[Book II Chapter 36] NEPHRITE: The Silent Village

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“Over there is an outpost.” Jayden whispered. “Remain hidden while I check it out.”

Jayden leapt across the purple landscape and disappeared into a giant glowing mushroom. The rest of them crouched in the inverted underbrush, keeping an eye on the swarm of wasps patrolling the area.

The hidden Village of Fang lay in the deepest portions of Harakoune. As shinobi specializing in dealing with magical beasts, they didn’t cull the surrounding wilderness as the other villages did. Rather, the aggressive fauna was their first layer of defense.

Unlike their experience heading to Basdrum, Jayden had been moving at a pace they could keep up with. This caution had them all on edge.

A nearly invisible fairy suddenly fluttered over to them. “Jayden summons you.” The sprite spoke softly.

The outpost entrance was in the gills on the mushroom’s underside. A surprising amount of space had been hollowed out, with several tiny sleeping quarters, and many of the walls were enchanted to be like one way glass, transparent when looking out. They found Jayden in what was probably the briefing room. He invited them to sit at a table.

“It was deserted.” Jayden reported. “No traps either. This actually makes matters more complicated. I was hoping to gather intelligence from those stationed here.”

When Hearth lost contact with Fang, no one though twice about it. The four original hidden villages were secretive, and it was assumed they were concentrating on their own evacuation plans. However, the silence grew suspicious as time wore on. Exchanging information with representatives of Ash, Tempest, and Gloom revealed that no airships were sighted heading in Fang’s direction. Not one of their shinobi had been seen in weeks. This empty outpost only thickens the mystery.

“What now?” Nephrite asked.

Jayden crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “I knew I could handle the ninjas stationed here. It won’t be the same at the village. We’ll be facing several supreme shinobis and the Fang lord. Not to mention many there have a grudge against me, especially the three of my generation. It’s too dangerous to approach without knowing if they’re hostile.”

“Nephrite,” Jayden continued. “You and Light have stealth abilities not even I can match. You’ll go on ahead to ascertain the situation. We’ll await your report here.”

Jayden brought out two pendents hanging from silver chains and handed them over, “I prepared this pair of Lovers lockets for a situation like this. They’ll allow you to communicate telepathically over short distances.”

Jayden fixed his eyes on Light, “Let me restate our mission. We’re tasked with discovering Fang’s plans for the Dark Age and gathering intel on Kaygren. Obey Nephrite’s instructions under all circumstance.”

He then turned to Nephrite. “Do not enter the village under any circumstances. The wards are capable of dispelling concealments. Your goal is to gather information from a distance. Pay special attention to any airships as they may reveal who Fang has allied with.”

“Finally, if you run into anyone on your way, capture them if feasible and bring them back. I’ll take responsibility for any fallout from the kidnapping.”

Nephrite and Light dropped out of the mushroom and activated their stealth abilities. > Nephrite asked.

> Light responded. While she couldn’t make him out, she could vaguely sense his general location through the lockets. I guess it’s better than nothing.

> Nephrite explained. <>

Nephrite led them carefully through the warped earth. Eventually they reached the large opening Jayden had described. > She said.

They weren’t ready for the sight that greeted them. Half the interior ——where the village was supposed to be—— was nothing but a stretch of dirt, as if someone carved out the top layer and everything on it.

> Light observed.

> Nephrite answered, deactivating her cloak and summoning a greater earth fairy to fetch the others. While they waited, she noted the several enormous rifts rippling above the empty space. They transported their entire village into the Ether?

Jayden walked out onto the barren field, shaking his head. “What madness… It pains me to see the place I grew up so desolate.”

“Can you make sense of this?” Nephrite asked.

“Yes…” Jayden answered. “Fang has retreated from the fight. Torak aims to eliminate all life on Enera and those who abscond to the Ether are of no concern to him. His legions won’t intrude there.”

“If you can avoid the dark age that way, why don’t more do so?” Light asked.

“Spending time in an ephemeral space slowly wears away one’s existence. “ Jayden explained. “The weaker someone is, the faster the process. Even a couple of hours in a tethered realm can give an ordinary person transience sickness.”

Nephrite nodded. Transience sickness was common ailment, most often cause by the consumption of summoned food and drink sold by an unscrupulous vendor. The soul would desperately try to counteract the lack of permanence, and the condition could be fatal for those with low channeling ability.

“Only the stablest realms are suitable for long term inhabitation. That realistically limits possibilities to the HEAVENLY DAO’s dungeons and Shangri-la, whose the entrance is in Catalonia on the far side of the Green Hell.“

The continent of Shangri-la was a reality maintained by sovereigns friendly towards humans. Many summons made permanent called it home.

“So Shangri-la is a safe alternative for those nearby?” Light pressed.

“To a degree.” Jayden answered. “The experiences of humanity, conveyed through our dreams, are the building blocks of the Ether. If Enera perishes, all realms will ultimately share its fate. Since every soul which disappears into the Ether means one less obstacle for Torak, migration to bastion is preferred. It increases everyone’s odds of survival.”

The Black Citadel is the same situation. All those within Xarst’s shadow no longer contributed to the planet’s lifeforce. Fortunately, the inability to have children keeps many away.

“Back to topic,” Arika broke in. “Where did Fang go?”

Jayden grimaced. “It can’t be to Shangri-la, as we would’ve heard about it by now, and the greater planes are too dangerous for a civilian population. That leaves only one option: Mount Gull, the continent-sized mountain Kaygren is building. The fang lord has allied himself with demonic beasts…”

“Enough speculation.” Jayden turned to them. “I’ll explore the rifts. The rest of you separate into two groups and explore the surrounding forest. Maybe someone got left behind. Regroup here when done.”

Haron and Arika took off without without a word, leaving Nephrite alone with Light. The two work together so often they didn’t consider a different pairing.

Nephrite glanced at her young partner, “We’ll move in stealth, as we did earlier. Do you want to take the lead?” This is a opportunity to judge his decision making.

Light nodded excitedly, and they entered the trees covering the other half of the bulb’s interior. They soon found several large structures, all abandoned. Inside were hundreds of holding pens. Likely for demonic beasts. These woods must have served as a training grounds for Fang ninjas and their pets. There were no traces of either being present.

Proceeding deeper, they discovered the first sign of life. In a clearing, a huge form was sleeping, waves of blackness flowing over its dark fur.

Nephrite recognized the creature. <>

<> Light repeated. Nephrite didn’t like the sound behind the thought.