The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) A. Kay (best management books of all time .TXT) 📖

Niall headed for an exit and then stopped. “Sister Hamma, can you remain with the revived? I want to guard against another accident.”

“Sure,” Hamma said, not looking at Niall.

“Thank you, Sister,” Niall said.

“Stop calling me that!” Hamma yelled.

Niall’s eyes grew large, and he nodded. “As you wish. I’ll be back shortly.”

Hamma stared into the revival bath, her knuckles white. Ruwen remained still and quiet. After a moment, her body relaxed, and she lifted the lid. Ruwen helped her move the body, and then the five others, in silence.

They sat together on an empty bed by the door, holding hands, and waiting for the six Elders to move. When they did, Hamma moved to each one, gently speaking to them in a reassuring voice. Elder Vachyl sat up, but when he caught sight of Ruwen, he laid back down.

Niall arrived with water and helped Hamma ease the Elders back into the living. When all six were sitting up in bed, Hamma returned to Ruwen.

“You weren’t this gentle with me,” Ruwen said. “If I remember correctly, you slapped me.”

“Knowing what I know now, I didn’t slap you hard enough,” Hamma said with a small smile. “Plus, you wouldn’t stop screaming.”

The six Elders didn’t move from their beds, but Ruwen could feel their stares. He sighed, pushed himself off the bed, and walked a few steps toward them. “I’m sorry for before. You have all been through a traumatic experience and I wish circumstances allowed me to be more sympathetic. But your past must remain there, for now.”

The Priestess Gabryel cleared her throat. “Who are you?”

Ruwen spread his hands. “I am ignorant, naive, unprepared, and responsible for the safety of this city and Uru’s southern border. My name is Ruwen.”

“How did you kill me?” Elder Vachyl asked.

Ruwen gave a small bow. “Again, my apologies. But it is important that you all know I’m serious.”

Elder Vachyl narrowed his eyes. “Threats are a sign of weakness, boy. And your apology demonstrates softness. I liked you better before you opened your mouth.”

Ruwen smiled. “Believe me, there are far better reasons to dislike me.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Elder Vachyl said.

“For Eiru’s sake, Vachyl, let it go,” Elder Gabryel said. “We’re all embarrassed by what this child did.”

Elder Vachyl scowled and pointed a finger at Elder Gabryel. Before he could speak, Ruwen stepped forward and the six Elders tensed.

“I tried to explain before,” Ruwen said, taking Scos from his Void Band. He handed the stuffed centipede to Elder Vachyl. “This totem’s power can only be wielded by Eiru’s chosen. I am that servant, and I speak with her voice.”

Elder Vachyl took Scos and jammed it at Ruwen, as if casting a spell. Nothing happened. The Fighter turned and studied the stuffed animal. “This is just a cure poison item.”

“An illusion to hide its power,” Ruwen said.

Ruwen had given Vachyl Scos so the man would know the totem wouldn’t work for him. While juggling the band balls earlier, Ruwen had thought about what the Elders might do. He had told them the totem was his source of power, so it was likely they would try and take it from him. By giving it to them, and nothing happening, it would cement his position as the only one able to wield its power.

“A power only I control,” Ruwen said in a serious tone.

Rami, ten Mana to the Gravitational Role please.

The blankets on the Elders all pressed downward and Elder Vachyl’s hands dropped. With an effort he raised them, continuing to study Scos.

This had gone exactly like Ruwen imagined. Now the Elders wouldn’t waste time trying to depose him, and they could focus on the enormous problems facing them.

“I wonder what happens if I destroy your totem?” Elder Vachyl asked and then twisted the centipede’s head off.

Small beads fell from Scos’s neck and head. They sounded like tiny hail as they struck the floor. Ruwen stared in disbelief. He hadn’t anticipated them destroying Scos, who only had a durability of ten.

Ruwen’s chest froze in place and breathing took all his strength. The others he could see appeared to have the same difficulty. The beads stopped falling, hundreds of them hanging in mid-air. The sudden silence felt just as oppressive as the thousand-pound weight crushing his lungs.

Is this you? Ruwen asked Rami.

Rami vibrated behind Ruwen’s right ear, and her mirth felt like a cool mist in his brain. No, but I know who it is.

The beads rose back toward Scos, as if time itself had reversed. Vachyl’s hands, each with a piece of Scos, smoked, and the smell of burned skin filled the room. Ruwen knew the pain must be horrific, but Vachyl only pressed his lips together, not making a sound.

Vachyl finally found the strength to open his hands, but the two pieces of Scos didn’t fall. Instead, they hovered in the air, moving to the center of the room. Stuffing beads trailed behind Scos like a wake of blood. Scos spun, the beads twirling around it like a grey cloud.

Mom lost her family shortly after she was born, Rami said. The Universe is a perilous place for baby wyrms. There is a balance the Universe keeps. The more dangerous something is as an adult, the weaker it is as an infant. A nest of centipedes adopted her, kept her safe, and loved her. She has never forgotten. Using Scos as the symbol of your power, with Mom so close, was genius.

It literally was that or a band ball.

How long did you consider using the band ball?

Honestly, it was close.

Rami laughed again.

A woman appeared behind the spinning Scos. She looked like an older version of what Rami appeared like in Ruwen’s mind, but with blonde hair. Black wings were folded behind her, the scales tinged in gold.

The woman grabbed the spinning stuffed centipede and cupped it in her hands. Ruwen squinted as the woman’s hands blazed with light, and then she strode to Ruwen.

The pressure surrounding Ruwen lessened and when the woman held out Scos he could lift his