Chapter 7: Before the Great Collapse
Josef knelt, heaving from exaustion. For two days now he and Vvvin's party hard searched the eastern reaches of the wilderness. Naturally the order of the wilderness hadn't let them venture without hinderance, as not ten hours prior they had been confronted with a group of giants. Though the hardships that arose had been overcome, the groups weariness began to amount.
" Strike up camp here," Vvvin comanded, gesturing widely as he dismounted his horse. Knights hastened to their steeds, which carried folded tents and blankets. Zelos leaped from his horse and bounded towards Vvvin before he gave any further orders.
" Sir if I may," Zelos paused as Vvvin nodded for him to continue, "not long after we departed from Varrock I noted a cloaked figure shadowing us. I thought perhaps it was a wandering merchant, or at worst a lone bandit, yet without fail I seem to spot them every few hours lurking in the trees behind us,"
As Zelos spoke Vvvin's eyes sweeped the darkness past the trees, though no figure not conjured by his imagination arose.
" This person... Do you believe they are affiliated with Advent Blade?"
" It is possible, though they bore a cloak, not the coat those of Advent Blade don,"
There was a crack as a man pushed his way through the limbs of a dying bush.
" I can assure you whoever your shadow is, they are not of my organization," Lucifer Hendrox spoke, taking Vvvin and Zelos aback.
Swords flew from all the knight's sheathes. Bewilderment struck Vvvin, as his eyes searched again for the other members of Advent Blade.
" Now now gentlemen, lets be civil. I come alone, with a will that may benefit us both," Lucifer spoke casually, yet firm.
" If descriptions do not fail then this is Lucifer Hendrox," Mark whispered to Vvvin, clutching his sword tight.
" I have no intrest in aiding your group, Lucifer. Coming here was a mistake indeed," Vvvin hissed, edging forward.
" The mistake," Lucifer's voice was loud and menacing, halting Vvvin where he stood," would be to draw upon such inaccurate assumptions,"
There was a pause, though at last Vvvin's stance relaxed and he let his sword into his sheath, though his knights did not follow suit.
" If I came here in hopes of hindering you would I have come alone and announced myself?"
" Then you mean to betray Advent Blade?" Vvvin remarked, confused.
" Oh heavens no, I mean to play both sides, for even with the information I plan to offer you there is no garuntee Advent Blade will fall," Lucifer continued, staring from behind his dark glasses," if you can ensure me the throne of Varrock should you cast down Advent Blade, I will divulge information that is key to its location and eradication,"
" I see... So your desires are so petty as this? If that is the case I accept your offer Lucifer, tell me what you will, and should Advent Blade fall and you still survive you shall take Rethu's stead,"
" Excellent, though regarding my desires," Lucifer paused, searching for his words," money amounts to nothing, physical pleasures are fleeting. I seek a purpose, I seek to be remembered. This, as Vohn taught me is the most important thing, to exist even after we are dead. If this is petty, then enlighten me for I am ignorant,"
Vvvin frowned, contemplating, before speaking.
" Let us put that aside. Time is of the essence, tell me of Vohn's whereabouts and any other pertinent information,"
" Very well, forgive me, I usually refrain from such talk," Lucifer tipped his hat, though his facial features remained unchanged," Advent Blade is operating from the castle of the Dark Warriors to the west. Vohn had once been allied with them, and using that to allow us admitance, we were able to kill them all off,"
" Zelos, Mark! Make your way back to Varrock and lead the men stationed there south of the Dark Warrior's castle. We will rendezvous there within the next two days," Vvvin barked, casting his left arm south.
Zelos and Mark swiftly mounted their steeds, calling for a handfull of knights to accompany them.
" For what purpose was Varrock infiltrated and Rethu taken?"
" Rethu is a politician, a God fearing man. Before Vohn his loyalty to Varrock amounted to naught his mining expertise was manipulated to delve into the chambers where Relic Kage dwelled,"
" And what of this Relic and of Advent Blade?" Vvvin returned his gaze to Lucifer," how many are there, and what threat to they pose,"
" There are six. Vohn, Kenbuku, Vincent, Kendral, Relic, and myself. You have recently come in contact with Kendral and Vincent, and are aware of the threat they present. Kenbuku has many conflicting personalities within him from what I've gathered, and thus serves as an extension of Vohn's will. He is less methodic than Vincent and Kendral, but a better combatant I do not know. Relic is an earth diety that Vohn fooled into his service by causing it to believe he had afflicted him with a curse. Relics size is vast, slaying him is not within human capacity," Lucifer paused, taking note of the departing party, " As for myself and Vohn, our powers must be seen to understand properly. Vohn is abnormally eloquent, holding us all under his thumb with ease. He slew the Titan clan, and managed to convince Kendral to join him, with the hope that one day he could exact revenge. Whether he is human or not I do not know, however his sword is certainly not of human invention. I saw it corrupt landscapes by grazing the surface, and contaminate Relic to the point where Vohn decieved him into believing he was dying,"
" Intruiging, though hardly believeable testimony," Vvvin muttered his sword coming before Lucifer once again," And what of your powers? Among such incredible men a mere merchant seems to serve little purpose,"
" Ah," Lucifer's voice was laced with humor," let it suffice to say you will understand it in full upon any attempt to restain me,"
At that Lucifer spun around and casually strolled back into the rotting woods before him. Vvvin silently considering his options lowered his sword as the sillouhette of Lucifer faded into the dark. Josef stepped forth.
Be swift Vvvin.
