Introduction

I'd like to take a moment to say thank you for all the support on part 1 of this story, with special mention to @curie for upvoting and bringing more attention to my tale. If you missed it, catch up by reading part 1 here.

Its been fun challenging myself to create a minimum one piece of original art to go with each chapter of the story. There were a couple in part 1, but for this chapter I spent more time on one piece. I hope you enjoy part 2. I may create a behind the scenes post showing the steps of this chapter's artwork creation before part 3 is published. Let me know if that's something you'd like to see.

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PART 2

Galdor set out with two companions: Elyon and Almar. Elyon was eldest of the group and Almar similar in age to Galdor, but he had received Ysara’s wisdom four years prior. They were the other volunteers to venture east, tasked to find any sign of another race exploring on the other side of the mountain range.

The valley their route would take them through was wide: half a day to reach the mountains on either side. The trees were thicker along the base of the mountains than anywhere back home in Valisara. The middle of the valley on the other hand was mostly free of them, the only vegetation being patches of short grass and berry bushes scattered on the hard, rocky ground. It made travel easy.

“When I heard Ysara’s voice it wasn’t so much what she said,” Almar was explaining, unsolicited to Galdor as they walked. “Her words were beautiful, but it was like a new portion of my mind had opened. I see things in the night sky I couldn’t before.” Galdor couldn’t tell if his peer was trying to gloat or be friendly.

The weather was mild, clouds mostly covering the sky, the terrain a gradual rise; nothing made the journey difficult at this point. The three continued in a brief silence until Almar spoke again.

“My grandfather stood in the presence of Ysara, before my father was born. She spoke of the other gods and how she considers them kin. The world is large and each race has been given a portion to tend. Some of the gods want our people to meet, unite, but there are others who wish to be left alone.”

This piqued Galdor’s interest. “What are the other gods like?”

“The goddess didn’t say. Just that in time, we shall find them.”

“All the more reason for caution,” Elyon chimed in. “It seems the Dverg want to be left alone, and what if these others we’re looking for are worse? If Ysara knows the gods who are friendly towards her, why doesn’t she show us where their people are instead of us blindly seeking out?”

“I hope you’re not questioning her calling,” Almar replied sharply.

“No,” Elyon said calmly. “Just seems that things could be a little easier.”

“Maybe it’s not so simple. We’re not completely bound to Ysara, we’re more the stars of her nebula. She knows the other gods, not necessarily their races. If she and another hold an accord perhaps they wish their children also become friends, but they’ve given us freedom, which bears risk.”

Almar was the most talkative in the group, but Galdor decided what he said usually held some wisdom. Galdor felt the other two scouts knew more than him, so he mostly kept quiet. Almar’s father remained in Valisara where he’s a scholar. His grandfather likely did stand before Ysara when she last visited, as Almar’s line was one of the selected to represent her people to the other gods. But that time was long to come, as the Valdari were yet to establish solid relations with another race, let alone ask audience with their gods.

Elyon and his father were shipbuilders. His mind focused on the expanse of the world yet to be explored; a practical thinker. Ysara guides him with the stars rather than reveal deeper things as she does for Almar. If you looked in Elyon’s eyes you’d find many specks of light, glittering like stars scattered in the night. Almar’s eyes lack a plethora of stars, but green nebula bloom throughout. Their eyes seemed to bear reflection on the different relationships with their goddess.

On the second evening of their journey as the sun was setting, the three heard a unique sound. A short burst of rapid clicks carried through the air from a distance.

“That was loud,” Elyon said. He looked off to the north.

“It sounded far, maybe from the mountains?” Almar added.

“Is it Dverg?” The other two seemed calm and collected. Galdor didn’t want to show concern, but he couldn’t refute an uneasiness inside.

“I can’t imagine,” Elyon answered. Although none of them had ever seen a mountain dweller, they were all familiar with descriptions of the Dverg. They didn’t seem capable of making such a noise.

During that day’s travel the incline gradually increased. The valley was ending in a bowl leading up a ridge of the mountains. Two dips in the ridge either side of a small peak offered easy passage to the other side. Their plan for tomorrow would take them up the north dip, keeping them far as possible from an incredible mountain directly east of the bowl. It was the largest mountain any of them had ever seen, the only peak capped with snow, surely holding a Dvergrinn city inside. The scouts established camp with simple sleeping mats and a small meal. Darkness fell, the clouds cleared, and the stars came out above.

While they were resting Elyon occasionally glanced to the sky here or there in a methodical manner, his expression calculating, like someone figuring a sum in their head. Almar was laid on his mat and wouldn’t remove his gaze from the dome above. Galdor knew their eyes saw more than his were capable of, so he mostly examined how the mountains obscured the stars at the skyline. Galdor was nibbling food, his thoughts less occupied than the others, when he heard a rustling in the trees.

“Did you hear that?”

“Probably a small creature.” Elyon remained casual, his demeanor unchanged. “Everything sounds bigger at night.”

There were more trees now they were higher in the bowl. The night sky only offered enough light to reveal the nearby treeline, nothing beyond. A quiet series of clicks came from the trees uphill. Galdor sprung his blade from its sheath and stood.

“Something’s there!” He took a step forward. The other two rose to their feet. Looking to the sky Almar slowly raised a hand, palm facing upward. A small speck of light rose from his fingers shining bright like a star. Just at the edge of the trees two creatures tall as the Valdari stood. Their bodies were dark and wide, covered in a pattern of hard plates like armor. They stood on what looked like a dozen legs and reared back, raising their front limbs.

“Some giant… arthropod!” Elyon’s words stumbled in his startled state, trying to overcome disbelief. He grasped his hilt, slowly beginning to reveal his blade.

One of the creatures turned to the other, clicking. The other seemed to reply with a hiss then both bared open mandibles at the scouts.

“We are children of Ysara,” Almar spoke confidently towards the creatures and stepped forward, to Galdor’s side. “We are the Valdari and bare good will.”

Galdor was frightened, grateful one of his companions took initiative. “Do you think they understand?” Galdor asked.

“They seemed to be communicating. Not sure what else to try.”

A short, quiet moment seemed to stretch forever as Galdor looked across at the strange beasts. They slowly started to creep backwards, into the trees, and Almar approached them closer. “Wait!”

At this, one of the creatures lunged forward at the Valdari. Almar had no weapon drawn. The bug's foreleg snapped at him, throwing him back. The tiny star from Almar’s hand faded. Galdor could still see the outline of the beast and slashed out. His blade slammed against something and a shrill screech came in reply. The two adversaries retreated with incredible speed and let out a loud burst of clicks, much like the sound heard earlier from the distance.

“Are you okay?” Elyon came to Almar’s side helping him to his feet.

Almar grunted. “Nothing serious. Do you think that was them? The third race exploring the east?”

“I have no idea,” Elyon callously replied. “Perhaps some abomination of these lands; they seemed like wild beasts.”

“No, they seemed intelligent. They were defensive, it wasn’t an attack. They must be children of the gods.”

“Not an attack? One of them struck you to the ground!” Elyon was uneasy. He felt Almar’s calling could be clouding his judgement.

“And Galdor struck one of them in my defense.” Almar’s opinion would not be moved. “They felt threatened. That sound when they ran: we heard it earlier. They could’ve already been fleeing from something before they found us.”

Elyon sheathed his sword. “If that’s a race of the gods, they’re one that doesn’t want to be found.” Although his demeanor showed disagreement with Almar, Elyon chose not to give it further voice. Confused on what happened and which of his companions may be right, Galdor broke the tension with a question.

“What do we do now?”

“Keep a vigilant watch through the night and continue in the morning.” Elyon sat on his sleeping mat but didn’t lie down. “It’ll be useful to see what’s over that ridge. Our mission is not complete.” Although Almar and Elyon were in disagreement, it couldn’t be denied there was still more to learn before returning to the colony.