I may or may not be getting surgery in the upcoming weeks, so I wanted to get this out on time in preparation.
I moved the Plays Templates, Investigations, and Bath Scenes back to the end. Sorry for future confusion but there's a lot of spoilers in those scenes for those reading for the first time and seeing them around Chapter Six. Forward warning, when you click the link for new chapters it might link you to the Bath Scenes, so just go back 3 chapters and you'll find the latest chapter.
Part Two
Three days later…
Blood Fest proved to be a subdued affair in Nagarea. News had quickly spread of the ambush on the Liberation Army Headquarters and despite the fact that the Liberation Army were seen as evil incarnate in defiance of Nagar, many citizens were not pleased that the ambush occurred on the day of calm before Blood Fest. The general census was that the Theocracy should have waited until the day of Blood Fest to carry out this attack. And the failure of the attack seemed like divine retribution for defying Nagar.
The High Clerics and the Matron though, despite expecting a victory from the ambush, anticipated the negative response from the public and quickly found a scapegoat (a hapless cleric in the capital) to torture and execute as the sole responsible party for this mess. This worked to quell most of the population though, and many were satisfied to blame a singular person than the High Clerics who spoke to Nagar Himself.
Morale was low however amongst the loyalist population, as the Theocracy had lost their mightiest Sheikh to the Liberation Army. Morale within the Liberation Army, however, was at a record high.
"Is it safe for us to talk?" Bax asked.
"Oh sure," Sanji reassured him calmly. "We cut off the line of communication to…wherever that pipe led to."
"B-But aren't we sort of responsible for what happened? Since we announced our Army's plans like this?"
"How is it our fault?" Gertrude asked in a gravelly voice. "Lord Daunte doesn't blame us, and that's enough for me."
"Yes, we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful leader like Lord Daunte," Sanji said cheerfully.
"Yeah, except when everyone turned on him for sparing Sloan Faakhir!" Bax added obliviously.
"…Bax, you will never be popular here."
"Aw, how come?!"
Daunte rubbed at his forehead as he straightened and looked at his surroundings. The five platforms were filled with figurines, and around him children grabbing figurines and playing with them. "…Wow."
"Brother, you got so many!" Arin gushed, smiling as he held Riou in one hand and Miakis in the other. "How many more figurines do you need?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Daunte admitted aloud. "It looks like though I may complete the Gate Rune War first and possibly the Islands Federation War last."
"Ooh, I wonder what will happen when you complete a set!"
Probably nothing, Daunte thought but he kept it to himself. "I'm going to go check on Sloan and then go see Oboro. Would you like to come with me?"
"Oh, I—Kibbeh!" Arin shouted when the little dog jumped up onto the Dunan Unification War platform. He grabbed Shiro in his mouth and took off running. "Kibbeh, get back here!" Arin took off running after him.
Hopefully he brings it back in one piece, Daunte thought dryly.
"Hey Lord Daunte, could you tell Mooney to make a figurine of Isato?" Freyr asked him. He was holding his father's figurine in his hand. "Aunt Haswar sent Silvano a letter asking for one, but I overheard him telling Israfil that he never sees Isato in the shop."
Daunte himself didn't recognize the name. "Was Isato a Star of Destiny during the Falenan Civil War?"
"Yeah. He's Aunt Haswar's assistant. Archana and Kaylani call him 'Uncle' but I'm not as close to him as my cousins are."
"I'll go down and see Mooney now." Daunte looked at the Falenan Civil War platform. "Would you mind if I asked for a Queen Lymsleia commission?"
"My mom?" Freyr shrugged. "Sure, why not? It'd be cool to see what she looked like during the Civil War."
Daunte returned to Mooney's shop and he heard a few customers groan when he entered. "Ah, hello Lord Daunte!" Mooney greeted him from the counter. "Back for more?"
"Actually I have a couple of commission requests," Daunte said. The soldier at the counter moved aside for Daunte, which embarassed him but he stepped forward. "Are you able to take more than one commission?"
"Yes but it will be expensive," Mooney said. "If you ask for a Star of Destiny it will be 20% higher than what's in the case, and commissions for non-Stars of Destiny are naturally higher. How can I help you?"
"Freyr asked for a figurine of Isato—"
"Oh, okay. That will be 6,000 bits."
"And I would like a figurine of Queen Lymsleia during the Falenan Civil War," Daunte said.
"Ah, Queen Lymsleia?" Mooney thought about it for a moment before nodding. "20,000 bits please."
Daunte tried not to twitch as he reached for his wallet. "That's…26,000 bits, right?"
"Right," Mooney said cheerfully.
After ordering the figurines, Daunte headed for the middle south building. This building had been primarily transformed into living quarters for Army members, with four bedrooms on the first floor, six on the second floor, and six on the third floor. Georg Prime resided in a room on the third floor, Israfil and Silvano were in rooms on the seconds floor, and on the first floor…Sloan and Adalgiso had taken rooms.
Daunte entered the building and saw a door closest to his left wide open. He knew that this was Sloan's room. He headed over there and knocked on the open door. "Sloan?"
"Ah, Lord Daunte," Sloan greeted him, standing up from his desk. "Please come in. I-I apologize, I don't have tea to serve you."
"I'm the one who stopped by unexpectedly," Daunte said as he entered. Gone were Sloan's Sheikh robes, and instead the man was dressed in a long-sleeved slate gray tunic tied with a light gray cloth belt and black wore no gloves, and Daunte saw that the back of both hands were bare as the older man fidgeted in front of him. Despite no longer having the Black Rune, Sloan was still a giant of a man built with a wall of muscle. Even with his relaxed demeanor he still looked intimidating…something that Sloan seem to be visibly aware of.
"How are you doing?" Daunte asked him. "No one has bothered you, have they?"
Sloan shook his head. "The people who screamed for my blood just avoid me. They seem to tolerate my presence, and I can deal with that. Esther stopped by yesterday. I-I had a nice chat with her."
"Just Esther?" Daunte asked, though he immediately felt bad about asking that.
"…Yes," Sloan admitted reluctantly. "Ciana is—she doesn't want to see me yet. I-I don't blame her at all, I caused her a lot of trauma. A-And I…" he ducked his head. "T-They…They told me I hurt Ciana when I was possessed. That I caused her a head injury that could have killed her had you not been there."
"I-I don't know what the extent of her injury was," Daunte said. "But she…you threw her off you, and she landed on the ground head first. I healed her with my rune.
Sloan looked stricken. He turned and sat on the window seat in front of his window. After a moment he said, "I don't know how to tell her how…sorry I am. I don't know how to heal the damage I've caused to my family. Esther talks to me, but she's very guarded when she talks to me. And Tidur and Ciana…they won't talk to me at all."
"I would give it time," Daunte said uncomfortably. "I-I know that things can't magically go back to how they were before you got the Black Rune. You wore it for about four years, and your family…"
"I know," Sloan said, looking back at him. "I need to work hard for my redemption. I must make up for all the lives I took, and for destroying my family. I may not ever get full forgiveness, or my family may never want me back. But…" he shrugged sadly. "I'll have to live with that if that happens."
"You will be fine," Daunte said. "And I'll support you all the way."
"Adalgiso said that too." Sloan frowned. "We—Adalgiso left to see your detective, Oboro. We heard something horrible and he needed confirmation on it."
"Horrible?" A feeling of dread settled over Daunte, but he still asked that question. I-Is it about…?
Sloan confirmed his fears. "The truth about the Plague."
"You're certain?! You are absolutely certain?!"
Daunte and Sloan could hear Adalgiso's desperate voice from the stairs and they hurried towards Oboro's office. Daunte quickly knocked before entering. "Please excuse me!"
"Hello, Lord Daunte. Sloan," Oboro greeted them. His tone was friendly though his expression was serious. He sat on one couch and Adalgiso sat on the couch across from him. Shou, Umeko, and the other detectives were scattered around the room visibly on edge. "Would you both like to join our conversation?"
"Lord Daunte, Lord Sloan," Adalgiso said, standing and turning to face him. Like Sloan he had discarded his Holy Army uniform but was dressed in colors similar to the Liberation Army uniform. His tunic was very dark blue, almost black, and his pants were dark brown. He wore a kufi on his head that was the same color as his tunic.
Adalgiso looked angry and distressed as he moved towards Daunte. "Lord Daunte, this man is telling me that the Plague was created by the Theocracy! Is this true?! Please tell me!"
Daunte looked between Oboro, Sloan, Adalgiso in silence for a moment. He saw raw pain in Adalgiso's eyes and Daunte felt his own throat tighten. He silently debated if he should spare Adalgiso and lie, or if he should tell the truth. After a moment though he knew what the right answer was. "…Yes," he said quietly. He looked away briefly before looking back at Adalgiso. "The Theocracy…they created an artificial Plague to wipe out the Nagarean Elves. Unfortunately the Plague was stronger than they expected and it…accidentally spread to Farna."
Adalgiso didn't say anything for a long time. Tears filled his eyes but went unshed, and he gritted his teeth so hard that Daunte could hear the grinding. A low, painful groan rumbled from his throat as he turned away from Daunte and collapsed back into the couch. He stared down at the table between the couches. At the simmering cup of tea before him. Sloan shifted where he stood, looking to want to approach him, but he ultimately stood his ground.
It was a long and awkward period of silence before he spoke. "…I lost my family to that Plague. My wife, my children, my grandchildren…I thought I had done something wrong. I thought Nagar was punishing me for some slight against Him. I was a loyal soldier to the Theocracy, and I prayed to Nagar daily. I-I-I-I mean, I must have done something so retched that my whole family died, didn't I?!
"B-But it—wasn't that?" he looked up at Oboro. "The Theocracy. They killed my family?"
"I'm so very sorry for what you have suffered," Oboro said softly. "But it is true. I can confirm that the Theocracy never meant for the Plague to reach a human population, but it expanded beyond their control."
"I WAS THEIR SERVANT!" Adalgiso hollered, jumping to his feet. "I fought for them! I killed for them! And how do they repay me?! They killed my whole family! They watched me suffer and they LET ME SUFFER! They caused my suffering! They—" he turned to face Daunte and Sloan. "The High Clerics came to me personally and gave me condolences! Can you imagine that?! Those PIGS looked into my face, watched my cry, and consoled me! ME! They took away my family and consoled me while pretending that they knew nothing! That they DID NOTHING! WHY?!"
"They obviously saw value in you that they behaved humanly towards you so that you wouldn't turn on them," Oboro said. "But they may have also enjoyed your suffering.
"Enjoyed it?!"
"Assassins of Nether Gate are good at emotional manipulation when it suits them," Oboro explained. "They could have killed you, or encouraged you to take your own life, and call it a mercy because you would have "joined your family". Instead they let you live though you had lost everything."
"But I didn't help him for such a sick reason!" Sloan exclaimed. Even though he spoke in a loud voice, it wasn't as ominous as it was when he wore the Black Rune. "I stuck with Adalgiso because he's my best friend! He's my comrade! I couldn't bear to lose him, and neither could our soldiers!"
"That is because without the Black Rune you don't have ill intentions," Oboro said. "Your goal was not to prolong his suffering but to ease it and to give him purpose. Not to use him like a weapon."
Daunte knew this to be true from the memory he had seen of Adalgiso's suicide attempt. He moved towards Adalgiso and carefully laid a hand on his arm. "This is why we're fighting," he said. "Because the High Clerics are former Nether Gate assassins who spread misery. They have done far too much damage for far too long and we must stop."
"I-I cannot believe I fought for the people who killed my family," Adalgiso said softly. He shook his head and promptly sank to his knees before Daunte, clasping Daunte's hand in his and dipping his head forward. "Lord Daunte. I know that I have pledged myself to your cause but I swear to you that I will fight until you are victorious. Until those murdering bastards are all dead. My family was murdered, and I must have justice for them. Please, help me get justice for them!"
Daunte looked at Sloan but the man was looking at Adalgiso. Daunte looked down at Adalgiso. "I want to promise you justice," he said softly. "But I've also promised justice to other people and haven't been able to keep that promise. But I accept your help, and I accept Sloan's help in this Army. We will throw the High Clerics from power and restore stability to Nagarea. I will fight so that those who suffered will not suffer again. Including you."
Adalgiso nodded and let Daunte's hand go as he stood up. "Thank you, Lord Daunte. I will put my trust in you."
"Maybe you should go back to your room?" Oboro offered. "You've been given some heavy news today."
"I'll take you back," Sloan said, holding out his arm to Adalgiso.
"Thank you, my Lord."
"W-Would you like me to walk you both back to your rooms?" Daunte asked them, but Sloan shook his head. "We'll be all right. The Army accepted us, and if I receive vitriol along the way well…I deserve it."
Daunte didn't know what else to say, and so said nothing when they left. "That's awful," Umeko breathed slightly, before the door was fully closed. She pressed a hand to her throat. "H-He…lost his whole family?"
"Yes," Oboro confirmed grimly. "To that Plague that reduced the population of Nagarea's Elves to 8. Several others here lost family to the Plague as well, such as Dr. Clara, and your dear friend Felicity Lord Daunte."
Daunte nodded in confirmation.
"How did Nether Gate do something like this?" Shou asked.
"We can only speculate," Oboro said. "But because it went out of control I don't anticipate Takefute doing something like this again. Takefute likes controlling and manipulating unpleasant matters after all."
"Who is Takefute?" Daunte asked as he sat down. "I've heard you mention his name before."
"He was the head of Nether Gate when it was still active," Oboro said. "All assassins no matter the rank reported directly to him. He wasn't particularly pleased when Queen Arshtat disbanded Nether Gate, and I knew that deep down he would do anything to get power for himself and to keep killing. I searched for him for a long time, and was able to find him here in Nagarea. Before I could make a move on him though, his cohorts and him assassinated the former High Clerics and took their positions themselves. The suffering that has been inflicted in this country is very much Takefute's trademark."
"But we will stop him," Daunte said firmly. "We won't stoop to his level, but we will restore stability to Nagarea."
"Yes we will," Oboro said. "And I know you came here for two reasons. One was to check on Adalgiso. And the second was to see me. Would you like me to investigate more of your allies?"
"Yes," Daunte said, pulling out his wallet. "Could you look into Farzin, Lorik, Tala, and, ah, Nash and Sierra."
"Will do," Oboro told him. "In the meantime though, I have a lead for you on a few new recruits."
"Oh, you do?"
"Yes, but this will be very dangerous for you my Lord—"
"I saw someone," Shou interjected sharply. "Standing alone deep in the Red Tundra in the south. They were wearing fancy white robes."
"White robes?" Daunte echoed in a careful tone.
"Yeah," Shou said. "They were a small person though. The gold staff they were holding was taller than them even. I couldn't get too close to them but they appeared to be poking at the ground or something."
"It's very curious," Oboro said thoughtfully. "It sounds like someone I may have seen before, but was not fully acquainted with."
"They wouldn't answer, no matter how many times we screamed at them," Umeko added.
"If they're a potential recruit I'll go down there and speak to them," Daunte said, standing up.
"Take a strong party with you," Shou said. "It was much further south than you've gone before."
"I would recommend taking Jeane with you," Oboro said. "And based on the report I found, you may want to take the dragons with you too."
Is there another dragon egg for me to find? Daunte wondered, but he nodded his head. "I'll set out today to get this taken care. Are there any other recruits?"
"Yes!" Umeko almost shouted, startling Daunte. "W-We should return to Dunan!"
"Dunan?" Daunte looked at Oboro in shock. "We—You found recruits in Dunan?"
Oboro shrugged. "Perhaps. I cannot tell because of the distance, but Umeko feels we should return to Dunan."
Daunte nodded. "Okay then. I'll need to contact Hero before I leave. Thank you, Oboro."
"Anytime, my Lord."
"…Who's going to follow the vampire lady around?" Shou asked when Daunte left. Oboro answered him with a smile.
"Lord Daunte!" James was sitting on the stairs of the first floor of the main building, and sprang up when Daunte entered through the doors. "Lord Daunte, I fixed the lift along the cliffside! You can use it now to get to the underground cavern instead of those unsafe stairs!"
"Thank you, James," Daunte said, shaking his hand. "And I'm sorry for continuing to make you work, but could you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"I want to plan a trip to Dunan in a couple of days. Would you mind letting Hero know?"
"Oh sure! Grandpa LOVES flying the skyship, whether it be for travel or into battle! Wasn't the last battle awesome?! We created a wall of fire!"
"You sure did," Daunte said, not adding that it took them hours for them to put all the fires out. "Thank you, James."
"Sure!" James ran up the stairs to Viki, and after a quick conversation she teleported him away. "Hello, Viki."
"Oh hello Lord Daunte!" Viki looked a little stressed though she was forcing a smile. "A-As you can see, things are calmer in the towns s-so I can teleport you again!"
"Thank you, Viki. I'll need your services shortly."
"O-Oh, sure!"
Daunte frowned. "Are you okay, Viki?"
Viki laughed loudly. "Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?"
"There you are."
Daunte jumped at the sudden voice and looked to his left to see Yuber standing there. His frown deepened. "Are you bothering Viki?"
"That girl teleported me into the middle of the sea to the FAR northwest," Yuber said sharply, jabbing his finger at Viki. "Oh, but this was not merely me bobbing the surface of the water. No, she teleported me three thousand and eight hundred meters below the surface of the water!"
"3,800 meters underwater?!" Daunte exclaimed loudly. He gaped at Viki. "H-How did you do that?!"
"I-I don't know!" Viki said helplessly. "I-I sneezed, and he teleported! I had no control over where he ended up!"
"A-At least you're immortal," Daunte said, trying to sound reassuring as he turned to face Yuber. "So I imagine it wasn't difficult for you to—"
"Move my body to the surface?" Yuber asked dully. "When I am wearing heavy armor and when my body was injured?"
"A-Ah…" Daunte felt a little uneasy. "How…long were you underwater?"
"Long enough," Yuber said, glaring at Viki. "The water was freezing. When I finally rose to the surface I saw no land masses. And I heard your incessant calls to me—" he glared at Daunte. "And I could not heed them. I finally gathered enough strength to find a rock hole island to recuperate until I heard your call again and I could come to you."
"I-I said I was sorry!" Viki sputtered, looking to be on the verge of tears. "I didn't mean to send you there!"
"But you did," Yuber snapped, turning his glare back to her.
"Okay, okay," Daunte said, inserting himself between Yuber and Viki. "Can we please put this behind us? Viki, you need to have better control over yourself okay? Remember how you teleported two soldiers to the Dark Chasm in your sleep? You really should be wearing those nose plugs Caesar gave you!"
"R-Right, I'm sorry!" Viki bowed again.
"And Yuber." Daunte turned to him. "Please stop threatening and intimidating our allies! Viki didn't have malicious intentions when she teleported you! If anything, she probably saved you by doing that!"
"'Saved me'?" Yuber echoed darkly. "How did she save me?"
"Well, she teleported you at the moment of impact from that spell," Daunte said. "You didn't get the full impact from the strike, right? Even a small taste of that power left you incapacitated for about a month! That blast almost destroyed the skyship! What state do you think you would've been in had you received the full blast?"
Yuber snapped his teeth, his expression furious. After a moment he teleported away without another word.
"I'm so—" Viki said.
"You've already apologized," Daunte said. "You don't need to keep doing it. Just relax, okay?"
"How can I relax when that guy is mad at me?!"
Daunte shrugged. "When is he not angry?"
Viki went still for a moment before bursting into laughter. "O-Oh my goodness! I said the same thing to him before!"
Daunte laughed himself, but the voice behind him sobered him. "Lord Daunte?"
"La'Ahad!" Daunte turned and hurried down the stairs. La'Ahad stood there still wearing his tattered cloak covering his face, but he looked significantly better than before. "How are you? Did Dr. Yulin say it was okay for you to leave?"
"Yes," La'Ahad said, his tone soft. "It was…difficult for me to sit out the last battle. I vowed to myself I wouldn't be burden to you again, and so I forced myself to get better. Therefore, I ask that you take me with you on your next quest."
"But—" Daunte tried to protest but La'Ahad raised his hand. "I must insist. I'm better now than I have been. I feel my strength returning to me daily."
"I…all right," Daunte said reluctantly. "But we're going into the Red Tundra. If at any point you feel ill please tell me."
La'Ahad nodded slowly. "I will not be a burden to you."
"Okay." Daunte waved to him. "I'm going upstairs to assemble my party. You can come with me."
They rode the elevator up to the fifth floor in silence, and La'Ahad followed him out of the elevator. Daunte saw Yuber at his usual spot still sulking, but Daunte was just glad to see him again. He did notice however that Pesmerga was leaning against the opposite wall as Yuber. They were staring each other down in silence.
I'll speak to Lady Leknaat later about Yuber. I believe that Pesmerga is key to humanizing Yuber, and I just need to find the other two people who can help.
"Hello, Lord Daunte!" Caesar greeted him cheerfully as he entered the room with La'Ahad. "Are you going on a recruitment quest?"
"I am," Daunte said. "For my active party I would like to have La'Ahad, Jeane, Sharon, Suna, and Georg. For the support party I would like Templeton, Kuro, Azul, and Zǐsè."
"Ah, there's a possible other dragon egg?" Caesar asked. He looked at La'Ahad. "Are you okay for travel?"
"I am," La'Ahad replied.
Caesar called for the party and Sharon arrived with her dragons jumping with excitement. Futch and Bright trailed behind her. "You found another dragon egg?! You did, didn't you?! That's why you called all of us!"
"Just be careful," Futch sighed, rubbing at his forehead.
"I hope to be useful to you," Jeane purred.
"I can't wait to expand my map!" Templeton exclaimed.
"I heard about the Red Tundra," Georg said thoughtfully, his tone slightly jovial. "I've never walked across permafrost the same color as blood. But I'm open to new experiences."
"I…don't remember if I ever walked across the Red Tundra," La'Ahad said softly. "But I know it's a cold region."
"Hey," Georg said, turning to La'Ahad.
"Yes, sir?" La'Ahad responded.
"You seem familiar to me," Georg responded. "I think we fought side by side in a battle together. Were you ever part of the Ebony Knights?"
"I may have been," La'Ahad answered honestly. "But I cannot remember. I have no memories of my past, and even now I have slight difficulty with some short-term memory. I don't even know my true name."
"I see," Georg said. "I'm sorry that this happened to you."
"I feel that I know you too," Jeane said with her alluring tone, her smile unwavering. "But perhaps from long, long ago."
Daunte was curious but didn't press the issue. "I think we're ready to go."
Though Lorik's settlement was gone, there was still a marker for Viki to teleport them to. A cold wind was sweeping over the area and Daunte immediately began shivering. "L-Let's move quickly to where they said the recruit was!" he stammered.
The enemies they faced as they headed south were unsurprisingly difficult. They faced Bandits but they also faced Wild Buffalos, Mammoths, Rabid Wolves, and the like. It made navigation difficult and Daunte could see Templeton struggling to scribble on his map. The red permafrost expanded for kilometers around them, with no noticeable landmarks. Daunte clutched the Blinking Mirror to his chest, determined to not lose it.
If I gets to be too difficult, I'll get out of here.
They walked and fought enemies for three hours until Sharon shouted, "Look!" And pointed forward. Daunte squinted through the swirling wind to see a small figure standing 200 meters ahead of them. He saw movement from the figure's right side, and the swish of a staff back and forth.
"OH!" Jeane was the one lone person unaffected by the environment (despite her loose clothing) but now she cupped a hand to her mouth and her eyes widened in shock. "Is that—!" She quickly ran forward towards the figure.
Daunte and the group raced after her and managed to catch up to her before she reached the newcomer. One meter behind the person Daunte was able to see them fully, but when he saw the clothes the person wore his heart leapt into his throat and he shrieked, "STOP!"
Everyone, including Jeane, immediately stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Daunte in confusion. Daunte pointed with a trembling hand at the newcomer as they turned around to face him. "Tho—Those are the robes of a High Cleric!"
Except for Jeane, the party drew their weapons and looked at the newcomer cautiously. Daunte also took a fighting as the High Cleric finished turning around to face them, but then he stiffened. W-What the—!
The person who stood before them was a child. Wide, innocent-looking gray eyes stared back at him and black eyebrows were knitted, giving the impression of a worried expression. Because of the robes and hood, he couldn't tell. "…Who are you?" he asked quietly.
The High Cleric (?) looked Daunte over for a moment before their eyes settled on Daunte's hand. "…You have a True Rune." The voice of a young female resonated from behind the hood. "Eresh knows that you bear the Rune of Restoration."
Eresh? Daunted wondered, but he was quickly on edge. "H-How did you know that?!"
Eresh pointed to her own right hand. "Eresh has the Resurrection Rune on her right hand. Eresh is impressed to finally meet the parent rune of the rune she wears on her right hand.."
Jeane was clapping her hands as she moved forward. "Ah, Eresh! Long time no see!"
Eresh looked at her. "Comrade Jeane. Eresh is pleased to see you."
"Yes, and I am pleased to see you," Jeane responded. "Am I'm deeply sorry that I couldn't help you before…"
"Eresh had needed help," Eresh confirmed. "Eresh had hope she would receive help from the bearer of the Dawn Rune, but Eresh did not receive help."
Why does she refer to herself in the third person? Daunte wondered.
"Ah, yes," Jeane said uncomfortably. "It appears Prince Freyjadour did not have…time to help you that time."
"Prince Freyjadour?" Georg asked, quickly stepping forward. He looked at Eresh. "W-Were you—during the Falenan Civil War?"
Eresh nodded. "The bearer of the Dawn Rune had the choice to help Eresh, or help another. The bearer of the Dawn Rune did not choose Eresh."
"I…think I remember the Prince mention you," Georg said slowly. "But then the Barows—"
"H-How old are you?!" Daunte sputtered, staring at Eresh in shock. "You look younger than me, but you were alive during the Falenan Civil War?! That was over 20 years ago! And you're wearing the robes of the High Clerics! When did you become a High Cleric?!"
"Eresh does not know her age," Eresh responded. "But Eresh's age is not important. Nor is it important when Eresh became a High Cleric."
"But it IS important!" Daunte insisted. "Did you know my mother?! Phoebe Amirmoez?! Are you alligned with Nether Gate?!"
"Phoebe Amirmoez," Eresh said with a thoughtful tone. "Yes. Phoebe Amirmoez was quite young when she became a High Cleric. Phoebe Amirmoez liked to talk a lot."
"S-So you were a High Cleric before Nether Gate took over? O-Oh, but of course you were since were in Falena during—" Daunte clutched at his chest as he breathed out a sigh of relief. "S-So Mom wasn't the only survivor of the massacre? Why didn't you join the Liberation Army?"
"Eresh had damage done to her body," Eresh said. "Eresh could not come back for a long time because of this damage. Eresh was finally able to return last week."
"D-Damage?" Jeane asked, her voice full of concern. "What sort of damage, Eresh?"
Eresh shrugged. "Eresh's head was decapitated from her body."
"EH?!" the rest of the group shouted.
"O-Oh a decapitation?" Jeane asked, laughing awkwardly. "But haven't you had that happen bef—"
"Eresh's head was decapitated, and then Eresh's body was destroyed with a blast of lightning," Eresh said matter-of-factly. "There was total destruction to Eresh's body, and so Eresh could not return until now."
"Oh, that will do it then," Jeane sighed sympathetically.
Daunte's jaw hung open as he gaped at both Jeane and Eresh in shock. "I—what—how—"
"But that does not matter," Eresh responded. "What is important is that Eresh finds what she is looking for." she nodded. "Eresh has found it."
"Oh you have?" Jeane asked excitedly. The rest of the group was still standing stunned.
"Yes, Comrade Jeane." Eresh turned around to face away from them. "Eresh has found it here." She stabbed her staff into the ground.
The ground began to shake violently. Everyone except for Eresh and Jeane swayed where they stood. "A-Ah!" Daunte sputtered, stumbling around. "I-Is this an earthquake! I-I didn't think Öt could travel through—"
"It is that," Eresh said bluntly, pointing forward.
Daunte turned and saw a massive hill form in front of them. The red permafrost rose high into the sky, the hill quickly forming to look like a tower of sorts. The permafrost tower stretched higher and higher until it finally stopped and stood 1,500 meters high. Directly in front of them was an arched opening in the tower that looked like a door.
"This is the Burj Aldam," Eresh said. "Eresh will get what she needs inside." She turned to look over her shoulder at Daunte. "Will the bearer of the Rune of Restoration help Eresh?"
"Just hold on a moment," Daunte said, looking between Eresh and Jeane. "Who are you exactly? All of this is very confusing to me!"
"Not just you," Sharon muttered.
"Eresh is Eresh," Eresh responded vaguely. "Will the bearer of the Rune of Restoration help Eresh in her quest?"
"You have to tell me your quest," Daunte insisted. "I have to know what I'm helping you with!"
"The Burj Aldam," Eresh said, looking back at the tower. "It is because of this that the land is the way it is."
"W-What?!" Daunte gaped at the tower. "T-Then…Yuber said that the permafrost was red because of magic! This tower holds the magic that caused it!"
"Eresh came to this land long ago to find the power within the Burj Aldam but she had not found it until now," Eresh said. "When Eresh takes care of the source of the power in this tower, the evil magic will fade. Will the bearer of the Rune of Restoration help Eresh?"
Daunte looked at the structure for a long moment and then looked at his allies. Then he looked at Eresh and nodded. "I will."
"Eresh thanks you," Eresh said. Her brow furrowed as she looked over the group. "Eresh does not see room for her in your group. In order for Eresh to accompany the bearer of the Rune of Restoration, there must be room for her in your group."
"A-Ah, right," Daunte said, flushing with embarrassment. He looked the party again. "Ah…let's head back to HQ to rearrange the party. I-I don't want anyone to have to walk back from here."
"You are too kind, my Lord," Jeane said. "Eresh, why don't you—"
"Eresh will remain here, Comrade Jeane," Eresh responded. "Eresh will wait for you to return with enough room for her to join you."
"I'll be back quickly," Daunte said, yanking out the Blinking Mirror. In a flash they were back at HQ, Viki slightly startled to see them. "A-Ah! Where's the new recruit?"
"I have to—" Daunte began, but he was cut off by a familiar 'whoosh' of air and Yuber suddenly appeared before him. "I will join you."
"My, you are eager," Jeane teased.
"I can sense the energy," Yuber said, smiling slightly. "You are about to enter a very dangerous dungeon. I will go with you and kill as I please."
"Yuber, I came back to make room," Daunte said. "I can't add—"
"I'll excuse myself," Georg said, bowing slightly. "I think I've had my fill of adventure for today."
"Thank you for your service, but my party is still full," Daunte said. "I need Sharon and her dragons—"
"If you find a dragon's egg without a Dragon Knight present, the situation may turn deadly," Sharon said, hugging her dragons to her. "I must go with you!"
"And I must insist on going with you as well," Jeane said. "Eresh is an—old friend of mine. I would love to fight alongside her again."
"Eresh?" Viki asked, her brow furrowing. "That…name sounds familiar…"
"I will leave the party," La'Ahad said, bowing stiffly. "I did poorly in the battles in the Red Tundra and I apologize."
"No, you did fine!" Daunte said. He reached out for him and patted him on the forearm, before realizing too late that he was doing so with his right hand. The Rune of Restoration flickered, but Daunte yanked his hand back quickly and closed his eyes. No! No visions! I don't want to see his memories when he doesn't remember them!
A memory thankfully did not emerge, but…for a brief moment, Daunte heard a woman's scream in his eyes. It shook him to the core, but he tried to cover it up with a shaky smile. "T-Thank you, La'Ahad."
La'Ahad nodded. "Thank you, Lord Daunte."
After seeing Caesar, Georg and La'Ahad left the party and Yuber joined the party. Pesmerga confronted them though as they left the war room. "If you are going out Yuber, I'm coming with you!"
"You can't, there is no room for you," Yuber said snidely.
"But you only have a party of five!"
"I-I'm getting a new recruit," Daunte raising his hands slightly. "I need a spot open—"
"As I said, there's no room for you," Yuber interjected.
Pesmerga looked furious but Daunte pushed Yuber towards the elevator. "I'll take you next time! Bye!"
They exited the elevator on the first floor, and Yuber stopped dead in his tracks when they walked down the stairs towards Viki. "I will not let that silly girl send me anywhere ever again!"
"You'll be fine," Daunte reassured him. "And if you end up 3,600 meters under the sea, at least you won't be alone."
"I'll leave you all to drown," Yuber spat, but he broke away from Daunte and stormed over to Viki. "One more chance," he spat her, causing her to jump. "But if you send me someplace like that again—"
"Don't you DARE finish that sentence!" Daunte snapped, hurrying over to them. "Rule number one, you can't kill Liberation Army allies! Viki is a Liberation Army ally AND one of the 108 Stars of Destiny!"
Yuber snarled, and glared at Daunte. "Fine."
Despite his sour demeanor, Yuber led the group and effortlessly slaughtered any enemies that crossed their path. Despite the weather conditions, they reached Eresh and the Burj Aldam in less than an hour. "You have returned," Eresh said. "Did the bearer of the Rune of Restoration make room for Eresh?"
"I did," Daunte said. "And, ah, Yuber has joined the party. Georg and La'Ahad left the party."
Eresh looked at Yuber for a long moment. "Black armor. Horns. You are a Black Knight."
"I am," Yuber said.
"Eresh feels curious to see you have returned," she said.
Returned? Daunte looked at Yuber, but Yuber looked confused as well.
Eresh looked at Yuber's right hand. "…You have the Eightfold Rune."
"I do," Yuber said, raising his fist. "Would you like to see me—"
"Yuber," Daunte snapped. Yuber snarled but dropped his arm.
"Bearer of the Eightfold Rune," Eresh said to Yuber. "Eresh wants to know why you have sided with the bearer of the Rune of Restoration."
"He summoned me and made a contract with me," Yuber barked at her.
Eresh blinked very slowly. Daunte fidgeted as she did this. "…Eresh is confused. The bearer of the Eightfold Rune is acting against his nature."
"Tell me about it," Yuber huffed. "It puzzles me as well."
"Eresh knows," Eresh said. "Red. White. And Black."
"What?" Yuber asked in genuine confusion.
"What?!" Daunte cried out. He lunged forward and grabbed her shoulders. "D-Do you know?!"
Eresh turned her gaze towards him again. "..Red," she said.
"Yes, yes!" Daunte nodded. "Please tell me more!"
"That is all Eresh knows," Eresh said bluntly. "Now please help Eresh complete her task." She pulled away from Daunte and headed towards the entrance.
"No, wait!" Daunte shouted, running after her.
"Red," Yuber said. "White. Black. What do they mean?"
"They are colors, sweetheart," Jeane teased, skipping after Daunte.
"I know that!" Yuber snapped, storming after them.
Sharon hugged the dragons closer to herself and looked down at Suna. "What a bunch of weirdos."
The interior of the permafrost tower was small, only thirty meters in diameter. There were no rooms on the ground floor, and there was a spiral staircase along the wall to Daunte's right, but two wooden chests were on the opposite side of the entrance. Daunte was very puzzled as to why and how there were chests in a tower that just sprung up from the ground, but he was curious regardless and checked them. One chest had a Mother Earth Rune, and the other had a Fog Robe.
"Eresh would like that," Eresh said suddenly. "The robe would benefit Eresh greatly." Daunte handed it over without argument.
Eresh gave Daunte no further information about the vision and refused to answer his questions. Daunte was irritated, but he soon forgot about his irritation when faced with the monsters inside Burj Aldam. There were Mummies, Zombie Unicorns, Ghouls, and even Ghosts and ALL of them were a higher level than Daunte currently was. Yuber however was stronger than most of the monsters, though the Zombie Unicorns proved to be a challenge even for him. However he seemed to enjoy the challenge and sometimes took care of the battles solo.
Jeane and Eresh were both formidable rune users. Jeane had a Charm Rune on her forehead and a Lightning Rune on her right hand, but the Runemistress packed a lot of power in her attacks. For Eresh, in addition to the Resurrection Rune on her right hand she had a Pale Gate Rune on her forehead, and the power of her summoning spells were on par or even better than Allise's Pale Gate Rune.
Sharon attacked with Suna while Templeton hung back with the other dragons as they ran up the winding staircase. Each "floor" had one room, and the first two floors were empty. As they neared the third "floor" however, the dragons suddenly roared, and broke away from the room. Suna led the charge as they flew ahead of the group and into the room on the third floor.
"YES!" Sharon cheered, running after her dragons. "I knew it! There IS another dragon egg here!"
"H-How did a dragon lay an egg in this tower?!" Templeton exclaimed. "I didn't see an opening at the top of this room! How would it have gotten in that room?!"
"Eresh is not certain," Eresh said. "But Eresh thinks that a dragon may have laid the egg when the tower was still standing."
"So then the baby inside may be dead," Jeane said sadly.
"H-How long ago did this tower stand?!" Daunte asked.
"Before the land turned red," Eresh said.
"Then it's dead," Yuber said bluntly.
Daunte shook his head and raced after Sharon to the room. He saw Sharon kneeling at the back of the room surrounded by the dragons. As he entered the room something caught his eye to his right. He jumped back slightly as he saw an undisturbed, full-body dragon skeleton. He stared at it for a long moment before he let out a shaky breath.
"Eresh is amazed," Eresh said. "Eresh has never seen a dragon skeleton so clean."
"I want the head," Yuber said, moving towards the front of the skeleton.
"Lord Daunte!" Sharon hurried over to him, holding a large ashy gray egg in her arms. The dragons hovered nearby, crooning in worry. Tears filled her eyes. "Lord Daunte…the egg is cold! Dragon eggs aren't cold like this unless…"
"It's been buried for a long time," Jeane said sympathetically. "And it's mother must have died after laying that egg, so it didn't have a nurturing presence. I'm so sorry, Sharon."
"Lord Daunte, please help it!" Sharon pleaded. "Y-Your Rune restores, right? You can restore this egg!"
Daunte shook his head and looked at Eresh. "I-I…I haven't unlocked the spell that can bring back the dead."
"Even with that spell, it can only bring back the recently deceased," Eresh said, shrugging. "However, the dragon in that egg is unborn. Eresh suggests that the bearer of the Rune of Restoration call upon the rune to restore the egg to its state before Burj Aldam was buried into the earth. Perhaps then…"
"Oh, right!" Sharon exclaimed. "The dragon wasn't born yet! So maybe—"
"Or maybe nothing will happen," Yuber said, unceremoniously removing the dragon's head from the rest of the skeleton.
"O-Of course I will try," Daunte said. He swallowed thickly and looked down at the gray egg in her arms. He raised his hand and rested it on the top of the egg. "Rune of Restoration. Please restore this egg to a healthy state."
The Rune of Restoration glowed, and the light enveloped the egg. Everyone except Yuber watched in awe as the glow filled the room. Daunte suddenly felt light-headed, but before a dizzy spell overtook him the light faded. The egg in Sharon's arms was no longer ashy grey. Instead it was bright red, the color of magma.
And not even a second later the egg began shaking in Sharon's arms.
"OH!" Sharon cried out, kneeling back down on the ground. The dragons surrounded her and she looked up at Daunte with wide eyes. "The egg—it's HOT! A-And it's moving!"
"Oh, it's alive after all!" Jeane cheered, clapping her hands.
"Great," Yuber said disinterestedly.
"Eresh recommends breaking open the egg so that we can move on," Eresh said bluntly, looking towards the doorway.
"No!" Sharon protested, but as she said it, a loud 'crack' filled the room. The dragons hummed and closed in around Sharon and the egg as the shell burst up, and a red snout broke through.
Daunte pressed a hand to his mouth as a red dragon burst through the shell and fumbled into Sharon's lap. "I-It's okay, it's okay," Sharon said reassuringly. "You're safe now."
The baby's eyelids fluttered briefly before they opened fully. The baby dragon had emerald green eyes, and they looked at Sharon for a long moment before it cried out loudly.
"Can you believe it?!" Sharon exclaimed, bursting into tears as she tried to hug all of the dragons at once. "Five dragons! I-I have five dragons, even so far away from the Dragon Rune! Mom will go crazy!"
"What are you going to name that little one?" Jeane asked, leaning over her.
"Lāla," Sharon said. "It suits because of its color."
"It's a good name," Daunte said.
"The dragon has been found," Eresh said. "Eresh wants to keep going."
"Yeah, I'm bored," Yuber said. He left the room dragging the skeleton head behind him.
"We'll keep Lāla in the support party," Daunte said as Sharon stood. "Are you up to fighting with Suna?"
Sharon nodded enthusiastically. "Thank you so much, Lord Daunte! I never would have found these dragons without you!"
"I'm just amazed that restoring the egg allowed Lāla to hatch," Daunte said. "The egg didn't look before…"
I just saved an egg that was long gone. I may have been able to do this because the dragon hadn't hatched yet, but…am I closer to getting the spell that will allow me to revive the dead?
The higher they climbed, the closer they got to the top of Burj Aldam. On the top "floor" Daunte saw a massive doorway, and a feeling of dread crept over him the closer they got to that doorway. What is up there?
On the floor directly below the top one, Daunte saw a chest in the left corner and a strangely glowing green orb in the right. "Ah," Eresh said, pointing. "That will restore our health."
"Really?" Daunte asked. He approached the orb and touched it with his left hand. He felt a sharp shock, but in an instant his fatigue was gone and he saw the bruising and cuts on his body fade. He looked at his comrades. "H—How—"
"How is that orb in a tower that had been buried?" Jeane asked blithely as she touched the orb. "It is indeed a mystery amongst mysteries."
"We will be facing a powerful foe," Yuber said with excitement, also touching the orb.
"R-Really?" Daunte asked.
"For this orb to be here, Eresh also believes this to mean we will be facing a powerful foe," Eresh said, touching the orb.
"Here," Sharon said, directing the dragons to touch the orb. All of them except for Lāla seemed reluctant to touch it, but they did so. Daunte moved to the chest and opened it, further shocked at what he saw. "…'Window Set 06'." This is for Esther, he thought, tucking the box into his bag.
Fully healed but now aware of the battle ahead of them, Daunte carefully led the group out of the room and up the remaining stairs to the top of the tower. "Yuber," he said softly.
"Yes," Yuber said, moving to the front of the group. Yuber unsheathed his swords and the group ventured into the top room. The temperature of their environment dropped to below freezing and Daunte hugged his arms as his teeth chattered. His heart leapt into his throat as he heard a low growl. He squinted towards the back of the room and saw the far walls glittering blue. The group moved closer but stopped in their tracks when a shadow passed quickly over the glittering walls.
"It is here," Eresh said, and stabbed her staff into the floor. The room suddenly flooded with light, and Daunte saw that the walls, floor, and even ceiling where bright blue like a glacier. But in the back of the room saw a towering monster that looked as though it were made of the same glacier as the room itself. The body was jagged and hideous and monster stood three meters tall. The monster didn't appear to have eyes, but when it turned towards the party it swung its massive arms back and let out a deafening roar of rage.
"W-What is that?!" Daunte shouted.
"That is a Wechuge," Eresh said bluntly.
"A Wechuge?!" Yuber exclaimed excitedly. He grinned sinisterly. "The battle will be amazing…"
"W-What is a Wechuge?" Sharon stammered. She hugged Lāla to her chest protectively. The other dragons surrounded her and growled at the monster in question.
"Oh, Wechuges are humans who steal power that is beyond their capability," Jeane said. "Because the power is too strong for them, the power mutates their body into—that." She gestured to the Wechuge roaring at them.
"Comrade Jeane is correct," Eresh said. "This Wechuge stole Eresh's power long ago. The human took some of Eresh's power, but Eresh's power was too strong for his body. Eresh was not able to slay the Wechuge, and it ran away from her. Eresh's power may have gotten away from the Wechuge, and it must have flattened the Burj Aldam and mutated the land."
"W-Wait, hold on!" Daunte shouted, waving his hand. "The Red Tundra has been red since before the foundation of the Nagarist religion! A-And you're saying that YOUR power caused the land to become red?!"
"Yes," Eresh responded.
"That was hundreds of years ago! Thousands of years ago, possibly! But it was YOUR power?! Who are you?! What are you?!"
"Eresh is unable to answer that question," Eresh said, looking at the Wechuge. "The Wechuge must had initially retreated to the Burj Aldam because it is a cursed tower. It has slept until now. The beast wishes to kill us all and eat us."
"E-Eat us?!" Sharon cried out.
"Wechuges like eating humans flesh," Eresh said. "The Wechuge wishes to consume more of Eresh's power. The bearer of the Rune of Restoration must assist Eresh in killing this monster and retrieving her lost power."
"Of course I will!" Daunte said. "We can't let something like—that leave this tower!"
"Then let's stop talking and let's go!" Yuber shouted.
Battling the Wechuge was an ordeal regardless of the power of Daunte' party. Yuber attacked it relentlessly but the blows from his swords were barely felt by the monster. At one point he triggered his Eightfold Rune and attacked the beast with the Rune, but while it made the Wechuge stagger it did not fall.
"WHAT?!" Yuber shouted, jumping back. "Why won't you die?!"
"The power he took from Eresh was immense," Eresh said, and Daunte gaped at her. Yuber sliced a giant monster to pieces with that Rune, but this monster is only slightly fazed! Just how strong is Eresh?!
The battle lasted for a little over an hour. The Wechuge snapped razor-sharp black teeth at them, desperate to sink them into their skins. But the party was careful to avoid its jaws. The swings from its arms though proved to be just as dangerous, as with a few properly timed strikes knocked Sharon, Jeane, and Daunte over.
In the end though, it was Eresh who landed the killing blow on the monster. "You will return what you took from Eresh!" She said, raising her voice for the first time as she triggered her Pale Gate Rune. "Royal Passage!" and Daunte almost collapsed in relief when the attack from the summoned monster finally put the Wechuge down.
"…150,000 bits?" Daunte said in amazement. "B-But how does this monster have bits?" He shook his head. "Never mind."
"That was a challenge," Yuber said, breathing heavily. But there was a sparkle in his eyes. "It's been a long time since I had that much fun…"
"I-I never want to see anything like that again," Sharon whimpered.
Eresh approached the fallen Wechuge and stood at the monster's side. She spread her arms wide. "Now," she said bluntly.
A bright light burst from the Wechuge and rose up high into the air. Just as quickly the light shot down and struck Eresh. Eresh didn't even flinch as her body absorbed the light. Just as quickly, the light was gone.
"Eresh is satisfied," Eresh said, lowering her arms.
Daunte moved towards her, but flinched when he saw that the Wechuge was gone. In its place was the body of a man that was rapidly decomposing. Right before his eyes the body withered away until there was nothing left but dust.
"He wanted power," Eresh said. "He thought taking Eresh's power would give him power and make him live forever. He was right, but not in the way he wanted to be."
"How did he steal your power, Eresh?" Jeane asked softly, coming up to her other side.
"Eresh will not say how, Comrade Jeane," Eresh said. "Because Eresh does not want a repeat of this."
"I wouldn't ever tell anyone," Daunte promised her, but Eresh shook her head. "Eresh will not make the knowledge known to the universe. If Eresh says it out loud, then word will travel. She will not say so."
"O-Okay."
The Burj Aldam began to shake violently around them. "Eresh recommends that we depart," Eresh said. "Burj Aldam is about to be buried again."
"R-Right!" Daunte shouted, patting himself down. "Ah, who has an escape scroll?!"
"I do!" Jeane offered. Yuber teleported away.
They escaped Burj Aldam with seconds to spare. The moment their feet touch the permafrost the tower sank back into the earth, lower and lower until it was the same level as the ground. Daunte stared at the ground for a long moment, as though expecting the tower to spring back up again. But it didn't.
"Eresh is indebted to the bearer of the Rune of Restoration," Eresh said, gaining Daunte's attention. "As you are the child of Phoebe Amirmoez, are you a leader?"
Daunte quickly explained to her about the Liberation Army and their goal. Eresh looked thoughtful as he spoke, and when he finished she nodded. "Eresh understands. Eresh wants vengeance on the persons who destroyed her body. Eresh will gladly help the bearer of the Rune of Restoration, if you will accept Eresh's help."
"Are you kidding?!" Daunte sputtered, shaking her hand. "I would be GLAD to have your help! Welcome to the Liberation Army!"
Eresh nodded. "Eresh is cold. Is the headquarters in a warmer climate?"
"Yes, it's…" Daunte's voice slowly trailed off as he looked at his surroundings. "Wait a minute."
"What is it?" Sharon asked.
"The land…mutated because of Eresh's power, right?"
"Yes," Eresh said.
"Look!" Daunte swept his arm around himself. "The tundra is still red! Why is it still red if you got your power back?!"
Eresh shrugged. "Eresh never said that the land would be restored when she got her power back."
For context, 3,800 meters is close to how deep the Titanic wreckage is under the ocean.