Inferno Ascended

Rasmus' arrival was an unexpected and happy surprise, but it brought with him the element of chaos, which seemed to accompany the Valosian big man. 

The friends only had time to talk privately at the end of the night. The newlywed Rhoas had brought with him Uniq. 

She realized her dream and passed the summer test, joining the Echelian army. Chriseis had given Uniq one of her own used armor so the commoner could apply. It came as a bonus that Uniq now possessed a relic from an Echelian hero, given by the general herself.

Glax was thrilled to hear this. He had no idea.

But despite imagining that the redhead had a real chance of passing the tough challenges to join the army, he didn't imagine that she would choose the Aegeons!

However, it made sense. She had an affinity for the past stories of these phratas. Perhaps for the krios, the Aegeons were no more than a shameful episode in the clan's history, but for part of the population, they were legend. 

Aryn had come too, as had the horologist's maid, Parin, and her little brother Atos. When the Valosian questioned his friend with a look, Rasmus just scratched his head, looking a little regretful. He knew the type. 

Rasmus was the kind of guy who can't say no. But... Even the horologist's maid? Rasmus had explained that the horologist didn't make it and had died a few days after Glax left. But the girl had come for a very important reason.

Before he could say which one, Glax had to take Lady Aiops back to the forest. The little dryad had caused more trouble than it should have today.

And when he finally returned to the fort, he found that Thersos' bigamy was exposed.

The subject had caused quite a commotion, as the beautiful newcomers had stirred the hormones of soldiers of both sexes in Marbium. 

Aryn and Thersos' current wife were shocked by the discovery of their husband's betrayal. After a major scandal, they united so they could chase and beat him together. 

Since Echelian women were usually fierce and dangerous no matter their breed, the soldier split them apart when it became more than a shame for the gunsmith.

Thersos also took a few strokes of his father-in-law's staff and was thrown out of the barracks he shared with his second family. 

Uniq was torn between the joy of finding her missing brother where she least expected it, and comforting her best friend. Thersos needed shelter and turned to Glax, of course.

'What is this, do I really have responsibility for all these people?' The realization came with a sigh when Glax finally sat down to supper late at night. 

Rasmus sat across from him. His wide smile, which he'd kept on all the time since arriving, finally melting away to show his weariness.

"Eh, women are so complicated."

"Huh? Why do you say that? You have a kind wife."

"Oh, I'm going to be a daddy!" Still, now that the weariness had set in, Rasmus smiled only slightly.

"OH! Congratulations! That's great news!!!" Glax patted his colleague on the back. "What's it? Even with this news, things are not going well?"

"Jolla said everything would be fine. That I should come. But my mind is half there."

"I'm glad you came, but… Why did you come if you wanted to stay?"

"First, the guy they arrested. He managed to get away…" Rasmus sighed as if he wanted to say more, but seemed to make up his mind to summarize the facts. "But he and his two cronies left a trail, which shows he came to this region. And since I offered to help Guardian Iasos investigate, someone had to come."

"You didn't have to do this, man."

"That damn gorgon caught me so fast I didn't even see her until it was too late. Like... What kind of warrior am I?? I was humiliated in front of my family on such a simple task!"

"Are they humiliating you? I mean, your father-in-law? Because I can't picture your wife doing that."

"No, they say the gods wanted it that way. But...GRRR! I must redeem myself."

"I see, man. I got it. We'll find them. But why did you bring the horologist's maid?"

"Parin, she's been a great help. She's taken me to places I wouldn't find by myself. And I couldn't reproduce to you her words and knowledge. You know how dumb I am. That's why I brought her to you."

"Okay, I'm just worried about their safety."

"Me too, but it's worked out so far. As soon as you talk to her and see if there's anything else she can help with, Parin says she intends to find another job. I've brought a lump sum to pay for her services up to this moment. Actually, Parin and Atos weren't a problem during the trip… The two women from Stapolis were."

"Geez, Ras! Why did you bring them?"

"Uniq and Aryn,… well, they showed up after you one day, at your house. Your servants sent them to me. They said who they were and that they were looking for you. Uniq had just passed the summer test or something like that. And her friend had come to the capital, looking for her husband... They make me confused then... I don't know what to do. They are like those scammers from Partis. Once they set a target…"

"Could have been worse. Could have been Hikesias, or... Well, never mind. Good to see you again, Ras! Things would have been easier with you around!"

"Same the same, friend!" Rasmus smiled. "But for now, can we just rest?"

Glax nodded.

He already knew that Moiras or Anankethon would ignore any haste or delay.

Mech-Eyes had returned to Erimos, and that was indisputable proof that they would meet again. Soon.

::::::::::::: ::::::

"Do you think this will really work?" Alekos said, stacking the stones where Glax had ordered. Rasmus was also helping. 

Together, the three had built a small shrine in the forest entrance in one morning. They made it with remains of ruins that could be found almost everywhere in Stygia.

"Of course it will." Glax scratched his already bothersome beard, eyeing the makeshift building critically. "He will understand this is the first shrine erected for him in Stygia in a long time."

Rasmus wiped his hands clean after placing a stone at the back of the small temple. It was no more than a few pillars, a small portico, and an altar. He shook his head, doubting it a bit. "I promised I wouldn't doubt you again."

"This looks bad," Alexander wiped his forehead, looking disapprovingly at the makeshift building.

"Hermes is, ironically, a down-to-earth god. For starters, this is my first gift to him. Made by Rasmus Valosia and Alexander the Great in training. and Glax. and this,"

He went to his bag, and took out a roll of paper. He had found out from Lady Nyssa that the Stygians knew the paper, which was actually thick and more like a canvas. And she had lent him the tools he needed.

The Valosian carefully unrolled his drawing of the God Hermes, and glued it to the stone.

He thought it looked great.

"Do you really think I have big feet like that? And small shoulders? Are my hands misshapen?"

The humming hover stopped beside him as the torrent of words poured out from the god's mouth in one go. Alexandre and Rasmus stared in awe at the god in his splendor, jokingly pointing a finger at the shrine and the drawing.

"Didn't you like it?" More than his pride, Glax's jaw was dropping.

"Did anyone pay you to draw like that? Were you really paid to draw deformed people?"

His friends were alarmed. Had Glax's 'genius' plan backfired? Was the god offended? Would the god metamorphose them into stones or whatever?

"Oh, sorry. That's my style. But I can draw more classically... There's nothing wrong with your hands or feet…" Glax didn't expect Hermes to be less than impressed with his artistic gifts, either.

"If it were my brother who always thought he was handsome, perfect, and hot, you'd be in trouble! He wouldn't forgive that offense! Lucky for you, I have a sense of humor, haha ha!"

Everyone laughed, the mortals were at least quite relieved that Hermes wasn't terribly offended. He surveyed the little sanctuary and nodded as if to forgive the dog who hadn't yet learned to pee in the right place.

"Thank you for doing something for me. It was totally made with no ulterior motives, right? I'm feeling more replenished and vigorous!"

"I wanted to thank you for the way you dealt with Mors."

"Oh, you're welcome. And Mors will also remember for a while not to meddle in my business."

"Lord Hermes, Damiamon told me about the plans for Chriseis' soul. I think I get it. Do you want a great warrior to have that giant mecha, or whatever you call it, to deal with Anankethon? At the bottom of the abyss?" Where not even the vselys come back sane?"

"Ahem," the god of roads pretended to cough and looked away. "I may have heard a conversation along those lines. About her being Stygia's best warrior so far. And, well... That's the current plan, really. Even if I'm a bit… against it. But my opinion doesn't count, does it? They always think I'm too much of an airhead to give a good opinion."

"They, whoever they are, have a very simple problem. Stygia's metal is easily contaminated by the antichor... The corrupt ichor."

"Antichor is a good name for it!" Hermes admitted.

"If that's so," Glax puffed out his chest, full of confidence. "let me build the mecha. Give me access to the divine forge. The mecha has to be made of the best material, and pure ichor of the best quality. I'll do it."

Hermes clapped his hands."Bravo! But did you pay attention to the part where I said I don't support this plan? And more. You still haven't found the orb or the arm. And you're not looking for it, either."

"I need to go back to the capital and convince my father-in-law to give me Chriseis' arm."

"Eh Glax," Rasmus scratched the back of his neck, drawing attention to himself, "I didn't quite know how to tell you this and I was waiting for the best time, I mean…"

Glax should have been suspicious: Ras had been strange the day before.

"What happened?"

"The Mech-Eye dude, as I said, escaped from jail with the help of two henchmen.. And he managed to steal… what he wanted."