Inferno Ascended

Two days later, they finally finished the painful task of giving a decent rest to 19 Aegeons who faced Damiamon Oefer.

A mixture of anger and silent terror haunted the fort of Marbium. It was almost unbelievable that only a vselys had done that. But Glax knew the vselys weren't human.

Damiamon was right. 

He, Glax, had been born in Valya, but he was not one of them. 

Now that he had stopped to think, being Achmeron's son could be very dangerous! Was this the reason for the attempted murder in Echelion? The assassination attempt, he assumed was his brother-in-law's ruse?

But that wasn't the only issue to worry his mind. Everyone had seen the orbs enter his bag, and the whispers behind him intensified each time he passed.

Glax decided not to give an explanation until it was demanded. 

Lady Nyssa became involved in helping the refugees organize their return to Stimhena, as soon as the village was ready for it. The fort was still without leadership, but the noble historian lady recalled past stories of similar events, and this helped Glax to think of ways to solve the pressing problems. 

Together with Thersos and the gunsmith's father-in-law, who was a respected figure by the refugees, they planned community actions to clean and repair the village. In the meantime, the villagers would continue to get help from the fort to feed and shelter, as they could not support themselves for at least a year.

Glax wrote letters to his superiors and the Archigeos with the help of the Damastios historian, who was well aware of the procedures and how this correspondence needed to be written.

In the meantime, given the fort's again precarious situation, Glax had taken the lead and arranged a surveillance and patrol schedule for the borrowed and resident soldier. Being veterans, Tychos, who was still using crutches, and Pydna were helping him with that. 

Lady Nyssa was at the same time subtly, if not quite, trying to convince Glax to adhere to her initial idea of ​​going to Erimos as one of the Echelians' spies. 

Right now, however, Glax certainly didn't want to waste time working for the clan. But he had questions about what Lady Nyssa, who was much more than an intellectual, meant by this.

They were on their way back from the refugee lodges towards the main building of the fort, and the Valosian took the opportunity to ask her more directly.

"Commander Seleukos explained to me that keeping watch over the nearby towns on the other side is important, and I don't doubt that. I'm just not sure how, exactly, I would act as a spy on Erimos."

She smiled, looking quite used to this question.

"Lord Glax, Erimos is not just a place for silvans and orbs going to Leto River. All kinds of people go there. Adventurers, renegades, smugglers, necromancers… Only the most arduous area, protected by Cerberus, is forbidden and dangerous. You supposedly don't want to be there if you're alive."

"Why?"

She looked at him, surprised and delighted. Probably she wasn't surrounded by warriors interested in all the knowledge she kept. They were probably only interested in war applications.

"C'mon, Lord Glax…! First, the giant monster Cerberus, which doesn't allow the living to access the Old Path to Leto. Then, the influx of souls, and the entities that guard the portals to prevent curious people!"

"Only that?"

"Oh, don't be a bragging cheap mouth, Lord Glax. You're better than that!"

"I just keep thinking… Part of Hell Has Ascended… But essentially things remain the same. Only with more inconveniences."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because… Logistically, Old Hades was a finite place, like Gaia, or the sea. So there was a mechanism to empty the place after a while. The dead, in short, had the chance of a new life; of being reborn. In Gaia. It's just that, with Ascension, all those who ascended with Stygia, well, they not only have a lot of trouble going through the rebirth process but also… They may be stuck here forever."

Nyssa swallowed hard. "It is a frightening sight, Lord Glax. Which makes me wonder about a rumor I heard. They testified you harvested orbs on the battlefield of Stimhena."

"Is this a gentle way of asking if I'm a necromancer?"

"It's just a way of asking how, if not through necromancy?"

"I just tested some theories, Lady Nyssa. I witnessed, with Sillabot, that some metallic alloys or substances can attract the orbs. Apparently this is something new."

She grew thoughtful, and Glax wondered if she was searching her mind for that information.

"In any case," he continued, "I have shown and shared my findings to the Rhoas Sorcerers at the Astrodome, and they are studying the phenomenon. Again in Stimhena I found items with this property. That's what brought the machines to life in Stimhena. Black magic and Promethean technology."

"EXACTLY!" She got excited for the first time, and even slapped Glax on the shoulder. Bushes stirred nearby, and Glax pretended not to notice, but stayed alert. 

The historian continued, excitedly,

"You should go to the village where the Prometheans are, inside Erimos. I KNOW they are up to something big, and in tandem with Silvans. We can't let the Silvans and the Prometheans come together like that." 

It immediately reminded Glax of Mech-Eyes and his Silvan friends. They went after Chriseis and also the horologist. What Lady Nyssa said also made sense. Victory would go to the Silvans, if they mastered more technology than the Stygians, and if they had the antichor on their side… He shook his head, not really wanting to delve into it.

"Lady Nyssa. I could do that, though I still can't picture how we would make my identity not easily discovered. But to be honest, I also have something I want to do. Find the group that invaded the tomb where Chriseis was, trying to steal his body. However, the grand general thinks I would be more useful in Marbium…"

She turned to him, speaking solemnly.

"He wasn't really wrong, Lord Glax. Your arrival was fundamental."

This time, even Nyssa noticed a nearby bush moving, and she was startled. Her hand went to the dagger strapped to her belt, but Glax stilled her with a gesture, pulling his gladius from its sheath, and gently pushing her back.

"Whoever you are, get out of there before I pierce through this bush!"

The plant shuddered all over, but nothing came out from behind the leaves. Glax walked over and pulled the little creature by the collar of her dress.

Lady Aiops wavered between angry and embarrassed as he set her down and pointed his gladius at her. "Aren't you ashamed?! Besides, aren't you aware of the danger? I could have really hurt you! If only I didn't know that only a tiny person could hide so well in a bush…!"

Lady Nyssa covered her mouth to hide her laughter, while the puzzled look looked at the girl in front of her.

The dryad marched toward the krios nobleman and kicked her shin and pummeled her legs and stomach until Glax caught her around the waist again, grabbing her.

"Stop it now! Why are you assaulting Lady Nyssa?! She didn't do anything to you!"

"But she wants to do something for YOU! Let go of me, I'll take care of this naughty devious lady!" she puffed out her cheeks, and Glax already foresaw what was to come. He pinched her lips with his fingers in pincers, and motioned for the krios to leave them alone. 

Reluctantly, Lady Nyssa left them, embarrassed by the accusation and realizing the dryad was maddened with jealousy.

"By the gods! Stop it now! Have you gone crazy?! And… What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't get away from your tree."

"It's not that far away, and everything is calm. And… Don't distract me with these silly questions, Glax of Valosia! You have appointments! Serious Commitments! Instead of being… BEING SEDUCED! You must take me back home!"

It was funny and disturbing to deal with this meaningless discussion.

"Aiops, I still don't know how!!!"

"You have friends!"

"Yes, I do, but…! What are you talking about?" It suddenly didn't seem like the dryad was talking about Tychos anymore. 

"Lord Mors! Your Friend. He went into the forest and ORDERED a new robe! Glax of Valosia! He said you gave him the tunic! The tunic I made with so much affection, the one I gifted to you so adoringly!!" Her accusing eyes narrowed and Glax shrugged. 

'That bastard can only have done this on purpose!'

"He didn't tell the whole story, did he? He is not my friend. If he were a friend, he wouldn't be the son of a bitch he is!"

"HMF!! I don't want excuses, I want you to take me home!"

"You just heard that I, being mortal, can't just go into the mouth of Hell, take the ONE R... I mean, a little Dryad and her Tree, and throw both home over Cerberus' head!!!"

The dryad lifted her chin. "You have time to help everyone! Help me! NOW! And don't hang around with married women who are drooling over you!"

Glax shook his head, stunned by her demands and accusations. 

"Stop talking nonsense. It's not true. Lady Nyssa is a friend and is here to help. What do you want, to ruin her life?"

"I'm going to find another benefactor and give him ALL the fruit on my tree." she threatened, crossing her arms.

"Okay. Go back there, in a little while a benefactor will pass by."

"LORD GLAXXXXXXX! I will tell all the plants in the region to be bad for your Lady friend! She will cry and sneeze and scratch and finally suffocate in spring. If I were her, I wouldn't make herbal teas or pick mushrooms in the region..."

"Antihistamines." He rolled his eyes at the dryad's threats.

"What?"

"Stop these threats. Lady Nissa means nothing to me. Besides being a good advisor."

He sighed. And looking up at the sky, he had an idea. "And if you behave, I might be able to do this sooner than I expected."

The dryad widened her eyes in suspicion and hope.

"GLAX! HAHAHA, there you are! FINALLY" Rasmus' familiar grave voice resounded in the courtyard where they stood. Glax rose, excited by his arrival and welcomed intromission.

And he was run over by an effusive hug and two bouncy soft jugs pressed to his chest, and kind of choked on a lash of red hair in his face.

"LORD GLAXXXXXXX!!! GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" Uniq continued to cling to his neck, ignoring the dryad's mortal glare.