XIV: Tiamat
The room was silent, save for the dragon's deep, rumbling breaths, and the frantic beating of Quinn's heart. He tried to stand, to back away, to scream, to something, anything at all… but it was as if his mind and body had been disconnected, and all he could do was sit, paralyzed. He expected that at any moment, the beast would lunge at him, and crush his body in its jaws. But it didn't. It simply loomed over him in a terrifying silence.
Eventually, the beast drew its head close to Quinn. He flinched, finally able to control his body again, and the dragon… drew back, as if surprised. At that moment, Quinn found his voice. But it was faint, almost completely inaudible, and it took every ounce of strength to force the words from his throat:
"Are… are you going to kill me? "
The dragon tilted its head. " Kill you?" it asked. "You believe that everything I have done- the events I set into motion… was merely to kill you?"
For several moments, the dragon was silent. Then, it shuddered, before tilting its head back and laughing uproariously. Its laughter echoed in the chamber, making the very walls shake. But the laughter did little to put Quinn at ease. He was still unarmed, and at the mercy of a monster that could kill him with no more difficulty than he would a worm.
Eventually, the beast's laughter died away. "Hehehehe… ah , please, forgive me. It has been so long since I could become my true self that I'd forgotten that humans find it somewhat… intimidating . It was not my intent to frighten you, I assure you."
Quinn slowly stood up. "Then…?"
The dragon's face twisted into what Quinn guessed was its closest approximation of a smile. "No, Quinn. I'm not going to kill you." As the dragon spoke, a blue light began to spread across its body, and the beast began… to shrink, its body shortening into more human proportions. But when the light faded, it was not an old woman that stood before Quinn. She was wearing the same red cloak as Elma, she had the same white hair, the dark skin, and the brilliant blue eyes, but she was much… much younger. Taller, too- she must have stood at least as tall as Mother Agnes. And, she was… stunningly beautiful. Quinn felt his face heat up as he looked up at her, before pushing the thought away.
"In fact…" the woman said. "I very much need you alive."
Quinn stammered, "Eh- I… y-you do?"
"Indeed," she replied. She spoke in the same voice the old woman and the dragon had. There could be no doubt- it was indeed Elma. Or, Tiamat. Or whoever she said she was. "Events are beginning to unfold, the scale of which you could scarcely begin to imagine. And you -" She pointed at Quinn. "-are the lynchpin which holds them all together."
Quinn's mind reeled. Was… he really that important? He couldn't even imagine. He asked, "What do you mean? What kind of events?"
Elma's expression darkened. "I cannot say. The mere act of telling you would steer you toward the path of ruin. Centuries of work would be unraveled in mere moments."
"What? But I only got this far because of my Ring's power!" Quinn protested. "And the visions I had brought me here! Don't I have a right to know?"
Elma looked down at her hand, at the Ring on her finger. "Through this Ring, you were granted my gift of Foresight- this much is true. But the power held in this ring is but a pale reflection- a fragment- of my full power. The scope of your visions are much more restricted than mine."
Elma stepped toward the center of the chamber, looking up at the dome overhead. "The future… is a fragile thing. To change it is to walk upon the blade of a knife. And with your limited perspective, you cannot see how your actions shape the world that is to come. In attempting to avert doom, your actions may in fact hasten its arrival. In attempting to save one life, you may condemn a hundred others to death." The elder turned her gaze back to Norn. "I made the mistake of revealing too much, once. Countless people suffered because of my carelessness. Countless people continue to suffer because of it even now."
A heavy silence hung in the chamber as Elma turned her back to Quinn. "I realize that I have given you little reason to trust me. But know that everything I do, have done, and will do, has been not only for your sake, but the sake of all humanity."
"For humanity's sake?" Quinn asked.
Elma nodded. "Yes. Long ago, I swore an oath, to protect the humans of this land. And so long as I draw breath, I will fulfill my oath."
"An oath…" Quinn said. He then said under his breath, " But you still won't help me… "
Elma glanced back over her shoulder at him. "I did not say that I wouldn't help you."
"But-" Quinn began.
"There are other means in which I can aid you." She then stepped past Quinn. "Come. There are things we must discuss."
Quinn turned, confused. "Huh? Where are we going?"
"To meet with the rest of your comrades," Elma replied. "You are preparing for war, are you not? And you came seeking Doria's allegiance, yes?"
That was true. Quinn had come to meet Elma, but Captain Uther and the others had come to secure Doria's support in the coming war against Kherson.
Elma suddenly stopped, and turned back- her face was aged once again, as it had been when he'd first entered. "Oh, I nearly forgot." She slipped Norn off her finger, and held it out to Quinn. "This belongs to you."
Quinn looked at his ring, but didn't take it. "Are… are you sure?" he asked.
"Of course," Elma replied. "It was my gift to you, after all."
Quinn blinked. "Gift?"
Elma must have known what Quinn was thinking, because she replied, "You finding my Ring embedded in the stone of that mine was no accident. I chose to place it there, where one day, you would find it."
Quinn looked down at the ring, before finally taking it. He slipped it on his finger- he felt it tighten, and there it sat, secure, as though it had never left. "If… you're sure."
"I am," Elma replied with a smile, before turning. "Now. We have business elsewhere."
The vanguard was silent. It took several moments before anyone dared to speak.
"That's it?" Uther asked.
Elma nodded. "That's it."
"And, you have no additional terms?" Ingrid asked.
"Only that you permit me to join your envoy," Elma replied.
Elma had called the vanguard to the forum- the courtyard at the base of her temple- to discuss terms of Coea and Bannon's alliance. Quinn had expected another long, dull affair, but as soon as the elder seated herself on the steps, she shocked the vanguard by stating that Coea would provide whatever aid was requested in the battle against Kherson.
"I… see…" Uther replied. "Will you give us just a moment?" The captain motioned for the rest of the vanguard to join.
As soon as everyone was gathered, Lindow glanced to Quinn and said, "You sure have a way with the ladies, don't you, kid? Gotta say, I'm pretty jealous."
"I don't like her," Anya said with a low voice, eyeing the elder with suspicion. "She's grown far too close to darling."
"Indeed, this strikes me as far too convenient," Ingrid said. She then looked to Quinn. "What exactly did the two of you discuss?"
Quinn hesitated, unsure if what Elma had told him was meant only for his ears. But after a moment, he relented. "Elma said… that events are beginning to unfold. And that… I'm the lynchpin that holds everything together."
Ingrid frowned. "I assume she didn't specify what these events would be." When Quinn shook his head, she mumbled, "I thought as much…"
"You believe the elder has an ulterior motive?" Valerian asked.
"Without a doubt," Ingrid replied.
Uther stroked his beard. "Regardless of motive, Elma has offered Coea's full, unconditional support. Can we truly afford to turn down such an offer in our current position?"
"Perhaps not…" Ingrid replied. "But I still don't like this."
"I… I think Uther's right," Quinn said. "If Kherson is as much of a threat as you all say it is, then we need all the help we can get. And if you think Elma's up to something… then I have you and Lindow to watch my back."
Ingrid blinked in surprise, before touching the beak of her cap. "…Very well. I have no further objections."
The vanguard turned back toward Elma. "We accept your proposal," Uther said.
Elma clapped her hands together. "Excellent. Though, I always knew you would." She then stood. "Lycurgus, fetch your things. We're leaving."
Lycurgus- still wearing a blindfold- "looked" to Elma in confusion. "Lady Elma?"
"Where are you going?" Quinn asked.
"You'll be travelling to Tharros next, yes? Lycurgus and I will be joining you." Right. That had been Elma's one and only condition for agreeing to ally with Bannon. "The Tharrosian League has always slow to act, and resistant in inserting itself in foreign affairs. You'll need my help in impressing the threat that Kherson poses to them."
Van looked to the elder. "Your lack of reluctance to fight Kherson surprises me," he said. "How can you be certain that we have your nation's best interests in mind?"
Elma looked to Valerian with a stony expression. "I understand- better than anyone else in this land- what Reman seeks to accomplish. He believes his actions will save Aurea, but he is in fact unknowingly aiding those who would bring ruin."
"How do you know that for sure?" Uther asked.
"Because I have foreseen it. But more than that…" The elder turned her back to the vanguard. "I am directly responsible for the path Kherson has taken. I am obligated to correct this, my most grievous mistake."
Elma began to climb the steps, but stopped when Quinn called out " Wait! " She glanced back. "Is… is that the mistake you were talking about?" he asked.
Elma was silent, her stony expression never faltering. "…it is," she replied, "but I will speak no more of it here. Come, Lycurgus." The elder turned, and ascended the steps leading to her temple.
Enderi 8, 707
"Is this truely necessary?" Elizabeth asked.
"I realize you wish to return to the battlefield as soon as possible," Julius replied, "but there is a procedure I must follow before I can authorize returning you to active duty." The priest adjusted his glasses. "I assure you, this final physical will take no more than a few minutes."
Elizabeth grumbled, but eventually replied, "Very well."
"Excellent," Julius replied. "Now, please have a seat. And, I remind you that any impropriety is unintended. Any actions I perform are in the capacity of my role as a medical professional…"
Elma had wanted to set out for Tharros as soon as possible, but Lycurgus reminded her that as both of them would be leaving Coea, arrangements would need to be made to ensure the city's daily affairs would run smoothly in their absence. Which was just as well, as the vanguard needed time to replenish their supplies for the journey ahead.
Julius and Elizabeth were in a set of barracks that the guards had graciously allowed the vanguard to use for their stay in Coea. After replenishing the unit's supply of curatives, Julius had pulled Elizabeth aside to conduct one last physical. Though she had recovered splendidly since the last battle, the priest wanted to ensure she had recovered all her faculties before allowing her to return to the field.
Elizabeth rotated her arms. Julius watched, asking questions all the while- "Have you experienced any unusual sensations? Tingling? Tremors in the hands? Sudden pains or tightening of the chest?"
"No." the noblewoman replied bluntly.
Julius nodded. "Very good. Now, I have one final test before we finish: a vision test." He bent over slightly, holding out his arm with one finger extended. "I am going to move my arm. As I do, I would like for you to follow the tip of my finger with your eyes. Please try to keep your head still while- Ah! " As Julius spoke, something slipped out from under his robes and fell to the floor. It was a small badge made of dark wood, inlaid with the image of a golden hand.
Julius bent down to pick up the badge. "Apologies. I-"
But Elizabeth suddenly stood, grabbing Julius by the wrist. "Where did yew get that badge?"
"I would ask that you refrain from asking any questions until the examination is over," he said.
But Elizabeth yanked the priest to a standing position. "That badge is only bestowed upon ordained priests of the Guiding Hand Faith. Yew are going to tell mae exactly how yew acquired it."
Julius's expression didn't change from its usual stoicism. "Has it occurred to you that I have this badge because I am , in fact, a priest of the Faith?"
Elizabeth drew back her hand at once, as though she'd touched a hot stove. "Ah- m-my apologies, Yer Grace," she said. "I did not realize." She then blinked, as if realizing something. "Actually, perhaps there is something yew kin help me with."
"If it is within my power, then I will assist you in whatever you request," Julius replied.
"Would yew… take confession fer me? I've not had the chance to confess since we departed Bannon."
Julius adjusted his glasses with a frown. "Apologies, but I am afraid that question would be better suited for our chaplain. I joined this army as a medic- as such, my duties fall within the boundaries of medicine and well-being."
Elizabeth said nothing as her mouth first fell open, before she narrowed her eyes at the priest.
Julius turned. "Well, it appears you have fully recovered. As such, I declare you fit to return to duty. Now if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." The priest left the barracks, oblivious to the seething noblewoman he had left behind.
Enderi 9, 707
"Juno!" No answer. " Juno! " Again, no answer. Quinn sighed. "I should've asked Miss Ingrid to help me…"
Elma had resolved the issue of who would lead Coea in her absence, and the vanguard stood ready to move on to Tharros… or rather, they would have, if all members had been present and accounted for. Juno was missing. As a mercenary, Uther was content to leave her behind, but Quinn insisted they find her; Uther agreed to hold off the advance until Juno was found, but with the condition that Quinn search on his own. After asking around, some of the guards had seen Juno heading out of Coea, toward a nearby stream. So, Quinn set out to find the wayward mercenary.
Eventually, a loud noise drew Quinn's attention. He followed the sound, to find a pool of water, fed by a small waterfall flowing over an overhanging rock. Not exactly a stream, Quinn thought, but began approaching all the same. As he neared the pool, however, he noticed something… odd by the water's edge. It looked to be a pair of sandals, resting on top of a bundle of fabric. Quinn quickly figured out what was happening, but as he looked out over the pool, he saw nobody.
"Juno!" he called. But there was no answer. "Oh no… h-hang on! " Quinn rushed to the water, not bothering to remove his clothes, and waded out to the pool's center. He looked, but couldn't see anything that looked like a body under the water's surface. "Juno!"
"What?" a voice behind him asked.
Quinn jumped. He wheeled around, before immediately turning away again. It was Juno, but… she was, undressed, and made no effort to cover herself. "T-There you are," he said.
"So," Juno began. "Do people in Bannon usually go swimming with their clothes on?"
"I- I thought something had happened to you," he stammered. "A-Anyway, I came looking for you 'cause everyone else is ready to head out. We need to head back."
Juno sighed. "Alright alright. Just give me a sec."
The two climbed out of the water, Quinn still refusing to look at Juno. He waited, his back still turned, as she dressed herself. After a few moments' hesitation, Quinn finally said, "You really shouldn't wander off on your own, you know. At least tell someone where you're going first. What if something had happened to you while you were out here?"
"Oh? Are you offering to join me next time?" Juno asked playfully. "The water is rather nice this time of year…"
Quinn spluttered, and Juno laughed, clapping her hand on his shoulder. "Hah, honestly, the men outside of Coea are all so stiff. I feel bad for the women that live abroad." Quinn didn't say anything as the mercenary strode past, now clothed. "Alright. Let's get going."
Quinn followed in silence, unable to clear his mind of the sight he had seen.
Enderi 11, 707
The sun was beginning to set, and the vanguard was preparing camp for the evening. Elma advised that they travel to Tharros over land; the waterways leading to the city were too treacherous to navigate by any ships other than Doric triremes, and as a nation far inland, Coea had no ships.
Quinn was at the edge of camp, splitting logs for firewood. Most would complain about the dull work, but he didn't mind- it was simple and repetitive, sure, but reminded him very much of his work back in the mines of Grimhold. He had to admit though, the sun and fresh air were certainly a nice bonus.
As he worked, Quinn noticed someone approaching. He stopped, but the captain wasn't heading for him; rather, he was walking toward a small wagon standing nearby. Raquel was no doubt cooped up inside, as she always was when she wasn't on the battlefield. Quinn knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but he couldn't deny that he was curious about what business the captain had with the witch. So, while he kept working, he slowed his pace, as to better listen in.
The captain knocked on the side of the wagon. Immediately, Raquel barked from within, "Go away."
"Raquel, was it?" Uther asked, undaunted. "It's Captain Uther. I'd like to speak with you for a moment."
The wagon door opened a crack, and the witch peered out, scowling.
Uther continued, "You have knowledge of alchemy, yes? I wanted to ask if you would be willing to create medicines and remedies for our store of supplies."
"No." Raquel slammed the wagon door shut.
"You would be recognized by the Bannish military for your services!" Uther said loudly. "And you would receive fair compensation!"
"I don't want your stupid medals! Or your money!" Raquel snapped back. "All I want is for you people to leave me and Gideon alone!"
Uther recoiled slightly. After a moment, he replied, "…as you wish. And I would remind you that you are under no obligation to continue travelling with our unit." With that, Uther walked away.
Everything went quiet, until Raquel said aloud. "Medicine, eh?" The wagon creaked as she presumably moved about inside. "I should have a recipe for vulneraries somewhere. Ingredients will be the real issue, though…"
Quinn was perplexed by what he heard, until the sound of footsteps came to his ears again, this time headed right toward him. He looked, but it was not a person approaching, but… a pegasus. Odd, as the horses were supposed to be hitched on the other side of camp. Quinn set his axe down, but didn't move closer- Ingrid had told him that pegasi were not fond of men, and rarely allowed them to approach, much less ride them.
But the pegasus trotted right up to him, and licked his face. " Aagh! Pttphh! " Quinn stumbled back, spitting. He wiped the pegasus's saliva off his face, asking, "What was that for?"
But then, Quinn heard a rough voice shouting, "Solais!" More footsteps approached quickly, this time belonging to a person- Elizabeth. " Hah… there yew are, Solais. Come on, let's get back."
But the pegasus didn't comply. It stretched over to Quinn and licked him again. " Aah! Stop that!" Quinn cried, stumbling back. "Eh, Elizabeth, can you give me a hand?"
"Er- right!" The noblewoman hurried over, and led the pegasus away. Once she had it under control, she said, "Aye'm quite sorry about all that, Quinn. But, this is rather odd. Solais has never taken a liking to any men before…"
"Yeah… Miss Ingrid told me," Quinn replied, wiping his face off again with his arm. "How'd he get over here anyway?"
"Aye was inspecting his tack when he wandered away from me. Still, Aye'm thankful he didn't wander too far."
"I, uh… I'm glad I could help," Quinn said hesitantly.
As Elizabeth led her pegasus away, he could hear her saying to herself, "Could Quinn be… hmm, perhaps one of the manuals has an answer…"
Quinn watched her depart, before picking up his axe. This firewood wasn't going to cut itself, after all.
Enderi 13, 707
"…it is not enough to merely close your eyes," Elma said. "You must open your mind, see beyond sight."
Quinn opened his eyes and looked at the elder. "What's that supposed to mean?" His confusion was only partly because he'd been awakened so very early- Elma had practically pulled him out of his tent, wanting to instruct him on to gain better control of his visions.
"You understand the principle, even if you don't realize it," Elma replied. "It is what brought you to me."
Quinn didn't ask how Elma knew that. She seemed to know a great deal about him, but when he questioned how she knew so much, she only ever gave him a single answer- Your Ring is a part of me. There is nothing that transpires in its presence that is not known to me. But at least now, he understood what to do. He closed his eyes again and concentrated on Norn, trying to awaken it, trying to…
There was a bright flash. Quinn found himself seated before a stage, seated at the base of many tiers of stone benches. His surroundings reminded him of a theatre, before something on stage drew his attention. It was… Elma, turned toward a pale man with white hair and blue robes. She had a pair of thin, gleaming swords in her hands, and was pointing one at the man. Something about the man struck Quinn as odd, and not simply because Elma was threatening him. "So you must have known Orpheus won't work on me ."
"Oh dear ," the man sighed. "If only I had prepared a contingency for this… "
Suddenly, a column of blue flames erupted from the ground next to the pale man. It disappeared as suddenly as it came, leaving a thin figure shrouded in a black cloak and black pointed cap behind.
The man grinned. "Oh wait. I did ."
The people in the surrounding benches erupted in panic. But not Quinn. He leapt onto his feet, and climbed up onto the stage-
There was another flash. Quinn suddenly found himself back in the real world, on his feet, arms outstretched as though to climb up something. As he took several breaths to collect himself, Elma mused to herself, "Blue flames…"
Quinn looked to her in surprise. "You saw it too?" he asked, before shaking his head. She kept saying they shared their power to see the future- of course she would have seen it. So he instead said, "I've seen that blue fire before."
Elma nodded. "Yes. At Fort Felhold."
"Do you know what those… things are?" Quinn asked. "They're definitely not human…"
"I believe I do…" Elma replied. "But until I see that man with my own eyes, I will avoid jumping to any conclusions.
Another evasive comment. Just one of many she'd made in the short time they had known each other. Quinn was just about to protest, when a brassy sound rang out over the camp. Elma looked in the direction of the sound. "It's time for the morning meeting, it seems," she said. "We'll continue your training another time."
The vanguard assembled at the center of camp, where Uther and Lycurgus were waiting. "Good morning, everyone," the captain said. "As you all know, Tharros is only a few hours away. Mister Lycurgus wished to share some information with you before we arrive."
Lycurgus stepped forward. Incredibly, he still had his blindfold on. "Thank you, Captain. As all of you are doubtlessly aware now, Doria is far from a unified nation. But in times of great crisis, a city may call for the convening of the Ecclesia- a grand meeting of Doria's nations. Lady Elma requested that the Ecclesia be convened some weeks ago, and Tharros agreed to host it. As such, dignitaries from all across Doria are housed in the city. I would ask that all of you maintain a sufficient degree of decorum at all times. If we wish to secure the rest of Doria's support, it is in our best interest to maintain a good impression."
The vanguard set out not long afterwards. Soon, the scent of the ocean filled their nostrils, and the sea came into view. And in time, along the water's edge, they sighted a vast city. It was similar to Coea… but Quinn noticed many more differences than similarities: the stone of the city was a grimy beige, the buildings were packed incredibly close together, and though it was surrounded by high walls, the walls seemed… oppressive, as if they were meant to contain, rather than protect. Quinn leaned over to Ingrid and asked, "Miss Ingrid, have you been to Tharros before?"
"Once, a long time ago," she replied. "Why?"
"I don't know. I just wasn't expecting this place to be so… dingy ."
"Tharros is one of the oldest cities in Aurea," Ingrid replied. "More than a little bit of wear should be expected."
The vanguard continued to the heart of the city, where a mountain of grey stone towered over the nearby structures. As they neared, Quinn saw something carved into its side- a theatre, surrounded by many tiers lined with stone benches. Just like the one he'd seen in his vision. Quinn stopped, paling.
Juno noticed, and stopped next to him. "Hey, what's up?" she asked. "Don't like crowds?"
Quinn hesitated, unsure if he should share his vision, before he shook his head, and replied, "It's nothing. I'll be fine," and pressed on.
At the base of the stone mountain, at a stone gate leading into the theatre, a man stood, waiting. A man in dark blue robes, with short, neatly cropped silver hair. Quinn tensed, but he felt something grab his wrist. He looked- it was Elma, giving him a hard look. Her face told him everything he needed to know: No. Not yet . He gave a small nod to show he understood, but didn't relax.
The man stepped forward with a smile, hand extended. "Lady Elma" he said. "I would hope that as the one to call the Ecclesia, you would have arrived sooner."
Lycurgus stepped forward, face twisting in indignation, but he stopped when Elma held out her arm. Shaking the man's hand, the elder replied, "My apologies. I had business to attend to before leaving Coea. And, to whom do I owe the pleasure?"
"Call me Ophion," the man replied. "I was elected by the Tharrosian Assembly to lead the Ecclesia…" With Ophion and Elma standing together, Quinn finally figured out what was so off-putting about the man: his skin was as pale as snow. Among the darker-skinned Dorics he had met thus far, the pale man stuck out like a sore thumb.
"And, I take it this is the envoy from Bannon?" Ophion said, eyeing the vanguard.
"That's correct," Elma replied. "His Majesty King Uther himself leads it."
Ophion's eyes lit up, and he hurried over to Uther. "How splendid! I trust that you have found Doria most agreeable, Your Majesty?" Ophion extended his hand to the captain.
Uther looked down at Ophion's hand, but must have sensed something about the man to be off just as Quinn had, and didn't take it. " Captain will suffice," he finally replied.
"Ah, as you wish… Captain ." Ophion stepped back, with an odd expression, which quickly vanished. "Your envoys are the last to arrive, but the Ecclesia won't be convening until sunset. Please, rest until then. After all, there is nothing Dorics value more than… hospitality."
"Miss Ingrid?" Quinn asked, leaning in. "Why is hospitality such a big deal for Dorics?"
However, it wasn't Ingrid that replied. "It is a remnant of their old religious beliefs," Malcolm replied in a low voice, leaning in from the row behind. "Ancient Dorics believed the gods roamed the land in human guises, asking for food and shelter. Mortals who welcomed them were rewarded, but if they were turned away, the gods would reveal their true forms, and strike down those who spurned them with terrible curses. Most scholars believe these myths to be just that- myths. But there are some who believe these tales were based on encounters with the ancient Archons."
Ingrid nodded. "That's right. "But regardless of the truth, these myths caused the Dorics to become a hospitable, welcoming people. …For the most part."
Night had finally fallen. The vanguard and the various envoys from across Doria had gathered in the theatre for their assembly. The vanguard themselves were seated at the very front, before the stage, to witness the proceedings. There was a great clamor as countless voices spoke, whoich quieted as Ophion stepped out onto the torchlit stage.
"Nations of Doria!" the pale man said. "It has been many generations since an Ecclesia was assembled, and many generations more since so many have answered the summons…"
Behind Quinn, Gail sighed. "Great. Speeches." She gave a small yelp when Malcolm elbowed her in the side.
Ophion continued, "…I now give the floor to Elma, elder of Coea, who called for the Ecclesia's assembly."
Elma stepped up onto the stage. In a calm voice that seemed to fill the theatre, she began to speak:
"Nations of Doria, I stand before you, not as the Elder of Coea, but as a humble inhabitant of this land, to bring news most dire. We of Doria pride ourselves in our neutrality. Indeed, many of you are doubtlessly blissfully unaware of the events unfolding beyond your nation's borders. But a threat looms on the horizon, one that would shatter the relative peace we have enjoyed for so long.
"I am of course referring to the nation of Kherson. Over the last seventy years, Kherson has aggressively expanded its holdings in southwestern Aurea, and now holds dominion over the entire western half of the continent. But their goals of conquest are far from over. It was recently revealed that Graf Alibert of Hessen was in direct contact with Emperor Reman of Kherson, sowing discord on his behalf in eastern Aurea. The assassination of Bannon's king, the subsequent war between Bannon, Hessen, and Burgundy, the tensions that continue to mount even now, are all part of Kherson's machinations. Such destructive measures can mean only one thing: that Kherson plans to expand once more, this time into eastern Aurea. Should they gain a foothold, all nations would be at risk of subjugation: Burgundy, Hessen, Bannon, Navarro… and yes, even Doria.
"But though the odds seem insurmountable, there are brave souls that would rise to defend not only Doria, but all the free nations of Aurea. Sitting before me at this very moment is an envoy from Bannon, seeking to enter into an alliance with the nations of Doria. We of Coea have already agreed to stand with them against Kherson, and I ask all of you to stand with-"
"Gargarea objects! " a man in one of the upper tiers of the theatre suddenly shouted, shooting up to his feet. "We will have nothing to do with the affairs of Coea! "
Ophion looked up at the man, arms clasped behind his back. "I would ask that all objections be held until the floor opens to free debate," he said sternly.
"No, no, the Gargarean is right," another man's voice said. "Why should we concern ourselves with the fates of other nations? If they must die so Atticus might live, then so be it."
"Ha! If Kherson wants to invade, I say let them come!" a third man's voice roared proudly. "We of Ionia will stand or fall on our own!"
A fourth voice, calm and emotionless, said aloud, "An alliance with Bannon would allow expansion of the Iron Bank's operations. Braavos has no objections to Coea's offer of alliance."
And so, the various envoys shouted out their approval or disapproval of allying with Bannon. Through the clamor, Quinn leaned in toward Ingrid. "This doesn't seem very civilized," he said.
"They call it 'democracy,'" Ingrid replied.
Soon, the clamor died down once more as Ophion stepped forward. "It appears the nations of Doria have made their voices heard," he said. "Of the thirty-six nations, seven are in favor, while twenty-nine oppose. As such, the Ecclesia rejects Coea's proposal of entering into an alliance with Bannon."
Cheers and jeers alike erupted from the crowd. The vanguard's disappointment was apparent: Quinn sighed; Ingrid huffed; others groaned, and more aggressive members hurled insults at the stage. But… Elma seemed calm, without a trace of anger or disappointment on her face.
Then, something… strange happened. Ophion turned to Elma, and spoke to her. His voice was low, but not low enough that Quinn couldn't hear him through the crowd. "It seems your bid has failed. But then, of course it would. What you Dorics call 'neutrality,' we call by its true name- laziness. But don't despair. You'll be molded into productive Imperial citizens yet."
Elma tensed. But Ophion said, "Ah, I don't think so. You're going to stay right there." The elder froze, as Ophion drew a knife. He sighed, looking at the blade. "I thought you Archons were supposed to be nothing less than living gods." He then pulled back his arm and threw the knife at Elma with all his strength.
Clang.
The theatre instantly fell silent at the sound. Ophion's knife spiraled through the air, before clattering against the stage. Elma stood, a sword in each hand, now in her youthful visage rather than her elderly one. "You know quite a lot about me, don't you?" she said "Too much, in fact ." She pointed one of her swords at the pale man. "So you must have known Orpheus won't work on me."
"Oh dear ," Ophion sighed. "If only I had prepared a contingency for this…"
Suddenly, a column of blue flames erupted from the ground next to the pale man. It disappeared as suddenly as it came, leaving a thin figure shrouded in a black cloak and black pointed cap behind.
The pale man grinned. "Oh wait. I did ."
The benches erupted in panic as the envoys raced out of the theatre. But not Quinn. Quinn rushed to the stage and climbed up, drawing his axe.
Elma had rushed toward the figure, slashing at it with her blades, but it twisted its body at an impossible angle to avoid her, before throwing a ball of blue flame at her. It struck its mark, and her cloak came alight. But Elma simply threw it aside, revealing a strange, form-fitting outfit underneath. She then glanced to Quinn. "Stay back. This enemy is beyond you." But Quinn didn't retreat. He had a hunch, and if he was right… he charged at the figure, swinging his axe at it. But as soon as he made contact, his axe bounced off the figure, not even tearing a hole in its cloak. But, that was exactly what Quinn expected would happen.
"Everyone!" he called. "This thing is just like that headless knight we fought at Fort Felhold!" Quinn focused, trying to awaken his Ring, just like he did against that knight. Only a Ring of Power could harm these… things , so-
"Quinn!" He looked back; it was Kay, climbing up onto the stage, surrounded by his arsenal of crystalline weapons. "Try this!" He grabbed one of the weapons and tossed it toward Quinn- he caught it, seeing that it was a handaxe. It was strangely cold to the touch, and incredibly light, almost weightless. Regardless, with his new weapon in hand, Quinn charged again, swinging it at the cloaked figure.
The difference was immediate. The blade cut into the figure's body- it let out a warped, distorted cry, and black smoke poured from its wound. The figure then reared back, blue flames erupting from its body. Quinn tried to back out of its range, but wasn't fast enough- the flames washed over him, scorching his arms and face, and blackening his breastplate.
Quinn stumbled back, sinking to his knees. He squinted- the flames must have gotten to his eyes, because it was suddenly hard to see. "Are you alright!?" he heard Kay call."
Quinn gritted his teeth and forced himself back onto his feet. Though blurry, he could still see the figure, wreathed in its blue flames. "Kay," he said. "How many more of those weapons can you make?"
"Uh… nine more," the mercenary replied.
"Get them to the others, anyone who doesn't have a Ring of Power," Quinn ordered. "Tell everyone else to fall back."
"Right!" Kay scurried off.
"Quinn! " A flurry of footsteps, and then Quinn felt someone grab him. But he was at ease- only one person would rush to his side so quickly.
"I'm alright Miss Ingrid," he replied.
"No you're not!" Ingrid snapped. "We need to get you out of here, now!"
But a new voice intruded: "Hang on!" A bright light filled Quinn's vision, and his body tingled. The pain faded, and his sight returned. Quinn looked back, to see Gideon, mounted on his skeletal horse, pointing his staff at him. "Gideon?" he asked.
"You need to fall back," Ingrid ordered. "It isn't safe!"
But Gideon shook his head. "Not a chance. If you're gonna fight, you need someone to stay and patch you up."
Other members of the vanguard climbed onto the stage, holding Armiger's crystalline weapons. Only then did Quinn notice that Ingrid, too, had a glittering sword in her hands. Lindow stepped up, twirling a pair of crystal daggers in his hands. "So, we got a plan, or-"
"Does 'hit 'em with everything we've got' count as a plan?" Quinn asked.
Lindow smirked. "You know what? I can work with that." The thief charged, swinging his daggers at the figure. But it nimbly evaded his swings, before disappearing in a burst of flame. It reappeared across the stage a short distance away, hurling a volley of blue flames at the thief. But the ground suddenly exploded, a rough figure of stone emerging, and blocking the flames with its body. The golem collapsed into dust, but stopped any flames from reaching Lindow. He glanced over, to see Lycurgus extending his arm, his fingers contorted into a strange gesture.
"I believe the saying is, 'you owe me one,'" the older man said.
Francis shot at the figure with Armiger's bow, but it contorted its body in impossible ways to evade his arrows. Uther then charged on foot, thrusting a glittering spear, but the figure again disappeared in a burst of blue fire, reappearing a short distance away. "Dammit, it's too fast!" Uther shouted.
"Let me take care of that for you," Yonah said calmly, climbing up on the stage. She held out her hand, revealing a gold ring on her finger that resembled a chain. Instantly, golden chains wrapped around the figure, before attaching to the stage. The figure squirmed and twisted, but the chains wouldn't break. "There," the girl said in a strained voice, arm still extended. "That… should hold for a little bit."
Uther charged, plunging his spear deep into the figure. Ingrid followed, slashing with her sword. But before anyone else could follow up, the chains holding the figure shattered, and blue flames erupted from its body, spreading across the stage. The intense heat forced the vanguard to retreat. Elma tried to advance, but fell back when the figure threw a jet flames at her.
Francis fired at the figure, but the flames reared up, consuming his arrows. "What should we do now?" he asked.
"Isaac can make a portal!" Quinn called. "There's a space on the other side where-"
" No! " Elma shouted back. "We'd just be attacked through the portals!"
" We need to get above them… " Lindow muttered, before looking around. His attention snapped to Elizabeth, circling overhead on her pegasus. He shouted, "Hey! My Lady! Can you fly me up!?"
Elizabeth landed her mount. "What are yew planning?" she demanded.
"Just trust me!" he said, and mounted the pegasus behind Elizabeth. He then looked to Quinn. 'Kid, back me up!"
"Got it!" Quinn looked around, searching for Rune. But suddenly, something dropped to the ground in front of him, making him stumble. It was a wyvern. Anya looked down at him from her saddle, smiling serenely. "Need a lift, darling?" Quinn hopped into the saddle behind the assassin, and they took flight. Quinn's stomach roiled, worse than when he was on a ship, but he suppressed it- they had much bigger concerns.
The figure easily noticed the two fliers, and hurled sweeping plumes of flames into the air at them. Anya's wyvern weaved across the sky to evade the flames. All the while, she was muttering: "I saw him… I saw him hurt darling… I'll kill him… I'll kill him…"
"Lindow! If you're gonna do something, do it fast!" Quinn shouted.
"I need an opening!" the thief called back. He was perched on the back of Elizabeth's pegasus as though he were ready to jump. Quinn saw the figure throw up another torrent of flames. But then, something happened. But until the flames dispersed, he couldn't tell what. Even then, he was too high- all he could tell was that someone had gotten past the circle of flames, and was fighting the figure… with their fists . Lindow finally had his opening, and leapt from the saddle. He dropped like a stone, crashing into the figure and knocking it to the ground. Before it could rise, the thief climbed on top of the figure, and stabbed it mercilessly with his knives.
But the figure disappeared in another burst of blue fire. Lindow raised his arms to shield himself, not seeing that the figure had reappeared right behind him.
"Lindow! " With no preparation, Quinn leapt from Anya's saddle. The fact that a bad landing from this height would seriously injure him didn't even cross his mind. His friend was in danger. That was all that mattered. He pulled back his arm as he fell, praying his aim would be true.
"Heeeyyahh! "
Quinn hit the ground, hard. But he hit his mark, and the crystalline axe buried itself in the figure's back. The figure let out a hollow screech, and black smoke poured from its wound. Twisting in pain, it sank to the ground, eventually falling motionless, and the blue flames it created finally went out.
"Lindow!" Quinn tried to stand. But his knees shook violently, and he collapsed back onto the ground. "Lindow are you okay!?"
The thief shook himself off, his clothes scorched. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine," he replied. "I've had worse."
Someone pulled Quinn to his feet. But it was not Lindow. Rather, it was Valerian. "You certainly don't do things in half-measures, do you?"
But all of a sudden, the cloaked figure shuddered, and rose to its feet with a hiss. It extended its arm…
It never got the chance to strike. A flash of blue light covered the stage, followed by a deep crunch . When Quinn could see again, he could see a black, blue-eyed dragon, holding a smoking black mass in its mouth. The beast dropped the mass, which dissolved into black mist that blew away in the wind before it could even hit the ground. It then looked to Quinn. "Lycurgus was right about you," she said. "You're much too reckless."
Valerian pushed Quinn back, raising his fists. The rest of the vanguard did the same, raising their weapons to the dragon. But another flash of blue light returned Elma to her human form. "Peace, please," she said. "I am still the Elma you know."
"Oh really?" Lindow asked in a strained voice. "And uh, when exactly were you gonna tell us about that, Scales?"
"I will explain all in time," she replied, "but let us not forget about the snakes in our midst." Her gaze then snapped to something.
Quinn followed her gaze, to see Ophion, trying to creep out of the theatre unnoticed. Without hesitation, despite his pain, he charged after the pale man, calling "Hold it!" as Elma swiftly raced toward the man as well.
But Ophion showed no alarm as they approached. "You're going to stop anyone from following me," he said. Both Elma and Quinn froze. Elma only stopped for a moment, but as her back was turned to him, Quinn raised his axe and swung at her. He had been given an order, and he would see it done.
Elma wheeled around, blocking Quinn's swing with her swords. He pressed, trying to break through her guard- though he'd only been ordered to stop anyone from following, surely Orpheus would reward him if…
If…
…wait. Why was he attacking Elma?
Quinn stumbled back, clutching his head as pain shot through his temple. Elma sheathed her swords, saying, "I see you've returned to your senses."
"Wh… what just happened?" Quinn asked.
"You fell under Orpheus's influence," the Archon replied. "Humans feel an irresistible compulsion to obey the orders of anyone who wears it."
The rest of the vanguard caught up with Quinn and Elma. "What happened?" Uther asked. "Where's Ophion?"
"He… he got away," Quinn replied. "He used some kind of magic to make me attack Elma."
Ingrid strode up to Elma, a cold expression on her face. "You owe us all an explanation."
Elma nodded solemnly. "…indeed I do. But not just you. All of Doria needs to know what happened here."
Enderi 14, 707
"…And what of that strange cloaked man?" a voice from one of the benches asked.
"I believe I can answer that," Van replied, standing. "I suspect that entity was a creation of Einherjar."
"'Einherjar?'" another voice asked. "What is that?"
"It is Kherson's Ring of Power. It allows its wearer to create powerful spirits, which fight on their behalf," Van answered. "Kherson's royal family has always taken great measures to ensure the exact nature of their Ring was never revealed to foreign powers."
"And, how exactly did you come to learn all of this?"
Valerian removed his cap. "Ah. Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Valerian Aulstyne, director- former director of the Khersonian consulate in occupied Alytus…"
The sky was just beginning to lighten with the coming dawn. Elma had called the envoys back to the theatre, to explain what had happened during the Ecclesia. The envoys had been outraged at the accusations levied against Ophion, but guards had nevertheless been dispatched to both his residence, and the vault where Orpheus was held to verify Elma's claims.
At that moment, a small group of guards entered the theatre and stepped onto the stage. "Elder Elma," the guard in the lead said. "We have completed our search."
"What have you found?" Elma asked.
The guard visibly hesitated. "It is… as you claimed. Orpheus is missing from the Sacred Vault." Murmuring erupted from the benches.
"And Ophion's residence?" the Archon asked.
"It had been set ablaze, but we managed to extinguish the fires and discover a number of suspicious documents. Including this ." The guard pulled out a rolled-up, slightly burned letter."
Elma took the letter and read it. Written inside was a set of orders, dated several years prior, to an Imperial Intelligence Service agent, directing them to ensure Doria remained uninvolved in Aurean affairs for as long as possible. Evidently, their agent had decided that stealing Orpheus to force their compliance would be the simplest method to do this. After reading its contents, Elma showed the letter to the envoys. "There is a distinct seal on this letter. Captain Uther- or, Your Majesty, can you identify it?"
Uther stepped up to look. "I can," he replied. "This same seal was on the letter addressed to Graf Alibert. It is the personal seal of Emperor Reman II."
Another clamor erupted from the benches, but it quieted as Elma stepped forward. "I will not chide you for your reluctance to wage war," she said. "But I hope you now see the enemy that we face, and the depths they are willing to sink to. An agent of Kherson has infiltrated our ranks, stolen one of Doria's sacred treasures, and tried to claim both my life, and the lives of my allies. And I assure you, this is only the beginning. Kherson is relentless, and will stop at nothing to see our languages, our culture, our very way of life scrubbed away and replaced to suit their needs. I cannot force you to fight, but know that you have seen the face of our enemy, with your own eyes."
The envoys were silent. Then, one of their number stood, and climbed down to the stage. He stood before Elma in silence for several moments, before extending his hand to her. "Gargarea… has reconsidered its position, in light of these most recent events," the man said. "We choose to stand with Coea."
"We will not stand idly by and allow our nation to be poisoned from within," another voice from the benches said. "Atticus will stand against the menace of Kherson as well."
"This is an outrage!" another voice roared. "We of Ionia will meet Kherson on the battlefield, and show the world the depths of their cowardice!"
One by one, the envoys made their decision When the last man had spoken, the Gargarean representative looked to Elma and said, "It seems we are all in agreement. We will begin preparations to march against Kherson."
With that, the meeting was adjourned. As the vanguard made their way to their camp outside the city, Lycurgus said, "That certainly was unexpected. Still, it's given the other cities in Doria enough cause to join the fight against Kherson."
"Indeed," Uther replied. "We'll need more allies before we can engage them in earnest… but we should send word of the good news to Parliament and Mother Agnes…"
Elma was quiet as the vanguard made their way through the city. Quinn noticed. "What's wrong, Miss Elma? Are you worried about Ophion?"
Elma nodded. "Yes. Most humans lack the ability to resist Orpheus's power. Apprehending him with normal authorities will be difficult."
Ingrid fell in step next to the Archon. "You should be more concerned with how Kherson will respond to this turn of events," she said. "It won't take long for them to learn Doria is mobilizing against them. When they do, I expect they'll drop any pretense of subtlety in their attempts to stop us. Not to mention…" she eyed Elma. "We'll become a prime target now that an Archon is travelling with us."
"Quinn's gift of foresight have saved your lives multiple times. And that gift comes from me," Elma replied. "I would not have chosen this path if I did not believe it would lead to our success."
The inquisitor eyed Elma with suspicion again. But Quinn spoke up: "Do you still trust me, Miss Ingrid?"
Ingrid paused, before nodding. "Absolutely."
"Would you trust anyone that I placed my trust in?" he asked.
Ingrid paused again, for a longer time than the first. "…I would respect your decision, regardless of my personal feelings."
"And what would you do if I was in danger?"
This time there was no pause. "I would protect you. You know that."
"Then what are you so worried about?" Quinn asked. "I know I can count on you to watch my back. I told you- I trust you. And I will always trust you. Always."
Ingrid blinked, clearly surprised, before reaching up to adjust her cap. "I… appreciate your confidence in me," she replied, in a shaky voice.
She was too ashamed to reveal in front of the others that she was smiling.
Quinn awoke with a start. His tent was dark, meaning it was still some time before dawn. He laid back down, trying to go back to sleep, but something just felt… wrong .
Then, a hand stroked his face.
" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! " Quinn leapt out of his bedroll and rushed out of his tent, tripped over the flap on the edge, and was sent sprawling in the dirt outside. He looked back to see Anya emerging from his tent as well.
" What the hell are you doing!? " he demanded.
"I was watching you sleep." Anya said it calmly, as if it were the most normal thing in the entire world.
Several of the other tents rustled, and members of the vanguard emerged from them. "What is going on out here?" Julius asked, looking disheveled.
"It's nothing," Quinn quickly said, climbing to his feet. "Sorry to bother you all."
Grumbling, everyone else returned to their tents. Only then did Quinn realize what he had done. "Wait, why am I trying to defend you? You were watching me sleep!"
Anya tilted head at Quinn, smiling. "It's because you're so kind, darling. I told you that when we met."
"What? You didn't say that," Quinn replied. "You said I… smelled like soil."
"That's what that means," Anya said. "People that smell like soil are kind, and honest."
Quinn could only blink in confusion, before shaking his head. He was too tired to be dealing with this nonsense. "Just… go back to your tent, Anya. And be glad Miss Ingrid didn't come. She would've skinned you alive if she saw you in my tent."
Anya slumped her shoulders, and mumbled, "…okay," before slinking off into the darkness. But once she was out of sight, she stood up straight and began mumbling to herself. "Ingrid… graduate of class of 695. Currently renegade. Level of closeness to darling unacceptable, but bond and training from Company make elimination ill-advised…"
It had been less than a day, but already things were moving. Just a few hours after dawn, the first group of soldiers had come marching down the road leading to Tharros. In a matter of hours, the road was packed with soldiers, horses, pegasi, and wagons and carts laden with supplies. Quinn marveled as he sat by the edge of camp, watching the steady stream.
Lindow approached, and sat down next to him. "Hey, kid," the thief said. "I've been looking for you."
"What is it, Lindow?" Quinn asked.
Lindow looked at the marching soldiers. "I finally got word back from my contacts. They said the only major sweating sickness outbreak in Grimhold was in 693, so they're looking through all the shipping records they can find for that year." Lindow clapped a hand on Quinn's shoulder. "We're almost there, kid."
"That's… great…" Quinn said hesitantly.
Lindow frowned, leaning back. "Gee kid, don't get excited all at once."
"Sorry," Quinn replied. "And I appreciate what you're doing for me, really. It just… feels weird."
"What does?"
"Learning about my parents, when they aren't around anymore. It's like studying history. You hear all these names and what they did, but… it doesn't tell you what they were really like. What they like, how they felt about things." Quinn clenched his fists. "But I still wanna know. I want to feel like I didn't just come up out of the ground one day." Quinn relaxed. "Ed you know your parents, Lindow?"
"Nope," Lindow replied simply.
Quinn looked over to the thief, surprised. "Do you… ever think about them?"
"Nope. And honestly, I don't much care to." Lindow stood. "Honestly, I'm just not the kind of guy to dwell on the past." He looked down at Quinn. "But don't let my feelings stop you. If you think learning about your parents will help you figure things out about yourself, then go for it. And I'll still be keeping an eye out."
Lindow walked away. Quinn looked to the road. "The past…" he said.
The soldiers showed no signs of stopping.
It was strange.
Quinn had been watching Rune for the last few days. He wanted to talk to her again, in a time when she wasn't busy, but no matter what time he came by, she was always sitting by her tent, reading. But as he observed the masked woman more closely, he started noticing things that just didn't seem right.
Rune always seemed to be reading the same book. That on its own wasn't unusual, given its thickness, but not once had he ever seen her turn the pages. In fact, he'd noticed that she never turned the pages past the cover, as though she was reading something written on the inside. Quinn couldn't tell if something was written there- Rune always kept her back to her tent when she read, preventing him from seeing the book's contents. But he wondered, if something really was written there, how could she simply sit there for hours on end, reading the same thing over and over again?
It was late, and Quinn was watching Rune again, as he had several times that day. Suddenly, Rune snapped her book shut, and looked to him. "If you have something to say, then say it."
Quinn jolted slightly, before coming out into the open. He had the words, but in the stress of being put on the spot, he'd forgotten them.
Rune's face tensed. She must have been glaring at him, even though he couldn't see it behind her mask. "Well? "
Thankfully, Quinn remembered what he was going to say: "I was… thinking about your portrait." Rune simply glared in silence. "…I remember there were dates underneath. Those were the years when you were a professor, right?" She didn't answer. "Well… It's hard to believe you're a hundred years old."
Rune let out a small gasp. But her shock quickly faded. "…I see," she finally said.
Quinn looked at Rune expectantly, but she simply stared back at him in a stone-faced silence. "…So, what happened to you?" he asked. "People don't usually live to be a hundred years old, and they definitely don't live to be a hundred looking the way you do."
Rune looked away. "It's a long story," she said flatly. "And it's all in the past now."
Quinn seated himself on the ground in front of Rune "That's fine," he replied. "I made sure I'd have free time for this. And history was always my best subject."
Rune let out a long breath. She frowned for a long while, before finally replying, "Very well, since you clearly won't drop this. But I'll tell you now- this is not a happy story."
Rune set her book aside, and turned her attention fully to Quinn. "You already know this, but I was a professor at the Arcane College. I've always been skilled in magic, even as a child, but I had no interest in becoming a combat mage or a healer. I abhorred violence, but I still didn't want my talent to go to waste. That's when I started to consider becoming a magic teacher. But I didn't want to teach just anywhere- I wanted to teach at the Arcane College in Corburg. Even back then, it was the most renowned magic school in Aurea. So I studied for many years, taking in all the knowledge I could, until the day came when a teaching position at the College finally opened. All of us potential candidates for the professorship were given a specialized test, and the candidate with the highest score would be selected to fill the position." Rune folded her arms over her chest. "Not only did I get the highest marks, I'm one of only twenty professors in the College's four hundred year history to get a perfect score on the certification exam. The dean chose me as the College's newest professor more or less on the spot. And with that, I thought the hardest part was over. I thought, that all my dreams had come true. But my dreams were about to turn into a nightmare."
Rune paused, and pinched the bridge of her nose. "The College- save for the dean… wasn't as accepting as it is now. I was the first woman to ever teach at the Arcane College. And many of my students balked at the idea of being taught by a woman. When I turned to my colleagues for guidance, they placed the blame on me, saying that I lacked the force of personality needed to be a professor." She let out a breath. "I'd never felt more betrayed. These people were supposed to be my mentors, the ones meant to teach me how to teach. And without their support, I felt like… I was sinking. I began withdrawing from my responsibilities, hiding away in the library, regretting ever coming to the College. Regretting that I ever began to study magic in the first place. And then, one late night… I met him. "
"Him? " Quinn asked.
"The man who would become my husband," Rune replied. She was… smiling . Quinn had never seen her smile before then.
But something she had said struck him. "Wait, you were married?" He looked at her hand, but didn't see a ring.
"It was a long time ago," Rune replied, her voice filled with… sadness. "But at the time, he was just the College's librarian." The smile crept back onto her face. "Even after all this time, I remember the very first thing he ever said to me: 'Excuse me, Miss? The library is closed right now.' He… mistook me for a student. When I explained who I was, he apologized, saying that he knew a professor had just been brought in, but that he didn't know anything about them. And then he asked me… how my students were, and… I completely fell apart. I told him everything: how I'd been treated since arriving at the College, how much I hated my students, my colleagues, how much I regretted becoming a professor… I hadn't cried so much since I was a girl. But… he didn't say anything. He just listened. I know it was unfair to burden him with my problems, but when I was done, I… felt so relieved. And then he told me, 'If you ever need a place to get away from everything… the library will always be open for you.'"
Rune sighed. "Things were still hard for a long time after that. But after meeting him, I had something that I didn't before. Whenever I felt like I'd be overwhelmed, all I had to do was visit him, and he'd make my day better. At first, all he did was listen as I shed my burdens. But over time, he started to tell me a little bit about himself. He told me that his life dream had been to study at the College, but he'd been rejected for his lack of skill in magic. He couldn't bring himself to just give up, so he kept trying, and failing the entrance exam, until the dean finally confronted him. To the dean, it was clear he had no talent as a mage, but his knowledge of magic was simply too great for the College to ignore. So the dean offered him a position, not as a student, but as a member of the College's staff- as a librarian. And he leapt at the chance."
Rune sighed. But it was not a sigh of exasperation. Rather, it seemed to be one of… contentment. "He spent every single day reading books in the library. My knowledge was extensive, but it seemed like his completely dwarfed mine. And his knowledge wasn't limited only to magic. He found books that helped me become a better teacher. Gradually, because of what I learned from him, I was able to win over the respect of both my students, and my colleagues. For the first time since becoming a professor… I was actually happy."
"That librarian sounds like he was a great guy…" Quinn said. "But, why'd he go through so much for you? You barely knew each other."
"I asked him that once. He told me, 'It's because I was in your place once. For a long time, I was lost and afraid and confused. What I wanted was for someone to show me the way, but no one ever did. So when I saw you going through what I had… I decided to help you, the way that I wish someone would have helped me .'" Rune rested a hand on her chest, a tinge of red in her cheeks. "That's what I loved most about him- his selflessness. I always had to keep an eye out to make sure nobody was taking advantage of his generosity."
"So… when did you guys get married?" Quinn asked.
"It was at the end of my first year. By then, all the problems I'd had when I started were long dealt with, but we still spent our evenings together. I always looked forward to spending time with him. Realizing that was what made me admit to myself that I was in love with him. So, at our usual meeting one evening, I asked him if he'd ever considered marriage. He said he wouldn't be opposed to it, but that he thought he lost his chance since he spent so much time studying. I said that he might meet someone right there in the College one day. He laughed and asked if I meant myself, and I told him, 'yes.'"
"Just like that?" Quinn asked, incredulous.
Rune actually laughed. "He was surprised, too. So surprised he actually refused at first. He said, 'But I'm just a librarian.' And then, I took his hand, and told him, 'That's true. You are a librarian. But you were also the first person here to show me any courtesy. You were the first person to see me in pain and not call me weak. You helped me turn my waking nightmare into something more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Everything that I am today is because of you. I could never repay my debt to you, not even if I lived a thousand lifetimes. So all I can do is stay by your side, and pray that one day, I can enrich your life the way you've enriched mine.' After that… he said yes. We had our wedding a few months after. I remember that, we had to stop a few times… because he was crying so much…"
Rune reached up, and wiped away the tears flowing down from under her mask. "We were married for two years. Those days…" She sniffed. "Those days… were the happiest days of my life." Rune lowered her gaze. "And then, one day… that happiness was taken away from me forever."
Rune trailed off. Quinn waited, but the masked woman would speak no more. After several moments, he asked, "…How?"
Rune trembled, her hands clenching into fists. "Everything changed… when she came into my life."
Quinn leaned in. "Are… are you talking about… Evangelyne? "
Rune clenched her teeth, and nodded.
Quinn spent the next few moments in silent thought. As much as he wanted to know how the story ended, Rune was clearly in no shape to continue. So, he stood up, and said. "I think we should stop here for now."
"!" The masked woman looked up at Quinn, letting out a surprised breath.
"I don't know what happened between you and Evangelyne, but it seems like it was really painful for you," Quinn replied. "If you don't wanna talk about this anymore, I understand. But if you do want to talk about it, that's fine, too. I just… I don't like seeing you so upset."
Rune didn't say anything in reply.
Quinn turned. "I should go. When… if you ever wanna talk about this again… I'll be waiting."
It took everything Rune had to maintain her composure as Quinn walked away. But the moment he was out of sight, she took off her mask, and set it aside. She buried her face in her hands, and for the first time in a very, very long time, she cried ugly, bitter tears.
Notes
Elma: The obligatory playable manakete. I had her initially appear as an old woman to turn the manakete stereotype of "young girl who is actually hundreds of years old" on its head, and even her younger form is still an adult woman. Her elderly form was inspired by Impa from The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword. Her younger form was inspired by her namesake from Xenoblade Chronicles X. Her dragon form was inspired by a combination of Duma from Fire Emblem Echoes, and Alduin from Skyrim. If she were to have a voice actor, it would ideally be Caitlin Glass.
Archons: Archons are the story's analogue to the dragons of the various Fire Emblem games. However, since they don't quite fit into the traditional mold of dragons, I decided to use a term other than dragon, ultimately settling on "archon." The name "archon" was actually taken from the Ancient Greek title for a ruler, and not the unit from StarCraft.
Tharros: Tharros was supposed to be the Athens to Coea's Sparta. It was named for an ancient Greek colony located in Sicily.
Orpheus: Doria's Ring of Power. It's ability is that when its wearer gives an order, any human that hears will be compelled to obey. It was named for Greek Mythology's Orpheus, the famed singer whose voice was so entrancing that even stones would roll closer to him when he sang. Its bearer, Ophion, would be a Michalis, using every means at his disposal to advance Kherson's interests. While he wasn't inspired by any specific characters, pieces of his appearance were inspired by Archer EMIYA of the Fate series. Would be voiced by Christopher Corey Smith were he to have a voice actor.
On an unrelated story note, I've been trying my hand at making artwork of the characters in the story. It isn't very good, mind, but if that sort of thing interests you, it can be found at deviantArt; just stick this at the end of the homepage URL: gallery/70517182/fire-emblem-ragnarok-characters