Source & Soul: A Deckbuilding LitRPG

"Really do hate that son of a bitch," I said, slumping in the chair.

"He's your father?" Afi whispered, sounding scandalized.

"Oh," I said, feeling stupid. "Yeah. Sorry. I don't exactly go around like a crier in the square about it, because Gerard's already looking for excuses to kill me, but… yeah. King's bastard. I'd have told you already if not for, y'know, every other Twins-damned thing happening the last little while."

She dropped her voice even lower. "Does the Queen know?"

I nodded wearily. "He had a bunch of bastards, it turns out. She knew and says she approved of the whole business. Don't know her well enough to say how she really feels about it, but she's been nice to me so far. She's a tough bird."

Basil came over and put a hand on my shoulder. "I begin to appreciate your… less-than-laudatory feelings toward our former monarch."

"Takes what he pleases and buggers off without so much as a thank you," I said, shrugging. "When you're Legendary you get to do things like that, I guess." I waved the torn bit of paper in my hand. "What are we supposed to do with this? Put it in the mix with his card?"

"He mentioned a card that can trigger an apotheosis," Basil mused. "Herald somebody or other."

"Hymane," Afi offered. "Never heard of him."

"I have," Esmi said, sounding thoughtful. "There's a legend about the founding of Charbond where he's mentioned. It's old. Even the most devout think it a myth. But it says that the very first Council of the City vanquished all foes before the Twins themselves in order to hallow the ground and stake their claim to the land."

"Sounds like an apotheosis to me," I said, looking at the looping pen scrawl on the page my father had tossed to me. "So we're supposed to do the same?"

"And this Herald card is supposed to be hiding inside the King's card somehow?" Afi shook her head. She sounded baffled.

"Soul Repository," Basil said, snapping his fingers. "I saw his card, and that one struck me as odd; I'd never even heard of it before. Perhaps his soul can, I don't know… lock away the cards in his deck?"

"There was no deck when he died," I said. "I was watching closely. His body just broke up and vanished, and only his own card was left behind. I remember thinking that Mother looked furious when it happened."

"But so this Herald Hymane card can trigger an apotheosis?" Afi said. She was still crouched by my side, one hand protectively on my arm. "What good will that do?"

"Fighting all the demons and Undead at once doesn't sound like a good time," I groaned, massaging my aching chest.

"Not to mention the Orcs waiting just outside the gates," Afi reminded me. "Their general is still waiting for his chance to have a go at the head demon lady." She cocked her head as if suddenly remembering something. "Who is actually your mother. Twins, Hull."

"Never a boring moment with a Lows boy," I said, grinning and patting her hand.

"If we were able to trigger this apotheosis as it seems the King wants us to," Esmi said, "I doubt it would take the form of a free-for-all scrum. I remember asking my grandfather about the legend of Charbond's founding, and though he was oddly reticent to speak of it, he implied that the fight for the city took the form of a tournament."

"Us against the leaders of the demons, Undead, and Orcs?" Basil frowned. "Despite our recent elevations, dearest, I have to concur with Hestorus's assessment of us: we're not strong enough to take them on yet. Not by ourselves."

I didn't like hearing Basil say we weren't up to the task, but here I was half-dead, and now that I was out of the palace I couldn't even get to my Uncommon soul card. The idea of fighting my mother, or Xemris, or even that shithead necromancer in a duel was laughable.

"Who cares what the King wants?" Afi said, standing. "He's dead, and an asshole besides. The Queen sent me to fetch you all out and bring her the vault key, and that's what I'm going to do. If Hestorus doesn't like it, he can come all the way back to life and do something about it."

It hurt to laugh, but I did it anyway. The more time I spent with Afi, the more I liked her. She didn't take any shit.

"We do have the not-insignificant problem we began with," Esmi said. "Hull can't leave your Mind Home."

I shuddered. The idea that the mist had been disembodied souls pulling at me was terrifying. I imagined them sensing the weakness in me and wanting to come in.

"What if…" Afi said, trailing off as she thought hard. "I wonder if I could leave you here in my Mind Home and find the Queen's door myself. Then, once I was back in the City Watch headquarters, I could come back into my Mind Home the way I used to – not travelling anywhere – and bring you back out directly. No going through doors, just popping straight out of my Mind Home to where I already am."

"Will that work?" Basil said dubiously.

She shrugged. "Don't know. But I think it may be our only option. That or else we pop back out in the same room where we were in the palace and hope Hull's mother has wandered off. We could try to find another way out."

I struggled to my feet. "No. Let's do it your way. I stay here. The rest of you head out into the mist."

Basil and Esmi both looked stricken. "We can't just leave you here," Esmi said.

"Sure you can," I grunted. "Walk out the door and you're on your way. No point in wasting time." I handed the metal cube of the vault key to Afi. "Here, hold on to this just in case." Truth was, I was more than a little scared of being in here by myself. This was where cards lived. Without Afi in here with me, would I turn into a card? If so, then I'd just be dead, because I didn't even have a soul card at the moment. But that was just too damn bad. I knew I couldn't go out into the mist, and it wasn't at all safe to stay in the palace now that we'd kicked the hornet's nest. "Go on, all of you."

Basil searched my face as if he could peer into me. "I'm staying."

My heart leaped, but I shook my head. "That's stupid."

"So was coming after me in the palace, but you did it anyway," he said. "The women can head into the mists. I'm done leaving people behind."

"If you think," said Esmi to Basil with more than a little heat, "that I'm leaving your side, we're going to have quite an argument." She linked arms with him, giving both of us a defiant stare.

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Afi sighed. "I can go by myself. It's what I'm most used to anyhow." She hesitated, her hand on the door. "Are you sure?"

"We'll be fine," I said, trying to sound confident. "No safer spot to be."

She opened the door, looked back as if she wanted to say something to me, and then darted out into the gray nothingness. The door slammed shut.

I tensed at the sound and waited for something terrible to happen, but nothing did. After a second I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. I heard the same thing from both Basil and Esmi, and we all shared a sheepish grin. "Looks like we owe Fortune a few prayers," I said, sinking back into the one chair in the room.

"More than a few," Basil said, taking hold of Esmi's hand.

"Yeah," I said, turning to her. "How's it feel to come back from the dead?"

"It brought me back to the most important people," she said, smiling, "so no matter what qualms I may have over my Source change, I must say it feels pretty damned good."

That wrung a chuckle from me. "The lady cusses now. Better watch out, Hintal."

She swatted me on the arm. "Any uncouth language that slips past my lips is entirely your fault, sir. You're a terrible influence."

We were all warming up for some good old-fashioned friendly banter like we'd done back before the world went to shit, and that sounded better than fine to me, but as I opened my mouth, I heard the scuttle and swish of footsteps in the doorway.

"You are not souls," said one of Afi's cards.

"We are not, good fellow," Basil said, bowing. "We are the living."

The armored warrior stared at us for a long second before responding. "We are not to speak of this place to the living."

"Forgive us for intruding," Esmi said. "It was only due to the direst need. You have said nothing you should not."

"Who says you're not supposed to say anything?" I asked, curious.

An even longer pause. "I do not know. I simply feel it. We all do."

"We will not impose on you or your fellows for conversation," Basil promised. "You can pretend we aren't here, if it will make you more comfortable. We'll be leaving soon, I think."

The soul's visor nodded once, but he hesitated before leaving the room. "Our mistress summons us often, but we see little during battle. The living world. It goes well?"

The three of us shared guilty glances. Sorry, brother, but everything's gone to hell probably wasn't the right thing to say. "Same as it ever was," I finally said.

That seemed to satisfy him. Once he was in the other room I heard whispers and footsteps as the other souls crowded around to hear what we'd said to him. One day that will be me.

Esmi was staring after him. "You sit and wait. You talk with the others and try to get along. Some are kind; others are not. You have no choice in the matter. All you can do is hope that your summoner will bring you out for a taste of the real world sooner than later. And I was in an exceptionally well cared-for Mind Home."

Basil stroked her hair. "Don't think on it, love."

She gave him a bleak look. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to stop thinking about it."

Afi suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. "Oh, thank the Twins you're all right. Come on, take hold of me. I'm at headquarters, and the Queen is waiting."

We hustled to get close – none moving faster than Esmi – and in a blink we were back in the real world. I couldn't tell any difference, not really, but Esmi heaved a sigh of relief. Basil kept a tight hold on her hand.

"Report," the Queen said from where she sat at a table.

Basil took a knee, as did Esmi. I wondered if I should do the same. I settled for leaning on a nearby table. If I tried to kneel I'd end up on my face.

"Your Majesty," Basil said. "We have succeeded in killing the lich Felstrife and bringing one of our army's lieutenants back from death."

The Queen blinked. "Impressive feats both. I will require a more thorough debriefing on the latter. That would be a very useful thing to be able to achieve for others who fall."

There was a bustle on the stairs overlooking the main floor, and Lord Clench-ass himself, Basil's father, came hurrying into view. He jerked to a halt an arm's length from his son, his hands trembling at his sides. He looked very briefly to the Queen. "Forgive my interruption."

""Undersstandable," she said, sounding only mildly annoyed. "Go on, then."

"Hello, Father," Basil said, climbing to his feet. He sounded even more formal than usual. "You will be pleased to know I have elevated to Epic."

Lord Hintal stared down at him, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, his face red. "That is excellent news. Yes. Very good."

"The elevation was forced by the lich, so I cannot be entirely sure that my elevation is of the same quality that it might have been otherwise." Basil sounded strangled. Miserable. He was looking at his father's boots.

The older man's hands twitched as if he might reach out, but he held himself still. "Ah. I see." He looked around as if searching for something to save himself. "You may return to your old desk. It is unoccupied as yet."

The muscle in Basil's jaw twitched. "I have been commissioned into the royal army, Father. I must attend to those duties first and foremost. I cannot say when or if I will be able to resume my duties in the Watch."

The flush drained from Lord Hintal's face. "Yes. Indeed. Carry on, then." He turned stiffly and strode away without another word. Esmi put a gentle hand on Basil's back, and he sagged as if he'd just run a race.

The Queen shook her head but said nothing of the strange interaction. "Hull, Afi has delivered the vault key to me. Are you able to open it again?"

"Sure thing," I said, hauling myself to my feet. "Hand it here."

She raised an eyebrow at my lack of formality, but I had nothing left to give. She handed me the device, and I put my thumb on the spot where I'd bled on it before. I was able to sling the portal onto the nearest wall without too much difficulty.

"We will continue this discussion when I return," the Queen said. She was moving with real haste. Whatever was in there, she wanted it. "Young Hintal, Afi, Esmi: guard this entrance. No one else may follow."

"Hang on," I called after her. "What about my card shards?"

She spoke over her shoulder without slowing. "My smith is downstairs. He has your shards. Make use of them quickly."

I gave a nod to my friends before limping off. Afi looked like she'd have liked to follow, but the Queen had ordered her to guard the portal. It was for the best. I was fond of Afi – maybe more than that – but this next thing needed to be on my own.

I stopped around the corner, pulled Little Hull's card out of my pouch, and slipped it into my Mind Home. As soon as I drew the card, I summoned him.

"Ugh, what do you want?" he demanded as soon as he appeared.

I reached down and flicked him hard on the ear. "I want you to quit bitching for a second and listen," I told him. It occurred to me as I spoke that I hadn't done any Fated damage. Looking inside myself, I still felt the tenuous connection to my living card – the one still in my mother's possession – but it felt like a thread pulled taut, and I couldn't seem to access my abilities. Perhaps I was too far away, or perhaps my bond to the card was weakening as it (and I) slowly died. Either way, it was probably for the best in this moment, since doing Fated damage to Little Hull would have triggered him to damage me automatically in return, and I wasn't in the mood to shed cards for nothing.

"I'm going to upgrade my cards," I told him. "I have a stash of high-rarity shards, including at least a couple of Legendary ones, and since it looks like I officially stole you from Mother, I want to elevate you first. Do you want me to?"

He peered at me suspiciously. "Of course. What will it cost me?"

"It's not like that," I said, sighing.

"It's always like that," he shot back. "Nothing for nothing. You want me to merge with your bullshit Uncommon, I know it. You don't even know if it can be done! I could be destroyed, for all you know. Erased."

"I won't let that happen. I promise."

"Promise," he sneered. "Shit in one hand and put your promises in the other and we'll see which fills up first."

"Hull," I said, very carefully levering myself down to my knees so I could look him in the eye. "I know how you feel. The rage. The distrust. The desire to fight. I get it."

"And I'll grow out of it, and I won't miss it, and I'll understand when I'm older," he said, rolling his eyes. "Stuff it in your boots and eat it."

"No," I said, holding his gaze. "I don't want you to grow out of it. I need what you've got. That rage and fight is the only thing that kept me alive when Mother stole you from me, and I need more of it. I want to let you off the leash, Hull. I want us to fight the real big shitheads and tear them apart. Mother. The Primarch. That Orc asshole. Whoever gets in the way. You understand?"

He fell silent. He wasn't used to people talking to him like this. I knew that because no one had ever talked to me like this, and it's what I'd always needed.

"You're a part of me whether you stay as a card or not," I said. "I want you strong. There are no strings attached to this. I can take you to Mythic right now, and then you can help me break some shit. Sound good?"

He met my eyes and gave me that decisive nod of his.

"Glad to hear it," I said, clambering to my feet with a groan. "Let's go see the smith and see what you can be."