Return
"What's the total count so far?" Modos asked one of the newly formed militia's men.
"One hundred eighteen sir."
"Damn. That's more than we anticipated. I suppose that we'll just have to make due though. Send a request to commander Pycap for some extra troops."
"No need sir. He sent word he was going to come down to speak with you personally already."
"Very well then. Please return to your post and do what you can."
The militiaman bowed before quickly stepping out of the doorway and disappearing around the corner. Modos closed the door to the temporary headquarters and turned to face those gathered. Tina and Sefton were standing to one side of the room talking, while Dawelien and Weneibo were engaging in what was currently the best out of eleven arm wrestling matches at the table. Also gathered were Martin as well as several other members of the council of Saint Morning, encircling Geiox at the floor of the stairs.
"So we're all gathered here tonight for…" Modos began.
"We're not all here though really." Dawelien interrupted while still attempting to overpower Weneibo.
"Ah, yes…well, while Targos will be missed, I am afraid it is unavoidable. We have to put that aside for now and concentrate on the matters still at hand. I'm sure even sir Geiox would agree with me on this."
The white haired man simply nodded in approval.
"The first two stages are complete, and were great successes. The city will owe you a debt for years to come for your sacrifice Tina. Without your fuel and explosives there would have been no way this plan could have gone so smoothly, or with as few casualties."
"No worries Modos. I'm making the bill out to you." The girl replied with a smirk.
Modos only stared at Tina a moment, unsure whether she was joking or not, then continued.
"Um, anyways…so far, reports are sounding like for the exception of the targets assigned to Targos, and a few others, most of the major leadership has been dealt with. That coupled with the ships that tried to escape but were intercepted by forces sent by Lord Chiyu at our request, and all that remains are mostly the remnant forces of these guilds that have gone into hiding."
"So what now?" Sefton asked.
"Well…"
Modos was interrupted by a knocking at the door. After a moment in the doorway greeting the guest, he stepped aside and let the newcomer in. the man was shorter than Modos by nearly a whole head, and his rather large cheeks were slightly red. He was a bulky man, though under his heavy dark blue uniform and cloak, nobody could tell whether it was fat or muscle. Around his forehead was a dark bandana bearing the insignia of East Darkon.
"Commander Pycap, it's good to see you." Modos said holding out his hand.
The large man grabbed it happily and pulled the former actor in close, slamming him on the back with his other large paw of a hand.
"Come now Modos, what are the lots of you doing cooped up in here for? Now is a time for celebration! The city is ours…errr…yours!" Pycap said with a giant grin and small hiccup.
"Well, today was fairly successful, but I'm afraid that celebrations will have to be postponed for a while still. Now is not the time to let down our guard."
"Awwww come on Modos…"
Suddenly there was a crashing noise from upstairs and a man came tumbling down. There was a strange gust of wind in the room followed by a slapping sound. The room stared amazed at the apparent source of both. Pycap's sword was drawn within that instant the noise had come, and Modos had one hand on the man's forearm, while shaking his head at the commander. Steps could be heard from the stairs as a slumped and bandaged figure came into the light.
"Wha in the bloody blazes is that thin…" Pycap said sheathing his sword with a small burp that he promptly apologized for.
"That would be one of the heroes of the city commander. Let me introduce you to Targos Datri, the man who defeated Dintab the pirate."
"Oh? Is that sho? Well then young man, I'd like to shake your…"
"Where is he!?" The bandaged man grunted while gripping the stair railing.
"Where's oo?"
"Dintab!"
"No need to shout young fella, I can hear you fine…"
"You killed him Targos." Geiox answered.
"That can't be right. The condition I was in…I should have died, but if I'm alive, the spell wasn't strong enough. There's no way he's dead too!"
Targos began violently coughing and then falling down the remaining stairs but found himself instead caught by the drunken commander.
"You should take it easy…I think you're unraveling." The man snorted in laughter as Targos' bandages were becoming loose.
"We have to find Dintab. He might not have gotten far right? I mean, maybe if he was hurt enough, and it's only just now getting dark…"
"Targos, it's been three days since your fight with Dintab." Modos said.
The injured warrior was frozen in disbelief. His eyes wandered amongst the room's occupants. In each set of eyes the same answer was mirrored. He looked back at Modos as the man was walking across the room, to a chest near the fireplace.
"So…then, he must have gotten away then…"
"I don't think so." Modos said tossing a small round object wrapped in a sack to the other man.
Targos unwrapped it slowly, then let the covering drop to the floor as everyone else shifted uncomfortably in the room.
"Look familiar?" Modos asked, as the bandaged fighter stared at the object.
He began to trace over two cracks in the eye socket of the skull in his hands. The same eye he had plunged a dagger into so long ago.
"I owe you my deepest gratitude Targos. With that man finally dead, I believe my Ayako can rest in peace."
"I didn't do it for you."
Targos stared at the skull for a moment before smashing it against the wall next to him, causing all those gathered to jump slightly. Most were surprised further as a smile illuminated his face the likes of which all but one had never seen on the man. Finally, he began to laugh as streams of tears made moist the bandages across his face.
"Alright boyo. You! What're you lying down on the job for soldier?" Pycap yelled at the man Targos had knocked down the stairs. "This man should be in bed. Hop to before I think of somethin to do to you!"
The soldier obeyed helping the wounded man up the stairs to his room, just before the sounds of laughter faded into something far sadder.
"Almost makes you wonder if you should've saved him doesn't it?" Tina whispered to Sefton.
"No. I think even with Geiox and everybody else, Saint Morning is much better off in the end with him here." He answered, spotting Modos step off into the kitchen. "Excuse me a minute."
Modos was staring out at the stars sitting in the back doorway.
"You ok?" Sefton asked.
"Of course. I already shed my tears for that man's end. The sounds of joy and relief mixed with confusion and sad memory are very familiar to me. It's still just somewhat of an unsettling feeling is all, seeing it rather than experiencing it I suppose. That's not what you came in to ask me though is it?"
"No. You know my friends and I only have another week and a half to spend here right?"
"Yes, and at that time, Nithiw and I will keep our promise to you."
"Good." Sefton began heading back into the other room and stopped. "I guess you had better hurry up with plans for the rest of that time then. Make sure my services don't go to waste."
Modos smiled slightly before closing the door and following Sefton into the common room. The others were all waiting, most having not even moved except Pycap who apparently joined the two avid arm wrestlers.
"Alright." Modos said, calling everyone's attention. "The next stage of reclaiming this city totally, will be to rebuild it, and establish some order. Having the power to fight the pirates is not enough on its own. Without a figurehead, Saint Morning will be combating these bandits for generations. So, that means that we need to start construction, and get the castle on the track to return to its former glory. When repairs are sufficient, I hope the council will have what they need prepared, Master Martin."
The old man smiled and nodded.
"Commander Pycap…"
"Consider me and my men yours for basically as long as you need us."
"Thank you. Ok, with all your help, I know this can be done. Lets go to work!"
The following days slowly passed by as each person was assigned and carrying out their own individual duties. Geiox spent this time studying over laws and procedures of Saint Morning. His brother spent most time still recovering as Modos called for every available hand to work on the reconstruction of the castle, leaving him to heal on his own. Modos personally oversaw and helped with the rebuild, occasionally putting together small shows to lift community spirits. Sefton and Dawelien spent the remainder of their stay helping to rebuild and train the new militia, while their friend was strangely with Pycap as he oversaw the continuing battle against the remnant pirate forces.
"Sefton!"
The assist turned slightly to see Tina walking quickly to him.
"Where you going?"
"To talk to Modos."
"So it's that time already?"
"Yeah. As soon as I get what Modos and Nithiw promised, I need to head back to Flaris."
"You sure you won't stay for Geiox's coronation ceremony? It's supposed to be a damned good party."
"I wish I could, but I made a promise."
Tina sighed and titled her head slightly as she swayed just a little. She was frowning, but in a way it seemed only to cover a smirk as she stared the man down.
"I really wish I could…" Sefton repeated, his voice somewhat caught in his throat.
"Well that's ok, I understand. I guess I'll have to find someone else to go with. Don't be a stranger though ok?" She winked before leaving.
Sefton stood a moment watching her go. He let out a deep breath, readjusted his glasses, and turned toward Modos' home once again.
The day had finally arrived. Sefton was beside himself, and yet, he also felt uneasy. It had not occurred to him that it was wholly possible Nithiw knew nothing. Quickly, he cast these doubts aside before knocking on the wooden door.
"Ah Sefton! Come in, come in. I was expecting you."
"I should think so."
"I would just like to say first, on behalf of the entire city of Saint Morning…"
"Please, Modos, spare me."
"Oh…right. I suppose we should get right down to business then." The swordsman said closing the door and heading to the fireplace and pulling on a hook to its side.
The stones within the fireplace swiftly and silently began shifting, revealing a downward staircase.
"Just follow this down and she'll be waiting for you."
"A hidden staircase in the fireplace…I should have known."
Modos smiled wide.
"Actors." Sefton sighed before entering the passage.
He came to an iron door at the end of a long hallway after the end of an even longer spiral staircase. Giving a hard push revealed that it had not been locked. From the doorway, Sefton saw the leader of the Scavengers sitting calmly.
"Hello Sefton. I hear you have some inquiries."
"Miss Nithiw…uh, yes…"
"Come now. You've come all this way and waited for so long, is now really the time to lose your grip?"
"Right. I want you to tell me everything about…"
"The events surrounding and following the fifth rise of the Clockworks."
"Yes."
"Very well. The being known as Chen was created to infiltrate and help destroy humans. The body of a machine infused with a human soul."
"I know that already."
"So does everybody by now."
"Then why…"
"In order for me to tell you all that I know of those events, I think it is important to bring all surrounding elements into the light, known or not. A puzzle requires every piece in order to complete a picture Sefton. I should think a man who strives toward the truth of things so diligently would understand this concept."
"You're right…please continue."
"There were points in this mechanical humanoid's journey in which it was being controlled by the Master Clockworks that lead to the fifth rising as well as the temporary dismantling of Bobor's Light. At some point, it gained control, and becoming infused with the gods of light and dark, destroyed the master at the cost of its own existence."
Sefton felt a slight pull on himself each time hearing Nithiw refer to Chen as an "it" but kept silent.
"Shortly after the reported fall of the Clockworks worldwide, there was a brilliant light that enveloped Saint Morning, leaving the castle in ruin. There is still much speculation as to how it occurred."
"Do you know what happened?"
"Of course not personally, though there was one rumor that came to me of the survivor."
"Survivor?"
"A guard was said to have made it out screaming about the gods coming to punish Ashel or some such thing."
"Is that true!?"
"Who knows? It was just a rumor."
There was a short silence between the two for a moment.
"What else Nithiw?"
"There is nothing else. Since that time, pirates moved into the city, and everything else is rather public knowledge."
"What? That's impossible!"
"Why? Because you have a feeling there must be more? I have told you what I have heard regarding those events. If you are unsatisfied with that, I'm afraid there is nothing I can do about it."
Sefton could do little more than stare at the icy woman, attempting to keep his anger from leaking out. Soon though, anger turned to confusion and despair as the man questioned what it was he was doing in the city for so long. Nithiw saw this conflict and spoke once again.
"Perhaps there is something else" She said, capturing Sefton's attention. "It has occurred to me recently that all those who seek answers to that time have been searching for information about Chen, or even Ashel. Though, really, would it not be prudent to search out the one possibly most responsible for Chen's progression in our world?"
"You're talking about…Nelo Rohe?"
"Yes. He was after all the most influential force3 in Chen's existence, for the exception of course of its master. Nelo discovered Chen on the island you and your friends frequent each month." The woman disregarded Sefton's look of shock and continued. "He was the one who also entered Chen into the Flaris tournament apparently. And while this isn't quite common knowledge, he was the one who insisted on taking the machine into the ruins, even while there were far more qualified candidates."
"If Nelo is the real force behind everything, then you're still the one holding all the answers."
"You might think so, but I'm not sure how much light my relationship with him will bring forth."
"Every piece of a puzzle miss Nithiw." Sefton said mockingly.
"Right. To be honest, I never knew the man that well. He joined the Scavengers after competing in a tournament displaying his sword abilities. Soon after, he also displayed an almost unnatural knack for information gathering and intuition, so I made him the Flaris head. He did good work and so I mostly just let him be. But…"
"What is it?"
"Well, recently, it seems a dream, or a memory keeps coming back to me."
"Of?"
"It's as though for some time, my memory has been clearing something up about, Nelo, and the day that the group was going into the ruins. I saw him, and even spoke with him."
"Nelo? What's so odd about that?"
"He had already left with the rest of the group by caravan. Yet, I swear that very night he was in my old chambers."
"What happened?"
"He didn't say much. He just said something about how he admired what I was trying to do…but that the pursuit of neutrality was a futile one. Then he was gone."
"That's it?"
"Yes. And though it was likely just a dream…I don't know. He seemed like two different people, and there was almost a strange, aura about him. But everything about it is still foggy."
"What do you think it means?"
"I don't know…but it also occurs to me that there is somebody else that you may want to talk to as well."
"Who?"
"The last man to ever see Nelo Rohe alive."
Sefton's eyes shot wide and he left Nithiw without another word to search for his two comrades.