Chapter 8: Complication

Creation

I would be lying if I said I didn't absolutely hate this one, but as I turned the blade over in my hand an adage that was not my own helped to still my anger, "Never, piss off your Blacksmith." While I had no idea what piss was or what exactly made my smith black when they were obviously more of a lightish gray, the spirit of the quote was not lost on me, you don't want to anger someone you rely on. As much as I hated to admit it, her work was admirable. The saying had entered my mind as that magic rock hit me in the head, accompanied by a vision of an earth mage giving this warning to his sword wielding partner as she threatened to chew her 'smith' out. Sadly my creator didn't appear to get the same insight, but that vision is why I didn't try to get some practice in before carrying out my creator's murder scheme.

The weight of his mind had become significantly lighter. I could even reach out and sense his emotions when he was floating around upstairs and right now he was stirring. Probably regretting pissing her off. From what I gathered of his errant thoughts making their way into my mind up until now all his enemies disliked him for little to no reason, but this was the first one that was his fault. It was hard not to feel bad for him, but that probably had more to do with him literally being in my head than any actual sympathy. I shrugged it off and secluded my mind from his, able to think of it much clearer without his thoughts intertwining with mine I came to the conclusion that both of them are probably feeling the same way, and one will eventually break down and apologize to the other. After all they both disrespected a work the other took pride in. However judging by the big man upstairs' thoughts, It will probably be him. It's scary to think about how I'm less than a week old and am already more emotionally mature than my creator. I have half a mind to go plead for the green one to let me live with him.

Its fairly annoying that these petty gods just within reach have so much power yet such weak minds. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind, but I know my thoughts would prevent him from learning and elected to keep them to myself. I'll save my criticism for until after he learns his lesson. Seeming to sense my disapproval his sulking continues and the weight grows ever lighter, at least he isn't as burdensome to carry around anymore.

Lost in thought I bump into the door to our home and almost drop everything. I manage to keep a hold on it all but one of the spear heads manage to cut at my skin and send ripples of pain through my body. At this the mind atop mine silently takes its leave and retreats to its gem to sulk. When he starts rapidly spewing mist I deliberately fix a rock into the doorway and get ready to work.

Figuring I should start easy, I begin trying to fix one of the spear heads to one of the two longer sticks. Forcing it down proves difficult, but I remain patient once I realize that means it will be harder for it to become dislodged. A great force to my back suddenly sends me forward and I almost cut my hand on the blade. I turn around and find Too tackling one of my unnamed brother's into my back. I help the runt up before picking Too up and moving him to a corner. I force him to sit and keep reorienting him into place every time he tries to leave. Eventually he relents. I order him to, "Stay." before returning to my corner to work. Taking my seat I speak one more command, "Don't bother me, I'm working." and get back to fashioning the weapons.

Creation

I motion for Too to come over to me and handed him a spear. Looking at the weapons made it clear what was for who, the dagger was meant for the runt, the spears were meant for Too and the other unnamed brother of around the same size, and the Hammer was meant for the big one in green's room, and the sword was meant for me. It was able to be wielded with one or both hands and left me free to cast spells with my offhand, at least once I figured out how without Blue's help.

It frightened me that Too was the smartest of my brothers, my differences with them having only become more pronounced with time. I knew that until I taught them how to use these things they would be far too dangerous, and I knew leaving them outside would be a terrible idea. The tree climbers had only been growing closer to finding our home each time we angered them. They were already dangerous enough, the last thing I wanted to do was give them weapons.

Today I was going to kill them. We needed fur armor according to Blue's plan and I wasn't going to question whether it was strictly necessary. He was evidently in a bad enough mood, and it would be even worse if he stopped taking it out on himself and turned his emotions outwards. I shudder at the thought of my brother's suffering under the creator's wrath. I could worry about things outside of my control later though, right now I needed to focus on something that is in my grasp, making sure my brother's didn't hurt themselves. I was going to take the extra weapons to Green's and bring the biggest of my brethren back. I started walking and Too followed, gripping his spear with a lack of certainty. He seemed relieved that we didn't head out to the grassy expanse, I guess he learned the tree climber's didn't like the stone.

When we reached the door I knocked. It felt natural, but I didn't know why. Inside I could faintly hear Green talking to himself, "My what a strange noise. I should probably find out what it is." and when the small ball of mist crept through the door he seemed excited to see me.

"Oh Aquamarine to what do I owe the pleasure?" his voice was positively brimming with life.

"Not here." I responded.

He seemed to lose a bit of the energy in his movement and his voice, "Oh, well come on in." his change in tone made me second guess my curt response.

Even still, I walked inside and rested the extra weapons in one of the room's corners. It was only after I put them down that Green spoke once again, "Oh are those the weapons I helped make?" He asked excitedly.

"Correct" I replied. Too seemed to follow my lead and tried putting his spear down as well but I stopped him.

"May I ask who made the stone parts? Oh was it you?" he asked

I shook my head and pointed back the way I came, "There is another, That way. Past Blue."

"I should go pay them a visit, a new friend would be nice." He said as he weaved around his plants.

I gave him a sarcastic thumbs up, "Good Idea" and he seemed to light up with excitement at my comment. I guess I didn't get Blue's way with words entirely.

Ignoring green I decided to go pick up my larger brother and turned to leave, but Green stopped me, "I'm sorry but I don't believe I've caught your name."

This man loves stopping people as they try to leave, "Creation" I said and opened the door.

"Bye creation, I'll be sure to go meet this mysterious crafter right away." He mused waving one of his plants at me as I headed out.

I have decided against living with the Green one.

Creation

As I dropped my Brother on the floor I motioned for Too to follow once more. I had tried to make him wait outside but he refused to listen. He has since been playing with his brothers and I was about to drag him away by force. However once he noticed my glare he stopped playing immediately and followed me once again. I could now rest easy, safe in the knowledge my brother's wouldn't stab eachother's eyes out. I stepped over the rock and shimmied through the door with ease, while Too tripped over the rock and and almost faceplanted. My palm found itself spread across my face without me realizing it, but it felt like an appropriate response. As we made our way to the grass once again I noticed Too's heightened fear.

A voice call's out to me as we began making our way out into the world at large, "Oh funny seeing you here Creation!" I plant my thumb and forefingers over my eye's as I realize who it is. I elect silence as my best option. a long pause occurs as Green waits for a response he isn't getting.

Finally he relents, "Anyways Sonny, would you mind reminding me were this crafter of yours is? I seemed to have lost my way." It was a bold faced lie, he obviously just saw me and wanted to talk to me.

I simply pointed directly to the door which was visible from this angle despite its considerable distance and finally spoke, "Busy."

"Oh, I apologize for bothering you then, thanks for the help." and he sped off to go meet with Gray.

If one good thing came out of this meeting it was that Green seemed to relax Too a fair bit. He looked more sure of himself thanks to his presence, and so I took the opportunity to plant my hand on his shoulder and reassure him, "Be strong Too." He seemed to beam at my words and gripped his spear with purpose as we headed towards the forest. Something that was immediately obvious was that the bushes didn't provide as much cover anymore as we were growing abnormally fast. I was about 3 quarters the size of the bush and Too was about half. Due to this we couldn't exactly hide in them anymore. Still I made sure to creep through the brush low to the ground with my sword at my side. I realize now that using the other spear to teach Too would have probably been a better Idea, and I regret my poor forethought. There is always next time.

As we start to encounter Trees I make sure to pace myself. I don't want to put Too in danger. Up until now I mainly made him help pick the strange yellow berries from empty trees and carry everything while I snuck by the Tree climber's. I fear that if he encounters any more than one when we're together, or any at all when alone he will freeze up. As such I should only pick fights I know I can win alone. Considering my lack of experience I should wait for a runt to go out on its own and take care of it quickly. I could also try luring one away, but that risks drawing in others or making my presence known which is why I had decided against it. That's why when I notice a tree faintly shake, I begin to wait.

Creation

Too seems to understand what I can say, so I told him to gather berries but to never go further into the forest. I was starting to get hungry since I let my brother's eat the fish my creator gave them, so I allowed him to do what he was used to. I stood guard by the tree, waiting. This was the furthest the Tree climber's came out. Currently three were in that tree. One big, two small. If I can kill the big one I can probably take out the two small one's as I have a weapon, but going into the tree seems like the worst possible action I can take, and so I wait.

My brother brings me berries and I eat them. Once I've had my fill I tell him to bring the rest home and come back, and he leaves. I wait. he comes back and continues to forage. I wait. The light begins to fade. I wait. I grow hungry again. I wait. Too brings me the rest of the berries and goes home. I wait. It takes until the light has almost faded that the big one comes down to a lower branch and starts to rest. Opportunity presents itself. I hadn't expected it to be so easy.

I crept up to the tree and investigated closer. As I got closer I could see the two little ones at the very top of the tree, seemingly hiding. The biggest slept exactly low enough to be seem, but high enough up they couldn't be attacked. I put the pieces together and I realized that this creature was protecting the small ones, just like I protected my smaller brother. This big one must be smarter than it lets on, which means it probably isn't asleep. I decided to reposition to a better hiding spot and grab a rock off of the floor, electing to test my conclusion. I heave the large stone straight at the tree climber and its collides with it's head. It drops to the ground with a heavy thud. It doesn't make a noise, it doesn't get up. I walk over to it hoping to get a closer look.

As I stand over the corpse blood pours from its head, staining the ground beneath my slimy feet and its body appears to be facing the wrong way. It's eyes were wide open, looking at nothing and yet I felt a piercing stare emanating from those empty lifeless eyes. As I stared backed they seemed to say much, with every word a question. Why?

Because it was the way it had to be.

The blade in my hand began to shake.

I had just killed a mother. I killed a mother and I was going to kill it's children, I was going to kill a family. I am killing a family to protect mine. I have to protect my family from the very thing that created us. Not only from my creator but his enemies too. I had to kill because whatever Blue wanted dead, wanted us dead too. I had to kill because if we didn't attack first then they would, because if we didn't attack first we stood no chance. I had to kill because this time what we needed to move forward couldn't be made with mana alone. I had to kill because our petty god's were not omnipotent, I had to kill because they were oh so fragile. It became obvious in that moment, that if we didn't destroy we would be destroyed. What being destroyed meant for my enemies, what it meant for me.

I set my blade down andsat next to the corpse I had made, putting my hand to it's forehead. I helped it close it's eyes, and I looked out at moon as it started to fade from our small world from the crack in the sky. As the moonlight started to draw away and the shadow's began to grow I stood up.

As the world turned dark I picked up my sword and climbed.