Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

0152 The Mystery of Cosmic Authority's Lore!

Kai sighed inwardly.

"Now that we are done with the holy business, Andrik," Kai said, resuming their unfinished conversation, "answer me the questions I had asked of you. Of course, let me introduce you to Priestess Shae. She has come far into understanding HIS mysteries. If you would underestimate her because of her age, then you would presume too much."

Both Andrik and Meg nodded at each other, though Kai noticed Meg's stiffness.

"I had followed your orders, Captain." Andrik began the tale, recalling the events of three days ago. "But no true ironborn would want to die hiding among cowards. So I had returned to the deck to let Drowned God's waters take me and lose my life to the sea, rather than getting crushed by the shipwreck.

"But the moment I came up, through the hail, black wind, and water, I... I saw a blue figure walking on the deck. It had a tail, and I think I saw webbed hands and feet as well. (-Kai and Meg shared a glance-). From the old texts, I already knew that the Drowned God's favored priests are half man and half fish."

Andrik's breathing was rising again, despite the calm in his voice. Silence pitched and rolled along with the ship for a few moments before Kai nodded, urging the sailor to go on.

"I heard the words then," Andrik said, his eyes losing focus. "The words that had shaken my soul in awe, and I am ashamed to say, Captain, in fear as well."

Kai was confused and surprised. "Words?!" he asked incredulously. "What words?"

To Meg he asked, -/Did you hear words as well?/-

Meg pressed her brows and almost immediately shook her head.

Andrik gulped, cleared his throat, and then spoke with as much might and hoarseness as he could muster.

"I am a Stormborn," he began, and Kai almost left his chair. "I am the Devastating Despair, the Blue-skinned Demon, and the Unforgivable Cursed One... Then I think I saw a flash, like a yellow bolt of lightning. The next time I opened my eyes, Priestess Shae was standing over me."

Yellow?! Kai felt odd, a queer disgust rising in his heart. Wasn't the color of Focus Punch red?

It was then he sensed an upheaval of intense emotions from his side. Kai turned his head and found Meg, shaking like a leaf, and her mouth opened wide. Her eyes were almost popping out of her skull, and she was extremely anxious about something, Kai noticed. "Leave us," he told Andrik. "Go tend to the crew and take note of all the maintenance that the ship requires."

"Yes, Captain." Andrik bowed in acceptance and left, closing the cabin's door behind him.

"What's going on?" Kai asked Meg, not unkindly. "What's wrong with you? How come he, a normal human, heard me from so far away, but you, who was standing just behind me, heard nothing?"

Meg looked at Kai in disbelief. Her legs shook, and she fell back on the bed, sweat pouring down from her forehead like thick drops of water. "I remember now," she said, her voice trembling. "I remember you saying something about a Stormborn. But that's it. That's it, master. I heard nothing after that... Nor... Nor...

"... Nor did I hear a single word Andrik said just now."

Kai saw the truth in her eyes, and an indescribable chill ran down his spine.

*

*

Afternoon, the next day

Officer's cabin

Actaea had made good distance after latching onto the course.

From what Andrik had told the captain, no ship other than a galley could find them now.