CHAPTER ASHBORN 435: PROCESSION OF DIVINITY

Ira’s head was still swimming as she followed Maiya and her two friends to a large, underground cavern of sorts. She gazed up at the space in a daze, idly wondering how the cultists had managed to construct such a thing, but her thoughts were cut short when Maiya shrieked and ran to the other side, where a number of animals had been stabled.

“Bumpyyyy!” Maiya shouted without a trace of dignity, running over to the ugly creature. Ira couldn’t help but chuckle as Maiya nuzzled the old Ash’va, who licked her face happily.

Just when Ira thought that would be all, barks echoed through the space as a bandy lunged up to Maiya, tackling her to the ground, tail wagging furiously as he imparted further licks.

“Neel!” Maiya cried, trying to wrestle the bandy off her. “Haha, I missed you too, boy! Guess what? You’re both coming back with me! You’ll finally get to see Vir again! Aren’t you excited!?”

Bumpy, the Ash’va, gruffed, and Ira was sure it had no clue of anything Maiya had just said.

Neel’s ears, however, perked up at the mention of the Akh Nara's name, and he began running circles around Maiya’s feet, tail wagging so vigorously it whacked her shin with every pass.

Ira couldn’t help but look on warmly at the scene. Despite all that was lost, at least these two had survived. “You moved them here, did you?” she asked, approaching the animals.

“Before the rebellion, yeah,” Maiya said. “Figured there’d be chaos, one way or another. Didn’t count on the manor you gifted me to remain standing, even if we’d won.”

“Smart,” Ira said, wondering whether she ought to be impressed with Maiya’s prudence or insulted at her skepticism.

Skepticism that was well founded, she reminded herself bitterly. Once again, Ira’s thoughts wandered to her many failings. Of what she could have done differently—done better. If she’d more spies near Andros, or if she’d known who among her handmaidens were traitors. Perhaps then?

So lost in her thoughts was she that Ira failed to notice they’d stepped back through Ashani’s Gate, not into the Demon Realm refugee camp from before, but to the inside of a building.

Nor did she notice the Akh Nara reaching out to touch the Gate on the other side.

“Should be stable now,” the Akh Nara replied. “Hey, Mai. Looking lovely, as always.”

Maiya blushed but recovered quickly. “Aren't you supposed to be, y'know...?”

“Had to stabilize the Gate so Ashani could come through,” the Akh Nara said, looking somewhat flustered. “Sorry, can't talk now. See you all soon!”

The great demon lord flashed a mischievous grin at Ashani before darting away at full speed without waiting for a reply, disappearing around a corner to who-knew-where.

“What's all this about?” Ira asked, only to receive a bashful smile from Maiya.

“Er, you'll see. In just a few minutes, actually.”

Ira frowned but didn't press the issue, instead casting her gaze around the new surroundings. They were within a great stone building with sparse architecture reminiscent of Kin’jal, though this space had been decorated with far too much gold. She did note the ladders and demons working furiously to tear that down, however.

Ira took in the steps leading up to an empty throne, with several seats beside it. Seats that were occupied by various demons, all of whom were busy hearing reports and barking orders at the demons who rushed in and out of the hall. All female demons, Ira noted. One, an elderly red demon woman with white hair—naturally white, unlike Ashani’s perfect hair.

She spoke so loud, Ira could make out her shouts even from across the hall.

The other was a younger, black-haired woman—also a red demon—who conversed in hushed tones with a half-dozen demons. All far larger and stronger-looking than her, yet they seemed to listen with rapt attention.

“Welcome to Samar Patag’s castle,” Ashani announced, collapsing the Gate to Sonam behind them. “The seat of Vir’s power.”

That explained much. It certainly did fit the image, though the space, despite its relative grandeur, somehow felt insufficient for the phenomenon that was Vir and Ashani.

No. That’s not quite right, is it? Ira thought, glancing at Ashani, then at Maiya, who chatted with a half-serpent man. A naga. What did it say that she was already growing used to such sights? 𝘳𝘈ℕÖBÊ𝒮

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When Ira learned of Ashani, she’d assumed Vir would take her to be his queen. Or at the very least, the figurehead of his nation. Yet what divine symbol would act as chauffeur to a disgraced princess? What source of authority would go galavanting in the Human Realm while the king fought for the survival of his kingdom? Ira couldn’t reconcile that discrepancy.

Just then, a demon burst into the chamber, breathless. “Lady Greesha! Lady Janani! Come quickly! Outside! You must see! Hurry!”

Asking no questions, the two women darted off their chairs, following the demon. Everyone else followed suit.

“And we’re just in time!” Ashani said, gesturing to a nearby Gate. “If you’ll follow me?”

“Shouldn’t we—” Ira began, utterly confused.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Ashani said with a childlike smile, full of mischief. “Only the best seats for us!”

Ira stepped through yet another Gate to emerge on a flat, fourth-story rooftop. The highest in the city, it seemed, aside from the keep that towered over the rest.

“What are we looking for?” Ira asked.

“Over there,” Maiya said, her expression full of rapt excitement. “See how the main street’s empty?”

Ira looked down at the thoroughfare that bisected the city’s northern half from its southern side. It was, indeed, quite empty.

“And now, for my grand working!” Ashani declared, slamming her staff on the roof with such force the stone cracked underfoot.

Ira felt as though she were the subject of some elaborate prank, yet before she could voice a complaint, an Ash Tear of unbelievable proportion blossomed into existence before them. Prana surged forth in a torrent, and even some twenty paces away, Ira nearly fell to her knees.

Maiya, thankfully, saved her from that disgrace.

“Don’t worry. It’s a peripheral area of the Ash,” Maiya said, not taking her eyes off the Gate. “Now, watch!”

What happened next was something Ira would remember for the rest of her days. A scene burned so deeply into her mind that she could recall it no matter where or when.

Slowly, with the motions of something ancient, a gleaming white hand as big as a grown man emerged from the Gate, as though pulling itself through.

The hand was covered in blazing bright blue runes, not dissimilar from the sort etched at the core of spell orbs.

Another enormous hand emerged, and, like a true terror of the ash, it finally appeared.

A towering figure of pure white, wearing a white crown, with blazing blue eyes that appeared to glow as hot as the sun and clothed in runic vestments, and in place of legs was a single rotating sphere, nearly two stories in height.

Despite their vantage, the colossus towered over them, barely fitting within the road.

“I’m glad we measured correctly!” Ashani said, seemingly relieved. “Could you imagine the damage had we not? Creating Gates of this size is not an easy feat, I assure you. Nearly drained a whole core just for this one!”

Ira didn’t know what she meant by a ‘core,’ but she was too transfixed upon the phenomenon unfolding before her eyes to bother asking.

Standing on the colossus’ shoulder was a horned giant of a man, accompanied by an equally large four-armed red demon and a half-dozen Ash Wolves. The very same wolves that had accompanied them to the Human Realm, in fact.

When did they…

It was only then that Ira understood the spectacle before her.

An Automaton of the Gods. A creature of legend, found only in the deepest depths of the Ash. More of a fable, really. Rumored, but never seen. Never confirmed.

And yet, here it was, rolling slowly down the city streets in front of them. Tamed by the demigod some called the Akh Nara. The Primordial.

Thousands of eyes watched it from below. What were they feeling? Ira wondered. Awe? Terror? Wonder?

Black flames billowed off Vir’s large figure, making the already impressive sight nigh-unreal.

“I’m sorry,” Ashani said quickly. “He really didn’t want me to, but I really think I should.”

“What do you—” Ira began, but Maiya cut her off.

“Do what you think is right, Ashani,” Maiya said. “Vir will never force you to do anything you do not wish. None of us will.”

Ashani smiled. “Thank you, Maiya. Truly. Yet this is something I wish. I can help him. Help this world. And so, I will.”

With a movement as graceful as a dancer’s, Ashani kicked off the rooftop, flying high into the air before landing beside Vir.

The screaming red-haired woman who’d been unexpectedly picked up somewhat ruined the image, however.

Maiya screamed until Ashani landed beside Vir. The Akh Nara killed his flames and embraced his comically small lover. Then they waved to the crowd together. Vir and Ashani standing tall and proud, and Maiya somewhat bashful.

They make the perfect couple, Ira thought wryly. Ira loved Maiya. She owed her life and more to her. And yet, she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made a mistake.

The more Ira saw, the clearer it became that Ashani was not, in fact, the figurehead of Vir’s budding empire. No, as ludicrous as it sounded, she was more akin to an advisor. A friend to the Akh Nara, and nothing more. Their exchange just now made it sound like Vir hadn’t even asked her to join him in this monumentally impressive show of force and legitimacy.

Is he daft? Ira wondered. With Ashani beside him, the Akh Nara would have total and utter power. He’d have this realm and the next kissing his feet. And he wouldn’t even have to lift a finger! Ashani’s mere presence would cow the masses.

Not just in this realm, either, Ira thought darkly. If he wanted, Vir could rule over all the realms.

Instead, it was Maiya would become queen soon. And not just any queen. She’d be married to the most powerful being in all the realms. A being who would soon come to unite a whole realm, Ira suspected.

In terms of power and status, Maiya had surged past herself. Her subordinate would soon be someone Ira would kneel to.

Ira bit her lip and chuckled. What a delightful irony.

Yet that was the extent of her feelings. Were this her father, or indeed either of her siblings, they’d be utterly unable to accept this. Kyren and Nayra enjoyed their status far too much, treating it a gods-given right. A birthright.

Ira never had such a thing. She’d always been the outcast. The failure. If she had to prostrate herself before Maiya, she would. If that was what it took to better the world, she’d do it. Having already thrown away her life once, she had nothing to lose. She’d sell her very soul if need be.

Witnessing the horned being riding atop a legendary Automaton of the gods as though he owned it, Ira knew her solution would come not from the gods of Ashani’s age, but from the deity betrothed to her dear friend.

There would be no stopping her this time. This, she swore before all the gods. The old… and the new.