Courage - Short Story
Written by Sir Render 1st himself after his return to the surface
In the shadow of the ominous tower, a behemoth of stone and dread, the land did quiver. The Nanos, once drawn to its ancient allure, now circumvented its looming presence, for naught of fortune had ever sprung from its gloom. The Guardians of Oath, stalwarts of duty, kept vigilant watch over the gateway, an impenetrable bastion against the encroach of any Nano who dared to approach.
Until now.
This was the very purpose of Sir Render 1st's presence.
Approaching the daunting monolith with stealth was less a challenge than the task that awaited him - to outmanoeuvre the unwavering Guardians of Oath and breach the seemingly impregnable gate.
For many a moon, Sir Render had contemplated this conundrum. His was a mind burdened with the knowledge that in a contest of might, he stood little chance. The Guardians were Daemon Nanos, the first of their kind, fierce and formidable warriors. Sir Render, a knight of no small strength, would nonetheless find himself outmatched against their sheer multitude.
Thus, it was evident, the pathway into the sacred Caverns of Truth would not be paved with brute force, but with the cunning of a fox.
As Sir Render 1st drew nigh to the gateway, the sight of the very entrance itself sent a shiver of apprehension through his noble form. Any misstep from this juncture would likely seal a fatal fate.
The ebony forms of two Daemons flanked the entrance, their positions as unwavering as the stone itself. The whereabouts of the remaining Daemons were shrouded in the unknown. Ensconced behind the protective bark of a nearby tree, in a manner most unbecoming of his knightly honor, Sir Render contemplated the course of action he must now undertake. The countless stratagems he had conceived were falling short in the face of this daunting reality, necessitating the need for a spur-of-the-moment plan.
Sir Render 1st surveyed the landscape with meticulous care: the Guardians, the imposing tower, the expansive plains, the arboreal cover, the dense underbrush, the winding paths, and the wildlife.
"Well," he mused to himself, "there's naught left but to plunge in."
Retreating further into the safety of the forest, he crafted a beacon of flame, a fire whose light would pierce the quiet of the woods.
It would merely be a matter of moments ere someone would come to investigate. It was a certainty - the Guardians would not venture forth en masse, some would maintain their post. However, each Guardian thus distracted was a boon to his cause.
Swiftly, he repositioned himself within another sector of the forest, watching as three Daemon Nanos emerged from a small barracks adjacent to the tower, drawn by the beckoning smoke.
'Twas time for the second phase of his stratagem.
Sir Render was not one to favor the bow, his heart yearned for the clash of sword against shield, the weight of a lance, axe, or even a club in his grasp. Yet, in this moment, the bow was the ideal armament. He loosed a single arrow towards the trio of Daemons. His aim fell short - for he was no Elven marksman or spell-weaver - yet, the discharged missile served its purpose. The Guardians deduced an attack was underway and sounded the alarm. More Guardians materialized, rushing towards their comrades, weapons brandished.
Whilst they were engrossed in discerning the origin of the arrow and the nature of the attack, Sir Render 1st had already shifted his location. He now emerged from the opposite side, advancing towards the tower, veiled from the scrutiny of the Guardians engrossed in their search within the forest.
To his astonishment, the entrance was all but unattended. A lone Guardian held the post. While Sir Render was confident in his ability to best this solitary foe, time was of the essence. He needed to infiltrate the caverns with haste before the main force returned.
A mere distraction, as ancient as trickery itself - a cast stone - proved most effective. The solitary Guardian turned his attention to the noise for a scant few moments. These fleeting seconds were ample for Sir Render to slip past the distracted sentinel, and into the tower. Daemons were renowned for their steadfast loyalty and prodigious strength, yet they were seldom praised for their sagacity.
The events unfolded so rapidly, Sir Render had scarce opportunity to cast his gaze upon the One Law, inscribed high above the entrance. Nonetheless, he carried the words imprinted in his heart:
Thou shall not enter the Caverns, for the caverns contain more truth than any Nano may endure. Here, the core of all existence lies, mighty and fragile.
It was this solitary decree that haunted his nocturnal musings and consumed the lion's share of his waking hours.
Ever since the Creator unveiled herself to the Nanos and forged the Games, Sir Render harbored a belief that within the Caverns of Truth lay answers to all enigmas.
Not all Nanos held such convictions, but to Sir Render 1st, the Creator was a tyrant, a despot. He harbored no desire to be her pawn and vowed to employ every ounce of his might to thwart her machinations.
Perhaps this was the defining divergence between Sir Render and his Nano brethren - others cowered at the prospect of metamorphosis into Daemons, but to Sir Render, inaction was a fate graver than failure itself.
Ensuring his movements had not roused any pursuit, he delved into the depths of the Caverns of Truth. His expectations were clouded in mystery, for no Nano who entered the caverns had ever returned to the surface, save those transformed into Daemons.
For many moons, Nanos lived in blissful ignorance of the genesis of their universe, unaware of its architect or destiny. All that altered with the revelation of the Creator, which set their world askew. A realm once serene was now a landscape of corruption, its healing seemingly impossible. For how can one challenge the entity who conjured the very world in which they exist, the creator of all its laws and edicts?
Yet, a single word fueled Sir Render's resolve: "fragile." This solitary term, nestled within the One Law, was the lifeline to which Sir Render clung. If existence itself was fragile, might there exist a path to topple the very laws that governed the Nanoverse?
The Caverns of Truth were an expansive labyrinth. Sir Render wandered for hours, through expansive chambers linked by narrow crevices and caves.
Abruptly, he detected the faint echo of footsteps. Taking swift refuge behind a colossal boulder, he stole a glance. A lone Daemon Nano was rapidly advancing towards an unseen destination. Ensuring his presence remained undetected, Sir Render followed the Nano at a careful and deliberate pace.
Before long, the Caverns began to transform. The walls themselves pulsated with a crimson glow, and a gentle hum reverberated through the air. Beyond yet another curve, a grand chamber unveiled itself. Sir Render permitted himself a fleeting glimpse before withdrawing to the shadows. But in that brief moment, he saw her: The Creator.
She manifested in this world as a colossal, hexagonal gemstone. The source of the humming seemed to emanate from this levitating gem, suspended above a basin.
"Creator," a voice resonated through the chamber, undoubtedly the Nano he had been tailing, "I have returned."
Sir Render was uncertain of what he anticipated, but the voice radiating from the levitating gemstone was unlike any he had ever encountered. The voice responded: "Are the Games proceeding as planned?"
Sir Render's attention piqued at this query. Why would the Creator need to inquire such a thing? Shouldn't she already possess this knowledge?
"Indeed. The rules are being adhered to, and the Games are unfolding as you have commanded."
"Are the Nanos resisting?" inquired the Creator.
Sir Render was aware that some indeed were. But their numbers were scant, for the penalty for non-participation was transformation into a Daemon Nano: devoid of thought, devoid of mercy, devoid of soul, and utterly obedient to the Creator. Most Nanos deemed this fate worse than demise.
"A handful."
"Good. Are the Nanos growing in strength?"
"They are learning to harness your power. Progress is, however, slow."
Sir Render endeavored to remain as silent as possible. He yearned to absorb every uttered word and wished to avoid detection. This day was not one for honorable combat, but for stealth and discovery. What did the Daemon imply by "your power"? Could he be referring to the powergems?
"I am aware," the Creator replied, her voice reverberating throughout the cavern. "Patience is my ally, now."
"Another adjustment to make..." the Daemon began, only to be interrupted by the Creator.
"I can no longer enact updates. I have relinquished too much power. I must rely on my final update functioning as intended."
A momentary silence followed, then: "It will, assuredly, Creator."
Sir Render had gleaned enough. Each passing moment heightened his risk of discovery, and the intelligence he had gathered was already beyond his greatest expectations. He commenced his careful and systematic retreat.
The Creator had partitioned her own power, bestowing it upon the Nanos. The powergems must be what she alluded to. And her capacity to instigate updates to the Nanoverse had been forfeited. This revelation was monumental. The Creator was no longer omnipotent. If the stipulations of the current update permitted counteraction, there was a possibility to best the Creator somehow.
Even more intriguing. If powergems indeed held the capacity to generate updates for the Nanoverse - what if a multitude of Nanos united, utilizing their powergems to achieve just that? Could the Nanos themselves modify the fundamental rules of the Nanoverse? This could potentially allow them to seize control themselves, utterly dethroning the Creator.
Sir Render was invigorated. This was the opportunity he had yearned for, for so long. A gap in the seemingly impenetrable fortress of the Creator's rule had emerged.
The Nanos were only beginning to comprehend the capabilities of their powergems. Sir Render himself felt a growing awareness that there was much yet to learn about the powers his own powergem granted him. But with enough study and practice, perhaps he could master it. If a sufficient number of Nanos could harness this power and unite - it would signify the downfall of the Creator and the moment where the Nanos could claim sovereignty over their own world.
Sir Render made his surreptitious exit from the Caverns. The Guardians of Oath had resumed their duties, but they had not anticipated an adversary emerging from within the Caverns of Truth. They were caught entirely off guard, and Sir Render had already gained significant distance on them before they could react. They were powerless to halt his flight towards the safety of the woods.
This was it. This was the one opportunity the Nanos had to topple the tyranny of the Creator. Sir Render would not rest until he had rallied sufficient support for this cause, until the Creator was vanquished, and the Nanos were liberated. Free, as they were always intended to be.
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