Book 5 - Epilogue - Vessel

Book 5 - Epilogue - Vessel

Fhesiah looked Avalara up and down with a smile. I much like this one, though.

Jake looked at the lesser avatar, which was just standing there holding a tray like a maid with a smile, awaiting orders. I thoughtthats what these could be for?

Avalara shook her head. I may not be able to join you in your battles the same way you might expect, lesser avatar or not.

Ophelia frowned, as she looked at the lesser avatar. You wont? I will admit that, your lesser avatars dont seem capable of fighting in the way were used to Then, if your main avatar is unable to leave this room

Avalara nodded. Yes. There are several problems that would need to be addressed for me to really join you in battle. This main avatar must remain present on Highlands at all times. Now, if we ever have another Contest here on Highlands, I can help, but I am likely to be marked as a Conquest Goal. If the enemy slays me, this world will be lostin addition to the irrevocable harm dealt to Highlands. Thus, any aid I provide will need to be calculated and weighed against this. I am likely to remain in the background, perhaps even hiding inside the core itselfmuch like I did this time.

She let that statement settle in among them, Jakes brows rising in surprise before she continued.

The problem with these lesser avatars is that, in all honesty, even with my skill with auril and mana magic, they wont be all that effective in battlebecause they are just that, lesser avatars. Jake would have to infuse me with my resources because my lesser avatar would not have a core or means to maintain itself that the Framework would supply. Im not saying this would be entirely useless, but it definitely wouldnt feel like I am your full comrade that way.

Tandas ears were flat on her head. I mean, you dont have to fight by our side to be our comrade. You are still at risk when we fight in our contest, and you are still aiding our people and myself through your song of the world, which all our hearts connect to. You are fighting in your own way.

Jake nodded. I agree. You dont have to fight directly to be one of us. Besides, it would be bad for you to be permanently harmed in a conflict away from Highlands, the damage to your body would influence the world in some way, wouldnt it?

Avalaras smile was sad. Thats right. I hope you werent expecting me to join you in the same way as everyone else. Still, I think I have an idea that might make me able to join! Well use Oran, and create me a new bodya vessel for combat.

Jake rose his brow. You mean, youll drive him when I summon him? Thatis that really different than me summoning one of your lesser avatars?

Thats just the beginning. Here, Jake. Take this. She reached into her dress with a smile, as if drawing it from her cleavage, as she made eye contact with Jake, smirking.

Jake chuckled and shook his head. He noticed that she instead brought it out of her hearth area somehow through her plant-like flesh he imagined, just like Tanda. She floated it out to Jake, and he reached out and took it.

It was another acorn, filled with immense energy. He could feel the special connection between it and Avalara. Jake rose a single eyebrow. He felt like this was like a hint, somehow, about their other acorn.

His tone was questioning, as he looked over the seed. Alright. Then what?

Avalara laughed. Now, I think you just might have something special? Maybe what you used to summon that creature, I believe my father called it a Garuda? If you do the same thing you did there, I think we can link everything together. Of course, this is going to take an immense amount of energy to createonly possible thanks to me having a worlds energy at my beck and call.

Jake used his Manifest Template skill, once again infusing his hearth flames into summoning the heroic beast. Oran appeared in motes of light, and his body was much larger than before.

This was a heroic beast in the second Tier, the template he captured scaled to his current level. Its powerful auril heart beat, sending a calming presence into the air. Despite being a template, it clearly had an almost-auril heart, producing energy and resources different from Jakes mana through its song.

Now that Jake was more in tune with auril, he felt the creature was strange when compared to the other heroic beasts. It had no personality at all, and if anything, this time felt emptier, or hollow. Tanda had enjoyed the creatures song, but that wasnt present now.

Blood frowned. Youre right, milord, now that you point it out. I thought it was a simple beast, but it feels more prevalent now. Perhaps, Cernunnos was always influencing it in some way?

Avalara nodded. This was likely my fathers plan from the beginning. Oran was clearly meant to be used as a tool, to connect to himself. You were likely hearing his song, or perhaps one of his allys. In the end, the creature would be reborn again. A vessel to hold anothers influence. In many ways, I bet the other heroic beasts were similar.

Jake frowned. Just whose influence was in the other ones then?

His musing was interrupted by Avalara, Now, you should focus on what you did with the Garuda, except try to focus on me and this seed. I didnt know anything about your skill, but I did feel your soul reaching out. A powerful ripple was sent out across the void, before ripples were returned, and an arm reached out across the void.

Jake didnt understand what the point of all this was. If she wanted to create some special avatar, why didnt she just do it? He really wanted to understand more about this process. Uh, alright. But why?

She giggled. Youll see! I think it will become evident as you do it. Now, I could tell you connected with Ophelia there when you were doing it. Tanda would definitely be better this time, as she is much closer to me.

Jake nodded. I look forward to it. We dont plan on going anywhere for the time being, but we will still want to train.

Avalara nodded. I need to practice fighting for sure! I am strong with auril magics and have a powerful will as you might imagine, but that is different from fighting.

Blood asked, So, how did that work? You can have two bodies, or something? You can really control all of them at once, this main avatar, that thing, and even the lesser ones somehow?

Avalara smiled. Im still practicingbut the answer will eventually be yes. That seed contained a part of me, a piece of my nascent divinitya part I was born with, though it had grown through the faith of the beastkin and a vast amount of time. You could say that to make that I paid a significant price, and I am lesser now. But to me, it was worth it! I want to fight with my clan mates, and only through that sacrifice could I make it so.

Jake and the girls were moved. She had truly desired to join them in battle, paying a cost they didnt quite yet understand just to do so. He resolved himself to make it so that he could use her permanent summon reliably.

Your commitment to the fight is moving. What would you like to do now? We just got big news, so well be busy over the coming weeks before Fhesiah leaves here.

Jake and the family filled her in on the War Games situation with Radiant Glorys subguilds.

She gave a vicious smile. Hmm So, we have an opportunity for some vengeance. These people killed my brethren, their songs lost forever to their greed. They came here under the guise of allies, but instead hid their wickedness. We must make them pay, to be punished with the same torment they inflicted upon us. I want to help!

Jake gave Avalara another once over. The woman was like a meek woman and a giant doe mixed with plants. Why was she so bloodthirsty?

Her eyes snapped to his, and perhaps she almost understood what he was thinking from his emotions alone. I may be submissive to my mate like most beastkin, but I will absolutely not go down without a fight against our enemy. I fought for more than a thousand years, and I will fight another ten thousand if it means vengeance and justice against our terrible enemy.

Bloods smirk was bloodthirsty. Well said, Avalara. I do think we will get along just fine. How do you think you can help in the fight against these guilds?

Avalara smiled. I am already preparing Highlands for its growth. Why not prepare our own battlefields? Now, that castle Berri wanted seems all the more important. Then, up to now, my song encompassed the cycle of life and death on Highlands, and I helped the beastkin with maintaining the balance. I would occasionally help in the war, like when I guided the beasts to help fight the Dreadbeast Champion.

She continued, But I can do more. I can call upon all beastkin, all beasts to temper themselves and become stronger. I can help with their growth, and I can help with building their spirits, even at a distance. Their songs join mine even from other worlds, so I can help guide your efforts much faster. Your Head Administrator is Valtor, right? I can work with him to guide our troops if something happens there!

Tanda beamed, her tail wagging. Thats amazing!

Ophelia nodded. Youre awesome, Avalara!

Avalara winked. Please, call me Ava.

Jake chuckled, smiling at his new prospective mate. She quickly found a place in their family. They would work together as a strong clan, finding harmony together in protecting the balance.

Fhesiah was about to leave for the Battleground, where she would form her core and ascend to the second Tier.

They would prepare their Guild for their fights across numerous worlds, doing their best to set them up for successand for aiding those in need.

Earths Integration was coming up soon, Jake sure to visit with the girls so they can see his homelandand hopefully have a ton of fun while doing it.

They would also relax, compared to their usual blistering pacejust as their goddess ordered.

Their people were the ones being built up now, and Clan Hart would be preparing them for PvP. In the coming months, countless battles would be waged across the Sector, both with Tartarus, and Radiant Glory and their lackeys.

There was much to look forward to, with three children on the way. They had rescued Highlands from the enemy, forming their Kingdom and finding their true home.

Their third major battle was complete, but the war was never ending. The only thing certain for Jake, was that whatever challenge would come his way, his family would come out on top.

END OF BOOK 5nove(l)bi(n.)com