Grentail Manor Chapter 6
#6 of Grentail Manor
Chapter Six
Susila snapped his eyes open. Sitting up quickly, the monitor looked around in confusion. He was in a brightly lit chamber, though everything seemed slightly blurry.
Rubbing his eyes, Susila stood. When he opened his eyes, Susila suddenly saw dozens of people, all of them Anthropomorphic reptiles of some sort. They were all facing in one direction, each armed with a weapon in one hand while the other hand glowed with arcane energy.
A loud boom caught Susila off guard, nearly causing him to fall over. "Don't let it through!" an oddly echoing voice shouted. Turning to its source, Susila saw that he was standing beside a pure white Anthropomorphic snake in front of a familiar throne at the top of a flight of stairs. The snake was holding a large, glowing gemstone in his hands.
Another loud boom grabbed Susila's attention. He looked towards the doorway, seeing Reptilians running and slithering down the hall, each carrying a sword or spear.
Suddenly, the loudest sound he had ever heard dropped Susila and several of the other people in the room with him to the floor. Susila covered his ears against the roar of some terrible beast, but the sheer force of it seemed to tear straight through his claws. When the roar died down, Susila looked up again, just in time for the wall to virtually explode as the head of the beast tore through. The sight nearly took Susila's breath away.
A great, reptilian, worm-like creature towered over everyone. Its tiny black eyes blinked in the light, obviously unused to such bright conditions. Its mouth, large enough to hold a bus, opened again, letting loose another earth-shattering roar, the rubble around the creature dancing in the intense vibrations of its voice
This is bad, Susila heard the thoughts of the snake, If we don't contain it, it will destroy the neighboring cities. But it's so strong.
"You know what you have to do," the snake whispered, a sad tone in his voice, "Everyone, forgive me!"
Raising the gemstone into the air, the snake took a deep breath and focused himself. In a resolute and commanding voice, the snake shouted, "Devorabis omnes!"
A white flash, brighter than the sun, washed over the entire chamber. The beast roared a final time, pain obvious in its voice, as all who the light touched also cried in pain. When the light faded, Susila was alone, the gem lying quietly on the throne.
The scene suddenly faded to white. Confused, Susila looked around as he stood in a white void. The feeling of loneliness was overwhelming.
"Now you have seen my folly." Susila turned to the voice's source and saw the white snake.
Before he could even ask about what he had just seen, the white snake and the void in which he resided faded away.
Susila slowly opened his eyes. He was back in the chamber, tightly clutching the large gemstone, which pulsed warmly in his hands. Confused and slightly frightened, the monitor dropped the stone back onto the throne, causing it to let out a mournful ring.
The sound stirred up feelings of pity inside Susila. It sounded as though he had hurt the gem's feelings somehow. Susila gingerly placed a claw on the gem, rubbing it apologetically and eliciting a comforted hum.
"Don't leave me."
The child-like voice from the gem held overwhelming loneliness. Picking up the gemstone and cradling it like a baby, Susila answered, "Don't worry, I'm here. I won't leave you alone."
Unknown to Susila, his words of comfort had triggered ancient magics held within the crystal, beginning a process that could not be halted.
Photine looked over the shimmering ward. "I told him to stay put," Lord Grentail growled in frustration, "Who knows what other enchantments are still active in these ruins?"
Photine understood her Lord's frustration, but couldn't allow her emotions to distract her. It had been hours since Susila had fallen through the ward, and he could be in danger; she couldn't find a way around this ward if she was distracted.
Placing a claw against the shimmering air, Photine tried once more to overcome its enchantments. Drawing from the burning energy within her, Photine spoke ancient words known only by the eldest of creatures.
For a moment, the ward flashed brightly, seeming to flicker rapidly in and out of existence. But it soon reconstituted itself, remaining steadfast against Photine's efforts.
Holding back a groan of frustration, Photine tried again and again. As time passed, her efforts still seemed to be in vain. An hour later, Photine looked to her lord, tears barely held back.
"This isn't possible," Photine said with deceptive calm, "I've never seen magic this strong before. And you know how long I've studied the Art, my Lord."
Lord Grentail nodded grimly. "Aaron said much the same thing about the previous ward," the dragon reminded her, "Rest for a while, and we'll try again."
Suddenly, from beyond the ward came an intensely bright light. As Photine and Lord Grentail shielded their eyes, the ward buckled, and then shattered against the glow. Aaron suddenly appeared next to the bird and dragon.
"What happened?" the spirit asked, even his eyes squinting against the unnaturally bright glow, "The pyramid suddenly started glowing, and the ward went down! Did you two do something?"
Photine shook her head. "I don't know what's happening, but Susila might be in trouble!" she reported, "We need to find him!"
Aaron closed his eyes for a moment before saying, "He's up ahead, at the center of the light!"
Her worry threatening to become panic, Photine stilled her emotions and ran forward, leaving Aaron to look after Lord Grentail. Only just able to see in the intense light, the bird was soon able to see the hole through which the light shined. Shielding her eye, Photine rounded the corner.
Photine could just make out a figure against the glow of an enormous diamond. It was Susila, his clothes burning in the intensity of the gem's radiance.
"Stay back, it's not safe, even for one such as you."
The child-like voice emanated from the diamond. "What have you done to Susila?" Photine cried out.
"I don't mean any harm, but you must stay back."
Photine took a step forward, eliciting a strange force which pushed her back.
"Please! You must not interfere!"
"I won't let you hurt him!" Photine cried out, struggling to move forward against an unseen force.
"I promise you, I won't harm my new host."
Photine remained uncertain as her clothing began to char from the intense light. "If you hurt him, I promise you I will destroy you, and you know I can!" she shouted.
"I swear to you I mean no harm."
Tears started to stream from Photine's eyes as she could only watch the diamond's effects on Susila.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, Photine saw Susila's scales had started to change, losing their tan coloration as the light bleached them white. The monitor was facing away from her as he held the diamond high, his hands hidden by its glow. Crystalline spikes had started to grow from his spine and tail as he grew in stature. With an unhealthy cracking sound, skeletal wings tore free from his shoulders, fleshing out as they grew. Back-swept crystalline horns grew from his skull. As the light from the diamond started to fade, Photine saw that the gemstone had disappeared, but Susila's hands and claws had become crystalline. To Photine's distress, the transformation had left the monitor with a starving frame, the process consuming every bit of extra mass that Susila once had. At the transformation's conclusion, Susila slumped over against the throne.
The force suddenly faded, allowing Photine to sprint forward. "Susila!" she cried out, her stride dominating seven steps at once. When she reached the former monitor, Photine turned Susila over to look into his face.
Susila's face had become draconic, crystalline fangs visible in his slack jaw. He was breathing deeply, as though sleeping. Photine's tears threatening to obscure her vision, she wiped her eyes with a claw and knelt down beside Susila, cradling his head.
"Photine!" Lord Grentail called from the hole that served as the chamber's entrance, panting from the exertion of running, "Who is that? Have you found Susila?"
Photine looked up through tear-soaked eyes. "Yes, I have."
Susila opened his eyes groggily. It took him a moment to recognize the interior of the Mobile Motel. Slowly sitting up, Susila ran his tongue around his dry mouth, not quite realizing how alien it felt. Looking around blearily, everything seemed too far down. Making to rub his eyes, Susila suddenly felt two smooth stones against his face.
Eyes snapping open, Susila looked down at his hands, nearly fainting at the sight. His hands and claws looked like they were made from solid crystal, though they moved fluidly enough. He could see his clear muscles flexing against his transparent bones. His arms were covered in broad, armor-like white scales. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, Susila stood quickly, suddenly dizzy at how far away the floor of the vehicle was. He felt some new part of himself brush against the Motel's ceiling. Reaching up, Susila felt a smooth pair of horns growing from his skull that prevented him from looking too far down.
Panic and confusion starting to set in, Susila desperately searched for a mirror. "Susila, please calm yourself," MADAM's voice came from the ceiling above him.
Looking up, Susila ran his snout into the ceiling. Swearing under his breath, Susila gave up on standing and sat back down on his bed, cradling his head in his diamond claws. "This can't be happening," Susila tried to convince himself, "I'm still dreaming. If I just wait, I'll wake up."
"Unfortunately, that is not the case," MADAM said, an invisible claw rubbing Susila's back reassuringly, "Please try to remain calm, Susila. We will figure this out."
MADAM's motherly personality had once again emerged on Susila's account. He felt guilty over worrying her, looking up to the ceiling. "What happened to me?" he asked.
"We do not know," MADAM answered sadly, "But we are looking into it." MADAM wrapped a blanket around Susila, still rubbing his back.
Susila closed his eyes. The last thing he remembered was falling through the ward in the pyramid. Had the ward done this? Several voices outside the Motel suddenly caught Susila's attention.
"We need to examine this in detail!" an unfamiliar voice demanded, "Who knows what sort of archaeological significance that diamond had!"
Diamond? Susila thought to himself, What diamond?"
"Forget archaeological significance!" another unfamiliar voice argued, "Consider the arcane impact of a gem that could power wards that strong."
"All of you be quiet!" Susila heard Tawny's voice hiss out, "He's still resting and if you wake him, I swear I will use this on you!" Susila had never heard Tawny this awake or angry before.
"And I might be a chef," Melissa said protectively, "But if you even try to come near this door, I will show you how painful a bee's sting can be!"
Susila felt comforted to have his welfare be so closely guarded, though the two small women hadn't ever really seemed all that capable of defending the pride of another before.
"It's alright, Melissa, Tawny," Susila called through the wall of the Motel, "I'm already awake."
Melissa seemingly burst through the door at the speed of sound. "Susila!" she gestured tearfully, "Is that really you? Lord Grentail said it was you, but I'm not sure I believed him."
Susila was going to ask the same question of the bee, who seemed to have shrunk to a third of her normal size, but he quickly realized that she was still in proportion to the rest of the Motel.
Susila smiled sadly. "Yes, it's me," he said, relieved that his voice at least remained unchanged.
Melissa shot forward and hugged Susila's leg, which he realized was unusually skinny. Suddenly, a wave of incredible hunger washed over Susila as he clutched his collapsed stomach and let out a groan of discomfort.
Melissa quickly released Susila's leg, a look of concern on her face. "I didn't mean to hurt you," she said tearfully.
Susila shook his head. "No, it wasn't you," he assured the chef, "I'm just starving."
Melissa's expression suddenly brightened. "Oh good!" she exclaimed, catching Susila off guard, "That means I can help!"
"As can I," MADAM said, a tone of equal relief evident in her voice.
Susila realized that, as servants, both Melissa and MADAM would be happy to serve him now that he needed it. Nodding, Susila said, "Make whatever seems easiest to digest."
As MADAM created the ingredients, Melissa prepared a large sandwich for Susila. Just as it was finished, Lord Grentail barged through the door. "And I am not going to dissect him, no matter how many times you ask, you little cretin!" the dragon shouted. For the first time that Susila could remember, Lord Grentail's tone was one of anger and exasperation.
Taking a breath, Lord Grentail looked to Susila with a forced smile. "Tawny said you'd woken up," the dragon said in what was supposed to be a cheerful tone, but it came across as tired and frustrated, "I'm glad to see you're alright."
Susila blinked. "Alright?" he demanded, disregarding the dragon's title, "Do I look alright to you?!"
Lord Grentail said nothing, but his smile was gone. "Mister Flores," he said calmly as he closed the door behind him, "I won't pretend to understand what you're going through, but trust me; we are doing everything in our power to find out what happened to you. But please, try to remain calm."
Starting to become frustrated by how many times he was hearing that, Susila looked away from Lord Grentail to Melissa, who was holding his sandwich up to him. The little cook didn't even crest his shins anymore.
Shaking his head, Susila took the sandwich from the bee. As soon as his diamond claws touched the food, there was a glow from within their depths, causing the sandwich to disappear. "Wonderful!" Susila shouted out in frustration, "Just wonder--"
Susila stopped. He didn't feel as hungry anymore. Susila also noticed that he felt more filled out than before, and looking at his body, he didn't seem quite as scrawny as he had been.
"Interesting," Lord Grentail said, moving to look at Susila's claws, "They instantly incorporate food into your body. Similarly to the Caloric Energy Storage spell."
Susila nodded. "But it has also fleshed out my musculature," he stated, "The energy has been more thoroughly incorporated as well. It's just like the theory of Mundane to Arcane energy, like when a spirit manifests physically and undergoes a metaphysical...transition?"
Susila suddenly realized that he both had no idea what he was talking about and understood every word perfectly. Lord Grentail was looking at Susila with extreme interest.
Susila shook his head. "I need a moment," he said simply, laying back down. Or at least he attempted to, but something got in his way.
Looking back, Susila saw two wings sprouting from his shoulders. For a moment, he simply stared at them, before taking a deep breath and forcing them out of his mind as he laid the rest of the way down.
"Come on, Melissa," Susila heard Lord Grentail say, followed by the door opening and closing.
Once they were gone, MADAM pulled the blanket over Susila. "Try to get some rest," MADAM said, "We'll figure this out tomorrow."
Susila didn't need to be told twice. Suddenly exhausted, it didn't take long for him to drift off to sleep.
Lord Grentail stepped out of the Motel, a sad expression on his face. Photine was waiting outside. "How is he?" she asked worriedly, forgetting to refer to her Lord properly.
Lord Grentail shook his head. "I don't know," he said, "His body seems fine, but he's in shock from the transformation."
"But transmutations have never been permanent," Photine reasoned, "He could still change back."
Lord Grentail looked to Photine. "We've never come across magic like this before," the dragon said, not wanting to give his butler false hope, "All we can do is help him get used to his new body."
Aaron suddenly appeared in a flash of violet light. "It's no good," he said disappointedly, "Not even the Old Ones ever came across this society before. They have no idea what kind of magic is a play here."
Lord Grentail nodded with comprehension. "From what I can gather," he said, "This society didn't want to be found by anyone."
"Which begs the question," Lord Aniruddha said, having emerged from his twelfth expedition into the Diamond's chamber and sitting on a stump beside Photine, "Why did the Diamond let us discover it now?"
A silent glance was shared between all present, no answers readily available.
It was dark when Susila woke again, though his new eyes could see just as well in the dark as they could in the light. Sitting up, Susila saw that everyone but Photine was sleeping in their beds. Curious, Susila made to stand, but remembered how little room he had before. Gritting his teeth, which caused an unpleasant grinding sound, Susila crawled out of bed on all fours. To his surprise, he was equally capable of moving around on all four as he was on two legs, his wings folding neatly at his sides. Susila noticed that in this stance, his head was still higher off the ground than his old body's head.
His crystalline claws tinkling as he moved, Susila quietly opened the door and moved outside. He was greeted by the sight of Photine looking up to the stars, singing softly to herself. Even quieted, the bird's voice was equivalent to that of the greatest flutists on Gaia.
Susila sat on his haunches and listen to Photine sing. Her song was slow and mournful, like a wordless funeral dirge. After a moment, Susila cleared his throat.
Photine stopped singing and turned slowly to Susila, smiling softly. "Good evening, Mister Flores," she said, hiding her sorrow.
Susila attempted to stand up straight, but stopped when he was towering over Photine when only halfway erect. Lowering himself back down on all fours, Susila greeted, "Hello, Miss Emberplume."
Susila noticed he was now a foot taller than Photine when quadrupedal, when he had once been a foot shorter than her standing fully erect. Susila shook his body in a mock shiver. "I hate heights," he joked, smiling warmly to Photine.
To Susila's relief, Photine actually laughed. The tension broken, Photine smiled honestly for the first time since Susila's transformation. Moving next to Photine, Susila looked up to the stars.
"Know any constellations?" he asked her, relieved to have the bird's company.
Photine nodded, looking up to the stars and pointing with a claw. "Aaron's constellation is out tonight," she stated, indicating five stars that mimicked the spacing of the spirit's five eyes, "Mors Mortis the Five Eyed."
Susila wasn't surprised that a spirit as old as Aaron would have his own constellation. "There's Ignis Aqua, the Spirit of Drink and Merriment," Susila pointed out a group of stars resembling a tankard.
The night passed thusly, Susila and Photine simply enjoying each other's company for the first time. Susila couldn't remember learning about the constellations, but he apparently knew plenty of them.
By the time the sun started to rise, Susila and Photine were laughing and smiling, the hectic events of the previous day a distant memory to them only brought forth when Susila made a joke concerning his new form.
Aaron looked out from the Motel, quietly watching the couple. "Well done, Susila," he said under his breath, "You've shown her how to be happy again."