Weaves of Ashes

Chapter 142: Chapter 137: An Unlikely Rescue

Location: Dark Forest → Pavilion

Time: Day 572/211 (Subjective/Actual) - Dawn

Realm: Lower Realm (Doha)

Jayde woke to gray dawn light filtering through the cave entrance and the uncomfortable weight of truths she couldn’t escape.

She hadn’t slept well. Dreams of golden light and dying stars and voices speaking her name in languages she didn’t know but somehow understood. Dreams of being assembled rather than born, crafted with purpose rather than conceived with love.

Made. Again. Always made, never natural.

She pushed the thought away. There were more immediate problems than existential crises about the nature of her existence.

Parasitic worms threatening to kill the entire planet, for instance.

[Jayde.] Isha’s mental voice was unusually subdued, lacking his typical confidence. [When you’re ready... we need to talk. About what happened yesterday. About the worms. About... everything.]

She sat up slowly, noting the careful tone. Isha sounded different—not his usual slightly sarcastic self. He sounded shaken.

”You sensed her,” Jayde said quietly. Not a question.

[The entire Pavilion shook when Mother manifested.] A pause heavy with meaning. [I heard what she said. About you. About... about Master.]

Master.

The word hung in the air between them, carrying weight Jayde hadn’t fully understood until now. Isha called his creator ”Master”—the Luminari who’d crafted the Starforge Nexus, who’d poured eons of knowledge and power into this artifact.

The same Luminari who’d apparently created Jayde using his own essence and Ala’s.

”You needed time to process,” Jayde said, understanding clicking into place. ”That’s why you didn’t contact me immediately last night.”

[I’ve served the Starforge Nexus for hundreds of thousands of years.] Isha’s voice carried weight that made the statement feel vast, incomprehensible. [I am the original—the first artifact Master created when the Luminari realized there were too few of us left to manage all the worlds that needed saving, all the dimensions requiring protection.]

He paused, presence heavy with ancient memory.

[Master created me, then used me as a template for others. Hundreds of Nexus copies scattered across dimensions, each weaker than the original but still functional. A force multiplier, because even the Luminari couldn’t be everywhere at once, and we were dying. Extinction approaching one generation at a time.]

Another pause, longer this time.

[I’ve guided countless contractors. Watched them rise and fall. Helped them save worlds or fail trying. And through it all, I’ve wondered why Master chose the parameters he did. Why does the Nexus only activate for certain individuals?]

His voice dropped to barely audible.

[I didn’t know Master created you specifically. That he’d combined his essence with Lady Ala’s to make you exist. You’re not just another contractor who happened to meet the requirements. You’re... his legacy. Their legacy. The child of two beings who loved each other before rage and grief tore them apart.]

”I don’t know what I am either,” Jayde said quietly. ”So we can figure that out together. Later. After we deal with the immediate problem.”

[The worms.] Relief flooded his tone—gratitude for the shift to practical matters. [Yes. Green arrived an hour ago after sensing the disturbance. We’ve been researching all night. When you’re ready—]

”Give me five minutes.”

Analysis: Existential crisis deferred. Mission priority: Consult Isha regarding the Demonic Nematomorpha threat. Proceed to the Pavilion for briefing.

***

Jayde splashed cold water on her face, changed into clean clothes, and strapped on weapons out of habit. Reiko stretched beside her, yawning to show impressive teeth.

[Big meeting?] he asked sleepily.

”Planetary survival discussion,” Jayde confirmed.

She started toward the cave entrance, ready to teleport directly to the Pavilion—

A faint sound stopped her.

Whimpering. Soft, pained, coming from the bushes just outside the cave’s protected perimeter.

Jayde’s hand went to her sword. [Reiko, you hear that?]

[Yes.] The shadowbeast’s ears perked forward, nose twitching. [Injured creature. Small. Young, I think. Essence signature is... strange. Powerful but contained.]

Caution warred with curiosity and something softer—the instinct that had made her save Yinxin’s wyrmlings on Telia, that had driven her to help Kameko despite the danger.

She approached carefully, parting the bushes.

Hidden among the undergrowth was a small cub. Badly mauled, fur matted with blood and dirt, breathing shallow and pained.

But even injured and filthy, Jayde could see what it was supposed to look like.

A feline of some kind. Sleek body covered in what should be pristine white fur—now stained red and brown. Sky-blue tipped ears lying flat against its head. Large blue eyes half-closed with pain and exhaustion. Four legs ending in retractable claws. A long tail twitching weakly.

Beautiful. Exotic. And clearly not native to the Lower Realm—the essence signature was all wrong, too refined, too powerful for local beasts.

”Hey, little guy,” Jayde said softly, kneeling. ”How did you get so badly mauled?”

***

You try being in this weak body for a night in this forest! Takara complained silently, though he kept his thoughts carefully shielded.

Everything around him had taken one look at this defenseless form and decided he would make a delicious snack. It had been exhausting, continuously running and hiding from low-level beasts that should have been beneath his notice.

His pride had taken such a beating, having to turn tail and run from such feeble creatures. But Fahmjir had ordered him not to take on his Panthera form unless it was a life-or-death situation.

And now finally—finally—the human was approaching with concern instead of violence.

Ah, but being stroked feels nice, Takara thought as Jayde’s hand gently touched his fur. Maybe being this weak wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

***

[Reiko, I don’t recognize this beast. Do you have any idea what it is?] Jayde asked, carefully examining the injuries—deep gashes from claws, bite marks, signs of prolonged harassment rather than a single attack.

[Jayde, if I’m not mistaken, I think this is a Sky Leopard Drake,] Reiko answered hesitantly.

”Never heard of it,” Jayde mumbled, pulling out a healing potion from her spatial ring.

[You wouldn’t have. And it shouldn’t be here in the Lower Realm—it’s an Upper Realm beast. Very rare. Very powerful when fully grown.]

[What? What the hell is an Upper Realm beast doing here?]

”Hey, little guy, how did you get here? Where’s your mama?” Jayde asked gently, applying healing salve to the worst wounds.

Takara heard Jayde mumbling something, but he was so tired from the exhausting ordeal that he just wanted to stay cuddled up in her arms and sleep. It was so warm and comforting.

Much better than being swatted by dragon tails or shot at with arrows.

[Reiko, can you find out where his mother is?]

[I can try,] Reiko warned, [but looking at his size, he’s very young. He might not understand me.]

Reiko reached out mentally, establishing a careful connection with the cub’s consciousness.

After a couple of minutes, Reiko pathed to Jayde: [The little guy’s name is Takara. His mother was killed by hunters. He’s not sure how he ended up here in the Lower Realm, but he’s all alone.]

Jayde could hear how upset Reiko was—he must be empathizing with the small cub, recognizing the echo of his own story. Kameko had died protecting him. This cub had lost his mother, too.

Jayde felt torn. She knew there was no way Reiko would want to leave the cub behind. But she couldn’t bring an Upper Realm beast with her—how would she explain this creature’s presence if anyone asked?

She discussed the problem with Reiko, but Reiko insisted they bring Takara with them. If they left the cub behind, he would surely die. And Sky Leopard Drakes weren’t that common, so Reiko didn’t think there would be much risk of anyone recognizing the species.

***

Takara listened to the discussion between Jayde and Reiko. When Reiko had linked to his mind, Takara had formed a pathway between the two.

Using this pathway, Takara pathed to Reiko that, like all Sky Leopard Drakes, he could alter his appearance slightly for camouflage—a natural defense ability.

And with that thought, he triggered the transformation.

His white fur remained but became even more pristine. The sky-blue ear tips brightened slightly. His eyes grew larger, rounder, more innocent-looking. His body became even smaller, fluffier, more helpless in appearance.

The perfect picture of an adorable, defenseless kitten that needed protection.

***

Jayde was so shocked when the cub in her arms suddenly shifted appearance.

”Stars preserve us!” she exclaimed, nearly dropping the now even-cuter creature.

Reiko quickly explained: [Sky Leopard Drakes have the ability to camouflage themselves. It’s one of their strongest defense abilities—they can adjust their appearance slightly to seem less threatening, more approachable. I’m surprised such a young cub has this much control, though. He must have exceptional bloodline strength.]

Jayde studied the transformed cub. Now he looked like a common snow kitten—white fur, blue-tipped ears, large blue eyes that gazed up at her with heartbreaking innocence.

Completely harmless.

Utterly adorable.

And based on the way he was purring softly in her arms, apparently very comfortable with being rescued.

”Okay,” Jayde said, making a decision. ”We’ll take him. But Takara—” She looked directly into those blue eyes. ”You stay in this form. If anyone asks, you’re a snow kitten I found injured in the forest. Understand?”

Takara purred louder, nuzzling against her hand.

Perfect, he thought smugly. Finally! Mission accomplished! I’m in!

[You’re too soft-hearted,] Reiko sent, but his mental voice carried approval. [Always collecting strays.]

”Says the shadowbeast cub I contracted,” Jayde shot back with a slight smile.

She tucked Takara carefully into a pocket of her jacket—the cub was small enough to fit comfortably, and he seemed content to curl up and rest.

”Alright, now we can go to the Pavilion. Isha’s probably wondering where I am.”

Jayde touched the Nexus mark, feeling the familiar pull of teleportation. Reality twisted—

***

Pavilion - Main Hall

—and suddenly she stood in the Pavilion’s main hall.

Isha materialized immediately, his translucent fox form shimmering with unusual agitation. Green stood near a conjured table covered in scrolls and books, her fractured emerald eyes reflecting lamplight as she looked up.

”Jayde.” Green’s voice was gentle but strained. ”We’ve been expecting you. Sit. We have much to discuss.”

The healer looked exhausted, Jayde noticed. Dark circles under those emerald eyes, robes rumpled as if she’d been awake all night researching. Worried lines around her mouth that hadn’t been there before.

Concerned. Frightened.

But before anyone could begin the meeting, Isha’s gaze locked onto the small white kitten peeking out from Jayde’s jacket pocket.

The ancient kitsune went absolutely still.

[Jayde,] he sent very carefully, [where did you get that cub?]

”Found him injured outside my cave this morning,” Jayde explained. ”Upper Realm beast—Sky Leopard Drake, according to Reiko. Mother killed by hunters. He was alone and hurt, so I brought him with me. His name’s Takara.”

Isha and Green exchanged a long look.

[I see,] Isha said slowly, his tone carefully neutral. [How... fortunate that you found him.]

From his pocket, Takara peered out at the ancient artifact spirit, his innocent blue eyes meeting Isha’s knowing gaze.

For a moment, perfect understanding passed between them.

Isha knew exactly what Takara was. Takara knew that Isha knew. And both understood that this secret would remain unspoken—at least for now.

[Welcome to our cause, little one,] Isha sent privately to Takara. [I trust you’ll serve her well.]

[With my life,] Takara replied solemnly. [As my lord commanded.]

Out loud, Isha simply said: ”A Sky Leopard Drake. Quite rare. You have a talent for attracting unusual companions, Jayde.”

”Apparently,” Jayde agreed, completely missing the subtext.

She settled into a chair, summoning Yinxin from the pet space. The silver dragon materialized beside her, massive form filling much of the hall. Reiko pressed against Jayde’s leg, offering silent support. Takara remained in her pocket, observing everything with those deceptively innocent blue eyes.

Green moved closer to the table, her petite form somehow commanding despite exhaustion. The scrolls and books spread before her seemed ancient, covered in script that writhed when Jayde tried to focus on it.

”Now,” Jayde said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion and lingering confusion, ”tell me about these worms. Mother Doha said they’re called Demonic Nematomorpha. She said they’re threatening the entire planet. What do we need to know?”

Green’s expression was grim as she reached for the first scroll.

Isha’s translucent form solidified beside her, his nine tails moving in patterns that suggested deep concern.

And in Jayde’s pocket, a five-thousand-year-old warrior prepared to listen, to learn, and to plan how he would protect this reckless child from the horror she was about to face.

The briefing was about to begin.