Sanu Nepe’s Journal

  I met up with that spirit a few days after the sacrifice I performed. I will admit that I didn’t quite expect the town's festivities to last for so long, it seemed to me like they brought them out of nowhere of substance. But soon enough life went back to the mind-numbing, coarse, and horrible state they had been in. I wandered for my part. I left my miserable home proudly heading for the woods, I had no need to bring my Acolytes with me this day. I wished to meet with that being without Relinos silvered tongue interrupting. Of course, as was proper, I prepared a meager offering for that inglorious spirit before attempting to meet it.

  As was to be expected, no such goods existed in our miserable household. I remember that, rather opportunely, I was approached by a wandering vendor. He said to me in a cutting sort of manner, “Why, my good sir, it is good to see you! No more lazing about eh, walking is good for the spirit!” I nodded along and said to him between gritted teeth, “Yes, I agree with you. Now, I see you’ve got some game with you.” He looked at the still living small animals on a cage mounted in his back, scaly critters with horns coming out of their heads, and said to me, “Ah, they are no wild game. I had this lineage even from before I was exiled! They’re good, I assure you.” Upon seeing my gaze he simply said, “Qejonu. You know how it is. Better here than crucified, innit!” He muttered something to himself, it appeared a curse to the aforementioned deity, but I heard little more.

  I nodded along with him, “I suppose. How much for one of those creatures, eh?” He smiled joyfully at me and said to me, “Oh, not much, I dare say six cigars.” I looked at the creatures, and with an entirely serious tone said, “I doubt that. I’ll give you two.” He spoke once more in a conniving and accusatory tone, “Now, I understand you’re a miser, but don’t be shy. Creatures like this aren’t gifts from heaven-” I ignored his little game and in a bored manner said to him, “Let's leave it at four. I am not going to entertain these games with a fool. It is not as if the forests are devoid of animals.” He chuckled at that, “Someone slept badly today! Well, I agree to your terms, miserable man!” The monetary exchange was completed. The knife drained the beast of life and blood without much ado, it was poured on the streets dirt road and fell on some weeds. All the markings of barbarians. Soon my impatient being disappeared from the town.

  People once more set to work on the fields, I observed some of them as I calmly walked through the rings of flourishing crops. Corns stalks aimed for the sky alongside vines of beans and a few scattered fruit trees had flourishing vegetation. I shuddered to think of the smell of the leaves as they rotted. A few even flowered at this time of year, really in this land, time was strange. Some plant or another was always flowering or bearing fruit, but that was one of the least troubles I faced here in my abject and absolute misery.

  I climbed through the rocky highlands soon enough, and settled into a relatively quiet stretch of trees. Once I reached the place I got to work starting a burning flame. I had a bit of skill in that due to brutal necessity. The fire soon began to burn as I laid the corpse on the hot stones. The skin was still warm and had been none too hard to remove. I said to the forest, to the towering majestic trees that arched for the sky as the clouds galloped across heaven, “Show yourself. It is time you fulfill your end of the bargain, old spirit.”

  It took some time but the smell of my burning fire eventually attracted piercing eyes, many pairs. Soon, many vanished and only a few were left, staring from the four cardinal directions. By that I knew it wasn’t anyone other than Huse Napasa, “Singled me out didja? Do others view me as your property now?” The lying spirit responded to me, “Of course not, my dear and most valued friend. I would never claim ownership over you. And ah, you forgot the Comal. Again.” It led out disapproving clicks from its beak. It appeared to possess the same bird's body as it had the prior times, a bipedal one even though winged ones flapped above. I shrugged and said to her dismissively, “I forgot. What does it matter? I’ll give you this to eat, that ought to be enough. Damned glutton. No, I think it is time you fulfill the obligations you agreed to.”

  It snorted and said to me sarcastically, “It won’t be of any use to you, but sure! I’ll show it to you. I will say, you took long enough to come and claim it. I almost thought you’d forgotten.” I threw pieces of the creature's flesh and said to it feigning a serious tone, “There was quite the ruckus. Don’t act ignorant, I know full well they chased you down. I couldn’t forget, not with how much they talked about it. ” It responded to me cheerfully, “With little success! They only found me because I showed myself to them.” I threw more flesh at it and sighed before saying to it with sternness, “I am sure.” We remained in silence for some time. I was curious to see the spirits' reactions and so said to it, curiously, “They all laughed at you, you know. All mocked you at least.” The muscles of the beast it possessed went rigid even as it remained peacefully quiet, “You know,” I arrogantly said to it, “of all the propositions you gave to them. A pity, isn’t it?“

  “Enough,” It proclaimed with proud rage that almost made me believe the noble claims it made when we first met, “I already know everything those moronic people say.” I asked it, truly only for confirmation, “Oh, do you? You’ve eyes everywhere in the town.” It nodded at me, only pride glimmering. Soon it opened its beak in a mockery of a smile as it stood up, and mockingly proclaimed, “Follow me, it is time you prove the determination and talent you claim to have!” I ignored my emotions and followed the beast as it laid out a path for us. There was nothing to clearly mark it, but my mind was clear and agile. That is why I remembered every twist and turn so that I may come here once more without help. So sublime is my mind.

  “Here it is,” the spirit said once we reached an utterly inconspicuous stretch of land, “Here is the piece of the dead god.” To the eye, it looked as though nothing was strange or special about the territory. The trees grew peacefully as small plants struggled in the underbrush. The galloping winds toyed playfully with the branches as they’d always done. I knelt down to the floor and brought my head and mouth into contact with the earth. My tongue tasted the underbrush, and from there I managed to connect with the network of divine tendrils, that glorious mycelium that danced out it. I spent some time doing that and soon stood up. “It seems you aren’t lying, spirit.”

  It didn’t respond to my remark and instead commented after a giggle, “It looks strange, seeing a human do that. You necromancers are a weird bunch, I’ve only seen a few dozen witches do what you just did.” I scowled at that, “That is because these people are ignorant. That is all. All civilized groups have castes of people who do this.” It didn’t appear faced either way by my words, although it did open its beak in a mockery of a laugh to say, “As you say. What now?” I looked down at the ground, “What haven’t I got to do? Gods aren’t created easily. That I promise you.”

  …

  The spirit left after a while, it wasn’t much interested in seeing my rambled writings and speeches. I managed to begin on a basic framework in that brutish and physical manner, upon which I ought to build the rest. It was essentially teaching the fungal mass a language, something I ought to work on later. Then I’d be able to do this verbally, limiting my licking of the ground as a means used to check my work.

  …

  I returned to my own dwelling place in high and joyful spirits. I felt the same as when I had first spoken with the spirit. So far away did that seem now. Glorious life! Relino and Pipo were there when I entered our dwelling place. There was a small fire they’d built up as the sun began to remove its sublime rays from the face of this earth. They both stood up to greet me and bowed as was proper. I smiled smugly upon seeing that, I suppose my acolytes hadn’t entirely forgotten their places.

  Relino made a move to speak but with a single finger I denied his request and procured quiet silence. Beautiful and intangible things! In that I began, “No questions from you two. But oh! What a most glorious day! Guess, simply guess, what have I achieved on this beautiful and bright day?” Relino guessed correctly before letting his brother speak, “Procured a shred of Qejonus' corpse from that spirit?” Pipo repeated those words like the blind parrot he was.

  I scowled at the fact that I wouldn’t be able to continue holding on to these glorious thoughts for much longer. In something between a jest and genuine rage I questioned them, “Oh, now, how did you two guess correctly, eh? Something you want to tell me?” Pipo answered in the stead of his brother and apologized, “Pardon us. We simply assumed it was so with how focused we’ve been on that goal. We didn’t mean to upset you.”

  I soon swallowed up my rage. It was always so fierce, so cutting, and so unexpected. Perhaps one day I’d finally tame it. For now, I managed to push it to the side, “Well, you two are correct. Our project will begin soon enough. It’s been a while since we last did one.” I stopped in quiet contemplation for a moment. What a joke for a necromancer, what a waste of my talent, I had spent years, well over a thousand full days, without bringing a single being into existence. Pipo pulled me out of these thoughts with his jesting remark, “Who could ever forget that?” Relino agreed with him and simply said, “May the shades of our ancestors favor us this time.”

  I nodded and said to them commandingly, “You ought not forget that above all things you two are to help me with the hallowed art. This unfortunate situation we find ourselves in will not change that at all.” Both of them nodded. “And so,” I continued, “You two ought to help me fix some minor errors in the running and functioning of the creature.” Both of them nodded once more. If there was frustration within them, I didn’t see any bubbling on the surface. Not even Pipo, who was usually so easy to read. Pipo asked briskly and without much emotion, “When?”

  I looked at him with a fierce gaze as if prompting him to continue. He caught on and said to me, “Father, forgive us, we simply wish to know how to plan this alongside our current duties as farmhands.” Relino, that silver-tongued fool added to that, “But of course, our duties to you go first.” I gave it some thought, brief but agile as my thought always is, “The sun has never been a good judge for sleep. Humanity is meant to rise beyond the movements he makes across the sky. You'll spend all but a few hours after your jobs on it; is it not as if that duty needs light. Understood?” Neither of them argued against me, but I received no answer from them. Pipos expression wasn’t of anger, but it was of similarly unpalatable dread. I once more said, “I believe I asked; understood?” Both of them quickly responded to me in those words, eager to please me.

  The meal, as usual, was a miserable affair. I consumed it with haste, devouring it with the ever-patient help of a wooden spoon. I swallowed the amaranth, the tortillas, and everything else that was there. It was coarse, it was miserable, it was repetitive. It only helped embolden me for the final moment when I would ascend. Back when we starved like animals after leaving the wretched city I’d not been able to realize my fall, but my mind had wallowed in its sublime thoughts long enough. My dream was born and fixed, to become ruler and eventually god to these miserable people and many others. Achieving immortality without anyone else's help. “Let us go,” I said, “We start today.” Neither of them dared to argue otherwise.

  …

  It was a good enough working session, I suppose. It is growing hard to keep my patience in check, truly, when victory seems a real, solid thing in front of me now. The two of them seem surprisingly adept at still manipulating the mycelium itself, even without any other interfaces. The two were chosen from the best the gods judged, I suppose, the best available for the art and from good lineagues. I had forgotten that in their time of inaction. Our time of inaction. We stopped after a few hours. The three of us do need some sleep after all, we aren’t deathless gods. I felt at the same time worsened and better as I laid down on the coarse floor. How strange and fickle of a thing life is.

  …

  The days blurred together after that, if I am being honest with myself. I finally had something to occupy myself with a true project to devote my life and time into, just as I had been trained and taught to do when I was younger. I finally managed to get a working language working, a crude one, but a language nonetheless. That brought me much pleasure.

  I smiled and commented to Relino one night, “This god's corpse is more well-suited to this than I thought. I didn’t think the gods of this land were quite so good for this.” Relino saw my pleasant demeanor and thought it fit if he spoke his thoughts, “Well, it is not as though we tried it out multiple different times.” I looked up into the starry heavens, beautiful, only slightly obscured by the rain-bearing clouds. An astounding sight.

  “I suppose you’re right. Wretched city.” I smiled widely at both of them and said to them both, “Ah! But there is no need to worry about such things any more. Yes, I’ve got everything planned, through and through. This misery will end soon.” Pipo and Relino didn’t appear to be the utmost enthusiastic about this, but that was fine. Yes, it was fine, so long as they continued working. In the end, what else mattered? How else would the value of a person be measured?

  ….

  The miserable people were deeply shaken by the presence of that spirit, Huse Napasa. It was rather curious, it had only done a single truly damaging thing and nobody could help but think of it. To present evidence to this; those sermons of theirs. They grow more frequent, more numerous and more agitated. They call them councils but truly few conversations occur there. And when they do, they are anything but civil. I suppose it is good the barbarians have a manner of civilized organization; they ought to respond to threats in some way.

  Still, as I was once more shaken awake by my acolytes after a night of work such thoughts were hard to entertain. “By the shades of our ancestors,” I muttered, “ why must these accursed people gather at hours so early?” Pipo sympathetically said to me, “I agree with you father; but it is the way of the land. We ought to do what is asked of us.” I muttered a quote, half-remembered, from an old text, “Where you go, do as they do.” PIpo didn’t quite hear my quiet mutter and asked me, “Pardon?” I scowled at the young man and said, “Help me up will you?” He helped me up and I asked, “Is breakfast ready? If I am one thing right now, it is starving.”

  Relino was the one to answer such a question, “Of course father, I hope you don’t hate it too much.” I tried to walk over to it but once I sat down I forgot to grab a spoon and I simply stared at the broth for some time. I struggled to shake the thing I knew I had to do with it from my mind. “Father?” Pipo and Relino asked with genuine worry, “Are you alright?” I scowled at the both of them as they handed me a spoon, “Of course I am!” The food was miserable, I can't count myself surprised on that front, even if worry seeped through the others.

  My mind was rather addled, perhaps I had spent too much time on the project. I was worried though, other older people labored for countless hours back in my homeland. They were much older than me, and human in nature rather than divine. Regardless I ignored those worries, pushing them down as I did most things within my wretched life. I stood up, Pipo and Relino joining me once I finished the palatable if crude meal.

  “Come, you were the ones arrogantly lecturing your betters. We ought to go to the place where they host those sermons of theirs.” Both of them simply responded, “Of course, of course.” It was a quiet enough journey, not a very distant one. Sugihu and Qisigu had declared this day of rather hefty importance due to some relatively unimportant religious event in the distant past. Something about a key battle with the Ojotillas in ancient times, when that order was still new. Many were gathered within the little town's square. People shuffled nervously around the square, a woman came up to talk to me. I recalled her in a blurry sort of way, like a shadow through fog. I think she’s a neighbor, but I rarely talk to her.

  “Most dreadful times we’re living it, innit?” I looked at her without much desire to talk but in order to preserve cordiality said to her, “I suppose so. The demons are very active lately, that much I hear.” She nodded, eyes darting all around, “Yes! Oh, my mother isn’t speaking about anything else. Every night, every wretched night that demon whispers in her ears. She can’t even move to see her form!” Pipo rudely commented his own opinions, that arrogant young man, “At the very least, the crops are still growing. It doesn’t seem to want to kill us.” Upon seeing her face he sheepishly added, “At least not a large amount of us. It could do so easily.”

  She pursed her lips and asked with naught other than the deepest fear, “Oh, is it truly so mighty?” I said to the woman in a nonchalant manner, “I can’t be sure, but I’ve seen what these old creatures can do. Their ranges aren’t large, but it seems this demon has weaved itself around this whole town.” She blinked and asked, perhaps to distract herself, “Where do you come from?” I answered her with rapid haste but in an entirely calm and uncaring manner, “Oh, from northern lands. Beyond Qiniserugelu,” I made a dismissive hand gesture, “You ought not have heard of our settlement.” I weaved the lie. That ship originally left us far north of here, but we’d moved away from it down to the more southern lands. Morbidly she kept questioning me, “What happened there, if you don’t ask me?”

  I’d done my best to expunge such times from my mind, but I might as well answer. By now I’d realized they’d remain with me forever, so I might as well treat them casually, “The demons quarreled for some petty reason.Oh, the children there were starved down to the bone. Living skeletons, that’s what they seemed like! Not that the adults were any better” I asked Pipo, genuinely this time, “Why were they all so lacking in clot again. I’ve done my best to forget those times.” No greater humiliation existed for me than wandering just like those fools. The fact that it made this miserable existence of mine seem like a life worthy of kings and gods was nothing short of terrifying. He simply responded, “The locusts-they’d eaten everything. The straw on the roofs, the clothes. Weevils had eaten all the grain.” Relino was the one to comment this time, “The weevils didn’t taste too bad. When they were worms that is. Helped us get by.” I nodded as I scratched myself to get some muck in between my skin, “Most dreadful, most dreadful. Most left for other places, as we did, or died. Oh, at least we realized what was happening. It isn't as though corn can sprout legs when it doesn’t like a place!”

  The woman appeared somewhat unnerved by this information, fiddling with her own hair, “This other man I asked said a similar thing. You opened up much quicker than he did.” I shrugged, “I see no point in hiding it. The man that walked through those lands might as well have been a different one; I choose to separate myself from that one.” Truly, I am surprised my frame remained human after all that. Thank the shades of the ancestors for my brilliant plot to sacrifice some barbarians to their heathenous deities, otherwise we’d all have surely perished. To let my brilliant mind go to waste is unthinkable in the extreme.

  The woman nodded as though she understood, and with a tired and fearful voice asked, 'Do you-Do you think perhaps it may happen to us?‘ I was not capable of answering her question as resounding musical instruments came from within the church as a small but highly organized group of people, picked from the top of the strange and unfamiliar caste system these people had, marched. The music was loud and brutish as always and it seemed to me as though it was attempting to wrestle control of the people minds with naught other than beastly strength

  Sugihu, Qisigu, and Juja all came above the platform. The first one to speak was Sugihu, “My good friends, let us offer a chant of thanks to the good lord before we begin this council!” It was a song like the earlier ones, horrible and brutish. Nevertheless, being in such an event brought me back when I was but an acolyte myself and had one I called father. Much lesser was he than me, even in those days, those glorious days where I shined like a vibrant star.

  They finished soon enough, and Sugihu said to them all pleasantly, “Now! Everyone comes with their questions or concerns. Proclaim them for all to hear! This is a council after all, and harvest season is upon us!” There were great murmurs within the crowd as none seemed quite sure of who was to speak.

  One old woman was the first to speak, “Oh, glorious young man! Please, we’re frightened! That dreadful demon; it is everywhere.” The old woman said no more. While brief the words were entirely charged with intensely powerful emotion, the kind that tears its way into the unrpearedes hearts without difficulty. More words soon came from this, varied and many. The deluge gates had been opened.

  “Our children will be reduced to bone!”, somebody shouted, a nameless voice, to which another responded, “No you fool; that beast learned her lesson. The gluton won’t even give bones for funerals!” More voices chattered, “Oh, I heard that the dread idol Nolina said she’ll put all the demons in their ancestral thrones.” Another voice resounded, that of a grieving grandfather, filled with emotion, “My daughter found her child dead in a crib! Choked on a toy! Do you propose to be an accident? It will pick us all off, the very young and old!” A voice responded, “Oh, what can we do? Charge into the depths of the forest to fight the demon? Again? ” Another person, this time a relatively young woman let fly winged words, “My beautiful daughters skin was covered in blisters and pus! Babes die all the time, but she was seven, she ought to have lived! That demon, I tell you, is everywhere. Who here has had it whisper to them in some critters form? Who hasn’t had it steal objects of value? I say we rise up!” Multiple hands responded from within the crowd. I doubted the demon was responsible for the baby's death, but the second one was in line with what a spirit can do.

  Another man from within the crowd, the one who had sold me the beasts some few weeks ago said with utmost emotion, “You inane fools! Are you all insane? You underestimate the demons profusely; there is a reason the heathens worship them!” His voice eventually managed to overpower the others as he continued, “Oh, they are cowards and they know that. They never fight fair. It’s not just the big ones like dread Qejonu, endless dishonor be upon him! As I led my family into this little settlement I came across horrible, miserable people! Buildings destroyed by locusts and termites! Fields decimated by blight! What ought we do, eh? I say we run when it strikes! Then it won’t have anyone to play with, then we’ll be able to live!” A man from within the crowd responded to him, “Miserable coward! You’re but a foreigner; you think you got the right to order us around? We drove her out once; we’ll drive her out again! Did the lord not call for servitude.” That man responded to the other as they got closer and arched ready for combat, “The good Lord needs the service of both the living and the dead. These demons aren’t all-powerful! Use your wits-that’s what separates us from beasts! Run, run, I say!”

  Sugihu and Juja desperately attempted to calm the commotion. It was an absolute failure, their voices were like mere wind crashing against the walls of a great and proper castle of wood or stone. They even blew the horn that had calmed the people so many times before, but while some went quiet it only emboldened the previous conversations of some. The three whispered some things to each other which no one could hear. The people down below had begun to fight one another with fists and arched rocks, so I moved back. I had no desire to get involved in such brutish combat. I debated simply leaving the place entirely but some morbid curiosity got the better of me.

  It appeared that the two then attempted to restrain Qisigu, a wretched and horrible man, but utterly failed at that as well. He took with him a great staff and went down from the wooden platform where some people engaged in fights. He struck multiple people in the back and legs with the terrible club, groans of pain resounding. All moved back and silence was finally achieved. It is then that he said, “Inane fools! You argue and yell at one another like a headless chicken! Are you beasts, or are you civilized men.” Few dared to answer such a terrible question. The vendor eventually spoke up, “Is it civilized to try and face what can never be faced? Is it uncivilized to try and make fools come to reason? The demon has learned its lesson long ago; it will not hesitate to destroy us all through plague and famine!”

  Qisigu responded to the man, the staff in his hands a silent threat to all who might dare interrupt their conversation. He nodded and pleasantly said, “And you propose that you can avoid the will of the Lord? If he desires that we die; then we do. We are not beasts to be given free reign; to us he has greater, better purposes.” Hoots emanate from the crowd, nervously at first, but with more strength after some time. The man clenched his teeth and said, “I’ve nothing to say to that, inane fool! But I won’t be staying here if that demon decides to utilize its abilities in the proper and devastating manner instead of fooling around!” He made some mutterings about their blindness and walked away towards the back of the crowd alongside a few who sympathized with him. Yet the fear kept clenching the head of every man and woman present.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  All in all the atmosphere around the entire area was one which no longer had searing rage in the foreground; but it was by no means a peaceful one. It brought back distant memories of arching pillars of wood, of crowds of people, of the high and beautiful mountains looking over us all like benevolent parents. Far more uniform and icy than these endless hills. Was it truly only ten years since that era? It felt like a lifetime had come and gone.

  Regardless, it was hard to believe that only a few moments before the men had been battling on another like beasts. Sugihu nervously said to them all, “Well-my good friends! Let us revise some of the notes of the grand saint, eh? Put this all behind us.” And so it was done. Yet everyone seemed distracted, even more than these brutes usually were, like scattered fish hopping over a river. It felt equal parts fast and slow. I barely noticed what it was about; nothing other than the very vaguest pieces of information.

  As we felt I made a winged joke to Pipo and Relino, “What a most funny meeting! So much action; more in a few moments than people usually have in months!” They laughed, in the cut and rough sort of way they usually faked. Very rarely did genuine laughter leave their mouth.

  …

  “What’s your plan?” Such words were what I asked that wretched spirit Huse Napasa, the next time I saw it, “You are not a genius; but you are not so foolish as to think this people will eagerly bow before you.” It opened its beak in the mockery of a laugh, “Why, my friend! I don’t get your question.” I clenched my teeth in rage, “You delight in infuriating me, do you?” No words left it but the open beak was enough to make my decision.

  “Look,” I frankly said to her, “Goddess, demon, spirit, whatever anyone thinks of you. I simply wish to know; I don’t want to stick around once you unleash plague and death upon this village.” She let out a mocking laugh, her other bodies joining her in the afternoon shade of the trees, “I am afraid you fail to understand. These are my people, and I still care for them. I would never do such a thing.”

  I clenched my teeth once more, “You expect that I believe that? You were only too happy to tear apart the frame of one of their children. You abhor their religion; and I assume their leaders after the recent incident” She spoke brutishly, with anger lacing her tone, “I am afraid you are the one who doesn’t understand, heathen.” It calmed itself quickly enough, “What I meant to say; I don’t care what your homelands deities do. But in the land where the Ojotilla reign supreme, there is no greater act of love than sacrifice. Willing or not. And what sacrifice is greater than that of a life? As for their leaders and religion; I think I’ve come up with a way to destroy them both.”

  I was entirely uninterested in that, “These people clearly don’t care about that. Clearly they don't think so. You’ve been getting around. You oughta know how much they abhor you. But truly! You’re on a great path to destroy their religion!” She didn’t allow any emotion to grace her being, instead continuing, “They’d abhor you too, if they knew.” Cold fear draped itself over me and squirmed horrible in my back, but it wriggled away as soon as it had come. I let out a booming laugh and said, “You think they’ll believe you? I’ve heard from others what you whisper to them as they sleep. No one will believe anything you say.” I obtained a small victory there, the bird once more lost composure for a singular moment.

  It opened its gaping maw once more and resounding laughter left it, “But is this whole conversation not engaged with hypotheticals.” I clenched my teeth once more, “Would you perish if you gave a clear answer, eh?” It spoke in a clear and vibrant tone, “Friend. I think you ought to, ah, do as others do. Like you muttered just this morning! Be good as other clergymen are, not to any except your deity; know my plans will benefit all.” I grew cold at that. I’d always considered the possibility that it listened to my conversations; but there simply was something else when it simply gloated and proudly rubbed its power in my face. “I’ve no plan to kill a lot of them, these fools ought to realize that one day.” I frowned yet it continued the conversation unimpeded, “It will take time, but I know I’ll succeed. All thanks to your brilliant plot!”

  My eyes narrowed at that, “Did you not hate it? Call it meaningless.” It bowed before me, “It took time, but I see I was foolish now. In time; your plan's greatness will be shown to all. Things even you didn’t realize made it glorious.” A dozen gaping maws opened in unison from the flying birds of the trees, “Ah, but friend. If there is one thing the both of us have, it is time.” It didn’t stay much longer after that, and I felt no desire to call it. It unnerved me more than it ought to.

  …

  Excerpt of the Chronicles of Kujuamancali, gathered from Juja, Qisigu, and Sugihu. Composed by the rest of the grand apostles.

  “What ought we do,” Juja glumly said as they ate dinner together, the three of them alone, “How are we to handle this mess.” Sugihu eagerly said to them all, “Everything is not so far lost! Did we not call the crowd?” Juja glumly ate his bread, “And what of it? Placing sod where brick should go. They are scared,” he laughed once more, “And you know what? So am I.”

  Qisigu spoke before Sugihu could say anything, “I agree with my brother, at least in a way. This is something to be afraid of.” Sugihu said to him, “Not you with these useless thoughts as well! What use will it be if all we do is lounge around and neglect our duties?” He narrowed his eyes on his cousin and said, “When did I say we ought to do such a thing?” Sugiu opened his mouth so as to speak but couldn’t muster anything worthwhile to say and simply muttered, “I apologize.”

  Qisigu ignored him and instead said, “This demon is dangerous; we know that much. There is no fear that ought to be found in death, if the lord desires it so, even if we can’t help it. But I’m not certain this creature wants to eliminate this quaint town.” Juja was the one who seemed defensive this time, “And from whence do you reason all this? Do you take that demon's words as law! It is foolish, it tells you nothing but lies. Sugihu looked at the walls, at the trees searching for the starry heavens beyond the windows, at the dog and goblin sleeping peacefully, and said, “If you are listening, empty idol, know that to be true.” Both Qisigu and Juja muttered, “Of course it is listening.”

  Coming back to the prior subject Qisigu indeed nodded with him and continued with his talk, “I entirely agree with you. But its actions lend some credence to what it spoke, in some kind of manner. It said to me it wished to rule over us as a goddess-some moronic claim extended over us due to some old demon.” Sugihu grimmly chuckled at that, “As if we would care about that.” He nodded and continued between bites, “It said to me that it wished to break our spirit. That feeble creature claims to know all about people. Hmph. As if we will ever submit.” That brought some chuckles to him.

  It took him a while to notice he was the only one laughing within the room. Juja and Relino appeared none to entertained by this. Juja judgmentally asked, “And can we say it truly failed?” This enraged Qisigu, “Did you see one person there who wished to worship and honor that thing? Name one, and I’ll agree with it.” Once he received silence he said to them, “Such is what I thought. In some way or another; our will survives.”

  Qisigu wished to lighten the mood after those grim conversations and asked the two of them, “You two still have living children. How are they?” Sugihu was the first to speak. The composed man shrugged and said, “They’re healthy, that’s all I can ask for. They understand nothing of this, they are all still young. Not even old enough to help in the harvest.” Juja was the one to continue, “I can’t face him well. My wife has been pestering me about this, and for good reason. Sometimes I feel as though in a matrimony the Qese Rilu divide good sense very unequally.”

  He sighed at that.

  “He behaved more bravely than me that morning. How am I to deal with that? My pride is shattered beyond belief.” Both of them had come to realize Juja was too far dug into that hole of his, and so all Qisigu said was, “It’ll pass. You’re not remembering well; you’ve fallen before. You always get up.” That didn’t seem to bring him much relief, but he thanked his younger brother either way. The three of them parted ways without great ceremony, Sugihu simply saying, “I think we ought to leave. It is getting late,” as Juja added, “See you soon.” Thus leaving Qisigu alone once more.

  Alone to stare at the rising face of the blessed father and the jagged trees that were the bridge between the world of the dead and the living. At the mere sapling whose roots coiled around his son's bones. On nights like that; he felt like crying. But even then he knew that he wasn’t alone. He was a shepherd of the people; it wouldn’t be befitting if such was the example he gave.

  And to Huse Napasa he would never submit.

  …

  Sanu Nepes Journal

  The labor continued, hard yet rewarding. Harvest season made the two of them sluggish as they worked on our own, more important, more personal project. But they still succeeded. And so, what did it matter? An old teacher of mine always said to whimpering students, useless dogs, that the time they spent on anything didn’t matter. What did it matter if they spent a twentieth of a day working on an essay if all they mustered was a single paragraph? We were making good progress, with them I could focus on what was befitting of my station.

  Finally, I felt like a proper master of life and death.

  …

  Today was a rather significant day, it’s given me the idea to keep that man, Juja, as a puppet. These people ought to care about their excuse of a noble dynasty, and out of the three he seems the most easily swayable. But I digress; perhaps I am being hasty. I ought to analyze this later on with a clear head as a proper human does.

  I went out to meet acolytes during the harvest season. It was hard labor; that time. I didn’t participate of course; my mind was suited for more worthwhile endeavors. But someone needed to labor; without it food wouldn’t be procured. Better them with their young and agile bodies than my aged frame. Better their brutish minds than my brilliance be wasted.

  I felt in a good mood that day, for I had made great progress in my project. It was hard to believe, how long before? A month or two perhaps, I had been but a miserable wretch with my goals seeming naught but dreams. “Pipo! Relino! It is good to see you. Progress much in this?” They labored in the field alongside countless humans between the ripened stalks of corn and the twined beans. Mules and goblins helped in their own way, at the command of mighty humankind.

  Pipo and Relino appeared to judge my cheerful tone properly. Pipo began, uncharacteristically, with flowing words, “Well, we’re progressing slowly. It’s hard work, but good work.” Relino complained, “Awful lot of bugs. But they don’t seem to be wielded as weapons of that demon.” I chuckled at that, “I suppose that’s true.” I wasn’t sure if that beast was listening, but I couldn’t resist, “Why, it appears that the demon's threat was all empty wind. The puppy of a dog or goblin would’ve been more dangerous. At least their teeth are sharp!”

  A sudden voice responded to my question under the light of the slowly setting sun, “Ah, sir. I’m in no place to speak against you, but I ought to beg you to give that demon more reverence.” I looked at Qasipeqi with a harsh glare, a stubborn young man. He appeared to notice it and continued, “I simply mean, sir, that I don’t think it's doing all this for nothing. It ought to have a plan. My father is awfully worried about it.” I calmed myself quickly, my mood was cheerful after all. “I entertain the possibility your father isn’t an absolute fool,” he frowned but refrained from saying anything and so I continued, “But just what? I don’t see any plans with a chance of coming to fruition Do you?.”

  An uncomfortable silence hung over us for a little moment after that, nobody willing to talk. I didn’t like it and so looked at the young man before saying in a curious tone, “Young man, you are of rather noble lineage.” Of course, only compared to the rest of these miserable people. A king of rats was still a rat after all. “Why are you working in the fields? Surely they aren’t lacking in people; this little town, or village or whatnot, is packed with hundreds.” He took some time to digest my words. The words had left me in a questioning tone, genuine just as my thoughts were. No mockery at the moment.

  They had begun to store their equipment, it ought not to rust and wear, and a goblin followed behind us four. “Well, sir, there’s really more than one answer to that.” He scratched his neck as we walked. “Damn mosquitoes,” he said halfway joking, “ To begin, for my part I’ve always rather liked such manual labors-” I interrupted him, nothing but abject curiosity in my tone as we grew closer to the scattered homes and fences that formed the town, “What is there to enjoy in it? The feeling of exhaustion and pain, the cuts of the savage plants.” Those words brought upon me unpleasant memories. Perhaps I will admit to myself that some haughtiness and disgust did overtake me. I knew for a fact the nobility only a few dozen kilometers away was entirely different, the Mexihuacan ones. How strange!

  I interrupted him but he only chuckled, “I don’t suppose you understand. I just find it so.” He kept talking, pleasantly enough, “Regardless, my father did the same work as me. Less willingly too. He said it helps build a good worth ethic, build good character.” Yet another voice repentinely entered the conversation, “That it does, that it does.” The man, by his appearance Juja laughed and morbidly said, “Why, if this is my character after all that, what might it have been without it!” His son appeared troubled at such words, but didn’t say anything to the man. I suppose he knew better than to be so arrogant as to contradict his father. If only my own sons were so loyal.

  He patted the goblins' wrinkled head before it continued on its way to his household, “Ah, nice critter. I remember when it was but a babe, but a puppy. Those beings kind of grow up fast, don't they?” I didn’t interact much with many goblins prior to my exile but from all I'd seen it appeared they didn’t grow up any faster or slower than the mighty guard orks from back home. “Indeed,” I nodded pleasantly, “One moment they’re no bigger than cats, and the next they’re fully grown.”

  The man chuckled at that. He asked Relino with words that flew in a way that mixed the serious and the joking, “Well, tell me young man, has my son been doing a good job in the fields?” Pipo was the one he questioned, and he quickly responded, “Very good, sir, very good.” Relino commented, “I corroborate.” He chuckled at that, “I’m glad to hear that, Pipo, Relino, indeed. Very glad.” He turned at me in a sudden way,”Well, haven’t seen you around my good man. Forgive me, but what was your name?”

  With my senses I was incapable of telling if it was a joke or otherwise, “I suppose I am none too often seen. It is not as if laboring over publicly in the fields is law, is it? I always go to the councils.” He responded in a curious sort of manner, intrigued more than anything else, “I suppose it isn’t. We haven’t got too many firm laws since my uncle's death at any rate.” He shook his head, “This demon is roaming freely, but at least he of the ten thousand crosses is dead. Mixed blessings eh? I wonder what Culiqaque’s grand plan is.” I nodded and pleasantly asked, “Say, what do you know about the relationship between Qejonu and that wretched Huse Napasa.” I continued, perhaps briskly, “I don’t mean to suggest anything, but you are a shepherd of the people, as the people of his land say, you ought to know more about it than I, eh?”

  He said to the young men with us, “Go away for a little while; I’ll go on a walk with-” He stopped for a moment, ”I don’t believe you ever told me your name?” I responded to him, “Sanu Nepe.” He tried out the name and pronounced it in a horrible manner, more messed up than a brain when it faced the axe, “Sanu Nepe. Yes, I’ll go walk with him. I don’t think you’ll be interested in it, young men that you are.” Neither of them argued against us, sending their farewells and leaving us alone.

  We walked by the streets, now darkening in the moon's light. Juja was the one to begin the talk, “The streets are the same as when I was a child, though some buildings haven’t withstood mighty time.” He chuckled, “What a most funny ocean that is.” Upon seeing my rather uninterested face, he sighed and in a similar way said, “I’ll tell you what I know.”

  He pursed his lips and continued as they talked, “Really, this was rather well-known when I was a child, uncle didn’t give too many councils without mentioning it. Used to be common knowledge even to children.” I questioned him, “The crucified priest?” He painfully nodded and said, “That was him. Didn’t submit to that wretched god's soldiers.” I said to him in an attempt to show that I cared, perhaps in the hopes he would reveal more information to me. “They’re all the same, those self-proclaimed gods. This life-it is but a game to them.”

  Vast shreds of my prior experiences with gods flashed through my head. I suppose it couldn’t be helped; few dealt with gods as frequently as I. Not when my job led to the ascension of the dead into such councils. He didn’t offer any response to that but his face was one of utmost sympathy. “At any rate,” he decided to continue uninterrupted, “Our people were once the servants of Gigo Rrere. He made himself king of the Nepeseguri leliso, our tribe, and later archduke of Qiniregulu, once he accepted the empire's claim to the region. Though he later relinquished them both.” The man pursed his lips as we walked, “Far as I know, she was one of his myriad followers. My great-grandfather told me, when I was a little child, she wasn’t too pleased by his death at the hands of his daughter, Nolina. It happened when he was very young, we still belonged to her then.” He shook his head, “Wretched demon. At least now we are free of her hateful bonds; all praise be to the Lord of the Cosmos and the great Saint.”

  I shrugged. The conversation wasn’t world-changing but it did bring to light much valuable information about that spirit. It was strange to think that in a single conversation with this fool, I managed to get more information than with a hundred times I shared words with that entity. We walked in silence for a little while after that, no words but the galloping winds toying with branches and leaves as well as the powerful hoots and cries of cicadas and crickets. Truly, those things seep like water into all places.

  His following words were strained and full of emotion, like something being squeezed with difficulty through a hole, “Tell your sons that I thank them for being my son's friend. It helped him after his cousin's death.” He sighed and let fly some final words, “I worry for my brother.” Those were all the words exchanged between us. I responded to him with a silent nod as we walked back. They were powerful enough to bring relief to his face. Strange creatures humans were; I often wished I could unravel their mind as I did the gods I had in my grasp. I abhorred those deities; but at least I understood what made them tick. What made some unpredictable than others, like living clockwork, a vibrant book with the breath of life. Humans were naught but flesh. They were covered books; endless mystery.

  We overheard some meandering conversations occurring between the three young men. Not a lot of importance did I catch before we arrived. Only shushed piecework. Juja smiled at them and proclaimed, “Son, I believe it is time to part ways. Look at how the holy fathers face shines above.” He nodded and sheepishly answered, “How time passes, eh!” Juja only nodded. Qasipeqi continued, “Just give me a few moments.” Juja nodded in an unspoken and pre-existing understanding.

  He asked Pipo and Relino, “You two look awfully tired! Something terrible interrupting your sleep?” My body grew frozen as our highland lakes in the wintertime. Thankfully, the attention wasn’t placed on me. Relino was the one to answer, “Not as far as i know, but I suppose that wretched demon works in mysterious ways.” The two perfectly understood what the other was talking about, even if it was far removed from the truth. Qasipeqi nodded and said to him, “Well, I wanted to give you this-” he looked into his pocket and gave Relino a crude carving of wood, resembling a button. It was more like a wheel, a miniature work of wood. “-my granduncle carved this. Let’s hope it provides some protection.” Juja nodded and said mournfully, “We can only hope.”

  Relino passed over to Pipo who said, fool that he was, “It’s very beautiful, an old-fashioned chariot wheel?” I suppose he didn’t remember the glorious galleries of our homeland, works so breathtaking it seemed as though they could come to life at any moment. It was crude, that’s all it was. Juja appeared to find the question rather quite funny, and let out pained laughter once he heard it. He shook his head and responded, “No. It’s from one of the times great Culiqaque was broken upon the wheel. Happened multiple times.” Qasipeqi continued for him, voicing his thoughts, “A good lord, ain’t he? He dies and bleeds for us.” Pipo and Relino nodded at that. Simultaneously, Juja muttered some thoughts of his, not exactly a proud proclamation but loud enough all present heard, “Never could remember which time. The great saints' notes don’t clear that up.”

  I said to them boh decisively as I outstretched a firm hand for them to shake, “Well, I hope you two get to rest. Bless you.” All present exchanged farewells. The rest of the day was nowhere near so eventful as that, we ate the cruel gruel and labored before sweet sleep grabbed ahold. That spirit surely looked at us all with its heinous gaze. It truly was beginning to annoy me.

  But soon, soon it would all be better.

  …

  I met with the spirit not a week after that. Although, I suppose it would have been more accurate to say that it met with me. That spirit sure had a powerful willpower, and it was naught but pleased to always initiate conversation. “My, my, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so devoted to something in all the time I’ve known you! All you ever did was laze around and mope. Like a child. ” I responded to it with sarcasm draped all over my words, “And I wasn’t aware you were spying on me before our little stunt. Life sure is full of surprises, eh?”

  It let out vibrant laughs and said to me cheerfully, “I’ve always watched my people. Before and after wretched Sini Naqihu. Although I definitely listen and watch a lot more now than when that wretched and disgusting man still lived.” I clenched my teeth in frustration as I worked. I didn’t want to listen to the spirits meandering conversations; not at this moment at the very least. “But do tell, great spirit,” I questioned it in a somber tone, “What is it you want from me? What is your little plan with us all?”

  It opened its beak in a well-known mockery of a laugh and said to me, “Ah, can a lady not check up on her dear friend?” I offered no response to that, instead choosing to keep proving it. Its frame was that of a pigeon. “Say,” I asked, “You seem fond of such receptacles. Birds of all kinds.” It cheerfully answered,”They’re rather versatile. Help me fulfill much of what I want to do, all while looking great. At any rate, only the Lord of the Flies spawn are more numerous.”

  I clenched my teeth in great rage, “Only in this barbarically warm land. I’ll let you know my homeland didn’t have any of those pests. Yes, it was in all ways better. Would’ve gotten proper respect there.” It laughed at me and with an open beak let fly, “But we’re not in your homeland, are we?” It shook its head, “No, what are you now but a measly beggar. If you weren’t, why would you call upon me.” It appeared to keep musing to itself, “My friend, you and I are kindred spirits. I truly do pity you, both of us have fallen from grace.” I decided it was once more time to prove once more, deeper and in a more cutting manner.

  I asked it bluntly this time, as I had a little while prior, “I repeat, what is your plan and what do you want from me?” It responded quickly and with great joy, “I do not wish to take more from you, your little toy god will be more than enough.” It seemed to me its open beak widened in an imperceptible manner, subtle yet enough to put me on edge. “Oh yes, I take back everything I said, great man. My prior words were in no way jest.” It visibly bowed before me, arching its head close to the ground, “You will succeed. I underestimated you and your acolytes skill.” It tilted its head cheerfully, “Yes, all will go back to the way it was.” It noticed my confusion, cursed by my wretched lack of ability when it comes to manipulating my own emotions, and appeared to delight in it as a man did in a luxurious meal.

  But I’ve dealt with countless spirits in casual conversation and in courts of religious law. I’d always known it had been an unpredictable entity likely to utilize me for its own benefit. It already tried, and despite my success failed. But it didn’t appear to want to give up. I could play this game just as well as it. Even if the road to achieving its goal was blurry, everything else was clear.

  I asked it without much care, perhaps unwisely, “Ah, there you go. And exactly what will I lose once such a goal is achieved.” It appeared to chuckle, and with sincerity so great that it appeared false, it also spoke, “I do not wish to interfere in your plans, we can rule together. I’ve proof; I will help ever more. This is too glorious of an opportunity to remain idle.” I attempted to capture a spirit of arrogance and strength within my frame, to remain unmoved and silent by its words. Yet the spirit made no move of anger due to my inaction. It only sang. Soon more birds came close, dangling all sorts of objects of wealth. It saw my face and let fly another winged laugh. “Your head begins to turn, eh? I’m not some wyvern, I understand the value of the items I steal. It brings misery to them, and it can bring victory to you. ”

  I needed to calm myself but I soon responded to it, having soothed my emotions, “I am still doubtful. How will this achieve your goal of obtaining worship. Such a drastic change is strange for a spirit.” It said to me, whispering in my ears, “ Seems you’ll have to reconsider. I know you pride yourself on your knowledge. But these are my people; I know every vein, every ounce of flesh on them. You will win their hearts and minds, I was a fool to think otherwise. I will crawl in once that is done. I trust you won't forget this.” It came close to me, to the point it laid on my arm with its talons. Upon closer inspection the bird was clearly no longer a simple pigeon.

  “Very well,” I spoke with uncouth fear which heightened my thought, “How much treasure is this? What manner of thing am I to use it for. Land, serfs, exorbitant displays? ” It shook its head and said to me simply, “This people won’t take it seriously unless the body it has is that of a human. .” My face contorted and I said to it in a growingly confident tone, “A serf it is? I’d just been planning on kidnapping someone from a neighboring town.”

  The laughter which erupted made me feel childish and foolish. It was utterly unpleasant and made my desire naught other than the creature's destruction. “No,” it said between chuckles, “Qejonus soldiers stripped this land of its great treasure. I don’t have enough money for that.” As it saw my face it chuckled, “But this is enough to bribe most rulers . Go; If you give them this I am sure they’ll make it so that, ah, those men never existed.” It chuckled darkly, “Such is the power of gods and men working together. These people are fools not to see it.”

  Booming laughter left me soon enough. “I know you are scheming something, both of us clearly are,” I proclaimed between laughter, “But I thank you nevertheless. You are right; I can create something powerful. More powerful than you and all others in this little stretch of fields and forest. But presentation matters an awful lot. Your warning will of course be heeded.” It chuckled for its own part, “You have some lofty ideas about your toy.” The insinuation of its true weakness was left unsaid. The fool; in the deepest spirit I had to admit I wasn’t quite as great as I thought. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dragged myself through land and sea like a dog. But I was peerless when it comes to necromancy. “It’ll do what it needs to, of that I am sure.”

  It said its farewells shortly after it finished giving me the meager and scattered valuables it snatched up. I’d have to sell it for some proper coins or at least rolls of Tobacco. Once the harvest season ended, all that would be done. Holy day travels were rather common. Soon, soon. Victory is so close.

  I am so, so, happy.