Nightmare Realm Summoner

"Someone vouched for me?" Alex asked. He didn't bother beating around the bush. Word games were Claire's specialty — and they'd already given Zeal more than enough other sensitive information about them. There was no reason to suddenly start trying to hold secrets he didn't even know about close to his chest.

"They did indeed. You don't have to sound so surprised about it," Zeal said, stroking his beard with an amused grin. "It's not like you were that incompetent. For someone from a newly initialized world, you've done quite splendid. You certainly caught my interest. I might have even vouched for you myself were I not administrating your test."

I guess that kind of makes sense. If they guy testing the person is also the one who said they should be let in, the test probably wouldn't be a very reliable metric. Too easy to rig things. But that doesn't answer my question. Who in the world even knows me well enough to vouch for me?

Alex coughed into his fist. "So who was it? That vouched for me."

"They didn't tell you?" Zeal tilted his head to the side. "Well, it's hardly uncommon. You must have caught their attention through some of your actions. Something tells me you've been a little… disruptive on your planet. Make any powerful allies?"

No. But I have made a hell of a lot of powerful enemies.

"Oh, you know. I've gotten around a bit. I guess a few people might know my name. But which one of them was it that went ahead and said I should be let into the Empty Court? I have to thank them."

Zeal let out a laugh. "Oh, no. I'm not telling you that, Alex. And not even because I don't want to — though I wouldn't say even if I could. But I can't. See, I have no idea who vouched for you. Such things are hidden."

"Then how do you know it wasn't Meiderly?"

The old man's gaze bore into Alex. "Because I can assure you that, were Meiderly to return to the Empty Court, he would have far more important things to do than recommend some child to be let into our order. Confirmation of his continued existence alone would be enough to shake several planets. Do not forget your place in the grand scheme of things."

Just who was Meiderly? I know he was really powerful, but this seems like a slightly different scale than what I was picturing. Is he a leader of the Empty Court or something?

"I'd be happy not to forget if I actually had any basis for it," Alex said. "I'll be honest. Everything only went to hell a little while ago. To be frank, I don't have the faintest idea of where I stand."

"Mm. I still remember my own world's initialization. It is seared into my mind. There are few who can claim different. I can sympathize with your confusion." Zeal spun his brush along his knuckles like a bored highschooler playing with a pen. "Tell me. How many of the Great Families arrived on your world? Do you know?"

"Fourteen."

Zeal's eyebrows knit. "Fourteen? That is a lot. Are you quite certain?"

"Yep. Snuck into one of their assemblies and had it confirmed by an Outworlder that threw her lot in with us."

"Then I suppose I have answers to many of my questions," Zeal said, rubbing his chin with his free hand. He glanced over to Claire, who still sat perfectly still and emotionless beside them, before returning his attention to Alex. "Your planet is what is known as a Tier 1 World. The resources and danger on it are immense. As a Nativeworlder, you have an enormous opportunity before you, should you be able to survive what is to come."

"I mean, we've made it through the Initialization Events well enough. I don't have any plans of giving in now."

Zeal let out a bark of laughter. "You have no idea what is to come, Alex. A Tier 1 World isn't the most dangerous kind of world, but it is one of the most resource-rich ones. What you have seen up until now is just the beginning. Accelerated growth will only last so long, and the challenges will continue to increase. I trust you have noticed that power comes harder the stronger you become?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah. But that should be rectified with stronger enemies, shouldn't it?"

"In some ways. You will continue to grow, but to seek power is to walk along an exponential path. You will discover this yourself. Just remember that there are always more ways to power than what are most immediately evident. If the world ran purely on the strength of your level, then a Mind Palace wouldn't matter much at all. Keeping that town of yours will pave the way to opportunity, should you manage it."

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"I thought you said you didn't have one?"

"I was never one to stick around in a location," Zeal said with a wave of his hand. "And, to be honest, the rules of this universe hold little flame for me. I desire only the chance to see and create art. All other parts of creation are merely a distraction. The only reason I have ever grown stronger is to improve my artistic abilities and venture farther to seek inspiration. I never had the ambition to try and control a town. But Meiderly did."

"He had a town?"

"He had a world," Zeal replied, a flicker of awe passing through his tone. "Meiderly was — is — a true demon. One independent of the Great Families. And that, more than anything, is the greatest piece of advice I can give you. No matter what happens. No matter what they do. No matter what they offer you. Do not join the families. They leech the potential of those who bend to their boot to climb higher. True power can never be claimed by following in the footsteps of another."

"That's the one piece of advice I don't think I'd ever need," Alex said. "There's no way in hell I'm joining those pricks."

"You are angry that they invaded your world?" Zeal asked.

"Nah. Don't give a shit about that. There's just no way I'm letting someone ruin my fun by letting them tell me what to do."

Zeal burst into laughter. He shook his head and brought himself back under control again before speaking once more. "I see. Well, I will look forward to seeing if you survive for long enough to attend the Empty Court's halls. I do hope you manage to fix your town and survive the hell that the Great Families will inevitably attempt to rain down upon you. That town of yours may be the only thing that allows you to avoid being crushed beneath their thumb. It is freedom, Alex."

"Freedom? How?"

"That is not a surprise I would spoil. It would ruin all the fun. Our true selves are only ever shown when we are taken most off guard, you know," Zeal said. He stopped spinning his brush as a grin split his lips. "I would never deprive someone of a chance to witness the universe for themselves. That would be a grave sin indeed. Now, I believe we're done here."

Claire shifted. Her shoulders unhunched and her back straightened as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked once as her eyes gaze focused on Zeal. For a moment, she was still. Then her lips thinned.

"You have what you need?"

"Mm." Zeal nodded. He was silent for a moment. "I do. But I believe I should apologize first."

"Don't," Claire said.

Apologize? For what?

"Very well," Zeal said. He pointed his paintbrush into the distance. "The Aspect Gem most suited to you that is in a reasonable distance is within the Night Devil residing upon a platform in that direction. The creature is powerful, but I believe you should be able to defeat it if you work together. As a reward for actually managing to impress me, I will connect our platforms for you."

"Thank you," Claire said with a small nod. "We appreciate it."

Zeal just nodded. He flicked his brush through the air like he was trying to shake droplets of paint from its bristles. A wave of color exploded from the edge of the platform, twisting through the air to form into a bridge that arced through the storming sky.

"It will remain until your life force ceases or you set foot back on this platform," Zeal said, lowering his brush. "So you can return through the portal through which you came."

"Sweet," Alex said. "Thanks for the help, Zeal. Seriously. We'd have been pretty lost without you."

"Somehow, I suspect you would have been fine," Zeal said with a small smile. He stretched his arms over his head, then turned his gaze to the sky. "I believe I have spent enough time in this place. No more inspiration will come to me here. We will not speak again until you have entered the halls of the Empty Court. I wish you both luck."

Alex and Claire exchanged a glance. Then they both nodded to Zeal.

"I don't suppose you're going to tell us exactly how it is we get to the Empty Court?" Alex asked.

Zeal just chuckled.

"Figured," Alex said. He raised a hand, then stepped onto the shimmering bridge. "I'll be seeing you, then."

Coils of reddish-purple smoke curled past his feet and tingled against his skin. Despite himself, Alex felt his stomach clench. There was nothing beneath them but distant platforms and the churning skies of the stormy Mirrorlands.

But they weren't going to get anywhere just sitting around.

Claire stepped onto the bridge alongside him. The two of them sent one final glance back at Zeal, then set off along the bridge. There was no point standing around and waiting for an errant gust to push them to their deaths.

They had an Aspect Gem to claim.

***

Zeal watched the children vanish into the curling storm until nothing but their shadows remained through the dark mist. A small smile pulled at the corners of his lips.

"Fascinating," Zeal said. He flicked his brush and a stroke of light cut across the air before him, splitting open to form into a portal of pastel colors in an instant. "Not so much as a single drop of Alex's soul escaped. How dense is it? He doesn't even seem to realize that he's an Incarnation. I thought that new recruit was running his mouth, but it seems he does actually know a bit more than he's let on. Perhaps the two of us should have a chat. Now… what was his name again?"

The old man paused for a moment as he dug through his memories.

"Starwatcher?" He shook his head. "No. That wasn't quite it. No matter. I expect I'll be meeting him — and Alex — again. Personalities like that has a way of seeking out trouble. If Alex and Claire make it to the halls of the Empty Court, I imagine I'll get to see a fascinating scene indeed."

Zeal's smile grew wider.

I can't wait to witness it. Of every medium that I have ever worked in, nothing has ever quite come close to the authenticity of painting made in blood.

Then he stepped through the portal and was gone, leaving no trace of his passing other than a faded old carpet on the platform behind him.