Chapter 12: Back to the Temple
The forest had become strangely quiet.
Not peaceful.
Quiet.
There was a difference.
Baryon walked through the trees with his hands behind his head, humming some half-remembered tune from his previous life.
Lucien walked beside him.
Poseidon followed a few steps behind, occasionally glancing toward the surrounding trees.
And Raze...
Raze occupied an unreasonable amount of the path.
The Bloodscale Ravager's enormous body moved behind the three boys like a living fortress. His black scales reflected what little sunlight managed to penetrate the canopy, while the crimson patterns beneath them pulsed faintly with each breath.
Baryon looked over his shoulder.
"Raze."
The Ravager's head turned.
"You're walking too slowly."
Raze stared at him.
Baryon stared back.
Lucien stopped walking.
Poseidon stopped walking.
Raze remained completely still.
Baryon pointed ahead.
"Come on."
Raze blinked.
Baryon waited.
The Ravager slowly looked down at his own enormous legs.
Then back at Baryon.
Baryon's expression became thoughtful.
"Okay, that's fair."
Poseidon snorted.
Baryon immediately turned around.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You laughed."
"I didn't."
"You did."
Poseidon continued walking.
"I breathed."
Baryon narrowed his eyes.
"That's my line."
"Then get better material."
Lucien covered his mouth.
Baryon looked betrayed.
"Lucien."
"I'm staying out of this."
"You're supposed to be my friend."
"I am."
"Then defend me."
"Against what?"
"Against Poseidon's disrespect."
Poseidon glanced back.
"You're the one arguing with yourself."
Baryon pointed at him.
"See?"
Lucien shook his head.
Raze released a deep rumble.
Baryon immediately looked toward him.
"You agree with me?"
Raze stared.
Baryon nodded.
"Exactly."
Poseidon stopped.
"Do you actually understand what that thing is saying?"
"No."
"Then why do you keep pretending?"
"Because he keeps agreeing with me."
"He growled."
"Exactly."
Lucien laughed.
Baryon grinned.
Raze continued walking.
For several minutes, the four traveled without speaking.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
That surprised Poseidon.
He had expected traveling with Baryon to become exhausting.
It was exhausting.
But somehow...
It wasn't unpleasant.
Baryon was loud, impulsive, and apparently incapable of allowing a moment to exist without filling it with some ridiculous comment.
Lucien was calmer, but there was something quietly mischievous about the way he watched Baryon and Poseidon argue.
And Raze...
Poseidon still wasn't sure what to make of Raze.
The creature was enormous.
Powerful.
Old enough to have survived almost a century in a world filled with magical beasts and divine beings.
Yet around Baryon, Raze behaved differently.
Not weak.
Not submissive.
Just...
Trusting.
Poseidon glanced at the creature.
Raze noticed.
Their eyes met.
Poseidon looked away.
A few seconds passed.
Then he glanced back.
Raze was still looking at him.
Poseidon frowned.
"What?"
Raze tilted his head.
Poseidon stared.
"Stop doing that."
Raze continued staring.
Poseidon sighed.
"You're weird."
Raze walked closer.
Poseidon stiffened.
The Ravager lowered its massive head.
Poseidon hesitated.
Then slowly reached up.
His hand disappeared into the thick scales around Raze's neck.
Raze closed his eyes.
Poseidon froze.
Baryon stopped walking.
Lucien stopped too.
Poseidon immediately realized they were watching.
"What?"
Baryon's grin appeared.
"Nothing."
Poseidon narrowed his eyes.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"I was going to say that Raze likes you."
Poseidon looked at the enormous creature.
Raze was still standing there with his eyes closed.
Poseidon sighed.
"...Maybe."
Baryon gasped dramatically.
"HE ADMITTED IT!"
Poseidon pulled his hand away.
"Forget it."
Raze opened his eyes.
Poseidon immediately regretted moving.
The Ravager lowered his head again.
Poseidon looked at Baryon.
Baryon was practically vibrating with laughter.
"Don't."
Baryon held up both hands.
"Not saying anything."
"Good."
"Nothing at all."
"Good."
"Absolutely nothing."
"BAryon."
Baryon burst out laughing.
Poseidon started walking.
Lucien followed, laughing quietly.
Baryon ran after them.
"Wait!"
"No."
"Poseidon!"
"No."
"You're abandoning your friends!"
"You've been my friend for less than a day!"
"Exactly! We're making excellent progress!"
Poseidon shook his head.
Despite himself, a smile appeared.
Baryon noticed.
He didn't comment.
For once.
The smile remained for only a few seconds.
But it was there.
And that was enough.
---
By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the sky had begun to change.
The light was softer.
The air cooler.
Baryon stepped out from between the trees.
And stopped.
Poseidon nearly walked into him.
"What?"
Baryon pointed.
Poseidon looked.
His eyes widened.
Lucien stopped beside them.
Even Raze lifted his head.
The Temple of a Thousand Gods stood in the distance.
Baryon had seen it before.
But somehow, the sight still felt overwhelming.
The temple wasn't simply large.
Calling it a building felt insulting.
It was a divine city constructed around a central temple, with enormous white-gold structures stretching toward the heavens.
Bridges floated between towers.
Massive stairways spiraled upward without visible support.
Streams of luminous energy flowed through the streets like rivers of liquid stars.
Countless divine symbols were carved into pillars, walls, and enormous gates.
The central temple rose above everything else.
Its peak disappeared into the clouds.
Even from this distance, Baryon could sense the enormous presence of countless gods within it.
Poseidon stared.
"I've seen it before."
Baryon looked at him.
"You have?"
Poseidon nodded.
"Not recently."
"How did you get here?"
Poseidon shrugged.
"Water."
Baryon stared.
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"How?"
Poseidon looked at him.
"Eventually you'll learn that water can take you places."
Baryon narrowed his eyes.
"That sounds suspiciously like something a sea god would say."
Poseidon sighed.
"Here we go again."
Lucien smiled.
Raze gave a low rumble.
Baryon pointed toward him.
"See? He thinks you're suspicious too."
Poseidon looked at Raze.
"He's been around you too long."
Raze blinked.
Baryon gasped.
"Are you saying I'm a bad influence?"
"Yes."
"How dare you."
Lucien nodded.
"You are."
"Lucien!"
"Objectively."
Baryon placed a hand over his heart.
"I thought we had something special."
"We do."
"Then why are you hurting me?"
"Because friendship requires honesty."
Poseidon nodded.
"He's right."
Baryon stared at both of them.
Then slowly looked at Raze.
"At least I have you."
Raze stared.
Baryon smiled.
Raze turned his head away.
Baryon's jaw dropped.
"Even you?!"
Poseidon laughed.
This time, he didn't bother hiding it.
---
They eventually reached the enormous gates of the temple.
Two divine guards stood at the entrance.
Both immediately noticed Raze.
Their hands moved toward their weapons.
Raze's body tensed.
Baryon stepped forward.
"Wait."
The guards stopped.
One looked at Baryon.
Then at Raze.
Then back at Baryon.
"That creature cannot enter."
Baryon's expression changed.
"Why?"
"It's a Bloodscale Ravager."
"I know."
"It's dangerous."
Baryon looked at Raze.
The creature stared back.
Then Baryon looked at the guard.
"So am I."
The guard blinked.
Poseidon covered his face.
Lucien sighed.
Baryon immediately corrected himself.
"That came out wrong."
"Very."
"I meant that Raze isn't going to hurt anyone."
The guard's expression remained stern.
"You cannot guarantee that."
Baryon glanced at Raze.
Raze looked back.
Baryon walked over to him.
He placed his hand against Raze's side.
"You're not going to hurt anyone, right?"
Raze stared down at him.
Then looked at the guards.
The guards immediately stiffened.
Raze lowered his head.
He didn't growl.
He didn't bare his teeth.
He simply stared.
Baryon smiled.
"See?"
The guard looked unconvinced.
Poseidon stepped forward.
"He saved us earlier."
The guard looked at him.
Poseidon continued.
"He had opportunities to attack us. He didn't."
Lucien nodded.
"And he protected us from the Gravefangs."
The guards looked toward Raze again.
Baryon folded his arms.
"He's with us."
One guard frowned.
"With you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Baryon thought about it.
He could have said because Raze was strong.
Because Raze had helped them.
Because the Ravager had somehow accepted him.
But those weren't the real reasons.
Baryon looked at the creature.
"Because he's our friend."
The word seemed to settle into the air.
Raze's eyes shifted toward Baryon.
Poseidon glanced at him.
Lucien smiled.
The guard looked at the three boys.
Then at the Ravager.
Finally, he stepped aside.
"Keep it under control."
Baryon grinned.
"He's not a pet."
Raze's head turned.
Baryon paused.
"...Right?"
Raze stared.
"Definitely not a pet."
Raze continued staring.
"Okay, we'll discuss that later."
Poseidon laughed.
The four entered.
---
The temple was quieter than Baryon remembered.
The older gods had been in a meeting.
Apparently, it had finally ended.
That meant the temple was no longer filled with the overwhelming pressure of thousands of divine beings gathered in one place.
Baryon immediately noticed the difference.
"Where is everyone?"
Lucien shrugged.
"Probably returning to their domains."
Poseidon looked around.
"It's still crowded."
Baryon stared at him.
"How is this crowded?"
A group of gods walked past them.
Then another.
Then another.
One of them glanced at Raze and nearly walked into a pillar.
Baryon pointed.
"See?"
Poseidon looked at him.
"That proves nothing."
"That god almost died because of Raze's beauty."
Poseidon stared.
"Beauty?"
Baryon looked at Raze.
Raze looked at Baryon.
Baryon nodded.
"Look at him."
Poseidon stared at the giant beast.
Black scales.
Crimson markings.
Two enormous horns.
Jagged teeth.
A tail capable of smashing trees.
Poseidon slowly turned toward Baryon.
"You're insane."
Lucien nodded.
"Again, objectively."
Baryon frowned.
"Raze is handsome."
Raze's tail moved.
Baryon pointed.
"See? He agrees."
Poseidon groaned.
"That thing probably wants to eat you."
Baryon walked over to Raze.
He placed his hand against the Ravager's snout.
"Would you eat me?"
Raze stared.
Baryon waited.
Raze slowly opened his mouth.
Baryon's eyes widened.
"HEY!"
Raze closed his mouth.
Baryon stared.
The Ravager stared.
Poseidon burst into laughter.
Lucien joined him.
Baryon pointed at Raze.
"That wasn't funny!"
Raze's tail moved.
Baryon narrowed his eyes.
"...Did you just do that on purpose?"
The Ravager turned away.
Baryon's mouth fell open.
"YOU DID!"
Raze began walking.
"Come back here!"
Raze walked faster.
"RAZE!"
The Ravager broke into a surprisingly quick trot.
Baryon ran after him.
Poseidon watched them disappear down the corridor.
"He's ridiculous."
Lucien nodded.
"Yes."
Poseidon looked at him.
"But..."
Lucien glanced at him.
Poseidon hesitated.
"...It's not bad."
Lucien smiled.
"No."
They followed.
---
They found Raze in one of the temple's enormous gardens.
Baryon was sitting on the Ravager's back.
Poseidon stopped.
"What are you doing?"
Baryon looked down.
"Riding Raze."
"I can see that."
"Then why ask?"
Poseidon stared.
"Get off him."
"No."
"Why?"
"He's comfortable."
Raze lowered his head.
Poseidon stared.
"You've known him for one day."
"Yes."
"And you're already riding him."
"Yes."
Poseidon looked at Lucien.
"Is this normal?"
Lucien considered the question.
"For Baryon?"
"Yes."
"Unfortunately."
Poseidon sighed.
Baryon leaned against Raze's back.
The scales were surprisingly comfortable.
He could feel the faint vibration of Raze's breathing beneath him.
The creature's body was warm.
Almost unnaturally so.
Baryon placed a hand against one of the scales.
"You're really warm."
Raze glanced backward.
Baryon smiled.
"Do you think you could use that heat for something?"
Raze stared.
Baryon frowned.
"Never mind."
Poseidon sat beneath a nearby tree.
Lucien sat beside him.
Baryon looked at them.
"You two look old."
Poseidon opened one eye.
"What?"
"Like old men sitting under a tree."
Lucien smiled.
Poseidon frowned.
"You're sitting on a giant monster."
"Exactly."
Poseidon looked at Raze.
Then at Baryon.
"Get down."
"No."
"Baryon."
"No."
Lucien chuckled.
"Just leave him."
Poseidon stared at him.
"You're encouraging this?"
"Raze doesn't seem bothered."
Poseidon looked at the Ravager.
Raze had closed his eyes.
He looked almost peaceful.
Poseidon sighed.
"Fine."
Baryon grinned.
"Good."
The four remained there.
For a while, nobody spoke.
And somehow, that silence felt different from the one in the forest.
Baryon looked around the garden.
There were flowers he didn't recognize.
Trees with silver leaves.
Small streams of glowing water.
Birds made entirely of light.
A tree whose branches held floating crystals instead of fruit.
He stared.
"Wow."
Poseidon looked over.
"What?"
Baryon pointed.
"That."
Poseidon followed his finger.
"That's a divine fruit tree."
Baryon sat upright.
"Can you eat them?"
"Yes."
Baryon's eyes widened.
"Can I?"
Poseidon stared.
"You don't know what it does."
"That's part of the fun."
"No."
"Why?"
"It could kill you."
Baryon shrugged.
"I've survived worse."
Poseidon frowned.
"You've been alive for barely a week."
Baryon froze.
"Technically."
Lucien looked at him.
"Technically?"
Baryon quickly looked away.
"Nothing."
Poseidon narrowed his eyes.
"You say strange things sometimes."
Baryon smiled.
"I'm a strange guy."
Poseidon watched him for a moment.
Then looked away.
He didn't press.
Lucien didn't either.
That was another thing Baryon appreciated about them.
They could joke.
They could argue.
They could annoy one another.
But they also knew when to leave something alone.
Baryon leaned backward.
His head rested against Raze's neck.
His eyes slowly closed.
For a moment, his mind wandered.
He remembered his previous life.
His family.
His children.
The life he had lost.
The promise he'd made to himself.
He would become strong enough to find them.
That goal remained.
It hadn't changed.
But something else had appeared.
Friends.
Real ones.
Baryon opened his eyes.
He looked at Lucien.
Then Poseidon.
Then Raze.
He smiled faintly.
'Maybe this world isn't so bad.'
Raze's ear twitched.
Baryon looked at him.
"You heard that?"
Raze's eye opened.
Baryon smiled.
"Yeah."
Poseidon watched him.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing."
"You were talking to him."
"Telepathically."
Poseidon stared.
"You can't communicate telepathically."
"I can if I believe hard enough."
Poseidon looked at Lucien.
"Does he always do this?"
"Yes."
"How do you tolerate him?"
Lucien thought for a moment.
"Practice."
Baryon laughed.
Raze released a deep rumble.
The three boys looked at him.
Poseidon smiled.
"He's laughing at you."
Baryon's eyes widened.
"Wait."
He looked at Raze.
"Did you really just laugh?"
Raze closed his eyes.
Baryon sat up.
"Raze."
Nothing.
"Raze."
Nothing.
"RAZE."
The creature's tail moved.
Baryon's eyes widened.
Poseidon started laughing again.
Lucien followed.
Baryon looked between them.
Then he began laughing too.
And Raze...
For just a moment...
The corners of his enormous mouth lifted.
Barely.
Almost imperceptibly.
But it happened.
The four remained there until the light began to fade.
No battles.
No divine revelations.
No overwhelming displays of power.
Just four beings who had barely known one another long enough to learn each other's names.
Yet something was already taking shape.
Baryon was learning that friendship wasn't merely having someone beside you when things became dangerous.
It was having someone beside you when nothing was happening at all.
Lucien was learning that Baryon's reckless personality hid a surprisingly thoughtful heart.
Poseidon was learning that solitude wasn't always preferable to company.
And Raze...
Raze was learning something perhaps more unfamiliar than all of them.
Trust.
The Bloodscale Ravager had survived by relying on itself.
Its claws.
Its scales.
Its instincts.
Its strength.
But now three strange boys had entered its world.
They didn't treat it like a beast.
They didn't fear it.
They didn't worship it.
They simply treated it like one of them.
And perhaps that was why Raze stayed.
Not because Baryon was powerful.
Not because Lucien was kind.
Not because Poseidon could command the seas.
But because, for the first time in a long time...
Raze didn't have to stand alone.
Baryon looked at the fading sky.
"Tomorrow, we're exploring."
Poseidon immediately answered.
"No."
Baryon looked at him.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Absolutely yes."
Poseidon sighed.
Lucien smiled.
Raze lifted his head.
Baryon pointed toward him.
"See? Raze wants to."
Poseidon looked at Raze.
The Ravager stared back.
Poseidon sighed.
"Fine."
Baryon's grin returned.
"YES!"
"But we're not getting lost."
"Obviously."
"And you're not touching anything dangerous."
"Of course."
"And you're not picking fights with random monsters."
Baryon paused.
Poseidon narrowed his eyes.
"Baryon."
"Define random."
"Goodnight."
Poseidon stood.
Lucien followed.
Raze rose.
Baryon remained on his back.
"Where are you going?"
"To sleep."
"Already?"
"It's night."
"So?"
"So normal people sleep."
Baryon looked offended.
"I'm not normal."
Poseidon stared at him.
"That is the first sensible thing you've said all day."
Baryon gasped.
"Lucien!"
Lucien was already walking away.
"Goodnight, Baryon."
"Traitor!"
Poseidon followed Lucien.
Raze remained beside Baryon.
Baryon leaned against the Ravager's neck.
"At least you understand me."
Raze stared ahead.
Baryon smiled.
"Right?"
Raze's tail flicked.
Baryon nodded.
"Exactly."
The temple slowly fell into darkness.
Thousands of divine beings returned to their domains.
The great meeting of the older gods was over.
The halls grew quieter.
And somewhere inside the Temple of a Thousand Gods, four unlikely companions began what would eventually become one of the most important bonds in Baryon's life.
Not because fate had announced it.
Not because prophecy demanded it.
Not because some ancient god had commanded it.
But because four strangers had simply decided...
They didn't want to be strangers anymore.