Atosa was all smiles when Deneve and Lord Red return successfully from the Crescent Shrine. “You have the materials needed. We can begin.” He said as he clasped his hands excitedly.

“What else do we need to do?” Lord Red asked curiously.

“You need the knowledge and power that imbued into three ancient machines.” Atosa explained, “The Ancient Puturum, Kutum, and Ator. I will place their locations on the map for you,” He turned to Deneve, “You must absorb the energy of the ancient man’s heart from these three to ensure the black spirit finds himself. Then the key will be complete.”

“What do you get out of doing this?” Lord Red asked. He was suspicious that the Aakman might be using Deneve in some way. There was something extraordinary about this whole situation.

Atosa smiled, “We exist solely to protect the ancient power. You are the one.” He glanced kindly at Deneve. “You will lead us.”

“I can’t lead anyone. I’m not even from this world.” She answered aghast.

Atosa smiled enigmatically. “You will come to understand once the Black Spirit remembers.”

Deneve and Lord Red walked toward the first area on the map. Deneve was seemingly lost in her thoughts, and Lord Red gave her the space she seemed to need.

“What do you think he meant?” Deneve asked worriedly.

Without stating it expressly, Lord Red knew she feared for her control, her sanity over herself, and her autonomy as a person. “We can’t be sure.” Lord Red said truthfully. “But I doubt it would be anything harmful. Just because of the importance he places on this. They want you whole.”

He wouldn’t hurt us. I somehow know it.

The night was beginning to fall, and they had given up finding the Ancient Kutum in favor of a campsite when they saw it. It looked like a snake but not a full-bodied snake. The skeleton of a snake was made of stone, much like the ancient weapons they found at Cokro. It had a single glowing eye. The skeletal outside seemed to spin and protect a spine made up of more stone. There seemed to be some appendages that came out of the head around what looked to be an eye. They opened and closed like a mouth.

“Fascinating,” Lord Red moved closer to take a better look.

Thankfully the strang apparition didn’t attack. Deneve stepped closer to investigate. Immediately, Lord Red could see the energy of the Ancient Kutum’s heart as it went into Deneve, who absorbed it. A black mist appeared around Deneve. She started to shiver and hold her head as if she was in pain.

“Deneve!” Lord Red called to her as he started to move toward her. She held up her hand and managed to shake her head. He let his arms fall to his sides, powerless as he watched her deal with whatever the energy was.
Deneve dropped to her knees, still holding her head. Once the black mist dissipated, she looked up at Lord Red. “It’s done.”

He quickly offered her help to stand, which she took shakily. “That looked rough,” He said, worry furrowing his features.

“It was, but not in the way you might think. Let’s make camp. Then I’ll explain.” She murmured.

Lord Red set up camp mostly as Deneve was too exhausted to do much. It seemed her energy was coming back, though. He handed her some star anise tea before sitting next to her curiously. “So what was that about?”

“Well, it was just… a lot of information at once.” Deneve tried to explain, “Imagine getting several lifetimes worth of information, images, feelings, and thoughts in a few moments. It’s overwhelming. That is what the black spirit was dealing with.”

“I see,” Lord Red said with a bewildered look on his face.

“Then imagine that you are connected to another entity that feels and sees with you.” She continued. “You both get the full brunt of the experience.”

“That sounds disorienting and possibly dangerous.” He worried. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

He was afraid that maybe the next time it would be too much, and there might be permanent damage. Deneve had already gone above and beyond with the summons knowing that she could have lost her mind.

Others who had tried had gone mad. She was an anomaly, to be sure, but he worried that she might push too far.

“I need to see this through,” she said firmly. “Blackie even worries for me. He’s doing the best he can.”

He had expected this from her, so he merely nodded.

“Besides, it might be our only chance to go home.” She added.
“I know,” he answered.