Held Qytet A.K.A Home

Spindellia holds Zenzo in the air, pulling him closer.

"Goodbye, love."

Zenzo uses his left hand to strike her in the head. Spindellia lifts her spider legs to guard herself, but is buried into the wall by the immense force behind his awakened arm. Rocks fall on top of her, leaving no visible trace of her. The spiderlings in the area scatter throughout the tunnels. He runs to help Xander and Jewel up. Jewel looks around to ensure Spindellia is defeated.

"I wish your power didn't last so long, Zen..." She says, holding her head. "It makes drawn-out fights unbearable."

Xander cracks his neck as he says, "Yeah. But it's fun not being strong sometimes! When he makes us weaker, we must use our wits more than our brawn!"

Zenzo looks at the rocks and says, "We need to get out of here to have more room to engage properly."

Jewel grabs them and runs to the exit. Spindellia's spider leg extends past them and the exit into the wall, knocking the rocks off her.

"Oh no, love. You think a few rocks are enough to stop me?"

Zenzo shakes his head.

"Put me down, Jewel. I'll handle this."

"What?!"

"I'm the only one who can until my power wears off."

Xander winds his arm.

"I refuse to let you have all the fun. I told you I'll keep you alive at all costs."

Spindellia dusts herself off as she rises with her spider legs.

"Enough. All this talk like you have a chance. I've been stretching my legs. My pretties, fire."

The spiderlings reappear from the tunnels and shoot web balls at them. Zenzo pushes Xander and Jewel away and rolls forward to dodge, grabbing his kite shield and mace. The bullet-like projectiles flying in his direction cut through the air, and he's hit in the shoulder and back. Stumbling backward, he raises his shield as he plants his feet. As the web balls approach, he swings his mace, knocking them toward Spindellia. BINK!

The sound resembled a metal bat hitting a baseball. She raises her spider legs to deflect them back at him.

When the balls return, he swings again, knocking them back at her. This creates an intense game of tennis, where they continue knocking the web balls back and forth until one of them makes a mistake. Furthermore, additional webs are being shot into the mix, forcing them to pick up speed. Zenzo relentlessly smashes the web balls back to her, but the issue is, even weakened, Spindellia is much faster than him, and there is currently a limit to how fast his right arm can move. It is no surprise that as the number of web balls skyrocketed into the thousands, Zenzo finally made a mistake.

He raises his shield to block the attacks now that he has messed up. Each of the balls Spindellia sends back hits his shield, dragging his body back through the cave as they land. Providing support, Xander and Jewel run behind him, placing their bodies on his back. Both are struck from the sides by more spiderlings, causing them to be punctured and bleed. They manage to stop him from going backward, and his shield fends off the remaining attacks.

Spindellia dashes in and knocks Xander and Jewel into a web on the walls with her spider legs. Zenzo swings his mace, but she dashes back, and he is caught in webbing by the spiderling's silk. Spindellia uses her spider legs to spin him around until he can no longer move.

"It wasn't as enjoyable as our first time, but it was still a fun battle, love. Come. I shall see you to your descent into the darkness. A single bite from my fangs, and it's all over."

She pulls him closer, showing the fangs in her mouth. Xander roars as he tears the skin from his back to pull away from the web. It sounds like paper tearing when his skin rips from the web. He sprints through the cave, and Spindellia looks past Zenzo and sees him. She sighs, moving Zenzo to the side. A spider leg pierces his oblique, coming out of the back.

"XAN!" Jewel yells.

Xander flexes his muscles and pulls her by the spider leg lodged inside him. She pierces him again with another spider leg in his other oblique. He grits his teeth as blood comes out of his mouth, using both hands to pull her closer.

"Are you mad?! Stay back!" She yells, striking him with her remaining spider legs.

Xander pulls her closer until her body is within arm's reach while being struck and slashed all over. The second he can reach her, he uses both hands to grab her by the throat. In retaliation, she pierces his abdomen with two more spider legs. He spits blood into her face, tightening his grip on her neck. She tries to penetrate his skull with another, but he catches the spider's leg with his mouth, digging his teeth into her leg, causing her to scream.

He yells as he sees her finally starting to pass out. Spider web balls hit him from the sides, making his vision blurry due to the blood loss. Spiderlings desperate to save their queen converge on Xander's location and crawl up his body, waiting for their command. He can feel each of their prickly feet upon his skin. There are so many that it feels like a Brillo pad is gently rubbed up and down his body. Spindellia grins and licks her lips.

"Feast."

Spiderlings and their increased power take chunks from Xander's arms and legs when they bite. Despite being on the brink of death, Xander refuses to let her throat go, determined to take her with him. The veins the spiders haven't eaten pop out of his entire body as he gives it one last push. She stares into his eyes, and with blood pouring down his face, his gaze does not shift for a second. But then. Zenzo's power wears off, and she plants her humanoid foot into Xander's stomach, lifting him off her. She does a back handspring, slamming him into the ground.

"Oh. Bad timing, love. You almost had me. Zen's power fucked you till the end. Speaking of which." She said, turning to Zenzo. Walking over, she finishes, "Now there's nothing to stop me from finishing you."

Jewel's heart thumps like she is playing a video game where you must tap the button as fast as possible to win, unsure of what to do. Anything she can do while webbed will hurt them, too. And if she does nothing, they die.

"Forgive me if I kill you guys." She says, closing her eyes.

Before she could open her mouth to use her power, a familiar voice echoed through the cave.

"KNEEL!"

Every spiderling in the vicinity kneels so hard that they are buried in the soil beneath them. Spindellia sinks lower but uses willpower to ensure her knee doesn't hit the ground. Spindellia shakes and trembles as Priyanna dashes in at the speed of light, freeing Jewel before grabbing Spindellia by the throat and crashing into the cave walls. Priyanna drags Spindellia through the mountain above them, guaranteeing she creates more tunnels than were previously available.

Jewel runs to cut through the webbing at the exit and then grabs Xander and Zenzo to escape. As she reaches the exit, Priyanna comes through the mountain from above, slamming Spindellia through the ground in front of her and creating a well as she continues to battle their powerful adversary. Jewel continues running until they are far away from the cave. When she looks back, Priyanna has leveled the entire mountain.

"And I wanted to fight her. Shit. I have work to do."

She continues running until she reaches Betsy, Hippo, and Jimba.

"Betsy! We need your healing water immediately!"

Betsy, letting out a silent howl, sheds a tear, seeing Xander's condition. She sprays water out of her spout into the forests, and their bodies heal.

At the same time, Priyanna mercilessly continues to beat Spindellia through the forest. Spindellia uses her spider legs to fight back, but Priyanna easily deflects all eight legs with just one arm.

"Why the hell are you here?!"

Priyanna says nothing, flying up to the sky before divebombing downward. They catch fire from the speed, and Spindellia is slammed into pure stone, sending a crack through the continent. The leaves on the trees within a mile radius fly away, creating a tornado that tears through the environment. The bones in her body shatter as Priyanna lifts Spindellia. Spindellia's eyes struggle to fix themselves on her.

"You dare harm my lord and his companions?"

Spindellia, barely conscious, laughs.

"You love him, too, huh? I'm a prime example of how it doesn't go well. I was his lover before you."

"I am not his lover. Merely his greatest weapon."

Spindellia bursts into laughter, coughing up blood.

"Perhaps I should have been content with being the same." She says as her eyes close.

Priyanna raises her stinger to kill her, but stops.

Perhaps my lord wishes to keep her alive.

Priyanna destroys the ground as she flaps her wings and flies back to Zenzo and the others.

Zenzo and Xander rest on Betsy to regain their strength after being healed. Jewel places cloths dipped in healing water on their heads. She shakes her head, jumping off Betsy, thinking about the events that transpired.

Things could not have gone worse today. I felt utterly useless. I almost had to risk killing them for a chance to save us. I thought using these fans would help, but I couldn't do anything to contribute. I know we were caught off guard but fuck. She outmaneuvered the speed of light and sound like it was nothing. Are there enemies that transcend lightspeed?! THIS IS THE START OF OUR JOURNEY, AND WE'VE NEARLY DIED TWICE!

She punches the ground, creating a crater.

"FUCK!"

From now on, no more holding back. I need to train.

"Betsy, take care of the boys."

Jewel puts her mask over her mouth and disappears from her spot. The second she vanishes, Priyanna grabs her hakama, stopping her in her tracks.

"Let go of me!"

"No. Stay."

"No! I need to train!"

Priyanna pulls Jewel around and turns her to look into her eyes.

"No amount of training you do will stop you from suffering under my lord's power."

Jewel pulls her mask down.

"TCH! So what?! I do nothing?!" Waving her hand at the forest. "And struggle and nearly die to everyone we come up against in the future?!" She points up at Betsy. "He wouldn't need to rely on his power if I were stronger!"

Priyanna smiles.

"And you think that will help you at the end when you have to face the greatest evil in Infrangilmundo? My lord's power is the only thing that can beat him. Even I cannot defeat him. But I can help. We cannot do everything, but we must do what we can. We will gather our forces and go to war. Together. My lord must use his power to improve. And we must support in whatever way we can. It will not be easy, but we will prevail. Your dreams have already predicted the future. No matter what, we make it to the end."

Hearing the wisdom in her words calms her in a way she didn't think possible, coming from someone she doesn't particularly like.

"You're right. But I'm still going to train. If nothing else, it will put my mind at ease. I don't like the idea of losing and doing nothing."

Priyanna places her down.

"I don't think anyone here does." She says, placing a finger on Jewel's cheek.

She flies up to Betsy, landing on her knees with Spindellia in her lap. When she closes her eyes, Priyanna focuses on Zenzo's unconscious mind to connect with it.

My lord. Do you wish for her to live?

A deeper voice, one that is more powerful and commanding, responds.

Did you not get the memo when you tried to enter my mind last time?

My lord?! No. Is this the one asleep? The other you?

I am the real him. Leonidas. And you are not welcome.

I am your servant. And this enemy said you were lovers. Particularly your lover and not his. What shall I do?

Do whatever you please. If the other me wants her, spare her. If not. Kill her. It matters not to me. The next time you speak to me, I will dominate you completely.

Priyanna blushes.

Don't threaten me with a good time.

Leonidas malevolently laughs inside her head.

I may have use for you yet. Zenzo chose wisely, sparing you. Begone.

Leonidas forces Priyanna out of his mind. Her eyes open, and her heart pounds as a chill covers her body. She flies down from Betsy to speak to Jewel, who is sitting beside Jimba and Hippo.

"Did you see this enemy in your dreams? On our side?"

Jewel glares at Spindellia, grinding her teeth.

"Tch...Yes."

Priyanna exhales.

"Then it's settled. We keep this one alive."

"What?!"

"I shall keep an eye on her for the time being. I will guide you to your next destination and then return home to continue my duties. I was able to leave since it's night."

Jewel shakes her head.

"You are some kind of loyal."

Priyanna bows her head.

"That is what is ideal for my lord to succeed. How far are we from the next destination?"

"Not long. We've been traveling all day. This detour brought us closer."

"Good." She says, looking down at Spindellia. "Could you please heal our comrade?"

Jewel bites her thumbnail, staring at Spindellia.

"I could dominate her bones and force them to heal, but it would be excruciatingly painful for her."

Jewel's eyelids thin as she grows angrier at the thought.

"It's what she deserves after what she did to Xan. Heal her that way. Fuck her."

Priyanna walks over and sits on her knees before Jewel, grabbing her hand.

"Her heart needs to heal the same as yours. Love damaged her. I checked her mind, and she was going to kill herself after killing my lord."

Jewel closes her eyes, shaking her head.

"What the fuck is wrong with Zen?! First a wasp, and now a spider?! Who is Zen?! His actions don't match his personality of being scared of everything!"

Priyanna places her hand on Jewel's cheek.

"I tried to connect with his mind again and met with something...Powerful. The other him is there, sleeping, and he does not seem anything like my lord. I fear you may not know as much as you think."

Jewel opens her eyes, turning her head, staring at the ground.

"Clearly."

"Enjoy this version of him for as long as it lasts. I fear everything will change when he awakens from his slumber."

Jewel looks up at her.

"Was he that bad?"

"Night and day. The complete opposite. He even went by a different name."

"Seriously?"

"Please. She needs healing."

Jewel sighs.

"Betsy. We need healing."

Betsy sings a tune as her water sprays from her spout, healing Spindellia. Priyanna smiles, placing her hand on Jewel's shoulder.

"You will be a great hero someday."

"Tch. Whatever." She says, looking away.

The forest is silent and as peaceful as it was when they entered. Priyanna looks up at Betsy.

"Do you know the way to his hometown?"

"No. But I know it's north."

"Should we continue? Or wait for them to wake up?"

Jewel folds her arms.

"We should keep going and wake them when we get close."

Priyanna helps Jewel up.

"I shall watch over them while you lead the way."

"Okay."

Priyanna flies up to Betsy, landing on her knees. She places Spindellia's head in her lap and starts doing her hair while they continue their journey. A few hours later, Spindellia is the first to awaken after recovering. She looks up and sees Priyanna's hands in her hair.

"Having fun, sweetie?"

"I am. I don't often get the chance to do people's hair. It pleases me."

"Do I look good?"

"Astonishing." She replies with a smile.

Spindellia closes her eyes.

"I heard you asking for me to be healed in my sleep. Why?"

"Because you are a powerful ally."

"I am weak. Look what you did to me. And then you show pity and mercy after destroying every bone in my body."

Priyanna massages Spindellia's forehead.

"I am paying it forward. My lord showed me mercy when I asked. In the state you were in, you couldn't ask."

Spindellia moans, enjoying the massage.

"I heard you in my mind. You know I was going to kill myself. Why show mercy to one who does not wish to live?"

Priyanna's hands move to her shoulders to continue the massage.

"Because I know you love my lord's other side. I think you should have a chance to get to know this version before you make that decision."

"Mmm. For someone so violent and strong, you are unusually kind."

Priyanna chuckles.

"I only want to follow my lord's example. Being powerful doesn't make you a strong leader. It doesn't make you good or bad, for that matter. I have realized that being benevolent is also crucial to success. Killing you won't help us achieve our goals. But if we instead nurture your innate abilities, powers, and love for him, we will create an amazing ally."

Spindellia sits up, slightly opening her eyes.

"You are also surprisingly optimistic."

Priyanna hugs her.

"I feel that is the best way to be when the world is dark and chaotic. Humans have begun gaining powers, and we will do better evolving alongside them rather than against them. Eventually, they will outnumber us. How old are you?"

Spindellia's eyes roll, stopping at the moon.

"I don't know. Maybe a couple of thousand years old."

"You know the number." She replies with a grin. "I know exactly how intelligent you are."

Spindellia sighs.

"Two thousand two hundred and twenty-one."

Priyanna chuckles.

"Still quite a bit younger than me."

"By how much?" She asks, placing her hands on Priyanna's while they hug her.

"About fifteen hundred years."

"Oh my. Your age reflects your wisdom."

Priyanna lets out a laugh that infects Spindellia, causing her to laugh with her.

"Sometimes things force you to mature."

Spindellia closes her eyes.

"So true, love."

They continue their journey until they can see Held Qytet. Zenzo opens his eyes and stares at the moon. Priyanna helps him sit up with a smile.

"We've arrived, my lord."

"You know you don't have to call me that, right?"

"I am aware. But I choose to. That way, I never forget my place."

Zenzo musters up a laugh, you have when you can't believe what you're hearing.

"You talk as if I'm a king. I'm not. I'm a coward."

"I think the other you would disagree. I think you know you are a king."

Zenzo turns to look at her.

"The other me? You spoke to him?"

"Yes. And his demeanor resembles a powerful king. One who is not to be trifled with. I shall continue to call you my lord unless you say otherwise." Priyanna says, placing her forehead on Betsy when she bows.

Zenzo raises her head with his hand and kisses her.

"If it makes you happy."

She smiles like she's received a gift even though it's not her birthday. Zenzo turns to look at his hometown as they approach. He leans back on his hands, sitting with his legs crossed. Priyanna crawls over and places her head in his lap. His hometown comprises treehouses made of magical bricks known as Baransu Bricks. These bricks have perfect stability and can connect to any surface, allowing for constructive creativity when building structures. The entire city, including the main roads, is connected by these bricks that defy gravity and mortal understanding.

A magical wood known as Zalew Wood is used for plumbing to bring water from the ocean beneath the city upward. When the water reaches the city, it is forced through a filtration system using silk membranes from Reinigung Worms. These worms create a special silk that heals or purifies things they touch. Insects called Evig Flies live in the city in small lanterns that can come and go as they please. At night, when the flies are sleeping, they give off a glow that resembles a bright candle. These carefully placed Evig Flies illuminate the nightlife as they approach Held Qytet.

Priyanna smiles.

"Your hometown is beautiful."

Zenzo lets out a faint laugh.

"It is. I can't believe it's in the trees."

Her eyes shift from house to house.

"Do you know which one is yours?"

"I haven't got a clue."

She looks up into the sky and grins.

"I think I have an idea."

"Really?"

She closes her eyes to rest.

"I'm sure you'll wake me when we get there. I want to take a small nap."

Zenzo looks down at her, puzzled, but smiles and runs his hand through her hair. Thirty minutes later, they arrive at his town, and the guards roll down the retractable hill for them to climb to enter the city. Betsy flies low so Zenzo can speak to the guards.

"Lord Leonidas! You have returned!"

Zenzo looks around.

"Me?"

"Indeed! It has been five years since your departure. However, you look and seem a bit different. Did you change your hair color? I remember it being red with purple at the bottom."

Zenzo pinches himself with a fake smile that you give when you don't remember somebody but don't want to be rude.

"You know me. I like to try new things."

"As you always have! I still can't get over your home!"

"Oh yeah! I seem to have forgotten. Where is my home again?"

The guard raises an eyebrow higher than a mountain peak.

"You're kidding, right?"

"I am not," Zenzo replies, wincing.

The guard points up at the sky.

"Your house is up there, remember?"

"Up where?" Zenzo says, looking up.

When his eyes meet the sky, he sees a mansion floating in the city's center, standing atop a bed of clouds. Zenzo's eyes are so wide that he feels they will pop out of his head as he shivers. He looks at the guard and points up at his home. The guard reluctantly nods his head with a forced smile. Zenzo passes out from fear. Hippo and Jimba hop on Betsy, and she flies upwards to his home. Ten minutes later, he awakens, and the rest are gone. The ones who remain are Priyanna, who is lying on his lap. Spindellia, who is lying on his chest. And Betsy, who is keeping them afloat. Priyanna rubs his leg to wake him up.

"My lord. When are we going inside?"

Zenzo wakes up, keeping his eyes closed.

"Never."

"Do you not want to potentially regain some of your memories?"

He opens his eyes.

"Do you think that's possible?"

Priyanna looks up at him and says, "I think you've proven time and time again, anything is possible. Will you go with me? I will catch you if you fall."

Zenzo shakes his head.

"No. What if the house falls?!"

Priyanna looks over at the house, which hasn't moved even though the wind is blowing. Spindellia sits up, grabs his hand, and feels him quake. She pulls him up to stand, and Priyanna supports him, placing her hands on his back.

"No. Please. I don't want to go."

Spindellia hugs him and laughs.

"Why is this funny?" He questions, resisting.

"It's funny, love, because I said these same words to you when you first brought me here before you lost your memories."

"LIES! You are a liar!" He yells, pointing at her.

Spindellia explodes into laughter.

"I said the same thing to you when you told me it wouldn't fall."

Zenzo closes his eyes and gently tries to push her off him. He shakes his head, swallowing his saliva. His eyes tighten while his chest pounds.

"Do you know what you told me before you pulled me across into the house?"

"I don't believe anything you or the other me said."

"You told me not to live my life based on what-ifs that haven't happened. You said you deal with roads when it comes time to cross them, not before."

She feels his heartbeat steady.

"Does that make you feel better?"

"No."

"I didn't think so."

She picks him up and tosses him over to the house. Zenzo screams as he flies through the door to the mansion. Priyanna laughs, seeing him scream in terror.

"I'm sorry, my lord, but I told her to do it. I want to go to sleep." She says, flying over to him. Spindellia jumps across and helps him up.

"For the record. I stayed on Betsy for three days before you finally threw me into the house. But make no mistake. You did throw me."

Zenzo rubs his head.

"I guess that's fair. Just who is this other me?!"

"A man like no other. Come, love." She says, pulling him by the hand. "I'll show you to your room."

She feels his heart through his hand.

"You'll get over it. We'll do something to take your mind off it."

Priyanna smiles as she turns to close the door. She stops when she sees Betsy outside. Stepping outside, she asks, "Will you be alright, Betsy?"

Betsy sings a lovely tune as she flies and lands in a pool of water that floats beside the mansion. Priyanna chuckles.

"My lord was very mighty indeed. This is beyond my wildest expectations for a human. I wonder what else he can show me."

She closes the door and follows their scent through the mansion. Paintings of creatures from all over Infrangilmundo are on the walls. There are also many stuffed creatures by taxidermy. Stuffed wyverns, dinosaurs, dragons, and sea creatures trophy the halls. Gold adorns every fixture and amenity. Fountains resemble Zenzo, and there is even a garden filled with the rarest and deadliest plants on the continent. Priyanna stops to sniff a plant, and one whiff of the sweet maple syrupy aroma causes immediate arousal.

"Riveting. Is this an aphrodisiac?" She says, with her body turning hot. "My lord has everything known to man. I want to know more."

The hallway to his bedroom seems further and further away as she walks through the hall. The ceiling is high enough that she doesn't have to shrink. She stumbles down the hall to his door and turns the knob. When she does, she sees Zenzo in bed with Spindellia. Priyanna closes the door behind her, removing her chitin as she heads to the bed.

After climbing into the double king-sized bed, she shrinks her body to five feet.

"We didn't do anything if that's what you think. Love came in and passed out the moment he touched the bed—oh. You sniffed the Sessu Rastlina. I made that mistake too, my first time."

Priyanna, breathing heavily, replies, "My body...this heat. It's unbearable. Why. Why does he keep these?!"

Spindellia runs her hand through his hair.

"Despite what you see, Leonidas is quite debauched, if you know what I mean. He loves to partake in exotic things, particularly you and I. His garden fills with exotic plants from all over Infrangilmundo, and when he's aroused, he sniffs that plant. I hate to tell you love. Only one thing cures that feeling you have."

Priyanna falls forward, placing her hand between her legs.

"Yep. It's that." Spindellia says with a giggle.

She rises off Zenzo and kisses Priyanna, who has rolled onto her back.

"I'll help you this time."

Spindellia crawls around the bed and places her head between Priyanna's legs. Priyanna whimpers at the feeling of Spindellia's touch due to her heightened arousal.

"This sensation is wonderful."

Thirty minutes pass, and the sounds of pleasure finally wake Zenzo. He wipes his eyes and remembers where he is.

"Holy shit, I'm still in the sky!" He says, sitting up after he looks out the window and sees the clouds.

He looks down and sees them kissing.

"Oh."

Priyanna looks at him with eyes that say I need you. Zenzo looks at Spindellia, who says, "You should've stayed asleep, love."

Priyanna crawls over to him, kissing him on the lips. Spindellia crawls behind him, kissing his back.

"Whatever she gets, I need as well, love."

Zenzo shakes his head.

"I have no idea what's going on...But I don't want to fight this one bit."

Priyanna and Spindellia smile as they kiss over his shoulder. They separate and say in unison, "Good."

An hour passes, and Zenzo lies in the bed with his hands behind his head, with Priyanna and Spindellia lying on his chest in each of his arms. He looks over to the clouds.

Well, I guess I don't have to worry about being scared of falling out of the sky. If there was a chance of that happening, it would've happened in the last hour. How did this mansion get up here? Who exactly am I? Did I do this? Am I all-powerful? And the other me. He seems...like Xan. He almost seems fearless. Who else would keep a house up here in the clouds?! And how the hell does he get in here?! How does Jimba get up here?! I have so many questions and not enough answers. And hell. What am I even doing?! The night I just had. What is this?! Is this who I am?!

He looks down at Spindellia, who is sleeping soundly.

I guess I'm not afraid of spiders anymore. Spindellia seems so loving. What did the other me do to make her want to kill me? I get the feeling the other me isn't a nice person. But I have to bring him back to defeat the King of Fear. But if I do. What happens to me? Do I disappear? Or do I go to sleep while he's awake? And if so. Can I wake up? Not knowing is making me anxious.

He looks over and sees a leg made of aura in the corner of the room.

Looks like I'm definitely over my fear of spiders. I'll get that in the morning. That's two fears down. I think that should be my goal for now. Facing fears. I won't like it, but it must be done. I will probably run every time, but having Xan, Jewel, Priyanna, and Spindellia around. They'll make sure to pull me back and force me to face my fears with them. I am truly thankful to have met everybody. I wonder if the other me has anyone he's happy to have met. Enough thinking. I need rest. Goodnight.