WHAT ARE THE ODDS!? The summer is unbearably hot over here and our AC decides to not work anymore, this is not how I wanted to spend the last two days of my summer vacation...I just can't work on the story like this...
Uploading the chapter makes me feel a little better but come on...
Chapter Seventeen
Crown City, Shuize
Exhausted and sweating, Soren and Mia's Troop finally arrived at the gates of Sarhara's Crown City. The trek through the Crown Desert had mostly been an uneventful trip with the Troop stopping at the Hilden Settlement briefly before they found the ruins of a certain location...
Fistivus and Lune stopped the merchant carts as the group emptied out to look at a massive decline, a large pit surrounded by constantly moving sand. In it stood the ruins of what was the Dune Guard's Headquarters.
Standing above it Soren looked over at To'Eltz who looked like he was about to jump in and kill anyone he could find in there.
Soren then moved his gaze over to Lyle who had previously protested the decision to bring To'Eltz along; telling Soren it was a bad idea until the sage mentioned that it was Mia's decision. At which point Lyle fell back in line and gave a half-hearted apology. Some of the things he yelled at Soren about left the sage believing that Lyle didn't see him as a leader.
"You think the Dune Guard are holed up in there?" Orgoth asked.
Wyre shrugged "Maybe…this was where they operated out of until their failed rebellion that cost them their lives…"
Wayu pointed at the sand walls "How did…oh right, Earth magic."
Leena followed her line of sight and then looked back at the ruins "How would one invade this place? The sand might swallow you up…or you'll never manage to get back out, its way steep."
Mikel looked over at To'Eltz and whistled "Do they have Pegasi? Wyverns? Gryphons or anything that can fly in the royal army, you know, any way of getting down there?"
To'Eltz sighed "Pegasi are mostly a part of Anondye's forces, Wyverns in Regalshin and Gryphons for Pozem…what we have in Sarhara are called Rocs…very large and ferocious great birds…I imagine an attack from them is what leveled this place."
After a while of staring and contemplating the group returned to the caravan and took off.
Soren looked up as a massive bird flew overhead, several patrolled the skies above Shuize, ever alert, the armored men on their back kept watch over the dominion.
Even in times of peace, Sarhara enjoyed living secluded from the rest of the continent, not as much as Goldoa but aside from the peace conferences in Numengate, the royal family and many hierarchs don't travel across the borders regularly.
As the group dismounted they came up to the Gate Guards, the chief saw them through after a few questions, the only thing they were interested were if they needed permission from anything specific at the Western Archive.
The Chief told them that that Archive Master would determine what could or couldn't be seen by the regular masses.
As they walked through the town Leena quickly asked directions to the Western Archive from a few passer-byes, she walked over to Soren with a smile "Hey Boss, got em for ya!"
As she relayed the info, Soren grinned and looked over to Mia as she saw herself in Leena's place talking to Ike. She sighed "I never did beat him in a match…maybe someday I'll get my shot…"
The group looked over to the massive, ornate, royal palace that stood behind the Crown City. Sarhara Palace, home to royal family had many tall towers with perches on which several Rocs were roosting, taking off and perching.
As they approached the Archive Mikel sighed "Are we all required to look through a few books?"
Soren turned "Normally, no, but this place is big and we don't know exactly what we are looking for, the tome that has the information about Elder Magic users could literally be the needle in a very large haystack."
Mikel groaned, looking through books was something he hated doing, obviously, not much of a reader.
Entering the archive, Fistivus and Lune offered to help search through the tomes. Soren and Mia led while the others fanned out, at the front desk sat a woman reading a book. Mia cleared her throat; she looked up "What can I do for you?"
"We'd like to speak to the Archive Master."
She nodded, standing she walked away leaving the pair there. Soren turned and examined the rest of the archive. Tall shelves with everything from various copies of government treaties and tomes of history, legends and mythical adventures, he strongly considered returning when the whole ordeal is dealt with.
Returning the woman pointed to a door and told them the Archive Master would meet with them there.
Entering they sat to find a much younger man than they thought, he held a tome and smiled at them "Not many regular people come by asking for me…so you must not be regular people."
Soren shook his head "We aren't…we're looking for information on users of True Elder Magic."
The man's eyes widened "True Elder Magic? That term is not thrown around a lot…I would know, one of the supposed last users died fifty or sixty years ago…we keep books and records about those things below the main archive…however…my natural curiosity makes me want to ask…why?"
Soren and Mia glanced at each other; the latter leaned in closer "I'm sorry we didn't get a name. I'm Mia, this is Soren."
Nodding the man extended his arm "My name is Qi'No." shaking hands with each of the travelers, Mia continued.
"We met one of the only users of True Elder Magic and he revealed to us that someone is using the power to do…horrible things…we've been targets of this man for some time and we need any information on how we can find him."
Qi'No was fascinated and had many more questions he wanted to ask but a look from Soren told him, they were on a time table. "Very well…he took out a key, I would go open the door myself, but this tome is fascinating…go on ahead, as you can tell, I took the reins of Archive Master about ten years ago so…I'm not as in tune with the archive, I can't just make the book you need pop up out of nowhere."
Nodding, Soren and Mia took the key and departed; they signaled the rest of the group and moved to the chamber below the main archive.
The chamber was much larger than the group thought it would be, an old map was on the entry wall behind a pane of glass. It looked as if no one had been down here in many years. The lights were all off and it was extremely dusty.
The archive was sectioned into several large rooms with rows of tomes varying in content, most of it, according to a file on the main desk, was works from the other nations.
Mikel turned to Soren "So…we just have to search till we find…what exactly?"
The sage shrugged "I don't even know what the book is like…but if we are to believe Qi'No, it is here, so let's all get to work!"
A few of the troop remained in the first room while the rest disappeared into the depths. As Wayu and Leena walked alongside each other, the halberd sneezed "It is way too dusty and dark in here…it's depressing."
Leena sighed "Yeah…I've been to a few dank places but for some reason…this is just so…" the pair came to a stop at a row of books, Leena told Wayu to go to one end and they would check everything until they reached the center. It seemed to go quickly for the mercenary as much of the content she was looking at were scientific or just full of general knowledge, or as she called it, boring reads.
Glancing over to Wayu, Leena grinned and called out "Hey Wyre!" Wayu dropped the books she was holding and turned to face an empty hall before facing Leena and furrowing her brows.
The mercenary held her arms up in defense "Nice reaction." Running a hand through her pink hair, Wayu returned to the task at hand and ignored the other woman as she began asking questions regarding Wyre.
Hearing a massive sneeze, Soren poked his head out of the shelf and turned to Wyre "You alright?"
The other sage looked over to Soren and nodded "I'm fine…weird, I've never had a problem with dust…"
Soren returned to his books "Are you curious as to why this place is so…unkempt? The Western Archive is Sarhara's treasure, according to Iltar'Elm and To'Eltz anyway…why would the secret room that holds various key information be left like this?"
Wyre shrugged "Qi'No did say he is new to the job…maybe he hasn't had the time to put a group together to clean the place up. Maybe we should offer to lend him a hand."
Soren laughed "We are here on a vital mission…I'm not getting sidetracked to clean a library as expansive as it is."
Mia glanced around, noting Lyle on one side and To'Eltz and Orgoth on the other. The trueblade slowly took a blade out of the shelf she had already glanced at. It contained brief swordsman styles from Pozem and Regalshin, seeing To'Eltz short sword athletics and Lyle's triple edged style, she was very interested in learning and practicing the other styles. Though she herself never thought to use more than one sword, if she ever wielded two it was spur of the moment.
As she flipped through it To'Eltz and Orgoth began talking "You are an impressive fighter…as doubtful as much of the group is, I am glad you are coming along."
The trickster grinned "I'm just using all of you for my goals as you are all using me for yours…I still don't have the full story, but as long as we meet with Meloi again, I don't need it."
"Are you certain?" To'Eltz turned to Orgoth and nodded "I'm absolutely certain…though something is striking me as odd…why were Soren and Mia given the key? No matter what they said, the Archive Master would've wanted to see them in…and even keep an eye on us."
"Maybe Soren and Mia were very convincing in our struggle against the dead men that walk again…he believed them and entrusted them. It's not everyday outsiders are willing to go so far to protect several nations, even if that isn't how it started."
To'Eltz placed a book back on the shelf as he absorbed what Orgoth told him. Turning the trickster walked over to Mia who looked a little panicked as soon as she saw him approaching.
"I was just-"
To'Eltz held up a hand "I can tell you have a genuine appreciation for swordsmanship…we can ask to take some texts out from the Archive Master if you desire it."
Mia gave a big smile before To'Eltz continued "What did the Archive Master say?"
"He asked us why we wanted to know about True Elder Magic…and after we explained about meeting with the apothecary and the whole, revived dead people thing, it looked like he wanted to ask a lot more."
To'Eltz eyes left Mia to find Lyle who was looking at them, the swordmaster departed shortly after as Mia continued.
"He was in the middle of reading a very interesting tome…or, fascinating…you know, his words…so-"
"What?"
Mia raised an eyebrow "What? What?"
Fistivus and Lune continued looking through shelves, the older woman turned and smiled slightly, noticing Mikel. Fistivus turned "Odd eh? Yet, I kind of expected this would happen."
Mikel sat in a corner with countless books strewn about; the warrior had been flipping through them and tossing them on the floor quickly, hoping to be able to leave soon. He stumbled upon a book that spoke of legendary warriors that traveled to other lands and of ancient war lords that caused much strife in the old Ymarkteg.
"Gashuuka was a master Reaver of Old Anondye, uniting the nation under his massive axe; it once controlled some land that is now present day Pozem and Numengate and fought several long battles with Old Sarhara, which at the time was several villages united in today's Crown Desert."
Mikel's smile grew as he continued reading.
"This hulking man was able to level entire units on his own, he was one of the only rulers in history to take to battle with his men and drive the action. Let it be known that valiant kings who wanted to be known and feared like Gashuuka wound up getting killed in the field of combat…the Reaver credited his tenacity to his axe that absorbed the blood of foes, the liquid traveled through the axe's hilt and into Gashuuka's body, replenishing his lost blood to keep him fighting."
Mikel was amazed; he wondered where such a weapon could have come from, who made it?
"Gashuuka himself became wider known than Anondye, soon his axe became just as renown, he would call out its name in combat with the phrase 'Rend my foes and send them to the inferno, Helswath!'. That is so cool! It-"
Mikel went back to the word "Helswath…"
"Finally, one of you feels the bite of my mighty weapon…this beast has inherited part of my lust for combat…this fallen axe goes by the name, Helswath…an arm crafted by a fallen lord…fitting…through all the battles I've been in…it becomes stronger."
Mikel stood and left to seek out Soren, book in hand.
As Soren sighed he heard someone yell, turning and drawing his sword he recognized Mia running towards him with To'Eltz close behind.
"Trouble!"
Soren brought his fingers to his lips and let out a loud whistle, the troop began heading his way as Mia crashed into him.
The pair fell onto a shelf which To'Eltz grabbed, stopping it from toppling over.
"What-"
Mia cut off Soren as she stood and helped him up "To'Eltz just told me that the Archive Master we spoke to is a fraud!"
Soren's eyes widened "How could you-"
"The real Archive Master was blind…no one knows how precious books and reading are until you can't anymore…it was a law set in by the Sarharan Royalty, only the wisest blind men and women are allowed dominion over the Western Archive."
Soren's anger spiked as he approached To'Eltz "You didn't think that would be something we should know?"
"Forgive me if I didn't think to explain all common knowledge of this nation to you in a few days! More importantly, the real Archive Master is probably dead, he could've been sent in by any mix of your enemies!"
As the rest of the group gathered Soren caught a book that Mikel threw at him "Read that last paragraph!"
"I don't have time! We have to get out of here!" Even so, Soren's eyes fell to the book. Helswath…
Soren looked up just as a massive fireball tore through several shelves, Orgoth stood in front of it, the flames scorched the knight and threw him over, sparring the rest of the group. They all stared at Qi'No who stood next to Roltz "It's about time!"
The troop prepared to battle, Fistivus and Lune moved to the back and Wyre tended to Orgoth.
Qi'No smiled "I have to admit…I expected you lot to figure this out sooner…I am genuinely interested in this apothecary you spoke to…but we can pay him a visit after we finish you…once and for all!"
Qi'No reached behind him and pulled out an ornate staff, several warp glyphs appeared all over the archive, spawning Korgans. Roltz spun his toothed blade as Qi'No prepared another flaming meteor "Farewell!"
The flame exploded in the middle of the archive as the group split apart to take on the countless Korgans. Soren was slightly nervous as Roltz vanished, he could appear and attack any of them at any time. He didn't believe the smaller man was as tenacious as Murawk was, but he didn't want to underestimate him in any way.
Wayu and Lyle threw over a shelf, crushing a few Korgans, as they attempted to knock the debris off, the two moved about stabbing them all in the back, killing them. Several other Korgans roared at the move and charged the pair, Wayu leapt over a strike before stabbing into another Korgan. The man grabbed her lance and prevented her from pulling it out. Another Korgan ran by and cut her in the side followed by another ramming his axe into her arm. The impaled one kicked her away before falling over, as Lyle silenced two more he turned to see a blade sink into Wayu "No!" he leapt over arming his third blade in his knee and spinning, cutting into the flesh of the four men. He helped Wayu up as she grabbed her spear "Are you…stupid question, we need-"
Roltz ran by swinging his blade and sinking the teeth into Lyle's back before ripping it out, Wayu held her lance out, tripping Roltz. The man rolled over onto his feet as Lyle dropped Wayu and stared at the Korgan leader.
"You are nothing compared to Murawk!"
Roltz laughed "You will soon be nothing, your threats and insults don't affect me!"
Roltz leapt at Lyle, two blades clashed with one, the reverberation brought Lyle to a knee as the pain in his back seared.
Wyre and Soren knocked over a few shelves to make room and began to dance around each other, gracefully avoiding several attackers and shooting out slicing gales and rapid bolts. Catching the Korgans in their chests, sides and faces before stopping as Soren prepared a bigger spell. Wyre initiated his Brave Bolt, keeping many Korgans behind, a stray spear stuck into Wyre's shoulder, he turned and fried that man before turning to see one he struck stand again "What!?" holding his hands out they found the man's face and began incinerating it. With whatever energy, the screaming man rammed his blade into Wyre's stomach. Soren leapt in the air and upon landing a massive air wave exploded, throwing the Korgans into the air, with another wave of his arms, countless slicing gales cut through the bandits, killing them.
Soren turned to a gagging Wyre and drew out a staff, he began healing the man, then quickly removed the blade "Shit…what-"
Wyre attempted to say something when Lyle was kicked over and landed near the pair.
Soren turned and barely moved away from Wyre as Roltz blade slashed, taking several stands of Soren's hair. The mage felt something on his face, a long cut stretched across it, "Soren! Wayu is injured…badly!"
"So is Wyre!" As Soren kept his eyes on Roltz, Lyle continued "These men are advanced in their revived states; most killing blows don't stop all their functions immediately! They are storming through our attacks!"
Orgoth, Mikel, Leena, To'Eltz and Mia stood in formation around Fistivus and Lune, every time several Korgans charged them, the group would take turns breaking away and dealing with them. Orgoth's armor was still charred but he was better, Mikel took a slash to the back, Leena to her leg. Mia and To'Eltz remained injury free but realized what was going on.
"We have to move to join with the other four!" Mia nodded as Lune and Fistivus took off, followed by Orgoth, Leena and Mikel. The Korgans saw that chance to move in, Mia held her hand out and covered them in purple flames, as they screamed at the fire eating their skin To'Eltz dashed over and sliced their necks open. Upon finishing the last one he was knocked aside by a ball of fire and rolled across the floor before catching himself and standing again, covered in smoke.
Mia held her blade, aimed at Qi'No who began walking towards them "I enhanced the magic that revived these soldiers…while not a practitioner of True Elder Magic; I am well versed in its many more recent and less incredible powers…"
"What do you know about all this? The Korgan Clan? The Dune Guard? The ethereal figure?"
Qi'No shrugged "You could say I'm near the level of Meloi and Murawk, I was left here to stop anyone who came looking for the right information…honestly I was growing bored until you all came to me. Thank you."
Qi'No began rapidly thrusting his palms at To'Eltz and Mia, shooting out bursts of flames, the pair evaded the attacks that set fire to more of the texts.
Soren and Roltz blades clashed again, this time the Korgan took a knife from behind his back and attempted to stab Soren, seeing it, the sage forced Roltz blade into the ground and flipped over the man, as Roltz turned with his knife Soren jumped away so the Korgan struck only air.
He landed and hurled his blade, Roltz easily slashed it away, however he was struck in the back by Leena and then tackled by Orgoth. As Roltz stumbled away Mikel finished the triad attack with an arrow in Roltz' knee forcing the vile foe to the ground, seething he raised his blade, more Korgans began to run out of the rubble of the ruined archive, headed for Soren and Mia's group.
"Take care of Wyre and Wayu! We'll hold their attention!" Soren noticed a massive flare behind the group as Orgoth finished calling out to him.
Escaping to find Wayu the other troop members engaged the charging Korgans as Roltz vanished again.
Soren found Wayu and panicked, she was far too still, he ran over and began healing her "I'm not letting anyone die now…not ever…you hear me Wayu! We don't get to try again!"
He heard the halberd mutter something. Flipping her over he saw the wound in her stomach and began healing it, blood seeped out of her mouth, staining her chin. The halberd opened her eyes slightly to stare at Soren she opened her mouth and said something far too quietly. "What?"
Mustering her strength Wayu yelled "Roltz!" The toothed blade tore through Soren, he looked down at the end sticking out him and cursed mentally, throwing his arm back, a black flame exploded into Roltz' chest, the man lost his grip on his blade and flew through several worn shelves, destroying them.
Burning the toothed end off, it fell to the ground and Soren removed the rest from behind him. He finished healing Wayu and helped her up "We need to rejoin the others; Wyre is still in bad shape too…"
Wayu nodded and helped Soren along as he finally submitted and threw up blood all over the floor.
Mia and To'Eltz rolled to join the rest of the group as Qi'No leapt into the air and spun, shooting a jagged flame lance at them. The two split apart as it exploded on the ground between them. The force carried them further in opposite directions.
Mia stood slowly and noticed Soren and Wayu enter the ruined and burning clearing. Wayu looked alright but Soren was a mess and clutching a bloody wound in abdomen.
Qi'No charged the distracted Mia but was knocked aside by a worn Wyre Reh. Skidding to a halt, Qi'No fired a blast when a magical force field appeared in front of Wyre, the fire exploded against it and knocked Wyre to the ground.
Dropping the Ward staff, To'Eltz ran over to Qi'No and slashed at the man as he evaded, Mia took that chance to counter and slash the man across the back. Qi'No turned to face her as she followed the attack with a horizontal slash.
As Soren helped Wyre, Wayu turned to see Orgoth tear his lance out of a Korgan and Mikel throw his axe into one that approached Leena from behind as she struck down another.
Lyle got back on his feet and joined the fray, Wayu turned and her eyes widened, throwing her spear quickly it clipped Roltz arm causing him to fall to the ground near Soren and Wyre.
The Korgan had picked up a random blade since Soren melted his in half, jumping to his feet the blade met Soren's staff with a loud clang. Soren noticed that Roltz chest was burned black, "I'm amazed you had enough energy to try the same bullshit on me…"
"I'm amazed you have enough energy to clash with me after I nearly killed you…oh wait…" Roltz applied more pressure, forcing Soren to the ground "You don't!"
Wyre held his hand out "Fuck! YOU!" A lightning bolt shot into Roltz, as the electricity burned into the man's body he laughed and continued to press Soren, his blade began cutting through the sage's staff.
As Wyre screamed the lightning bolt tore clear through Roltz, the man stopped laughing and coughed blood all over Soren, the sage saw the gaping hole and then Roltz blade hit the ground as he stumbled away.
Qi'No noticed and shook his head he quickly moved away from Mia and To'Eltz attacks. Waving his arm around, spears of light began to appear around him, with a loud yell they shot out across the room, lighting the entire room up in magnificent flames.
"I'd love to stick around with you lot…but this was Roltz idea…with him dead, what does it matter anymore?" As Qi'No laughed an axe caught him in his chest, grunting he shot flames at Orgoth, Mikel and Leena before retreating.
Soren was helped up by Mia as the rest of the group gathered around, "No…" they turned to see Roltz on his knees shaking his head, one hand tried was weakly wrapped around the hilt of the stray blade. His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell to the ground.
As the place burned Soren closed his eyes and summoned Rexcalibur, shards of ice cooled the air and caused enough flames to die down for the group to move as quickly as they could out of the basement.
As they neared the exit the door opened and the Sarharan Royal Guard helped them out, a few proceeded into the room, before the troop could say anything they withdrew magic tomes and swung their arms, releasing waves of water, quelling Qi'No's flames.
As they were rushed through the main room, they noticed that the damage was great here as well, and was clearly doused by the Water Sages.
Outside a man in an extravagant blue robe ordered several of his men to aid Soren and Mia's group and then go inside to quell more of the fires. A Roc landed as a woman in armor jumped off "Are you all okay? No one in immediate danger?"
Mia shook her head "Soren, right here, needs help!"
She nodded and spoke with the Archsage next to her, he signaled another to run over, laying Soren on the floor he began healing as several more including the woman checked on the group.
They came to a stop next to several other people, including the woman that was at the main desk, most were covered in ash but aside from that, alive.
The woman called Mia over "Just to clarify, everyone is alright?"
Mia nodded "Mostly…thank you…"
The woman nodded before continuing "This is a serious incident so as a heads up…the questioning won't be fun…"
"Will you be doing the questioning?"
"My superior and I handle a bit of it on site, it really depends on what we learn and what we hear…I'd like to get a head start though...none of you are responsible for this? Right?"
Mia sighed "The massive fire was not us but Soren in the dark green over there and I can use fire magic of sorts…we may have used it to fight off the men who attacked us…we are deeply sorry for that."
Nodding the woman turned as more men, armed like her came outside to their chief and shook their heads, they didn't look happy and neither did the chief.
Far from the attack stood Qi'No, on the floor, the last axe strike was more serious than he thought.
A man appeared next to him, "Finally…help me here!" he turned and his eyes widened "You!?"
"I'm very sad…and extremely angry right now…Roltz is dead…and I didn't get to strike him down…"
Qi'No stood slowly but fell back to his knees "Please! I didn't-"
"I know…but I need to clear this…aggravation…I'm sure you understand."
"I don't! I really-"
With a massive swing from an axe, Qi'No's head rolled down the cliff as the rest of the body fell over.
Shrugging the other man turned and walked away with a smirk "…better."
I kinda realized about 90% of the chapter was in the Western Archive...not Shuize but the Western Archive is part of Shuize so...
Anyway, on deviantArt I am adding the first "Tag Team" picture, these are pictures of a pair of members of the Troop that work very well together as comrades-in-arms and as friends.
The first actually has 3 characters on it: Soren, Mia and Lyle
My schedule is going to get crazy with a feature coming up but I'm gonna try to keep to Saturday updates and keep the story going, good news is YOU'LL NEVER CATCH UP
See ya next week!