass on at any moment. Hopes can be dashed in an instant. Faith can collapse at a single revelation.”

Everything can go wrong in an heartbeat, like when the assassins attacked. Hope accepted this.

“Consider now their dark counterparts. A person who has sworn eternal vengeance isn’t likely to forsake their hatred. Someone lost in madness won’t miraculously regain their sanity. A despairing invalid suffering an incurable disease won’t suddenly find hope. Dark emotions are one way trips that you have to crawl back from. Anyone who falls to the bottom won’t ever get out.”

That doesn’t sound pleasant. Hope was satisfied with her current level of negativity.

Passing the entrance, she got a sense of déjà vu. Below was a sea of clouds and above an endless blue sky. The pathway also ended in large square plaza. From there it’s different. There were no walls. Instead three path branched out, each leading to a courtyard with a shrine suspended off the far side.

So many people… She’d expected the Shrines to be less popular, “Why is it so crowded?”

“Besides tourists, this place attract its own set of visitors.” Lily smiled sadly. “Those who come to pray.”

What? Why would anyone pray to hate, fear, and despair?

“No one’s jumping.” Dawn commented happily. “This bunch has more sense.”

That’s not it, Hope guessed. The ponds are closer to the Wall of Legends.

Lily halted above the main square, “Welcome to the Shrines of the Lost.”

“It serves as a glorious testament to the laws of unintended consequences. While ‘imprisoning’ the Dark Gods provided short-term peace, they were able to amass their strength. Those shrines have become storehouses of centuries of pent-up hate, fear, and despair.” In exchange for ridding Enera of avatars during the good times, we face monstrous ones during a Dark Age. Weren’t we screwed by this deal?

“At least for now, the damage these three can do is limited.” Lily sighed. “Shall we begin in the proper order?”

Seeing blank faces, Lily paused, “Really? Even you Kate?”

“I didn’t know there was an order…” The flustered cat girl offered weakly. I suspect she secretly enjoys teasing her.

Lily zeroed in on her daughter, “Do you at least know why they’re called shadows?”

Before Kate descended into panic, Wise stepped in, “Dark emotions stem from the good ones. Someone who’s never loved cannot hate. If you don’t value anything, you’ll never experience fear. Without hopes and dreams, despair is impossible. The Dark Gods are shadows of their counterparts.”

“So…” Kate summarized. “bad emotions come from good ones?”

“Exactly.” Lily confirmed, disappointed her daughter had been bailed out. “Negative feelings replace positive ones once they’re lost.”

“Which is why we should visit Saven first.” Wise proclaimed. Where’d that leap of logic come from?

“Explain.” Hope demanded.

Wise took a deep breath and spoke as if reading a textbook, “Lateli, the god of Love, flows from the past. It’s through accumulated experiences that attachments grow. The domain of Oranda, the god of courage, is the present. We can face adversity because of our confidence in our current ourselves and purpose. Finally, Wendel, the god of Hope, presides over the future. It’s our aspirations which urge us forwards.”

Wise added in his own words, “Since Saven is Lateli’s shadow…” We start with hate, got it.

As the gondola moved left, Lily spoke, “Avatars of Saven have lost everything they’ve ever held dear. All that remains is malice born of bottomless grudges.”

She’s putting effort into this. Hope doubted it was out of goodwill. She’s wasting time so the Isle will calm, not that I mind.

Twenty feet separated the shrine from those gathered around. It resembled a round marble cave cut in half with a pedestal at its center. Hundreds of chains, anchored to the walls, bound the figure standing on it. Saven, the god of hate. At first she’d believed the deity was wearing armor, but, as they neared, she realized this was wrong. His body is made of blades. It was as if thousands of daggers had pierced his body from the inside until nothing could be seen but their tips.

“The Dark Gods chose their physical forms when they were imprisoned.” Wise shared.

Hope glanced down. I can’t believe it… Along the edge, people were kneeling in worship. There was even an orderly queue.

“Is this alright?” Soul asked.

“It is. Saven is also the god of justice denied. For those who have lost something irreplaceable and found no relief in the laws of man, many come here. Hate is not without merit. There are people worth despising.” Lily said coldly. “Like those involved in Arther Bard’s death.”

“On that note…” Lily closed her eyes. You’re kidding… They watched in shock. It’s true Arther is unavenged, but still…

“Didn’t you fight against this god?” Hope asked once she’d finished.

The immortal nodded, “I did, but Saven doesn’t discriminate. All those with hatred in their hearts will be heard. Since I’m here and meet the qualifications, I made my own petition.”

“What does doing so do?” Free asked.

“For those seeking revenge, it sometimes reveals the approximate location of their target. Or it might strengthen the supplicant’s rightful grudge, aiding their retribution. In rare cases, a curse will be placed. Overall, the purer the hate, the more valid the grievance, the more aid is given.”

Hope watched the hundreds lined up. Some came just for this shrine. Hope was beginning to appreciate the place’s popularity.

“Time to move on.” Lily guided them away. Which is Fear.

The next shrine appeared identical. The cage must be the same for all. Lily continued as they neared, “Avatars of Yondil have lost their connection to reality, plunged into a madness shaped by paranoia.”

Hope was disappointed when she gazed at the Lord of Terror. A cloak of shadows bound by chains. The darkness obscured any features.

It’s this bastard’s disciples who are hunting me. Though she tried, Hope couldn’t muster up any decent outrage. The real blame lay with the assassins and, doubly so, with whoever took out the contract.

Only a sparse crowd was offering prayers. Hate is more popular. “What does Yondil grant?” Free asked.

“A few days of fearlessness.” Lily said.

“Wait!” Silver exclaimed. “People travel here to become like me?”

“Indeed. There are times when you can’t afford mistakes. For example…” Lily smirked at Dawn. “Astra mentioned her plans. It might be good idea for you to return after Arther’s Funeral.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Dawn dismissed weakly. Am I bad for enjoying this?

“Onto the last.” Lily declared. “Avatars of Kongal are damned in a way that allows no salvation. All they’ve left is to rage against their fate.”

Hope was puzzled by the Lord of Despair. He’s pathetic. If hate was composed of blades, despair was tattered rags. As if a beggar has been strung up.

“He looks frail.” Silver observed.

“Before the Shrines of Lost, Kongal’s chosen were by far the weakest.” Lily said. “It’s obvious really. Search for hopelessness and you’ll find it in the broken, the destitute, and the dying. Kongal’s appearance reflects his constituents.”

“What of his last avatar? He wasn’t weak right?” Soul asked.

“No, he wasn’t.” Lily said bitterly. “During the Dark Age, the Dark Gods choose their avatars by timing their escape. In Kongal’s case, this made a world of difference, leading to his first truly threatening incarnation.” So he found someone drowning in despair who wasn’t feeble…

Hmm?

“Are chains missing?” Rose chimed in. “Compared to the others, there are less.” She’s right. The ragged figure was only half bound.

Lily winced, “That’s because Kongal was never fully resealed. No matter what we tried, we weren’t able to kill his avatar. That stubborn bastard refused to die properly.”

“He’s sealed away in Tartarus, right?” Rose asked.

“At The Bottom of the deepest pit” Lily nodded. “His body has withered to next to nothing, yet his soul resists all efforts to dislodge it. From that mummified husk, he spends every waking moment cursing humanity.”

“Does that mean Despair is incapable of taking another avatar?” Soul asked.

“Don’t know.” Lily shrugged. “What happened is unprecedented. Personally, I’d love that to be the case. Out of the three, Kain was the biggest pain, outlasting the others and growing stronger until the very end…”

(continued in part 2)