Tales of the Herd - An Under Gods Story

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Engilmu blinked hard, pushing back that childish instinct to cry. "It's nice to see you, Nenema," he greeted.

"Oh stop, come here!" Nenema chirped, her arms flung open and a smile stretching across her waxy face.

Engilmu ran to her and embraced her, and she hugged him back. It took Engilmu a moment before he noticed he was a head taller than her. He pulled away from his sister and asked, "Are you shrinking?"

"No, boy, you're getting taller! Finally." Nenema chuckled.

Last they had seen each other, Engilmu and Nenema were about the same height. Engilmu always thought it was because he was short for a Panumbra, but Nenema was just tall. He felt less like a child in her presence now, for sure.

"Your friend over there," Nenema said, pointing to Abba. "Is she a part of the Herd?"

"No, she's one of the refugees. I'm sure you've heard."

"Well, tell her goodbye. We have to start planning right away."

Nenema and Engilmu walked on the path towards the hostel Grace had entered. The sun had lowered quite a bit, bathing the sky in peach and pinkish red colors. A lot more people were outside, observing how the monuments and totems glowed in the sunset. The two came to the door, the Valkymphry guard perked up at the sight of them, immediately opening the door. As they entered the building, Nenema looked up at Engilmu.

"So, you learn anything new?" She asked.

"As far as magic and imageon? Not so much, aside from conjuring Ennui."

"You're just now learning that?"

Engilmu chuckled. "Of course not, I just received permission to do so. Grace just learned to, though."

"Figures," Nenema laughed. "Speaking of, mom tell her everything yet?"

The two made it to the stairs and began to ascend.

Engilmu sighed. "You know how she is."

"Has Grace started asking questions?"

"No, but the way things are going, it's inevitable."

"The longer mom waits, the harder it will be for her to accept. I don't see why it was important to hide something like that, anyway."

"Zoartemi has her ways, I suppose."

"I learned a long time ago that Zoartemi's ways need a bit of questioning every now and again."

"Speaking of which, when were you going to introduce your comrades?" Engilmu asked, snorting.

"Oh, you smell them? Thought you wouldn't notice over all of that cheese you had going on earlier."

"Oh, that? Abba's just a curious potential apprentice." Engilmu turned his gaze away and huffed dismissively.

"Mhm, okay." Nenema jabbed his shoulder playfully. "Well, I was hoping I'd be able to introduce you all properly, but things got a little bit mixed up. I can tell when showing someone the ropes has the potential for more, so don't be embarrassed. It happens to all of us." Nenema smirked.

"Well, I'm awaiting a nice Panumbra woman, myself," Engilmu jested. "But again, when do we meet your cheese?"

"In a bit, be patient. Let's find Grace, first."

--

Grace looked into the vanity mirror, heat flowing into her eyes. The hostel had vanished from her view, and she stood suspended about a forest of silver leaves on golden branches. The sun scrawled across the sky hastily, turning it from a purple night to a cyan and magenta day over and over again. Her reflection was less of an image and more of a projection standing before her, formed from fiery pink and white energy.