News of a new awakened in the Gremlins Tipiece quickly spread throughout the Nerosal. Fury servants were quite common, but having an awakened one was enough to attract crowds. As a level one, Diroh was only able to upgrade one item per day, and Hannah had restricted nding to only a couple, but that wasnt what brought custors in. It was more about seeing the fury in action. Even old regulars used to there being a fury in the inn were impressed, almost as if they were going through a nostalgia phase.
Diroh, on her part, had a lot to get used to. Back in Halburn, she would frequently use air currents to serve custors, not to ntion keep the place sparkly clean. While the latter was vastly appreciated, Hannah quickly shared that the forr was a big no-no in the city. Officially, there were no laws in the empire against furies using their natural powers. However, there was an understanding that they were not to use them discreetly and not openly flaunt them. Since Diroh was new, ss-ups were forgiven, and even seen as interesting. It wasnt rare that groups of new custors would arrive hoping to catch her using air currents openly. The demand was so great that occasionally the innkeeper asked the fury to let it slip. As usual, Hannah had an eye for money, and to compound matters, Diroheffectively a forr innkeeper herselfagreed.
Despite Dallions questions and concerns, things seed to get back to normal, when a captain of the city guard passed by. In itself, this wasnt unusual. With Eury gone, and Dallion being the only hunter, it had beco common for the city guard to approach him for occasional help, ranging from exploring certain artifacts to checking out food for traces of poison. With the plague all but gone, the star cults had apparently started using it to kill awakened in parts of the empire.
When the captain said that the countess wanted to see Dallion, however, it quickly beca obvious that this was all but standard. So far, the only ti he had been called to see the noble was after the Stars attempt to take over the city.
There was no point in arguing or attempting to get around it. Leaving all his weapons in his room at the inn, Dallion followed the captain to the countess palace.
The structure had changed considerably in the last few years. It had always been significant when compared to everything else in the city. Now, though, it was absolutely astounding, growing almost to the size of the Archdukes palace in Linatol. What Dallion found even more impressive was that it had completely been made of stones collected from ruins, ensuring that it was completely guardian-free. Even smaller items such as doors, rugs, and statues had been made in such a way to be empty.
There was no telling how much ti and effort had gone into making that, but it had required awakened stonecutters and masons building it the old-fashioned way. When it ca to expenses, that was only sothing nobles and few others could afford.
Standard etiquette required that all visitors be escorted through the outer section of the palace by a standard set of guards to the inner courtyard. There, a steward would take charge of the guests, leading them to the countess personal chamber. This ti, though, Dallion was greeted by none other than the citys overseer. With a nod, she dismissed the city guard captain.
Hello, Dal, she said in her typically calm voice. Youre been attracting a lot of attention.
The overseer had warned him that this mont would co. The mishap in Halburn had only accelerated things.
Just because you give soone a blocker ring, doesnt an they beco invisible, the overseer continued.
I thought they would. Dallion attempted to bring in so levity to the situation.
People usually do. Co this way.
They continued to the base of one of the towers, then started climbing.
Youre lucky she was Jirohs sister, the Overseer said. Nerosal has a soft spot for her. You still should have told the countess about it.
The implication was clearit was the countess who had called for him. That could an mostly one thing: she was displeased about sothing and his recent behavior was an excuse to get Dallion dealt with. The hunter emblem protected him to a very large extent, though not against banishnt. Realistically, Dallion doubted it would co to that. Banishnt could be done from a distance. The countess wanted sothing. Given that she wasnt in her usual chamber, this could suggest that it was a matter of considerable discretion.
I planned to, Dallion replied. I just wanted Di to get settled in a bit.
The overseer said nothing.
The stairs led to a single door at the top of the tower. The overseer didnt bother to know, opening it, and walking inside the room. Dallion did the sa. Other than an extrely intricate tapestry that covered the entire walls, the room was empty. There was no desk, no chair, not even a rug. Only the countess stood inside. Looking out into the distance through one of the small windows.
Youve been quite busy lately, the woman said, her back turned to Dallion. Despite that, both he and the overseer stopped three steps away from the noble and bowed. Already an official hunter. I expected it to take you a bit longer. If I had taken part in the betting, Id have put my money on next year.
Dallion didnt say a word, unable to tell whether that was a complint towards him or not.
Reports ca that you caused a bit of a scandal in my new town. In fact, one of my new subjects has co to demanding your head on a platter.
That hardly ca as a surprise, although the pesky noble from Halburn had been faster than Dallion expected. It should have taken him at least a month to get to this level.
I made it clear that hes not to touch my toys, no matter the iterations they cause. However, this leads to the real question. The woman turned around, piercing eyes focusing on Dallion. Are you my toy or not?
I remained in the city, countess, Dallion said.
Yes, an admirable task, especially since you were offered to go to the provincial capital. However, does that have to do with your opinion, or on you humiliating the Archdukes son in public? Such an action wont be forgotten. Not until you beco a noble as well.
This was an obvious trap. If Dallion were to agree, hed confirm that he was also aiming for the countess authority and, as such, fair ga for reprisals.
Ill go straight to the point. Theres a beast that I want caught. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke. I want it caught very much, and before anyone else does. And no need to worry. I know your issue with killing. I want the creature caught alive and brought here. Think you could do that?
That depends on the creature, countess. Im still incapable of taking on a dragon.
The overseer let out a warning caugh, making it known that Dallion was not to get too casual in the conversation. The countess herself, on the other hand, seed slightly amused. Dallion was able to feel the emotion emanate from her, along with the conviction that she deserved more power.
It wont be a dragon. If anything, the creature is said to be more elusive than aggressive. That doesnt an that it wont fight if found or cornered. It might be even deadly.
Normally, this would be the point at which Dallion asked for details. Sensing that she wasnt particularly fond of or amused by him, he remained quiet, only nodding slightly to confirm he was following the conversation.
People have been trying to catch it for quite a while. So claim since the early days of the empire. All of them have been only partially successful.
My apologies, countess, but should I be hearing this? Dallion interrupted. I have echoes and familiars, which I dont want to destroy.
For a mont there was a faint whiff of appreciation emanating from the noble, before it vanished, flooded by her standard disapproval of him.
You dont plan to be careless, do you? she asked calmly. There cos a point at which secrets are no longer kept. If soone else is strong enough to obtain what Im telling you, they are welco to it, just like I am repeating information that is decades old.
Dallion nodded again.
Ill even go as far as to provide so political protection, she went on. Not the least of which will be brushing away sses like the one you recently did. Despite that, its likely that you will be hunted by rcenaries serving other nobles.
Hunters dont hunt hunters, Dallions aid out of instinct.
Ah, yes. The hunter credo. Hunters dont usually hunt others, but its not rare for so to receive offers that would make them risk that. The ntor of your fiance did it.
The revelation hit Dallion harder than he expected. It wasnt that he doubted that people would break rules under certain circumstances. All the Star-touched and the cultists were clear examples of that. Having the hunter who trained Eury co up, and in such fashion, wasnt sothing he had foreseen. Thinking about it, though, it was said that he had his na erased. If so, this could have been the reason.
Youre on your path to beco a noble, or at least reach level eighty. If you do, youll learn that theres a substantial difference between the two. Just as not all nobles are past level eighty, not all who get there are nobles. Politics plays part of that, but its not all. If you succeed in finding the creature, youll have my support before and after passing the barrier.
At least, that was to be expected.
If you fail, your na will be erased throughout my domain. Do I make myself clear?
Yes, countess, Dallion quickly said. Every promise was followed by a threat. This one was slightly more ominous than usual, though not by particularly much. What is the creature you want to bring you?
The phoenix, the noble said. Sotis referred to as the aether-bird.
Should have known shed go for that, Nil grumbled.
I believe you saw a feather be sold when you took part in the night auction in Linatol. As you can guess, the feathers must co from sowhere.
With all respect, countess, wont the Academy intervene?
Of course they will, but even they wont risk openly attacking a full hunter. Why do you think I waited for so long before coming to you with this? And dont think youre the first one, either. Every hunter of character in Nerosal was made the sa offer, including Euryale. Since you rember all of their nas, its obvious that they refused.
Refusal was an option? This would be a first. When such demands were made, usually the person in question didnt have much of a choice. Then again, Dallion did get a lot more into trouble than any hunter he knew.
And if I were to refuse?
Normally, Ill just say that you wont receive any future jobs of such significance. However, past events make you a special case. You were in control of Nerosal. That makes you a future threat. Your current emblem protects you, but youve already ssed up enough tis to rit deleveling. There was a long mont of silence during which Countess Priscord kept on staring right into Dallions eyes, as if wanting to burn them off his face. Of course, I know full well whats practical and what not. She turned around again. Ti isnt a factor. You can take on other jobs, you can even leave my domains, or the empire itself. You can even go to the Archduke for help. If you want, you can even beco a noble and challenge for my county. However, if soone else gets the creature before , all your friends will burn, and do believe , I know exactly who all your friends are. The sa goes for your family mbers, Dallion Seene
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