Epics of Noche 5, Reflection

EON CH 26 - ACT 70, GRAVITY MOUNTAIN

CABIN.

1777, APRIL 10th, SUNDAY10:30 am.

Noche and Galloway walked north through the forest. The trees were becoming thinner and thinner. It didn't take long for them to see sunlight again.

"Ahead is the gravity mountains," he said. "This area is somewhat safer."

"Hey, what's that?"

Noche pointed to a small log cabin in the distance with its southern side made entirely of glass. Inside were two figures that she couldn't quite make out.

"It's your guardian Baxter."

"Wait what!"

Noche darted past Galloway and toward the building. The grim reaper-clad figure simply shook his head.

Inside Baxter was preparing a cup of Tea. By the time he finished pouring some into the tea cup and picked it up, there was a loud thud. He and Timmy turned to find Noche waving both hands wildly at the bear man.

"Cor blimey! Not her!" Timmy yelled.

Baxter chuckled and approached the door. He opened it, Noche ran inside and hugged him.

"Baxy!"

"Noche, what ummMmm pleasant surprise," he smiled. "What are you d-doing this far out in the mmmMMmm woods?"

"Training. How about you?" She leaned over and noticed Timmy. "Oh yeah, hey... Timmy?"

"Lass."

"We said we'd hide out in the Neverafter woods, remmmmMMmember?" Baxter said.

"That's right – it had completely slipped my mind," she paused. "But you're here together? Does that mean... You're a thing?"

"OY! We most certainly are not!" Timmy snapped.

Baxter let out a booming laugh. When he finished he put a big paw on Noche's shoulder.

"Would you like a cuppa?" He asked.

"A cuppa?"

"Cup of tea."

"Ahh, no thanks. I don't like tea."

Baxter led Noche inside and towards a table. She took a chair and sat down; he did the same. In the distance, Timmy hid in the corner and failed to suppress his trembling.

"You look incredible. All your mmmMMm scars are gone. And you got a cybernetic arm."

"Ahh, yes... Cross has, umm, good surgery," Noche smiled.

"So training?"

"Yeah, I've already done some of it. Now I'm moving onto the next bit," she said. "From how it's looking I'll be heading out of the woods... Or to a less dense area."

"MmmmmMaybe the gravity mountains?"

"Oh? What's that?"

"A place where ammmMMmmbient drive energy affects gravity."

"L-Lots o floatin rocks and shite," Timmy stammered. "Some places er the opposite. Intense gravity that crushes anyone who walks into ett."

"Neat!" She stood up "Well, I really shouldn't stay too long. I just wanted to say hi since you were in the area."

"We wish you the best of mmmMMm luck," Baxter smiled. "Train safely."

Noche chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll live."

"Not like I could die even if I wanted to," she thought.

With that, the blonde said her farewells and left the house. Despite the door having been shut behind her and being a good distance from the house, she could still make out a hushed conversation inside.

"Ow can you be friends with that monster," Timmy whisper-shouted.

"She's no mmmMmmooonster," Baxter said.

Monster? He thought she was a monster? Noche laughed. A monster – all she did was slice his neck open once. He didn't even die from it. He didn't know what dying felt like. What right did he have to call her a monster when he hasn't died dozens of fucking times!

The blonde clenched both fists and took a deep breath. It's fine, she was fine. What's a few deaths matter anyways? It's not like it's permanent. Not like it's too painful... Not anymore at least. She's fine.

So what if she was breaking? More cracked than a dropped mirror. She was still holding the pieces together, and as long as she didn't look at them too long she was fine. Noche noticed blood dripping from her fists. She forced her trembling fingers to unclench – her nails had dug into her flesh.

She was fine.

She was fine.

Noche laughed.

Maybe he was right. Maybe she was a monster. A powerful, badass, unstoppable monster. Maybe that's what she had to be. Maybe if she wanted to escape this nightmare, to stop being a plaything between gods, she had to be a monster.

The blonde smiled. If that was the case, Timmy had no idea how monstrous she could really be.

Noche walked back to one of those said gods.

"Sup Galloway. Thanks for waiting. Let's finish this training."

"Let's."

It wasn't long after that they found themselves at the edge of the forest and standing before the ocean. Ahead of them was a floating island and between it and them was a collection of levitated boulders. On the island was a mountain so massive Noche couldn't see the top.

Galloway jumped from one floating rock to another, making his way towards the flying island; Noche followed. More than one boulder was a tiny island in and of itself with dirt and trees on it. As the rocks grew larger the duo got closer.

By the time both arrived at the floating island the temperature had decreased to the point where Noche's breath was visible. She landed in snow up to her knees and frowned. It was cold. So she did the only reasonable thing; prismatic energy became a heat bubble surrounding her.

"We're here. Time to begin."