I updated the rating on this story as the content is going to start getting a bit darker from hereon out.
Part Two
Farna. Felicity's hometown. The Plague Town that unintentionally became a plague town thanks to the machinations of the Theocracy (as confirmed by Oboro). The town where Felicity's mother died. Where hundreds of people died.
"Are you sure about this?" Daunte asked carefully. They had finished their breakfast and were now loitering on the grounds. Nearby Jantu was having a duel with Futch, and Yaman was shouting for bets. Spectators seemed more distracted by Bright's presence than anything else.
"I'm certain," Felicity said, folding her arms over her chest. She nodded stiffly. "I'll be okay, I promise. But I will be coming with you on this trip."
Daunte met the eyes of all of his friends before looking back at her. "Okay," he said quietly. "I'll tell Caesar to put you in my party when I'm about to leave. He was going back up to the fifth floor anyways. I wanted to go and see Mooney before I left but I'll be speaking to Caesar in about a half hour."
"I'm coming with you on the trip too," Roen said, smiling. "It's been awhile since the three of us have traveled together after all."
"It looks like there are other suggestions on the list from Oboro," Surya said, looking at the paper. "K'alak'i Patieba and Peak's Edge."
"First the Elves and now the Wingers," Felicity said, forcing a smile. "Will we be sucessful at forming an alliance with both?"
"I hope you'll excuse us," Surya said softly. "But I think Freyr, Mokuren, Soturi, and I should sit this out."
"But—" Freyr protested.
"We just got back," Soturi pointed out bluntly. "We should not go out again so soon."
Freyr was about to protest but Daunte raised his hand. "If I may," he said. "I appreciate your efforts to help my Army. However, I agree with Soturi and must insist that the four of you must rest. I'll try to take you all out with me next time, I promise."
"Jantu's the winner!" Someone shouted. Cheers of joy and outrage filled the air.
"Futch! How could you lose like that?!" Daunte heard Sharon shout.
"It looks like it's getting lively over there," Roen said. He tugged on Daunte's arm. "Quick, hurry and go see Mooney before they expect you to break it up!"
"But—" Daunte said.
"He's right, go," Surya said good-naturedly. A few soldiers in uniform hurried towards the crowd. "There, problem solved. I'm going off to bed."
"I'm going to go pack for the trip," Felicity said. She pointed at Daunte playfully. "Don't you dare leave without me okay?"
Daunte nodded. "I gave my word you could come with me so I'm taking you."
"I've gotta go pack too," Roen said, stretching arms over his head. "I'll meet you up on the fifth floor!"
Daunte said his goodbyes to his friends, but as they were about to leave Daunte suddenly stopped Soturi. "I should have asked this before," he said. "But have you any updates about the children Queen Lymsleia took in?"
Soturi shrugged. "No updates."
Daunte's mouth went dry. "…No updates?"
"What Soturi means is," Surya interjected gently. "Is that there is nothing major to report. The children are thriving in their new environments and have not caused any unnecessary strain on the resources in Falena. They are fine, Lord Daunte."
Daunte nodded. "Thank you."
After everyone left Daunte walked with Arin towards the building to the southwest near the cliffs. "W…Would you like me to come with you, Brother?" Arin asked him.
"I'm sorry, but I'll need you to stay here this time," Daunte said. "But don't worry. I'll buy plenty of figurines from Mooney that you can play with while I'm gone. And you know you can talk to Caesar if you need anything, right?"
Arin nodded and smiled, but Daunte could tell he was disappointed. "Right. I understand."
They walked in silence for a bit, occasionally stopping to greet an ally. As they reached the southwest building Daunte briefly greeted Bohai, who was standing just outside. Then Arin suddenly said, "Roen and Felicity are happier, right?"
"Eh?"
"D-Did you see? Roen teased you, Brother. Roen didn't used to tease, did he? Felicity always teased."
"…You're right," Daunte said. He was suddenly overcome with emotions that it took him a moment to speak again to steady his voice. "T…They do seem to be doing better. I-I mean they're physically better but they seem happier too." He looked the northernmost building. "I should go check on Lysander, too. I want to make sure that he's going okay."
"Would you like to go now or after we see Mooney?" Arin asked him.
Daunte contemplated for a moment before nodding. "We're here already, so we'll go and see Lysander after."
The first floor of the southwest building was quite spacious but dilapidated. Daunte was quite uncertain what he could do with the space, so he left it be and headed up to the second floor. Eliasen's shop was on one side of the hallway, and Mooney's shop was on the other.
"Good morning, Lord Daunte!" Mooney greeted them from behind the counter. He had modeled his figurine shop in a similar layout to what it had been in Falena. "I have new figurines out in the case!"
"I'll be getting one from each case," Daunte told him, smiling. He saw Flik and Viktor again in the limited edition display, though he quickly looked away when he saw their prices. I'm not so certain I'll ever be able to afford them!
"Brother, look!" Arin shouted, pointing into the case for the Gate Rune Wars. "That one! He looks like the guy with the cross-shaped scar on his cheek!"
Daunte quickly hurried over to the case. He looked at the figurine Arin was referring to and nodded. "That's…Gremio, I believe. Tir McDohl's closest compaion."
"You're getting him, right?" Arin asked him.
"Yes, I am." He nodded to Mooney as he came over. While Mooney was getting Gremio's figurine out of the case, Daunte checked the case for the Dunan Unification War while Arin checked the Second Fire Bringer War case. He looked for Teresa or Klaus, but the stance on one of the figurines then drew his attention. He squinted at the girl holding the tri-nunchaku and his eyes widened. That—That's Nanami! That's Riou's sister!
"Brother!" Arin called to him. Daunte pointed out Nanami's figurine to Mooney and hurried over to the Second Fire Bringer War case. "Brother, look! That one has a funny face!"
Daunte looked at the figurine closely. It was a male who stood striaght and did appear to have a weird-looking face. His brow furrowed. "…Is that a mask?"
"Oh, that must be Nadir," Mooney said behind them.
"I mean, you've got Nadir's figurine here at 2,000 Potch! All he did was put on these crazy plays!"
"Then let's get him," Daunte said, nodding. "Caesar said he put on plays for the Army during this war. We can ask him about it later. Arin, go and take a look at the case for the Falenan Civil War and I'll take a look at the case for the Islands Federation War."
Arin did so and Daunte looked at the ten figurines in the fourth case. He saw a Nay-Kobold, but the one in the center caught his attention. It was a teenage boy wielding archery equipment. He had a stiff posture and a deep frown. But Daunte felt…peculiar looking at this figurine.
"That one is Ted," Mooney said. "A very, very mysterious young man. It is said that Lazlo's fleet was taken upon by a fog ship. Lazlo entered the ship with just two companions; Lino En Kuldes and—" his brow furrowed. "I…can't remember the third person. But what is known is that three people entered the fog ship, and four people came out." Mooney pointed to the figurine. "Ted was that fourth person."
"I was hunted by the Scarlet Moon Empire because of the Rune on my hand, which was bestowed upon me by my best friend Ted."
Daunte gasped and he slapped a hand over his mouth as Tir's words filled his mind. He stared wide-eyed at the figurine in the case. Ted? This is him? This is the original possessor of the Soul Eater Rune? He fought in the Islands Federation War over one hundred years before he met his best friend?
"Lord Daunte?" Mooney had a note of concern in his voice. "Are you all right?"
"I want that figurine," Daunte said quickly, pointing to Ted. He then remembered himself and coughed awkwardly. "Excuse me. I'll take that one, please."
"Of course," Mooney said, nodding.
"Oh, it's my dad!"
This new voice startled both Daunte and Mooney and they turned to see Freyr standing at the Falenan Civil War with Arin. Soturi was standing near the door. "Oh, I didn't hear you both come in," Mooney said over his shoulder as he opened the case to get Ted.
"Which one is your father?" Daunte asked, joining them at the case.
"There," Freyr said, pointing to the figurine third from the left. Daunte said a teenage boy in a fighting stance with raised fists.
"Wow," Arin said softly. "That's your dad?"
"Yeah," Freyr said. "He was my age during the war—"
"He was older," Soturi called from the door. Freyr frowned in annoyed. "All right, yes. Father was older than me. But by a year!" he emphasized. "He told me about how his family was so poor that they couldn't afford food or clothes, so he became a gladiator at Storrmfist to earn money for my grandparents. But…He also said that it was like slavery."
"Slavery?" Daunte asked.
"Father was worked very hard and wasn't given much money for his troubles. And he was never allowed to leave to go and see family. In fact, if he even tried to leave and go and see my grandparents then they would've hurt his parents."
"That's awful," Arin said quietly.
"Father became really good friends with the gladiators at Stormfist. It felt like a new family to him, but he was sad by how badly they were all treated. Uncle Freyjadour was the first royal to personally come down to the area where they held the gladiators. Father often talks about how great it was to be treated like a human being by someone of the royal family. So when Uncle took his army to attack Stormfist, Father united the gladiators to assist him."
"What do you know of personal tragedy?!"
"A lot more than someone like you would understand."
So the Prince Consort of Falena was born into absolute poverty, survived horrendous conditions as a gladiator, and then later married the queen of his country? That's sounds like a fairytale. "So is that how he met your mother?" Daunte asked aloud. "When he joined your uncle's army?"
"Oh no, Father and Mother didn't even interact during the war. Father said the most he saw of Mother was from a distance both at her Sacred Games and after Uncle liberated the capital." Freyr laughed. "Father fought Uncle Frejyadour in a exhibition bout at the start of the Games, and Miakis told me that she tricked Mother into thinking Uncle was fighting Father for my hand. And that when he won Mother had to marry him!"
Daunte's brow rose. Miakis publicly teased Princess Farrin over her proposal to me, didn't she? She has a…peculiar sense of humor.
"But anyways, Father went overseas after the war to try and reunite his gladiator friends. Mother said he came to Sol-Falena seven or so years later with a horde of them, and Uncle asked her to throw a party for all of them at the Sun Palace. That's how Father and Mother really met."
"Well, I guess it's better that they got to know each other during a time of peace than war," Daunte said. "Would you like—"
"Oh no, I bought Father's figurine a while ago. You can buy it though if you like."
"Can we?" Arin asked eagerly and Daunte nodded.
"So that is Gremio, Nanami, Nadir, Ted, and Shoon," Mooney said at the counter. "That will be 5,000 bits, Lord Daunte. And if you would like, you can display the figurines you purchased on the third floor."
Daunte paid for the figurines and left the shop with Arin, Freyr, and Soturi. Soturi then grabbed Freyr's arm. "You last slept eighteen hours ago. You had breakfast so you must go to bed."
"Yeesh, you're so bossy," Freyr complained loudly, but he didn't struggle as Soturi pulled him towards the stairs. "I'll see you both later!" He called to Daunte and Arin.
On the third floor was a large room bathed with natural light from the large windows. Five large display tables lined the room in tiers. The five Tenkai stars rested on each table, as well as Caesar's figurine on the third table and the first figurine Daunte bought on the fifth table. He let Arin arrange four of the figurines, but he stared at the first figurine he'd bought as he set Shoon's figurine down. The angry face that stared back at him made him uncomfortable, but it also made his heart pound. He had bought that figurine because it had reminded him of his father. He couldn't remember his father's face but he'd remembered his voice and how gentle it had been. It did not seem possible that this figurine was his father, as the visage did not match the tone of voice Daunte remembered, but it was still…familiar to him.
The next time I go to Falena, I'll bring this figurine with me. I'll ask Surya's father about it. Maybe I can find out…if this man is really my father or not.
He turned away from the figurine to see that Arin was holding Ted and Tir's figurines in his hands. "Can I stay here a little while?" he asked Daunte.
Daunte nodded. "I'm going to go see Caesar and assemble my party, but I'll come and say goodbye to you before we leave."
Arin nodded eagerly. "I'll see you later, Brother!"
Daunte checked on Lysander, and the other boy was in good spirits. He still had a significant stutter and so did not speak much, but he looked healthy and was smiling and laughing. It lifted Daunte's spirits even more. I really hope that the other children are doing as well.
He returned to the main building and checked in on Dr. Yulin and Clara. Daunte was relieved to see that finally looked rested for once and Clara was also energetic. They thankfully had no patients in the infirmary and invited Daunte to have tea, which Daunte spent a few minutes with them. Then he rode the elevator up to the fifth floor. When the elevator passed the fourth floor he felt a whoosh and Yuber materialized beside him in the elevator. "Oh—" Daunte began.
"You will take me with you," Yuber said sternly, his gaze fixed forward.
"Excuse me?" Daunte asked.
Yuber's silver eye slid towards him. "You will not leave me behind again. You will take me with you on your mission and you will utilize me as as our contract dictates."
"Yuber, I'm not starting the war campaign yet," Daunte said. "This is just a recruitment quest."
"Nevertheless you will stop leaving me behind and allow me to battle," Yuber said, looking away. "I am coming with you. This is non-negotiable."
"O…kay," Daunte said as the elevator opened on the fifth floor. He did not see the point in arguing. "I'm happy to have you with me. Just follow my lead, okay?"
"Fine." Yuber left the elevator first but followed closely behind Daunte into the war room. "Hello again, Lord Daunte!" Caesar greeted him cheerfully. "Ah, and you have Yuber with you! The Army truly appreciates your contributions, Yuber!"
"Hm," Yuber grunted.
"Yuber will be coming with me," Daunte agreed. "A-And I would like to call Lady Leknaat."
Yuber shifted slightly out of the corner of his eye. "Will that be a problem?" Caesar asked.
"No," Yuber said abruptly.
"So you have room for three more people. Who would you like to bring with you?"
"Roen, Felicity, and—" Daunte thought about it for a moment. "Silvano."
"All right, I will call your party together."
Roen and Felicity were summoned in less than two minutes, and Leknaat calmly teleported into the room. Silvano arrived last but he was smiling. "I heard a rumor you were looking for the Elves of Nagarea. Is this true?"
"We are," Daunte said, nodding.
"Then I'm glad to come with you. Hopefully they will be more accommodating than the Elves in Falena." He scoffed softly. "I met a few of them once. Some of them were good, but others didn't take kindly to me marrying a human. They refused to show me their village Alseid even."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's their loss," Silvano said, shrugging. "It's only frustrating how the people of my race can turn their noses up at humans over their racism, whilst blind to the racism they commit themselves. And spirits forbid if you call them out on their racism—but never mind." He waved a hand.
"Due to the Plague the surviving Elves of Nagarea may not be welcoming to you," Caesar said warningly. "So proceed with caution."
"There is no need to proceed with caution," Yuber said. "No one will stand a chance against me."
"Remember," Daunte told him. "That this is a recruitment quest. Our priority is recruiting, not fighting." Yuber scowled at him but said nothing.
"I am happy to accompany you," Leknaat said sagely. "However, if it is all right with you I would like to conserve my magic as much as possible on this quest. There is…something." She frowned deeply. "That unsettles me about this country. Something familiar that has put me on edge. I think it would be best if I do not bring attention to myself."
Daunte swallowed upon hearing. "Would you prefer then to stay behind? I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position."
Leknaat's features relaxed and she managed a smile. "No. It will be okay."
"You should be honored, my Lord," Caesar told Daunte. "Lady Leknaat had been a presence in many wars in the past. But this is the first time you have actively joined an army as a combatant, is it not?"
"It has been a long time," Leknaat answered vaguely. "I will do what is bade of me as the Tenken Star to achieve our victory."
"If you must come," Yuber said. "Then take the back row and do not stand behind me." there was an uncomfortable edge to his tone.
Leknaat turned her head in his direction. "You were my sister's companion."
"We worked together," Yuber interjected sharply. "That is all."
Daunte stared at him stunned. His sudden change in attitude regarding Leknaat's sister made him uncomfortable. Yuber…he sounds scared of Leknaat's sister. Lady Windy, she was called? If someone like Yuber is scared Leknaat's sister, then how formidable is she?
"You don't need to worry," Daunte reassured everyone. "No one has to overexert themselves. It's still early, so let's get going."
"All right!" Felicity cheered, pumping her fists. "The Best Friends are united again!"
Daunte was relieved to see her cheerful, and he hoped that she maintained her good mood for the rest of the day. We'll know for sure though after we arrive in Farna…
"Good morning, Lord Daunte!" Viki greeted the group coming down the stairs, bowing slightly. "You will be happy to know that I do not sense any disturbances in the country so I should be able to teleport you wherever you need to go in Nagarea!"
"Thank you, Viki," Daunte said.
"Brother!" Arin ran up the stairs and gave him a hug. "You're leaving now, right? Be careful!"
"Yes, I'm going to have Viki teleport us so make sure to stand back so you don't get caught up in the spell."
"I will!" Arin promised.
"You need teleportation?" Yuber asked, and Daunte looked over his shoulder at him. Yuber scoffed. "I have teleportation abilities. Why are you relying on that girl and her flimsy rune?"
"F-Flimsy rune?" Viki gasped throatily. She looked both hurt and offended as she stared at Yuber. "My rune is not flimsy! This is the Blinking Rune!" she raised her right hand. "This rune is powerful and very helpful!"
Yuber fixed his gaze on the back of her hand for a moment before he shook his head. "As I said. A flimsy rune."
Viki puffed in anger. "I—"
"Yuber," Daunte interjected, squaring up to him. "You will stop insulting my allies this minute. Viki is our teleportation mistress and she has been essential to this Army. I understand that you also have teleportation abilities, but are you able to teleport groups of people like Viki can?"
Yuber's brow twitched and he frowned deeply, but he otherwise did not respond. "Exactly," Daunte said. "We all serve an important role here and we all have to work together. It's time that you understood that."
"I work alone," Yuber said bluntly, his tone sharp.
"As per our contract you work for this Army. That is what you agreed to do, and you agreed to take my orders. So I'm ordering you to stop with the attitude."
Yuber grunted, but didn't say anything. "Now," Daunte said sternly. "Apologize to Viki for insulting her."
Yuber glared at him. "What?" He spat the word out through clenched teeth.
"Apologize," Daunte repeated himself. "I'm setting the precedent right now. If you insult anyone in this Army again, you will apologize. Now apologize to Viki."
Yuber turned to face him fully. "And what will you do if I don't?"
The first floor went silent. Everyone had stopped and stared. The tension abruptly rose in the air. Some soldiers had their hands on their weapons ready to defend their Commander. But Daunte didn't waver. He toed up to Yuber and though he had to tilt his head back he looked him unflinchingly in his scarlet and silver eyes. "But you will do it," he said, his tone calm and authoritative.
Yuber inhaled sharply, and held his breath. Daunte said his body tremble slightly in suppressed rage. After a long, painful moment of silence he finally looked away from Daunte and looked at Viki. "I…apologize." his tone was dark, but quiet. "For my comments."
Viki gasped, her eyes wide. She clearly wasn't expecting this to happen. Neither did anyone else. "I-I accept your apology," she said meekly, clutching her staff to her.
"Good," Daunte said. Once the word left his mouth the entire first floor seemed to relax. "Now, let's be on our way. Viki, please send us to the Red Tundra, where Lorik Varra and his people are living."
"Okay!" Viki fully recovered her bubbly persona and raised her hand. Arin quickly ran down the stairs. "Focus your minds!"
"Bye, Big Brother!" Arin called, waving.
There were thankfully no mishaps with Viki's teleportation, and within seconds they went from being inside HQ to feeling the cold wind of the Red Tundra swirling around them. Daunte heard several shrieks of shock around him and opened his eyes to see the survivors of Agameru around him. Seeing them almost made him smile, but he couldn't in light of the situation. They are all still alive. But they don't look good.
"The ground is the color of blood," Yuber pointed out.
"Yes, it is," Daunte said, looking at him. "The permafrost has been this color for eons. According to the Nagarist faith, there was a massive battle here between believers of Nagar and non-believers. No one knows how many people fought in this battle, but it was enough to cover three hundred kilometers. The battle was so violent and so many people died, that it is said the land was stained with the blood of those who had fallen."
"No," Yuber said abruptly.
"What?"
"This was not caused by blood. The color of the land is unnatural, but this is not bloodstained ground. This looks to be the work of magic."
Daunte didn't bother asking him how he knew this, but realized he didn't want to know the answer. "…Let's go and see Lorik Varra," he said, looking at his allies.
Lorik Varra likewise did not look good. Dark bags hung under his eyes and his complexion was pale, but one thing that did not waver with him was his resolution. Tala was otherwise unchanged but she was not happy to see them.
"I have a gardener at my headquarters," Daunte said. He kept his tone soft as he sat with Lorik. "And a professional chef who can make any type of meal. If you would like, I can make arrangements to bring provisions for you all. I can't offer much in terms of clothes, but I can offer you food."
Lorik hesitated, and Daunte saw the turmoil in his face. His eyes were weary but he swallowed and shook his head. "I cannot accept anything from you, Lord Daunte. If I accept your favors, you will want something in return, and that something isn't something I can give you."
"I don't understand," Daunte said. "In what part of my proposal did I demand anything of you?"
"You didn't need to. I accept your food and you will expect us to join your Army."
"I offered you a place in my Army, but I'm not going to hold aid over your head to blackmail you into joining us," Daunte said. He felt terrible because he tried to sound reassuring but instead sounded angry. "I…know what all of you have already suffered," he said, forcing his tone calm. "And I'm not going to force you in that position. But I'm not going to ignore that all of you need help. My Army isn't exactly as mighty as the Holy Army, we're still struggling. But that doesn't mean I can't help you. We want to help you, Lorik. There is not many of your people left and I don't want more of them to die. I know that you can't grow anything out here, but if it will please you I can bring some food here to help you. No strings attached."
Lorik rubbed a hand over his face and held it over his eyes. After a moment he dropped his hand away away and bowed slightly. "I…would greatly appreciate the food, Lord Daunte."
Daunte smiled in relief. "Good. I'll bring some here tonight."
"I can pay—"
"Did I ask for money?" Daunte stood up and looked at his allies at the back of the tent. "We have to get going, but we'll keep checking on you."
The survivors of Agameru was gathered around the outside of the tent, no doubt listening in. Daunte saw both hope and anger in their faces. He knew that they shared in Lorik's feelings in not wanting to rejoin the Army, but they were clearly relieved to be getting supplies.
I'll do what I go to help them.
"Why do you bother coming?"
Daunte saw Zander standing just ahead of them, his arms folded over his chest. He looked as fatigued as the rest of the survivors but there was no hope in his face. Just anger. "We're not going to change our minds," Zander snapped at him. "Just so you can chew us up and spit us out when you see fit?"
"Here we go," Roen muttered.
"You've already proven that we can't trust you or rely on you. You're pathetic and shameless. You—"
Yuber moved swiftly, his form like a blur as he materialized directly in front of Zander. The boy screamed and jumped back. "Insignificant little pest," Yuber said softly.
"W-What?!" Zander croaked.
"Hearing a pest like you whine when you are doing nothing annoys me. Hearing a weak child taunt those stronger than he is annoys me. Tell me boy, can you back up your words with action?"
Daunte hurried forward and grabbed Yuber by the arm. "Let it go," he told him.
"There is suffering here," Leknaat said behind Daunte. They turned to see her and saw her turning her head. She could not see her surroundings but she could undoubtedly sense her surroundings. "It is terrible that no one accepts our help when offered to us."
The survivors shifted with discomfort. Daunte moved back over to Leknaat. "I believe I've done what I've can for now," he said softly.
Leknaat nodded. "You are sadly correct."
Daunte knew that it was best not to linger and so the group left them behind and headed north on foot. Daunte looked at Yuber, contemplating if he should admonish the knight for threatening Zander, or thank him for standing up for him. After a moment he decided, "Thank you."
Yuber quickly looked at him. "For what?"
"For standing up for me."
Yuber scoffed. "I have too much experience with weak, pathetic fools who believe they can speak with disrespect those who are stronger than they are. These fools are always so surprised when they die."
"Farna is north of here," Felicity said suddenly. "And so is the East Forest. Where should we go first?"
Daunte knew how much the trip meant to Felicity, and did not care where they went to first, so he responded, "I'll let you choose, Felicity."
Felicity looked surprised, and she stopped briefly in her tracks, but Roen piped up, "I agree. This journey means a lot more to you than any of us Felicity. Would you like to go to the forest first, or Farna?"
Felicity was silent for a long moment before she slowly nodded. "The East Forest." Daunte wasn't surprised she didn't choose her hometown first.
The monsters they faced crossing the Red Tundra towards the East Forest were predictably difficult to fight, but Yuber was predictably efficient at dispatching of any enemies that they struggled with. Leknaat did not utilize her True Rune, but Daunte quickly came to find out that she had a Magic Absorb Rune attached to her left hand and a Cyclone Rune attached to her right hand. She used the Cyclone Rune with little effort, and the powerful she exuded stunned Daunte.
Well I shouldn't be surprised by the power she has.
It only took two hours of transversing the Red Tundra before they saw the dark trees of the East Forest on the horizon. Daunte had never been in the East Forest before but he knew that all of the Elves of Nagarea had lived in a village either nearby or inside the forest. He also knew that the village no longer existed due to the Plague.
The trees of the East Forest appeared black from a distant, but as the group got closer Daunte realized that the trees were not black but instead a dark olive green full of similarly colored leaves. He didn't know how a forest could flourish so close to Tundra, but he remembered the Nagarist faith stipulated that when Nagar was not at war He found his solace sleeping deep in the forest and thus the forest was blessed for being the haven of their god.
But…But if the Red Tundra is the result of magic and not a battle as Yuber said, that might explain the contrast of the landscape.
They reached the outer perimeter of the forest when Yuber hummed suddenly, taking the group by surprise. "Is something wrong?" Daunte asked him.
"That forest is very dangerous," he said, though he was smiling. "I can sense powerful enemies within the trees."
Daunte looked at the trees warily and then looked at Yuber. "Are we strong enough to fight these enemies?" He asked cautiously.
"I am strong enough," was all Yuber said, which didn't reassure Daunte.
"Everyone, group meeting," Daunte said suddenly, waving them towards the dirt path leading into the forest. "We need a strategy in order to survive going through this forest."
"If we're not strong enough to manage the monsters in there, then perhaps we should walk around it?" Silvano asked.
"It will take us six hours at a minimum to get to Farna from our position if we walk around the forest," Felicity said, shaking her head. "But if we cut straight through the forest, then it will take half the time."
"But if we're not careful, then we'll get into trouble with enemies in there," Roen said. He looked at the trees. "Do…are the Elves really living in a place so dangerous?"
"It was probably their only option after the Plague," Daunte said grimly. He looked at Leknaat. "Your Cyclone Rune has a few healing spells, right Lady Leknaat?"
"Yes, it does," Leknaat said.
"If you all are going to be cowards, simply put me in the front and I will kill anything that stands in our way," Yuber scoffed.
"Yuber," Daunte said warningly. The Dark Knight shifted very slightly, but Daunte decided then to not admonish him again. "We will be relying on you heavily. Please protect us."
"Hm." Yuber casually produced his two swords and took the lead ahead of them.
Yuber had said there were powerful enemies in the East Forest, and he wasn't wrong. The trees seemed to curl at the top inward towards the center of the forest, blocking out any sunlight. He heard the buzz of insects in the darkness but no birds overhead.
Daunte was distressed to see how little his attacks (including Berate) hurt the monsters they encountered. Creepers, BonBons, Ulses, and another assortment of monsters attacked them in large groups and dealt significant damage to them. Daunte didn't expect getting hit by a BonBon to hurt so much, but after one attacked him he was afraid he'd broken his foot.
All right. We are not ready for this forest.
Without Yuber's presence Daunte didn't doubt that they would have surely died. The only comfort he took from fighting the monsters was the significant spike in skills after each encounter. The monsters also dropped a generous amount of bits, so it was not necessarily a wasted trip. But he also knew that they should not waste time exploring the forest when they did not have the skills to navigate the forest without Yuber. They avoided branching paths and kept moving west.
"If you are this exhausted after fighting a Creeper, then you should think carefully as to whether or not you should try overthrowing your government," Yuber said as he watched Daunte, Roen, Felicity, and Silvano sit on the ground panting heavily as they took a break.
"We will be successful," Leknaat said, remaining closeby and did not showing fatigue. "It is our destiny as the 108 Stars to win."
"Then you will certainly have a long way to go if you intend to win," Yuber said, taking a moment to put away his swords.
Daunte wiped his brow and looked up at him. Again he contemplated admonishing him or thanking him for his tactless advice, but he settled on, "Thank you for your feedback, Yuber."
Yuber shifted very slightly at the praise, and Daunte saw him frown. "I did not say it as a courtesy. I was only speaking facts. You will not win this war if you cannot handle something as simple as enemies in a forest."
"Then I think we should come here as we get stronger to build our skills," Daunte said, brushing himself off as he stood. He looked at his friends. "Does that sound like a good idea?"
"I'll feel better about the idea once I gain another twenty levels," Roen panted as he stood up.
Silvano helped Felicity to stand but she was nodding. "This has been humbling for me. I would like to come back here." She gestured ahead of them in the path. "Farna should be one kilometer that way."
"Then we are close," Daunte said, smiling. "Let's—"
A loud roar to the right silenced him, followed by a few screams and shouts. "Come on!" Daunte shouted, running through the brush towards the screams.
"Daunte, wait!" Roen shouted. Yuber became a blur as he hurried after Daunte, and Silvano took Leknaat's arm. "Let's hurry and help!" Silvano exclaimed.
Daunte was stabbed on all sides by the brush and tree branches, but he didn't pause. The screams ahead were getting louder and more frantic. His hand shot out and whipped aside a bush as he burst into clearing. He gasped at what he saw before him.
Seven warriors, four men and three women, dressed in leather clothing were standing before a Vermitor, the largest Daunte had ever seen. It had be at least six meters tall, the spikes on its shell almost touching the trees. The red eyes were large and scary, its mouth big enough to swallow two of the warriors standing before it with one gulp. The fighters jumped around the Vermitor, trying to land blows on it, but it was unfazed.
"You bastard, get off her!" One of the warriors shouted. It was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, pale aquamarine hair in a tight braid. His leather clothes were forest green and he wielded two valari. Daunte gasped as he recognized his pointed ears. There they are! The last Elves of Nagarea. And—there are only seven of them?
The Elven warrior threw both valari at the Vermitor, and though the blows from the weapon didn't hurt the monster it made it irritated. It roared and hunched up.
"River! Look out!" one of the other elves shouted. River caught his valeri and jumped away from the Vermitor as one of its legs swung at him. When the monster shifted, Daunte gasped in horror as he saw a head of cherry blossom colored hair pinned underneath one of its many legs. The monster had taken one of the Elves, and the remaining Elves were trying to get to her.
But the monster was unmoving, as was the poor person it had ensnared.
"Yuber!" Daunte screamed desperately over his shoulder. Yuber was at his side before he finished his breath. "Save them, please!"
"All right," Yuber said dully. He drew his two swords and flew forward. Daunte blinked just once, and in that instant Yuber zoomed across the clearing, past the Elves, and stabbed the Vermitor simultaneously in both eyes. The monster let out a horrific shriek of pain, but Yuber wasn't done. He picked up the limb that had the downed Elf pinned with both hands and effortlessly raise it over his head. The Vermitor was still screaming and flailing its arms. Yuber pushed upwards on the limb, and the force of his strength flipped the monster completely over onto its back, knocking over several trees and exposing the clearing to the heavy rainfall that came down from above.
Yuber was not done. He swiftly moved and yanked his swords out of the Vermitor's eyes and he jumped high into the air, landing on the monster's torso. Then he raised his swords and Daunte's eyes widened as he saw a rune symbol rise into the air. It was black and red and in the shape of a jagged, vertical infinity symbol. Daunte felt his hand twitch in response.
Is that…the Eightfold Rune?!
Yuber moved so quickly that Daunte could see what he was doing, but dark blood and the monster's flesh splattered onto the trees. Within seconds the giant Vermitor was in thousands of pieces on the ground. Shockingly, Yuber's body was untouched by the carnage he had inflicted. Even his swords were pristine as he put them away. "That was too simple for me," he said.
Most of the Elves gaped at Yuber in silent horror, but River was frantically moving pieces of the monster's body aside. "Clover? Clover!"
Daunte snapped out of his stupor as he realized he could no longer see the downed Elf and raised his hand. "Howl!" the spell barely finished before he raced forward to help Clover. Roen, Felicity, and Silvano helped him.
"Clover." River gathered the injured elf into his arms, hazel eyes reddened from unshed tears. "Healing Wind," Leknaat called out, and the healing spell washed over Clover.
"She'll be okay," Daunte reassured River. "Our healing spells are powerful."
River shook his head. "That creature came from out of nowhere. I—" he lifted his head to look at Daunte and suddenly screamed in rage. He scooped Clover up into his arms and jumped away from Daunte. "Humans!"
The six other elves around them shrieked in rage and pulled out their respective weapons. Yuber casually drew his swords again as Roen and Felicity took protective stances around Daunte.
"Wait!" Silvano shouted, running to stand between Daunte and River. He brushed his hair back to reveal his own elven ears. "We're not enemies! We are friendly!"
River's eyes widened when he saw Silvano. "T…You are an elf too. I-I've never seen you before. I wasn't aware that more of us survived. Are there other villages in Nagarea?"
"I'm not from Nagarea," Silvano said gently, keeping his hands raised. "But we are still your allies. We saved you!"
"Y—You are an elf and you travel with humans?!" One of the female elves shrieked. "You traitor!"
"Humans are my friends," Silvano insisted. "And the mother of my child is human. I—"
"You mated with a human?!" A male elf shouted in disgust. "You an elf created a child with a race who seeks to exterminate us?!"
"Not all humans are like that!" Silvano tried to reason. "Please, if you would just listen—"
Clover stirred in River's arms, which brought the attention of all the elves. "Clover are you okay?" River asked her.
Clover opened her eyes, strikingly dark compared to her light hair. "I…I think so. I remember…" her voice trailed off as she looked at her surroundings. Her eyes settled on Daunte and she screamed. "That's a human!"
"Please—" Daunte pleaded. He tried to move forward but Roen and Felicity held him back.
River set Clover down and though she looked unsteady she remained on her feet. The elves closed ranks around them. "You saved my wife," River said heatedly. "For that I thank you. In return for helping us I will allow you to leave Eryn mi Hui."
Eryn mi Hui? Daunte wondered. Is that was the Elves call this forest?
"But," River said feelingly. "If you humans ever dirty the forest with your presence again we will attack you. You destroy everything you touch and we as the last Elves of Nagarea will not fall to you."
"Hey, if we weren't here then that monster would have killed all of you!" Felicity screamed at them. "If we wanted you dead, then we wouldn't have helped you at all!"
"Humans only bring suffering," Clover said sadly. "Your plague killed everyone we loved."
"I lost family too in that Plague!" Felicity snapped. "So don't you dare point your finger at me and tell me that I caused it!"
"Felicity," Daunte said softly. Felicity had a tense posture but she took a step back.
"You have a warning, so I recommend you heed it," River said glaring at Daunte.
Yuber moved forward but Daunte waved him off. The eight elves stepped back into the shadows and disappeared into the trees. Now alone in the clearing Silvano let out a harsh breath. "No matter where I go," he said sadly. "My fellow Elves hate humans…"
"They suffered a great tragedy," Leknaat said quietly. "Hate sometimes can brew from tragedy."
"But we didn't do it," Felicity said harshly. "We saved them! We healed them! And just because we're humans they condemned us and called us monsters!"
"Their hate makes them ignorant to our intentions," Roen said. "We didn't come here to hurt them. Why were we recommended to come here if the Elves would rather kill us than talk to us?"
"If we hadn't come," Daunte said softly. "Then they all would have died. I…hope that they understood that."
"Perhaps I can emphasize with his emotions," Silvano said. "When Kaylani was taken I did not exactly act rationally. I at least did not have to bare witness to her being crushed by a monster…"
"Are we done talking?" Yuber said suddenly. "We should keep moving."
Daunte again ignored his tactless behavior and looked at Felicity. "We're almost there. Farna. Are you ready?"
Felicity nodded stiffly, though she was frowning. "I'm ready. Let's get going before more monsters arrive."
Daunte shifted forward, but then felt his foot nudge something. He looked down and saw a shiny white circular crystal on the ground. He knelt down to pick it up. "What is this? Did River or one of his comrades drop this?"
"That is a listening crystal," Leknaat told him. "That will allow you to hear the thoughts and feel the feelings of beasts. They in turn will understand you."
"So that's why River was yelling at the monster," Daunte said, looking up. "He was using this to try to talk to the monster."
"It obviously didn't work though," Roen said. "Do you think it's broken?"
"We may as well take it with us," Silvano said. "River and his group may try to attack us if we go looking for them to give it back."
"Okay." Daunte looked at the listening crystal for a long moment before tucking it into his satchel.
Kader
She was weary. A few people had commented on it, but her own exhaustion was evident to her with her blurred vision.
I need to go home.
Tamara Nuori signed the final document and pushed it aside. She was in her full Shiekh robes even while sitting in her private office, but her chestnut brown bangs peeked out from the top of her hood. She blinked to try to clear her vision and looked up to rest her matching colored eyes on the man and woman standing before her. "My work is finished," she said. It took more strength than she wanted to admit to keep her voice steady. "Please make the arrangements for departure back to the Garrison."
"Sheikh, are you well?" Nigel moved forward, his eyes full of worry. Though he had joined her personal guard only a few months prior he had proven himself to be a capable ally. "Maybe you should lie down before we leave."
"Do not baby her, Nigel." Tamara'a second-in-command stepped forward, moving around the desk to stand at Tamara's side. "Our Sheikh may be working hard, but it is her duty to work hard for our people."
"That is correct," Tamara said, but she had to fight the urge to lean away from the other woman. Imbuka Liger had been assigned to be her second-in-command by the High Clerics barely over a month prior. Though Tamara did not know her age she could see with the wrinkles around Imbuka's piercing dark eyes that she was older than both Nigel and her, possibly in her late sixties. Tamara did not know this woman personally, and had never heard of her until she was assigned to her, and had much preferred to have kept her father's second-in-command before the High Clerics "retired" him from his duties. Imbuka…unsettled her though. From the moment they met to right to this moment, Tamara couldn't sense an ounce of warmth from her. She always wore a hood, though second-in-command's usually did not wear hoods, and so it made it impossible for Tamara to ever read the older woman.
But the High Clerics assigned her to me for a reason and I must trust in their judgment.
"I will be okay," she reassured Nigel, looking back at him. "I'll rest when we return to the Garrison." A light blue envelope on the desk's right corner caught her attention. It was addressed to her, and she recognized the name on the return address line. Blaise Prísaha.
Tamara reached for the letter, but Imbuka swiftly picked it up. "I will keep this safe," she promised Tamara. "But you are right in that we should go."
Tamara nodded and looked at Nigel as she stood up from the desk. He fixed his eyes on Imbuka with a piercing gaze. "Nigel?"
Nigel quickly looked at her. "We are ready whenever you are, Sheikh."
"Good—"
"Sheikh!"
The doors to Tamara's office burst open and a young boy raced into the room followed by two guards. His hair was wild, his eyes wide, and his amber sherwani was disheveled. The boy threw himself onto the floor before her desk. "Sheikh, help me please! My father—please help my father!"
The guards reached for him but Nigel waved them off. "What disgraceful behavior by our guards!" Imbuka snapped. "How could you let a little boy get this far into the Sheikh's offices?!"
"Please forgive us Lady Sheikh," one guard said shakily. "We—"
"Sheikh Nuori, PLEASE!" the boy jumped back to his feet and clasped his hands in front of himself. "M-My name is Dylan, and my father is in prison! H—He didn't do anything! My father is innocent, please release him!"
"Are you going to remove this boy or not?" Imbuka demanded of the guards.
"It's all right," Tamara said, nodding to the guards. "You are not in trouble. Please return to your posts."
"Thank you, Sheikh." the two guards left the office.
"Please forgive me," Tamara said, turning her attention to Dylan. "I need more information. Who is your father?"
"I can answer that," Imbuka said crisply, folding her arms over her chest. "Her father was convicted for domestic abuse early this morning. Do you recall the victim, Sheikh? She had a broken arm and bruises all over her face and torso. So horrific were her injuries and her tale of abuse that her case was expedited. You handed down his sentence an hour after his arrest."
"…Ah," Tamara said slowly, her stomach twisting in discomfort at the memory of the sobbing woman who recounted the abuse her husband had inflicted upon her. And the memory of the large, menacing-looking defendant who stood before her in chains. She was aware that domestic violence cases were usually ignored by the authorities (and other Sheikhs), which is something that Tamara despised. And when she saw the physical condition of that poor woman, she was impartial but she still handed down a sentence that she felt fit the crime.
One hundred lashes with a bullwhip in Kaden's square. Fifteen for each bruise on her face. Twenty for the purple bruise on her stomach that was the shape of a footprint. Two for the broken bones in her arm. And the remaining sixty-three from years of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse, including turning their child against his own mother. The child who stands before me now.
But she knew she had to be patient with this boy and so she did not lose her temper. "You said you name was Dylan, correct?" She asked calmly. The boy nodded. "And you saw what your mother looked like in court this morning, did you not?"
Dylan slowly nodded. "Then I hope you can understand why your father must be punished for doing that to—"
"He DIDN'T DO IT!" Dylan shrieked, wringing his hands helplessly. "I swear to Nagar he didn't do it!"
Tamara counted to ten to herself before she continued. "Dylan," she tried again. "Your mother said he did it. There were also three men who testified that they witnessed your father do this. I understand that you love your father, but—"
"He was with me!" Dylan shouted. "He couldn't have done because he was with me!"
"What?" Tamara asked. She quickly looked at Imbuka but the other woman didn't stir.
"W-We were on our way to the capital!" Dylan insisted, scrubbing the tears off his face with both sleeves. "We had already left when he was arrested! And I swear to you Sheikh that Mother wasn't injured when we left! She kissed me goodbye! She kissed Father goodbye! I-I don't know why she said Father hurt her, but it wasn't him! She was fine when we left!"
Tamara swallowed hard when she heard this. Imbuka's eyes were still unchanging but Nigel looked shocked. "If—this is true," she said slowly. "Then why did your mother lie in testimony? Why would the three eyewitnesses lie?"
"I-I don't know why! I just know that she's lying! He's never hurt her, and he didn't do that to her!"
"And why did you not testify at your father's trial?"
"Sheikh," Imbuka spoke up before Dylan could respond. "As a reminder, under Original Sin children cannot testify on behalf of their offender parents. Per the teachings of the Nagarist faith, we cannot trust the word of a child who inherited corrupted blood."
"Yes, but—"
"What you see before you is a child who shares blood with an abuser," Imbuka interrupted, gesturing to Dylan. "This boy will be inclined towards abuse as his father was. We cannot trust him to tell the truth when he shares the blood of a guilty man."
"My father is innocent!" Dylan shrieked. "He NEVER hurt my mother!"
"…You are correct," Tamara said calmly. "In that his testimony may have been inadmissible under Original Sin. However, you are forgetting that Dylan shares blood with both the offender and the victim. He should have been called to testify."
"Sheikh—"
"And," Tamara interrupted. "I should have been notified that he was available. I am not happy that I was not privy to all information that was available."
"Sheikh," Nigel said, stepping forward. "I can make a call for all necessary files to be brought here."
"Tha—"
"Sheikh," Imbuka interjected. "Need I remind you that you have been awake for thirty-three hours? We are returning to the Garrison right this minute so that you can get the rest that you need."
"Imbuka—" Tamara began.
"And," Imbuka continued. "You are a Sheikh who had duties to the entire province. You cannot put your work on hold for a violent offender."
"Don't talk about my dad like that!" Dylan snapped.
"Don't you ever raise your voice to ME like that again," Imbuka retorted, anger rising to her eyes.
"Everyone," Tamara said, waving a hand. "Imbuka is right. I do need to leave and I do have other matters I need to take care of once I get back to the Garrison."
"Sheikh, please—" Dylan begged.
"But," Tamara interrupted gently. "I will be back in this town in two days. I will review your father's case when I come back and, if necessary, I will recall all of the witnesses to testify. Including you, Dylan."
"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!" Dylan bowed several times.
"There is no need to thank me. But you cannot burst into this building again. When I return to Kaden I'll summon you here. Understood?"
"Yes! Thank you so much!"
Tamara's heart lifted when she saw the hope in his face, and he left the office in much greater spirits than when he had arrived. This…will be difficult though. He believes whole-heartedly in his father's innocence, but his mother was still inflicted with terrible injuries. If it wasn't his father who did it…then who was it?
"Sheikh," Imbuka said suddenly.
"What is it?" Tamara asked as she collected her papers.
"How do you imagine keeping that promise to that boy, when your schedule has you in the capital in two days?"
Tamara froze, and her head snapped up. "Damn!" she cried out, pressing a hand to her chest. "I forgot about that trip!"
"If I may," Nigel cut in suddenly, his tone harsh. "Why did you not remind the Sheikh of her schedule before the boy left?"
Imbuka looked at him. "You are speaking disrespectfully to a superior officer."
"No, the fault is mine," Tamara said, raising her hands. "I should know my own schedule. I—"
The room suddenly spun. Tamara didn't quite know what had happened until she found herself near the floor, and aware that someone was holding her. "Sheikh!"
"We should have left already," Imbuka scoffed as Nigel carefully helped her to her feet. "Nigel, is she well enough to walk?"
"I am," Tamara interrupted, but her tone was breathless. The hood made it difficult to breathe. "I will—walk slowly. But let's go back now."
"What should we do about the child?" Nigel asked, hovering close by. "He will be expecting you."
"I will take care of it," Imbuka said. "Please get the Sheikh to her horse. I'll be right down."
Nigel went on ahead with Tamara. Now alone in the office Imbuka scoffed and shook her head in disgust. "Her position is ill-fitted for a child like her…"
"Lady Imbuka?" the two guards on duty entered the office. "I-Is the Sheikh okay?"
"The disturbance that you allowed to happen caused the Sheikh a considerable amount of stress," Imbuka said harshly. The two guards jumped at her tone. "That boy is not allowed back in this building again. This is an order by the Sheikh. Understood?'
"O-Of course," one stammered. "Please extend our apologies to the Sheikh."
"I certainly will." She looked at the guards for a deliberately long and uncomfortable moment before she spoke again. "If that boy returns, he is to be arrested immediately. Understood?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" the two shouted.
"Good. Now get out of my sight."
Imbuka was left alone in the office again. As she picked up Tamara's paperwork she remembered the letter had received. She held the blue envelope up and looked at the name on the return address's line. "What a sentimental fool," she said. Then she dropped the letter into the wastebasket beside the desk.
Yes, the name of the East Forest River gave was Elvish. Eryn mi Hui roughly translates to "Forest Within Night".