I Am The Truth II

Chapter XVIII: How's Your Leg, Hubris?

 The Supporiums cut the rock so perfectly that the tunnel was a perfect square on all four sides. It was strangely satisfying, spare the ugly noise the songs made as they sheared the rock away, layer by layer. 

Achillean had driven all the way in a pickup truck to the very end of the tunnel where work was in progress. He had not seen much to be done back at home, so here he was. Grek, Grim, and surprisingly, Denny, were already there. The moment Denny saw Achillean, he immediately sidled over, warily regarding Grek.

"Thank the Gods you've come," He began, glancing at the Jaggathan. "Your friend has the worst taste for possible conversation starters-"

He stopped short to glance back at the Ardoni with the Supporiums.

"I did not know you would be down here," Achillean remarked.

"I wanted to take a look," Denny said earnestly. "I have a certain admiration for watching colorful songs at work, especially because they all glow in the dark... as do Ardoni of course."

"You have a fascination with luminescent stuff?"

"... yeah," Denny admitted, smiling cheekily. "I know, it sounds stupid."

"Not at all," Achillean replied. "Especially not when you consider the fascinations of certain people."

He was staring at Grek as he spoke, amused by the thought of someone like Denny having a full conversation with someone whose sense of rumor was so raw.

"What kinds of resources does Ataraxia have that can support Magnorite refugees?" Denny asked.

"Well, they actually do not eat or sleep too much unless they have aged," Achillean replied. "They like lava though."

"Is there lava?"

"There is some in one of the mountains," Achillean said.

"I've heard things about how unstable their leaders can be, or that it is easy to bribe them," Denny commented.

"The bribe part is more for Piglins," Achillean corrected. "But they can be swayed into changing their allegiance if they are given any real reason to."

Denny watched the Ardoni miners pause together for a few seconds before the Supporiums flared up again in a calm hum that echoed through the tunnel.

"What if one of those Magnorites happens to be a spy?" He asked finally. "Or turns traitor? We do only have a matter of days before this tunnel goes to completion as you predicted."

Achillean did not answer. He did not know.

Denny watched with fascination as another team of Ardoni, the Aggressium squad, joined their Supporium counterparts, releasing bright red charges that cracked the wall, making it less of a strain for the miners. The red and green lights, along with the glows of the Ardoni, seemed to mesmerize Denny in ways Achillean did not think possible. 

"Since when were humans so attracted to anything apart from themselves?" Ria had once said aloud when she and Achillean were alone a week or two ago.

However, the human soon returned to his previous thoughts.

"Abbigail and I talked over the phone briefly," Denny said. "The place is new to her."

Achillean regarded Denny's tone as he spoke.

"She will be fine," He said reassuringly. "Onyx and Igneous are there with her, not to mention that she has a knack for gaining support wherever she walks."

"Yeah..."

Denny nodded, though he did not looked so convinced.

"Are you two friends?" Achillean suddenly asked.