salamimike
Hyperdrive
Lord Zee
Frettzo
mickilennialAnak'thas and Benea
Anak’thas was not at Node 13. In his place was a burgeoning city, orderly designed around a circular but bare center where the Node stone itself was. A man who introduced himself as Perfek Tilus Tilum’Velik explained that the god, after taking the neighboring node, had returned to oversee the rise of Tilum’Velik but has since returned east to oversee the preparation for his expansion towards Node 14. He suggested that the goddess would follow the Silver Road eastwards to reach him. The Silver Road started stone-paved but soon became little more than a hardened, dirt road.
The lantern-god was not at the small city growing around the second node either. There Benea was informed he was further east still. So after ten long days since she reached the first city, Benea found Anak’thas.
He was standing in an open field bordering the next node to the east. The chaotic wasteland took the appearance of a smoke-choked hellscape. There was a storage pile of quarried and shaped stone next to the road, ready to be used. Laborers were already digging out the ground for the paved road. Tents were standing everywhere around to accommodate for the many mortals. At the center of the camp was Anak’thas, bend over table with on it a clay representation of an area that didn’t exist yet. He was discussing things with several mortals around him who were listening intently. All around the table more mortals were buzzing about like bees.
Benea took a step forward (and out from the circle of paladins that accompanied her), her eyes flickering away from the activity and towards Anak’thas. She clasped her hands by her waist. Her dress was still as blood red as the day she visited Dzallitsunya and her shawl shaded her gentle face from the sun above. A smile curled on her lips. “My my, you’ve been a busy little bee, haven’t you, dear?”
The Lantern-God looked up from the table, as did all the other mortals. “Benea!” Anak’thas said as his mote lit up a bit brighter. he then looked around. There was a dreadful absence of any amenities worth of a divine here. The whole place looked more like a labor camp. “You’ve caught me at a disadvantage.” He followed up with a small smile. “I’d have a feast prepared but out here… well the Veléx will probably not score a bounty worthy of your grace here.” He did a motion with his hand. Servants came from the tents carrying a clay jug and cups. “At least we could enjoy a drink. Wine, of my own making. The mortals can make it as well but it takes time and sadly, that is not a thing we’ve had so far.” The servants filled each cup with the purplish liquid, then offered both divines a cup. Anak’thas took his and sipped from it. It had a deliciously aged taste. “So what brings you here, dear sister?”
Taking the cup into her fingers, Benea gave the mortal an inquisitive look before turning back to Anak’thas. “Why, because I said I would!” She glittered a small smile. “I have made the preparations in the west and the foundation for an orderly alliance has been laid. Figuring it would be appreciated, I thought to myself that I would personally go and invite you to the first summit. Isn’t that wonderful, dear?”
“A most gracious gesture. It is well appreciated.” Anak’thas said, returning the smile before sipping from the cup. But then he swirled the wine in the cup a few times as he pondered upon the movement of the liquid. “I do hope this summit is not soon. There are more urgent matters to tend to before I could leave here. As you can see, we really are in the middle of something.” With his free hand, he motioned at the clay sculpted land on the table and then towards the stacks of chiseled stone further away.
Benea handed her cup to Jermane and stepped closer to Anak’thas. She pinched her chin as she approached and only stopped to reach out and touch Anak’thas’ shoulder, as if inviting him to lean in. The Lantern-God did not hide his frown but did as she bid him.
Bringing her voice to a low whisper, Benea sent her words to Anak’thas. “Unfortunately my dear, the summit is to be called soon. A lot has happened since we last saw each other and I absolutely need you there. This will define the crucible and the triggering event. We have to set the foundation for the future because without a blueprint, order will not prevail. I need you there, dear, you understand I know you do.”
Anak’thas let the words roil in his mind. For a solid minute he pondered the gravity of them. His eye-like-mote darted from Benea to the clay on the table and then back to Benea. Eventually he stood up straight again. He turned and headed for his tent. “Leave us.” He ordered the humans, and every single one obeyed with no objection. With one hand he opened the tent, while with the other he invited Benea in. “I think we should speak more plainly.”
“Oh my,” Benea gave Anak’thas a funny look before turning it into a smile. With little else she made her way through the tent-flap, Jermane trailing behind her. He was stopped by the Lantern-God though. “You are a faithful servant. I can see that. But you cannot be privy to the words spoken here.”
Jermane kept a neutral face but looked over at Benea who gave a polite curl of a smile. “That’s quite alright, Jermane. Please stand over the entrance with the others — keep Renault in line.”
The Shield of Benea gave a low bow before turning his back to the tent and placing his mighty shield on the ground with a shaking thud, propping it against his legs and waist. The other paladins quickly joined him in the duty of sentry.
“Shall we, dear?” Benea said to Anak’thas before dipping back into the tent.
Jermane? Renault? The use of names visibly confused Anak’thas for a moment. Though he didn’t push the matter further. He just gave a nod to Benea as he let the flap of the tent fall. The heavy wool would surely obscure all of the noise inside. “I cannot leave now.” Anak’thas said immediately.
Benea stood in the darkness of the tent with her arms crossed as she tapped her foot. She studied the glowing Anak’thas for a moment before shaking her head with the slightest grin. “Sweet Anak’thas, why don’t you tell me why so we can hash out a solution?”
“Because I have a realm to expand.” Anak’thas said in a matter-of-fact way. “In fact, I am literally about to sally forth to claim the next node. All the preparations by the mortals have been made. They know that in two days' time they must commence the continuation of the Silver Road. I cannot leave.”
“Oh darling,” Benea shook her head. “That’s easily enough to accommodate! Why don’t you go ahead and claim the node and then you can come back with me to view the summit. I don’t think I need to remind you how delicate the world is right now, don’t I dear? Everything is threatening to fall apart at a breeze’s tickle, but we can certainly expand the realm before dealing with it.”
Benea looked up at the ceiling of the tent and pushed a white smile through a tiny chuckle. “It will be interesting to see how someone else makes a road, I suppose.”
“All the more reason why we should act before we talk.” Noted Anak’thas. “What would we even discuss at this summit? The shape of the world? I have talked only once with my siblings but it’s clear that their views diverge. We should talk when we have the luxury of time and as long as chaos reigns in parts of this world, we don’t have that luxury.”
“Forgive me sweet Anak’thas, I was unaware you had already discarded the idea of an orderly alliance.” Benea looked around for a moment before spotting a rickety wooden chair. With a polite smile she sat on it with an impossibly straight posture and grinned up at Anak’thas. “I suppose I took your words at Peninal’s grave too closely to heart, or maybe you only recently fell off the idea.”
“You seem to misunderstand, dear sister.” Anak’thas said as he remained standing. “I am as dedicated to an orderly world as you are.” More even, he though. For he wasn’t about to waste his own time with useless summits that would consume weeks of valuable time. “If this summit is as important as you say it is I can send someone who will speak with my voice. Would that satisfy you?”
“Dear…” Benea pondered her words for a moment. “Think simply with me, just for a moment. Erase the thoughts and ideas and grandiose for just a second and think as simply as a ray of sun.” She cleared her throat and slowly continued. “I said orderly alliance, you said orderly world. I said I need you, you said I can use someone else. I said the world is falling apart, you said you need to build your realm. You once said you trusted in my judgment, but now I can’t find that same confidence in you. I don’t know what happened to you so quickly, Anak’thas, but I can’t help but feel a seed of sadness in my chest over it. This discussion at the summit was to help define where we should advance and where we should cooperate to avoid struggles, to avoid mismatched ideals and to avoid choking one another — to promote that same order I preached when we first met. Something in you doesn’t want to listen to me, and I don’t know why.”
“Have you taken a node yet, dear sister?”
“Of course, darling.”
“The first time I took one I felt such a rush. I fashioned myself a god before that moment. Even now I cannot believe my own hubris at that time! I wasn’t a god. Not until I touched a node. It gave me the power of raw creation. But then I wandered to the second node.” He looked down at the Laws of Anak’thas strapped to his arms. “I was taken by surprise by a monster of anarchy. It was… an impossible creation which would’ve slain me should I have given it the chance. That is what happened to me sister.”
“The alliance you wish to raise, it is important. Necessary even. But you must understand that the enemy we were supposed to fight is already here. He is infecting the land as we speak. I can send someone to the summit who will speak with my authority. Who will share our views of a prosperous pantheon. They will be an extension of me. But please, I beg of you now, please understand that I must head east. You said I once trusted your judgment. I still trust it. I only ask you to trust mine now too.”
Benea pursed her lips. "We will be deciding how the Crucible's will be divided among the Orderly Alliance as well as who's will shall be put forth during the Triggering Event. Are you comfortable delegating those decisions to a subordinate?"
Anak’thas was visibly displeased. Benea did seem to be in a suspicious rush to decide who would cause the Triggering Event. Even though they hadn’t claimed all the nodes yet. “I trust a subordinate to know which lands I already have, and which ones I want.” He said. “As for the Trigger Event, only I can give my word for that. So you will have to wait until I can come, which is after I have taken the next two nodes.”
"You're acting very defensive, dear," Benea looked up from her sitting position. "Is something bothering you?"
The Lantern-God looked at Benea for only a moment. Was something bothering him? Yes. The strange sense of urgency behind the summit. Meanwhile, actual manifestations of chaos were making their appearance around the very nodes that ruled the land.
“Yes.”
Without elaborating further he strode out of the tent. “Continue the preparations.” He loud proclaimed. The humans that buzzed around the camp very much continued their work. To them, of course, nothing had changed.
A simple melodic voice called behind him. "Shall I be taking that subordinate with me then, dear?"
Anak’thas did not turn around. “I will send him out when he is ready.”
A thoughtful hum played behind Anak’thas before Benea’s voice came again. “I’m terribly sorry about this, sweet Anak’thas, but it really is for your own good.”
Before Anak’thas could turn around or even answer, a great white flash overtook the scene. The world turned white and a screaming fuzz took over all sound and in moments all of Anak’thas’ senses turned to static, his body seizing and the world hiding behind white nothingness. The only thing that seemed to chime through the sudden void is Benea’s voice, still as warm as ever.
“I’ll help you, dear. Your beloved Benea will see you all fixed and in good order again.”
After that, nothing.
The next morning was a peaceful one. The sky was an azure blue with wisps of white dancing through on a spring breeze, and the scent of meadow flowers was in the air. Benea herself couldn’t help but smile up at the splendid weather, having to not even play a hand in its creation. With the peace she couldn’t help but conjure up a chair by the black node of region 14 and sit to enjoy it.
Her left hand was pressed against the node, now one of hers, and her right hand laid on a copper box that sat in her lap. She gave the box a small pat. “There there, dear. I’ll get you a proper home soon enough, then perhaps I can find some medicine for your ailment.”
As Benea spoke, three specks of light zipped from her lips: one green, one blue and one red. Each sped off in a different direction, a message on each.