Chapter 24 - Connections
He chuckled, the sound less amused than annoyed, "Better yet for you that I don't require you to give up that binding in order to bind yourself to me as well," his magic again brushed that part of hers deep within and drowned her in pain, "Fixing this is child's play for me and I am not nearly so bound as those geezers are," he purred, "I can give you back your life, little one, and all I ask in return is a bit of your loyalty and this divinity of yours to strengthen me. I will not even ask for all of either."
Ash didn't spend any time contemplating the offer. The first time harming her had been in discovery, he hadn't known it would hurt her. The second was a reminder that he was far more powerful than she and that he had no qualms about using that to his advantage. He was not a god she wanted to serve.
"An interesting perspective," his purring voice answered and the pain seemed to dull a bit as he continued to wrap his power around the part of hers that was broken, "If a little misinformed, but I am not cruel so I will not hold your lack of knowledge against you. Within your own world where repairing this would be a simple and swift matter, I am almost as restricted from acting as the geezers are. I still have the power to fix it here, but I cannot cut you from the pain without breaking your tether to your body and grounding you here in a far more permanent way than you wish."
The pain was all-encompassing, making it hard to concentrate on anything else but when he released that part of her magic again she realized that it felt different, just a little less broken than before. He hadn't fixed the problem in its entirety. She was certain that it was partially because doing so fully would probably kill her, but also because she hadn't agreed to his terms.
Another chuckle answered her, more amusement in it than annoyance, "Yes indeed. If you agree to my terms, we can start in on these repairs slowly over time," his voice dropped to a bit of a threatening whisper, though what he said was more of a statement of fact than a direct threat, "You're running out of time, you know. You might not make it through your next journey. With the help I've just given, I can assure you'll make it there…but that is all I can promise."
She didn't know him. She didn't know who he was. She didn't know what he governed. She knew he was a god, a new one by the way he spoke of the others. She needed to know more before she could possibly agree to anything. Even if it cost her life, she would not serve a god unworthy of her loyalty and would even turn her back on Sidus himself if ever he strayed in an irredeemable way from what he was supposed to be.
"My, my. He made you with so much loyalty to the ideals he governs…But he made you with no ambition…and, in my own opinion," the purr took on a bit of disdain, "Not nearly enough loyalty to yourself if you'd sacrifice your life so easily," the god moved, seeming to nuzzle against her neck for just a moment before he gently lowered her to the floor, "I do not require your answer just now. We've plenty of time to get to know each other now that I've found you," he paced around to stand in front of her.
He was human by all appearances, though he had ever so slightly pointed ears like a descendant of an elf. His eyes were pure gold, sparkling like well-shined coins. His hair, cropped short, was an icy white that gave him a bit of a cold appearance. His gaze as it moved over her was appraising, as if he saw her as little more than the value she could bring him.
"You'll have to forgive me that habit," his eyes softened somewhat and a small smile played about his lips, "My name is Lucrum. I am the god of connections as well as another domain or two. I am the reason that the connection to this place was forged and the one that maintains it. I can tell you nothing more about it, though, as at least two of the geezers have caught onto the fact that I borrowed you for but a moment. Know only that I do not seek to be your enemy…and will not even if you refuse me. Harming you will gain me nothing, not even brief entertainment."
With that he was gone though the world did not return to normal quite yet. Darkness bore down around her, stars slowly blooming from it. The darkness was a bit more oppressive than she was used to, Sidus was generally the only god she dealt with and so the only one familiar with how to handle her magic without causing her discomfort. It adjusted swiftly though and Ash was only alone for a moment before a woman with deep crimson eyes and long silver hair stepped forward, her dress blending into the shadows around them.
"Lady Umbra," she greeted the mate of Lord Sidus quietly, though her voice broke in the middle of speaking and it took a moment for her to regain her breath, "A pleasure."
She smiled, showing sharp fangs with the warm gesture, "Always, daughter of my husband," she glanced to the side, as if looking into another room that Ash couldn't see, "He comes as well, but is speaking to the little whelp about his poor handling of you."
"I'm fine," Ash found a bit more strength in herself at the idea that she was interrupting the gods from their work. She tried to stand only to collapse, her whole body refusing to obey as pain lanced through it, "He needn't trouble himself."
"It is never a trouble to see you, Ashterra," his voice came from behind her as he lifted her with ease. His magic coursed through her, easing the aches and completely destroying the status effect from before, "Though it seems that to exist in this world, you will need to know far more about what Lunarilia is to you than you have before," he placed her carefully onto her feet, waiting until he was certain she was steady to release her, "Contact her as soon as we take our leave. Do not stray from Yarrow until she arrives."
Ash chanced asking a question before they departed, "Can he be trusted?"
She almost felt Sidus scowl in response, clearly judging that his handling of Ash spoke for itself.
Umbra answered in his stead, "The whelp does not speak lies…but he will always stand to gain more than he loses in a bargain. That alone should make you wary, lest you find yourself owing more than you can stand to lose."