Chapter 1016: Turtle Talk – Ballerina and the Veteran
At this point in time, Razorstella and Tortallion were still standing in front of the gates to the Undertow Kingdom. The latter had yet to officially invite the former inside, and before she could even ask, Zhen Liu had contacted her to relay a message to Tortallion…alongside some additional instructions that may or may not affect how things went in future discussions.
[So…that was the director,] Razorstella told Tortallion. [He said he’s-]
[Going to be awhile because he’s travelling with his family here? I figured as much.]
[How the hell did you-]
[Smelled it on ya, and before you say anything about it, I care more about the fact that he carries the mark more so than the fact that his bloodline belongs to the Zhen,] Tortallion interrupted with a gruff voice as he lightly stomped on the ground. [And don’t worry about sharing private information. I know how this works, and I wouldn’t be so chatty if I wasn’t assured about who you were connected to.]
A surge of aether and [Chaos] pulsed through the ground for a moment, before two stool sized platform rose up. Of these two platforms, Tortallion proceeded to rest his shield against one before taking a seat on it and stretching out his arms.
[Are you going to sit or not?]
[Oh. Thanks.]
Prompted by Tortallion’s chivalry, Razorstella proceeded to sit on the other pillar opposite of the turtle kaijin.
It made for a rather odd sight, a turtle-like knight and razorbladed ballerina, but…there was a strange harmony to it as well. Of course, the two kaijin came from completely different generations…which soon became the basis for a conversation Razorstella wasn’t expecting in the slightest.
Mostly.
[I will be honest. I never thought a member of the Zhen Clan would end up becoming the next Kaijin Lord. Last I recall, Milady had made sure the Library was no longer in Roaring Tide before finally kicking the bucket. The sight on those assholes’ faces when it escaped their grasp, ha! One of the few things that still brings me pleasure to this day.]
[Oh, so that’s how it ended up on Stampeding Bison…]
[Stampeding Bison? It got sent that far?]
[Yeah…and the reason why the current lord is a member of the Zhen Clan is because of a long story involving the elopement of a princess,] Razorstella answered. [I think the director can explain it better.]
[Huh. Ain’t that a laugh and a half,] Tortallion mused before moving topics. [So you’re a protoborn kaijin huh? Milady never actual tried doing that sort of Kaijin creation before. Are the rest of your fellowship like that too?]
[Aside from me? Yeah, one other. Of course, he’s still trying to figure out his own core,] Razorstella replied, unaware that her words had caused that aforementioned other to unexpectedly sneeze. [The rest of them were crafted from raw materials, like Nepherage was made from jade and Frosttusk was made from something called Fenrirtite and Deatch Echo Amber. Oh! Except for Screamira, she was a zako who evolved.]
[Huh, y’all got all types of Kaijin under your Lord’s employ.]
[I guess we do, yes.]
[Also, it sounds like I might have something in common with this Frosttusk fellow. Death Echo Amber, huh? Tell me, does Frosttusk ever act like he knows more than he lets on? Or at least, does he look off in the distance every now and again?]
[I…how did you know that?]
[Let’s just say it comes from…experience,] Tortallion answered with a strange smile and a light laugh.
Razorstella recognized this particular behavior as being very similar to how Patriarch Zhen Shi would act sometimes. ‘Maybe it’s just something all old people do?,’ Razorstella thought to herself.
Silence fell upon the multigenerational kaijin for a couple of minutes after that short exchange before they moved on to other topics.
More sensitive ones…starting with a certain “death”.
[So…I smelled on ya blades that you lot faced Marlancer,] Tortallion stated in a point blank manner, catching Razorstella completely off guard.
Surprised by the sheer bluntness of Tortallion’s words, Razorstella was getting ready to bail because she really didn’t want to detail how she and the others teamed up on the turtle kaijin’s former brother-in-arms.
[Don’t need to act coy or embarrassed by it,] Tortallion dismissed with a wave of his scarred hands. [That jumpy codfish always knew we were living on borrowed time, so he bailed before he ended up turning that harpoon of his against the people he swore to protect. Ain’t nothing shameful about that.]
[Oh…]
[But tell, me how far gone was he when you finally sent him sleeping with the others? Did he still remember his name at least?]
[He…did, actually,] Razorstella answered after a moment’s hesitation. [He even shouted something as he did in regards to that.]
[Did he now?]
[He shouted…”Marlancer retreating from the frontlines!”…or something like that. My memory ain’t the greatest.]
[Huh.]
A wistful look formed on Tortallion’s face when he was informed of his friend’s final moments, but at the time, it had this sense of relief to it.
Which is why Razorstella thought now would be a good time to move on to the next sensitive topic.
[I don’t mean to be rude, Sir Tortallion but-]
[Just Tortallion will work fine,] Tortallion lightly interjected. [You remind me to much of my daughter for that kind of terminology.]
Evidently, that statement threw Razorstella for a loop and a half.
[You have a daug-wait, now’s not the time…I got a more a pressing question to ask.]
[Oh? Okay then, shoot.]
[Well…your lady, the Storm Queen, passed like a really really long time ago. So how is that you’re not…you know…]
[You’re wondering how and why I haven’t turned into a fifty foot tall abomination hell bent on turning everything in the material realm back into the laws of Chaos that every kaijin call their home and prison?]
[Yeah…that.]
Razorstella was used to being the one thay would cut straight to the heart of a matter, so this was a new experience. As well, she was about to be exposed to a brand new one.
[I will be honest, I think I’m on my last legs here,] Tortallion began to answer. [But I always presumed I managed to last as long as I did because I was a turtle. Most mundane ones can live to up to a hundred fifty years and beyond. Doesn’t take a genius to realize how the act of cultivation can extend such an already extraordinary lifespan.]
[Of course.]
[But…I think it’s because of the Core inside me that made it possible for me to last this long.]
[Your core?]
[Yeah, take a look.]
[What do you mean take a-WHOA!]
Before Razorstella could even finish her question, Tortallion had infused his claws with [Chaos] before jamming them into the center of his chest. Once they were inside, he began to stretch open a hole in his chest to expose his insides.
Although, there weren’t any organs or blood when he opened his chest, much to Razorstella’s relief. Instead, Razorstella found herself staring into a weird swirling rainbow colored black abyss where a singular crystalline forest green [Core] was floating.
Evidently, Razorstella wasn’t the only one absolutely shocked h this display.
…
[Well…that answered several questions.]
[We could do that?!]
[Apparently…]
[This feels like body horror…but I’m not sure why…]
[Put it back…put the flesh back…]
…
[Huh…it’s… beautiful.]
[Thanks.]
From the [Core], Razorstella could sense an immense feeling of [Duty] radiating from it. It felt steadfast but…fading at the same time. To put it more poetically, it felt as if Razorstella was staring at the last few moments of a mountain that had been eroded by time and weather.
It was both beautiful and sad.
[I learned a long time ago, that us kaijin can last just a little longer pass our breakdown dates if we’re able to fulfill the desire that made up our cores. Part of me thinks that was part of the reason why Marlancer had to leave. There’s no glory in defending Undertow.]
[But plenty of duty in staying and defending this place,] Razorstella added, connecting the dots herself.
[Exactly,] Tortallion confirmed while removing his claws from his chest and closing up the gap.
Once his flesh had snapped back into place, Tortallion gave his chest a light pat to make sure everything had settled back in correctly.
Satisfied with the results, Tortallion moved on as of this moment wasn’t horribly shocking.
[Now then, I’m actually very glad that you and your lord are going to show up here sooner rather than later.]
[Really? Why’s that?]
[Well, aside from I can use their help to reclaim Old Blue’s arm, there’s something a bit more pressing…I’m dying.]
[Oh…do you think he can-]
[And before you ask, no I don’t seek healing. It’s something else entirely.]
[Which is…]
[I need him to make this city a new guardian.]
[Oh.]
