Chapter 62
Secrets Beholden to the Deaf
Sylas and Derrek sat at the far edge of the encampnt, between them a roaring campfire surrounded by emptied glasses of ale and ad and wine that were leftover from the camps natives. The two stared at each other in silence for a mont before Derrek took a deep breath and decided to plunge into the conversation. Though many uncertainties still plagued his mind, his instincts were telling him that he could at least see where the story with the fake ssiah could go.
From our studies, he started. Weve discovered that there are six types of basic ShardsShard of Ascindium is, roughly translated, Shard of Dinsions. To be completely blunt and basic, all Shards are effectively talismansbut massively stronger versions of them. Their roots extend back to before the founding of the Kingdom, and nobody is quite certain just how old they are. What weve learned, however, is that most didnt have enough charge to even be usedand, since we lacked the fundantal knowledge regarding their make, we are unable to actually use them unless they already have a charge pending.
Shard of Ascindium does contain subspace, but it varies from individual Shards. My Order is In possession of six Shards, all of whom have varying sizes. The only reason why were even aware of the nature of the Ascindium Shard is due to an accident. During the unearthing of one of the Shards, we didnt realize it had a charge leftone of the Knights excitedly pointed it at one of the Elders and khm, the Elder got trapped inside, Shit, so thats what that was?!! Derrek coughed awkwardly for a mont before continuing. We must have spent years trying to decode the ans to unlock it. But, really, its quite simplejust using the most basic form of energy in a rudintary pattern does the job. Even a child can do it. Yup, yup
As for if Dyn could use it to create an explosion possibly, Derrek said. Though we never tested it, it is theoretically possible to overload the Shardespecially if it has an innate chargeand cause it to implode. Depending on the size of the internal subspace, the explosion would be the inversion of it. As for the treasures, I honestly have no idea how that rumor even got started. Sobody from the Order did sell the information on the Shard to the outsiders, but nowhere did we even entertain the idea that the Shards were treasure boxes. There, Derrek finished off, taking a sip of water. Ive told you everything I knowno, everything my Order knows about the Ascindium Shard. Now its your turn. How did you kill Dyn?
"" Sylas contemplated for a mont on whether to lie or not but decided to gamble with the truth first. The save point was now remarkably close, after all, so it was worth the experintation. "It's my sword mantra," he replied. "Called Heartseeker."
Heartseeker? You you know Heartseeker?! Derrek asked, his face growing pale. No no wonder. Youre one of them. The Children, Ah, yes, keep speaking in vague horseshit. Goddammit with these people and their implications My apologies. Had I known, I would have never behaved the way I did. Both my Order and the Kingdom owe your Way a massive debt.
Sylas was stunned. He desperately wanted to ask who the hell the Children were, yet knew that he couldnt. At least not in this loop. For now, he knew he had to abuse the fact that Derrek suddenly seed to even be awed by him and would likely spill out an extra secret or two. So, I assu you are for us uniting against the Cult.
Of course, Derrek nodded. I thought my apologies, I thought that the Way was extinct. I never suspected you were simply not ddling. The Condemned must be beyond saving if even you are stepping out of the shadows.
Yes, Sylas nodded. But its not the Condemned that I truly care about. Its their calling.
Their calling? Derrek quizzed.
You must be aware of the Well of Souls, at the ntion of the term, Derreks eyebrows twitched for a mont. But, just like with most of the Kingdom, you are likely blind to what it ans.
what does it an, then? Derrek asked.
It ans that the Cult is trying to usurp the Well and usher the army residing within it toward the Kingdom, Sylas said. For what purpose I cannot say.
Usurp the Well? Impossible, Derrek said firmly. Well has been a rumor for this Kingdoms entire lifeti. Even if it exists, it is likely exaggerated.
Ive seen it.
youve what?
Not just , Sylas said. Valen saw it as well.
Where?
North of the wall, Sylas said. That was why the changes in the castle happened. It wasnt because of Dyn or the group of bandits. It was because of what we saw up there.
what did you see? Derrek swallowed a mouthful and asked.
We saw the sky tear open, Sylas said. As it began to rain corpses. And then
and then?
And then I saw a figure, he added, his voice low and dreadful. On a harness of chains, being lowered from the hole in the sky. And it spoke to .
by now, Derrek was visibly trembling.
"It swore vengeance upon the living," Sylas said. "And swore that the Van'ashi na will be heard by the world of the living once more."
From how pale youve turned, Sylas said. You seem to have sothing to share.
I no, are Derrek stuttered. Are are you certain?
If you dont trust , we can go and ask the Prince, Sylas said.
The records my Order has saved so records from the ti before Ethernia, Derrek said. Most were confiscated by the Royal Creed, supposedly burned, but the founders of the Order had so foresight to hide away a few. One of those docunts was clearly an official report of sortsit spoke about so man who was sent to the northern edges of the Empire, titled a Guardian. The report stated that the Well was unstable, as though sothing was riling it. The report went on to recomnd to whover it was addressed that they afford the man his Gift so that he may defend the borders.
Another docunt went into a bit more detail regarding the Wellthat it was made from the countless dead converging, creating an inverse form of the very energy we use for magic. Through the raw output of such energy, a Well was forda gateway between our world and theirs. And and that the army of the dead it would be ushered by the Gatekeeper, whose living flesh was being held together by chains made of cosmic bones. And shall he descend the world would be plunged in the eternal darkness, the world of the living consud by the world of the dead.
"" sour silence fell between the two as both realized the weight of what they had discussed. A good chunk of Sylas' suspicions was confirdand twice as many troubling ideas were shoved into his brain. By now, he was 100% certain he, originally, shouldn't have had anything to do with the Well or the Gatekeeper or any of this. His inclination was that he was likely supposed to depart from the castle before the winter ever set in. However, seeking his own agency, he elected to pursue things that he wasn't asked to and was now put in a position where he seed to hold all the cards. "Not a word of this. To anyone. Understand?"
But
"While the Well is opened," Sylas said. "We are still safethat much I can guarantee. We are stuck in the castle for the winter anyway, and there is no point in causing panic. How many people in the Order can you trust?"
I trust all my brothers
Trust with every fiber of your soul, Sylas emphasized.
two. Perhaps three, Derrek replied.
Once the winter ends, Sylas said. We will imdiately departthose docunts that you ntioned, the ones that the Royal Family supposedly burned, we need to find them.
shouldnt we instead inform the King? If we explain the situation, Ive no doubt
"No," Sylas interrupted swiftly. "I am absolutely certain that the initial opening of the Well, the thing that was 'riling it up' as described in the docunts you read, is connected to the Royal Family and the origins of Ethernia. As such, every King should have been completely aware as to why the Ghouls continued to invade the northern borders and yet they did nothing all the while, just sending n to guard them. There is a reason for thateither they don't know how to prevent it, or are unwilling. And while I am happy to ascertain that they simply don't know, I can't exclude the chance that they are unwilling. And, from the sound of your Heart, you seem to agree."
its just as they say, Derrek chuckled bitterly. The Children can read your thoughts without even looking into your eyes. Yes. I have had my suspicionsthe sa people I trust in the Order share them. They were specially strengthened with the Prince's supposed assassination, and all but confird once I saw that the Prince was healthy. There is sothing going on with the Royal Familybut I dont know what. Still, winter is a long ti to wait and do nothing.
Do nothing? Well train, Sylas said. One way or another, I suspect there will be a massive war for all of humanity soti in the future. I want us to create the strongest Legion, the one that will vanguard the horde of the dead and act as the beacon of light and hope for the entire world. And we start with this winterwe'll pick up the most trustworthy n, and brainwash the living shit out of them until they are beyond loyal to the Prince. And we'll herald the Prince as the Savior, andkhm, anyway, that's stuff for the future."
Riiiight, for the future, Derrek said, pulling back and sighing. Who would have thought Id learn so much from you of all people. It truly is as they say: nary judge a man by the holes in his cloth. Judge him by the holes in his words.
just what the hell does that even an?
I honestly dont know
Sigh
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