Nagith Chronicles: Discovery

It was such a pain in the ass lately, just…everything was. Ever since his discovery, Tensombrek had increased security to the point it was encumbering. He had closed off every nook and cranny, anything where someone could sneak in and then had all entrances monitored. That entire corridor had been sealed off, even he wasn’t allowed past unless Tensombrek said otherwise. Not that it was likely he would be saying otherwise. His master was practically ignoring him as of late, it was rather unnerving. How did he know that their deity wasn’t looking into Charin’s own behavior as of late? Into the cal, into Rachel? No he would have heard something for sure. He had just seen her and the animal the other day.

What was Tensombrek doing? Was that gateway still there? Was he trying to contain it? Study it? Destroy it? At the thought his stomach churned, illiciting a frown from him. If his master destroyed it, there was no way he would ever figure any of this out. How was he supposed to make sense of this, how was he supposed to figure out….everything, if he couldn’t get back to that light? There were so many things past it, so many strange new things, more pieces of the puzzle he was trying to put together. It’s not as if he knew what he was looking for, granted, but he knew that whatever it was had to do with that place. If a place like that existed after all, what else was out there? All he’d ever known was this.

He strolled outside, looking up at the churning gray sky. Was another world just past those clouds? If they were gone, would there be a burning fireball hanging in the sky? Would there be blueness? What if over the furthest horizon he would find collections of green plants? What if out there, somewhere, he ran far enough, if he flew far enough, he’d find all those things, new things even? What other things could there possibly be? Were their other colors he’d never seen, where there other plants, other animals, other peoples?

His hearts were beginning to pound in his chest and he looked upwards, images of strange things blossoming in his mind, exotic places and wondrous things. Oh there just had to be more than just that sliver he’d seen. Another world! Wait- what if there was more than one? What if there were more worlds? More colors, more skies? His pulse was pounding. Why? This was so weird! Adrenaline over thoughts like this? It was ridiculous! He almost felt like laughing just from the sheer feeling of it.

Why had he never thought of it? Why had he never considered that there was more than this? Why had he been so stupid as to think his world was all there was? No, no! There was more! So much more! And- and he was here. He frowned, biting his lip at the mounting frustration in his chest. All of that out there, more than he could imagine, more than he could think of was out there…somewhere. Out there and he was here. Out there, there were other things, other people living, other worlds brimming with different things, animals, plants, skies! They had a fireball in the sky! They had blues and greens and such diverse things. He had to see it again. He had to see more, he had to see all of it! All the things that could possibly be seen he wanted to see, he wanted to go. What was he doing standing here? What was he doing staying in place when there was so much just waiting out there?

No, he couldn’t do this anymore. He couldn’t stay still anymore, he couldn’t just do nothing. It would waste him away on the spot, how could he possibly stay in place? He turned and rushed back into the castle, through the halls, toward the room with the gateway. If something was in his way, he’d find out how to get around it. Whether it be guards or gates or anything at all, he’d find a way. He had to. He had to get out of this place, he had to escape this darkness which he had lived his life in and get to that light. Briefly, he wondered, if this was how madness felt? Was this how the mad ones felt when they lost their senses? Were they running from their void, their darkness, but had nowhere to run to? Was this any different?

His pace slowed. Even if he got there, how would he get back? Did he even want to come back? Yes. Maybe a few months ago he wouldn’t have hesitated too much, but now…. Could he really just decide never to see Rachel again? Could he go and leave her with the cal, where if she was discovered with it she could be killed? Thinking more realistically, as his jog turned into a walk, how did he even know he could survive there? It was lunacy to just dive in like that with no plan, with no idea what he was doing. There wasn’t too much he’d miss here, granted, but still, he couldn’t just run off and leave.

No, he knew he couldn’t. But still, he wanted to go. Maybe it wouldn’t be as easy as just running off, no, but that didn’t mean it was impossible. That need to go was still there, but he had to calm down and think it through. He’d need a way back, he’d need to be careful and figure out exactly what he was getting himself into. There had to be a plan. A plan didn’t mean it was impossible at all, just that it’d be a bit more complicated. But how could he go about it-

“Charin.”

“Wh- Oh. Hey, big guy.”

Charin sighed a bit, calming himself from the brief startling. How the heck did he move so quietly? How did he sneak up on him? The guy was the size of a small house. Malochite seemed unfazed by Charin’s reaction and continued on with his train of thought.

“Lord Tensombrek desires us to attend a briefing. Let’s go.”

“Not much prior notice, huh?” he grumbled under his breath, but trailed after his superior.

It’s not like it was uncommon, really. The boss was impulsive and unpredictable, he was prone to abruptly demanding things and expecting immediate results.

To his surprise, Malochite was leading him exactly where he had already been heading. He eyed the halls and the big man’s back, wondering if he dare question him. As if mentioning it or asking about it would somehow change the outcome, would make the large man divert from the path. Certain enough, to Charin’s anxiety and relief, Malochite lead him past guards to the door of the room where the light had appeared. Finally he ventured a query.

“What are we doing here?”

“He will tell us.”

Typical; why bother thinking about it when you can just be told what to think?

“Master, may we enter?” Malochite spoke aloud.

“Get in here, you idiot!” Tensombrek’s hissing snarl snapped in reply.

Charin stifled a sigh and walked in after Malochite. It took a moment for him to get around his companion to actually get a view of the room. Then he froze.

The mass of light was still there, churning in mid-air. It was so bright to look at yet somehow the room still seemed so dim. The light was hard to look away from but something was present that made it unnervingly easy. In the pale white light his master’s face was stark, but more so was the contrast of his eyes. Dark pits of eyes that the light seemed incapable of touching. There wasn’t even a glint, a glare, or any kind of reflection of the bright mass in the windows to oblivion. It made his spine shiver.

“I want you to go in there,” Tensombrek said flatly. “And I want you to find out everything you can about it. I want to know what things are beyond this light and I want to be able to deal with them if necessary.”

Charin felt his eyes widen and quickly cut off the makings of a smile. No, keep a stone-face, don’t show any reaction whatsoever, just obey and go with it.

“It is of interest to you, my master?” Malochite asked with a respectful bow of his head.

“If it’s not mine then I have interest. That’s all either of you need to know.” Tensombrek walked around the light, stopping in front of them. “Take teams if you will, or go alone, I don’t care. Just bring me back solid information.”

“Er- Boss?” Charin spoke up hesitantly. “How do we get back? I mean you took me back the first time and I’m not even sure how you did it.”

Their master gave an irritated click of his tongue, one of his feathery tendrils slipping in front of him. He casually plucked two black feathers from them and held them out to his subordinates.

“Keep these on you. If you want to return you need only place it over your eyes.”

Warily Charin took the feather, examining it. He had been struck and seized by these feathers before, usually they were rough and sharp. Detached from their source though, they were smooth and almost soft, it was strange. Briefly he was reminded of how fuzzy the cal was, which lead him to think about Rachel, which- no, focus on what was going on.

“I want you to record any information you can.” Tensombrek stated curtly, his arms held behind his back. “Bring me samples if you wish, so long as you secure them. I want to know what exactly I’m dealing with. I don’t care if you go alone or take a team. Just see to it this is done.”

“If that is what you wish, Master.” Malochite bowed his head.

“Y- yeah, of course, Boss.” Charin nodded, slipping the feather into his pocket. “Whatever you say.”

Perhaps he should have questioned what his master wanted this info for, but he honestly couldn’t think of a reason why someone wouldn’t. He was too excited. Not only could he go back but he had free reign to do so! This feather would let him pop back whenever he wanted, the reality of the issues he would have had to face doing this on his own were gone. What more could he want? How lucky could he possibly get?

Of course, this was before he learned that if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was.