Book 6: Chapter 56: Spiders, Glares, and a Pertinent Question
Not even bothering to open his eyes, Sen disengaged his hands from the fox womans backside and stood up. He hadnt particularly missed this kind of behavior during the long years hed spent ascending that mountain that seemingly had no peak. He found himself oddly wistful for those quiet centuries of climbing. It had been frustrating at times but peaceful nonetheless. Sen also got the impression that while he had gotten a lot out of the experience, he hadnt gotten everything he might have if hed approached it with less urgency in his heart. Maybe I can come back here and try again, thought Sen. Itd be way easier to get past that horde if I only needed to worry about getting myself inside.
Arent you going to help me up? asked Misty Peak.
Sen opened his eyes and looked at the fox. She seemed very unimpressed by how much he wasnt being helpful. He shrugged.
You seemed to get yourself down there just fine. I expect you can get up by yourself too.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Well, you havent changed.
You were on fire when you arrived here. Id say that neither of us has changed that much.
Despite his words, Sen reached out to help the woman to her feet. She started to hand him the blanket before she took a longer look at the scorched piece of material and winced.
Sorry, she said, moving the ruined blanket around in midair like she didnt quite know what to do with it.
Its fine, said Sen.
He took the blanket from her and with a brief surge of qi, he incinerated it. He saw a coy expression cross the womans face but was saved from that problem with a different problem. The person who Sen assumed was the spider stormed up to the pair of them, his liquid black eyes boring into Sen. While Sen had stared down a lot of troubling things, that glare was surprisingly effective at leaving him feeling more than a little unsettled.
This is your fault, repeated the angry spider man.
Sen tried to sort through the many, many questions that rolled through his mind. He wasnt sure where to start.
Were clearly going to need to have a long talk about a lot of things, said Sen, but why dont we start with what you think is my fault.
This! shouted the spider, waving his hands at his body. Look at me. Oh, my legs. My wonderful legs are gone. And I got these useless things in return.
Sen took a step back as the spider shook his arms in Sens general direction. Sen tried to regroup and grasp at sanity.
Im sorry, said Sen. Im trying to understand, but I really need more information. How is this my fault?
The Great Matriarch transformed me into this terrible thing because of you! She said it was the best way for us to communicate. Except, I cant change back.
Wait, said Sen. Your queen did this to you.
No, open your ear holes. Not my queen. The Great Matriarch!
Misty Peak leaned in and whispered to Sen, Im pretty sure hes talking about a transcendent spider. Some kind of primordial existence or a goddess maybe. He probably met her in the mandala.
Yes! shouted the spider. The promiscuous, ceaselessly talking one understands.
Hey, I dont talk that much, argued the fox.
Sen gave her a look. Thats the part that bothered you. Not the promiscuous part?
Im a fox. Why would that bother me? You humans are the ones who have strange ideas about sex. Besides, are you going to pretend that youre celibate or something?
Sen took a beat before he said, Okay. Thats fair.
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She smirked at him like shed just won in some game that he hadnt even known they were playing. He turned his attention back to the spider, who was just staring at him.
Before anything else, what should I call you? asked Sen.
I am Glimmer of Night, said the spider.
Glimmer of Night, repeated Sen. Alright. So, the Great Matriarch did this to you so we could communicate. What are we supposed to communicate about?
She did not see fit to tell me. She simply said that I should spend time in your company and all would become clear.
Sen asked his next question with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Did she say how long she thought this would take?
Not long, admitted the spider, giving Sen the briefest glimmer of hope. A few hundred years.
Sen reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. She wants you to travel with me for a few hundred years. Looking like that. With the name Glimmer of Night. Yeah, that wont possibly create any problems.
Misty Peak spoke up then. Im supposed to travel with you as well. For the communicating. Yeah. The fox ancestors said so.
Im sure they were lying to you, said Sen. You know you cant trust anything that a fox says.
What? Youre going to let Spider of the Darkness over there go with you without blinking, but I cant come?
Well, I dont think that hes lying to me, which is a big point in his favor. Plus, I dont particularly want a celestial spider to have me on a list of people she doesnt like. I might meet her one day, and Id like it to be friendly, thank you very much.
You might meet the fox ancestors one day, said Misty Peak. Arent you worried about what theyll do to you?
I just figured Id ply them with wine and tell them stories about how I set you on fire.
You never set me on fire.
The day is young, said Sen. Plus, we need to get out of here before any of us worry about where to go next.
Dont we need something from the old monk guy first? asked the fox woman as she shot Brother Khu a sidelong look.
I have it, said Sen in a tone that was far too casual to actually be casual.
You already have it?! she demanded. How long have you been here?
Oh, weeks and weeks, said Sen. I was thinking I might have to abandon you here.
He is lying, said Glimmer of Night, his head tilted a bit to one side.
The fox woman rolled her eyes. Of course, hes lying. Hes trying to wind me up.
Im successfully winding you up, said Sen.
Is this some kind of courtship ritual? asked the spider.
Yes, said Misty Peak.
No, said Sen at the same time.
Im confused, said Glimmer of Night.
So is he, said Misty Peak hiking a thumb at Sen. I expect youll both get over it.
Feeling himself reaching the limits of his tolerance, Sen walked over to Brother Khu. He would use the old man as a shield, even if it was a shield that would only last for a few minutes.
Brother Khu, may I present to you, Glimmer of Night. He is one of the spider spirit beasts who dwell in the nearby forest.
Hello, Glimmer of Night, said Brother Khu, directing a smile at the spider.
Glimmer of Night seemed a little awkward and uncertain now that some of his anger had faded away. He nodded at the old man.
Hello, Brother Khu, managed the spider.
And who is this young woman? asked the old monk.
Oh, her? Shes just a fox. Probably best not to speak to her.
A fox, you say, murmured Brother Khu. Well, we cant have one of those running around inside the ruins. I suppose Ill just have to send her to one of the hells.
The annoyed glare that Misty Peak had been directing at Sen turned to one of genuine concern as she started to back away from the old man.
Probably for the best, said Sen, earning an incredulous look from Misty Peak.
Sen kept his expression neutral for as long as he could, but a snicker escaped his lips after a bare few seconds. Brother Khu, who hadnt moved an inch, gave Misty Peak a grandfatherly smile. The fox woman gave them both a death stare.
Neither of you is funny, she said.
She whirled to storm off, only to come to an abrupt halt. Sen figured that she had just realized that doing that might well land her right back inside of the mandala shed just escaped. With her ability to storm off in a huff completely undercut by uncertain circumstances, she settled for giving Sen withering glares. The sidelong looks she gave the old monk were decidedly cautious. Maybe he could have made good on that idle threat, thought Sen. He made a mental note to learn about monks, someday, when he had the time. Sen made another mental note to try to find the time to learn about monks.
Her name is Misty Peak, Sen told the monk.
A look of real anger crossed her face at that. Only you get to call me that. My name is Sun Linglu.
Sen considered the fox woman for a moment before he offered her a bow. I apologize.
Misty Peak didnt look happy, but the genuine contrition in Sens voice seemed to mollify her a bit. She turned her gaze to the monk who remained serene at the exchange. He offered her another smile.
Its very nice to meet you, Sun Linglu.
Yeah, um, thanks. So, I have a question if you dont mind, said Misty Peak.
Of course not, said the monk.
Why are these ruins filled with buildings that look like theyre waiting for the owners to come back?
Brother Khu turned to look at Sen. I rather thought that would be your first question. The answer, young lady, is that it looks that way because thats exactly what will happen, eventually.
What? asked Sen and Misty Peak at the same time.
I told you, said Brother Khu to Sen, that Im the caretaker of this place. There would be no need for a caretaker if no one was coming back.
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