10 The Grove

"Would you really have killed him?" Derzina asked, once they returned to the surface outside Venestamino's underground home and Atasimon returned control of her body. "Not that I'd blame you if you did, he probably deserved it."

"Perhaps he did," Atasimon said. "Yet if we were to slay all those who may deserve it, I fear we'd have no time for our search. In answer to your question; I would not have killed him unless he gave me a good reason. I regret that I was forced to resort to threats at all, but I could see no other option."

"I did not mean to offer reproach, my lady, it simply caught me off-guard."

"Think nothing of it, you were right to question. Though if I'm not mistaken, it has been a while since you last addressed me so."

"It has indeed, my lady. I have treated you with terrible rudeness. All I can say in my defence is that I have not been myself. These are… dark times, far darker than any I've known." Orientating herself by suns' position, Derzina made for the north.

"Have you not? In my experience it is in such times that one's true character comes to light, for better or worse. Think nothing of it, nothing in your manner was not unwarranted. Besides, I see little sense in you standing on ceremony when we are of one body. There is little opportunity for either of us to maintain distance or secrets now, much as we might wish it were otherwise."

The goddess' voice grew wistful, and it occurred to Derzina that perhaps Atasimon wasn't too happy about their circumstances either. Distracted by her own concerns, she hadn't thought much of what her companion must have been through.

She'd arrived in this world to find her sister dead, and that she was forced to share a body with a lowly mortal. Anyone would have ample reason to be dissatisfied, the goddess voicing little of her displeasure spoke a great deal of her benevolence.

"How would you prefer that I address you then?"

"I believe calling me by my name will suffice, if you find that tolerable."

"A strange though, I suppose I shall have to get used to it. After all, there is little that can be kept sacred between us, as you said." Looking to the horizon, she could see no sign of the chasm Venestamino spoke of. "And I fear we have a long trip ahead of us."

"Do you know anything of the place we seek?" Atasimon asked. "This Great Rift?"

"I've heard it spoken of in stories, though none I would put much faith in."

"Dubious as your sources may be, I would still like to hear what you know. There is likely some small measure of truth to it at the very least, which may prove invaluable to us."

Derzina found that unlikely, she doubted the accounts she'd heard originated from anyone who'd ever seen the Great Rift. "They say the world was split open all the way to its centre, and out poured horrific creatures; the things of nightmare, far more terrible than demons. Now they make their homes within the Great Rift, laying waste to anyone who would approach."

"And why should anyone," Atasimon said, "barring ourselves, wish to approach? Is the rift not simply more of this dark empty land? I find it hard to imagine it could have much to offer."

Looking at the lifeless waste surrounding them, it seemed to go on forever. "I share much the same sentiment. Supposedly as we draw closer to the Great Rift the landscape will shift." She stopped to close her eyes, that she might better imagine this fanciful place the legends spoke of. "Fields of jagged living crystal sprout from the ground, tended by the same foul creatures that dwell within the Great Rift. The demons harvest both to fuel their magic. We shall have to take care to avoid whatever enemies might be lurking amidst the crystals, if they even exist."

Atasimon let out a low and weary laugh. "I had thought this new world I find myself in bad enough already, yet it appears we must venture into lands that are worse still. At least we should have little to fear from whatever dwells there, I should be able to shield us from their gaze. So long as there aren't more like Meztraxia on the path before us. If there are other such beings out there, then we were doomed before we ever set out."

"This must indeed seem like some twisted hell to one born upon Oelindrey. Truth be told, a peaceful world such as that seems harder to credit than these children's tales I have recounted at your lady's pleasure. For what little it is worth, a part of me does look forward to seeing what lies in these distant lands."

"Likely little that will make you glad to have seen it," Atasimon said, "though I hope for both our sakes that I am mistaken, and there is some light to be found in the far ends of the world. We could certainly both do with some at this stage."

"Without a doubt." Derzina said, shaking her head ruefully. "Life would be far easier if fate ran by such logic."

"Do not be so quick to dismiss hope, however ill-founded or foolhardy it may be. For it is hope that gives us the strength to continue, and we shall need great strength of will indeed if we are to walk this dark path."

Much as the goddess' words resonated, Derzina could find no hope within herself. Her world was gone, destroyed by a Demon Lord's evil will, why should the wider world not follow? It seemed only fitting for it to fall to ruin in turn.

These fell thoughts filled her mind almost to overflowing, but she chose not to bother Atasimon with them. If the goddess still had hope, then Derzina had no wish to test it. It was sure to be sorely tested by what was to come without the tainting it with Derzina's doubts. The goddess' hopes would have to be enough to sustain the both of them.

For all Derzina's worries, her body felt as light and full of energy as ever; more than up to the journey. Ever since she was joined with the goddess, she had felt neither thirst nor hunger, and sleep had turned from need to luxury. It was not much in the grand scheme of things, but it brought Derzina some small comfort. And comfort was a rare thing in these blighted lands their enemy called home.

It was no wonder the demons held such evil in their hearts, born as they were into this living hell. Though whatever their circumstances, it would win them no sympathy from Derzina. Given the option, she would see them suffer a far more terrible fate than simply living in this twisted world.

Dreams of vengeance for all that she had lost, so occupied Derzina's waking mind that she took little notice of the passage of time until the last sun sunk beneath the horizon.

"Should we continue on?" Derzina asked.

"I believe we are far enough from the demon's army for a little rest." Atasimon said, "We have covered a great deal of ground and you must be exhausted by now."

"I can keep going if need be. I imagine it would be best if we made for the Great Rift with all possible haste, and I have no desire to sleep out here. This barren expanse is too foul and exposed to be comfortable. What if a demon should happen upon us in our sleep?"

"Then perhaps we should keep going for a while longer. Hopefully we can find a more suitable spot, you must rest eventually."

Derzina didn't bother to look around, she was all too aware that there was no such place in sight. "It's a pity Venestamino was so hostile to our cause. His little hideaway didn't seem too comfortable, but it would still be far better than anything else we've seen. What better can we hope to find out here?"

"Perhaps I should have killed him after all," Atasimon said, "that we might have taken his home for ourselves."

"Much as I disliked him, it seems a poor reason to take his life. Especially as we'd spend at most a few hours there before setting off again."

"My apologies, that was my attempt at a joke. Please ignore my rambling."

A joke? That the goddess would be joking, especially at a time like this, surprised Derzina more than Atasimon wishing she'd murdered Venestamino so they had somewhere to stay. "Oh, I see."

Derzina hadn't the faintest idea of how to console a god after a failed attempt at humour or if she should even do so. Had she done it in the hopes of raising Derzina's spirits? If so, it only made the situation all the stranger. Atasimon spoke no more on the subject, while Derzina was quite content to let it drop and keep walking.

Despite the potential danger all around them, travelling through the demons' lands had become terribly monotonous. Derzina had little desire to make conversation, yet she found herself searching for some distraction to break up the tedium. A star, streaking across the sky, caught her eye.

It descended lower and lower until she realized it was not a star at all, but a speck of light much closer than she supposed. Whatever it was, the pale-yellow light had departed the sky to hover over a hill not far from Derzina's chosen route. It flitted about, bent to some inscrutable purpose, before dipping down out of sight.

Faintly disappointed by the light's disappearance, Derzina set off after it. Given the vagueness of their destination, a slight detour would make little difference and it may behove them to discover the light's source.

Given that it stemmed from the demon's lands, she doubted it would prove friendly. Still, if it were hostile, it was better to discern its nature and intent than leave an unknown threat at their back.

Reaching the top of the hill, Derzina beheld what lay beyond. So unexpected was the sight, that she doubted her eyes' veracity. A grove of tall trees with leaves of brilliant green, shining with moisture, sprouted from the otherwise lifeless soil.

"Do you see this?" Derzina asked.

"I do," Atasimon said, sounding every bit as amazed as her host. "I would never have thought such wonders remained upon this world."

"Nor would I. I've never heard of anything growing out here."

"What of those crystalline formations you mentioned? Didn't you say they were alive?"

"Well, yes. But simple trees are a far cry from magical crystals."

The apparent mundane nature of the trees made it all the more puzzling. While she'd never seen this particular variety within the city's gardens, they would not have looked out of place among those that once sheltered within the walls under Ortesia's protection.

"I have no idea how they can survive out here," Derzina said, "where nothing grows, save that which is under the sway of the demons' corruption. Are you certain that this is not some kind of illusion?"

Some manner of deception seemed far more believable than these impossible trees being here in truth.

"Quite, unless illusory magic has advanced far beyond my understanding after my century-long absence."

"Is that likely?"

"I certainly hope not, though I cannot deny that there is some small possibility I am mistaken."

Peering at the densely packed trees from a distance, Derzina searched for the little wayward light but could not detect the slightest hint of its radiance. There were simply too many places for something so small to hide.

"Do you think it's safe to approach?" Derzina asked. While nothing seemed overtly dangerous about it, the inexplicable nature of the grove made her wary.

"Safe enough, there appears to be little here other than trees. I should be more than capable of protecting you from a few misplaced plants."

Putting her faith in the goddess of shadow dwelling within her, Derzina approached the grove.