“First, Sebastian, please tell more about your Geas.”
“What would you like to know?”
“Let us start at the beginning. When did you first beco aware of the curse?”
I began reciting what happened from Sebastian's perspective – waking up in that cave with no mory, suddenly becoming aware of my conditions-
“How did you beco aware?”
“I.. have a Blessing that lets sense certain afflictions. It let sense the Geas, as well as the other one.’’
“A Blessing? Hmm… I see…”
I was sure the priest noticed sothing was missing, but then again, I told the complete truth, and didn't hide the fact it was the effect of a Trait.
I already noticed that in this world, keeping one's Traits and Abilities - and to an extent, even Skills - secret was the natural way of things.
“Have you noticed its effects? Any compulsions?”
The priest decided to move past it.
“No.”
“Truly? Not a single thing?”
“...No.”
I tried hard to think of anything, but nothing particular ca to mind.
“Hmm… Sebastian, tell your goals.”
“Pardon?..”
I was confused, and even slightly worried. Did the head priest suspect of having so dark plans, or an ulterior motive?..
“Your goals for the future, near and far. Your plans. Your aspirations. Anything and everything that cos to mind.”
“I.. I need to get stronger. I need to survive. I must find a way to get rid of my second affliction, before it is too late.”
“And if I could rid your soul of its afflictions, would your answer change?”
“I-”
I was leaning towards a “yes”, but on second thought…
“It would remain as is, would it not?”
“...it would. But! Is it truly that strange? With ancient evil gods, bloodthirsty monsters and even re powerful criminals lurking behind every corner, is it really sothing that can only be attributed to the Geas?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. That is the most devious thing – with a Greater Geas, one can never truly be certain. Are those your true desires? Or are those compulsions born out of the curse’s own will? Or perhaps a mix of both?”
“Its own will?”
“Has Alia told you what separates a regular Geas from a Greater one?”
“...it's harder to get rid of? Its compulsion is less direct, and more subtle?”
I couldn't exactly recall it word for word, but this was the gist of it.
“Any Greater curse possesses.. sothing akin to a will of its own. They most often have a core, as well. An object, a living person, a spirit… Greater curses co in countless variations, and so do their consequences. But one commonality remains. The Greater Geas is no exception.”
“Are you saying we just need to find its core and destroy it?”
The old priest exhaled, giving a bitter smile.
“If it was always this simple, the world would be a much brighter place. Curses always co with tradeoffs – considering the subtlety of the influence, I’m not even certain it can be removed by external intervention.”
“...”
Of course, things wouldn't be that simple.
‘It was never going to work. Focus on what's important – your very soul is at stake!’
“That is not to say there is nothing that could be done.”
Just as I was about to ask about the next condition, a ray of hope shone through.
“There is a sacred rite which would allow to tackle both your curse and your blight at once. It will cure neither, but at the very least, it will help alleviate so of the symptoms, and allow us to evaluate the cause of each ailnt.”
I felt my chest tremble. Even if this wasn't a direct solution, even if all the priest offered was a clue to finding a cure, it was still progress. Imasurable progress, such which I wouldn't be able to make alone in my current state.
“Sothing like this doesn't sound easy or trivial.”
“It is neither. But that is precisely why I must act, for there might not be another in this city with the ans, granted to by Her grace, to dispel the darkness of despair encircling your heart.”
“How can I pay you back?”
“If you feel indebted, strive to repay that debt to The Shining Lady. But rember – it was you who saved the soul of my poor apprentice, at a grave risk to your own. I do not consider this a favor, but rather the repaynt of one.”
“...”
I couldn't begin to imagine how much sothing like this would cost. Considering this priest’s words, as well as his title, he was likely at the top of the Elevated Realm, or perhaps even higher. Even if the cost was just his ti and energy, it was still a high cost.
Regardless, I decided to adhere to his words. If I continued to insist on repaying him, I would not only be disrespecting his own conviction, but disregarding the value of Alia's very soul.
“Return in three days. I will need to prepare the ritual.”
This was uncomfortably close to my departure, but I didn't dare object.
“Is sothing the matter? Speak freely.”
…however, despite my lack of objection, the observant priest imdiately noticed that mont of hesitation.
“...it's just that there is a caravan I must take in four days.”
“Oh? Is it truly that urgent?”
I lowered my eyes in sha.
“Please don't take this as ingratitude.. However, there is a threat to my life in this city. I cannot linger too long.”
The old priest raised his eyebrow, and spoke in the least priestly manner so far.
“A threat? Why have you remained silent until now?”
“...you have already offered far more help than I could ask for.”
“And did you not think that, had this threat reached your neck, all those efforts would be rendered moot?”
Faced with the stern scolding, I found it hard to find a retort.
“I… I can manage for four days..”
I said that, but I couldn’t raise my eyes from embarrassnt.
“What, pray tell, is this threat?”
The slightly disappointed voice of this elderly man evoked even greater fear in my heart than that of the literal god of undeath (or at least, his projection).
“I am likely already targeted by a group called the Scarlet Shadows.”
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It’s not like this was sothing I cared to hide, anyway.
The priest looked at , his expression unreadable. Finally, after a few painful seconds, right before I averted my gaze once more, he finally spoke.
“Young man. Do you know what a Temple is?”
“It is a place of worship.. A central place of worship, dedicated to a deity.”
“Indeed. And this is the Temple of Selenia, the Lady Of Light – a High Goddess of the Eminent Pantheon. Not only that, but this temple stands in Silverveil, the central city of the Silverton province.”
Seeing lower my eyes once more, the priest sighed.
“Raise your head, young man. It is understandable for one from the outskirts to be ignorant of such things. But rember – a re gang of criminals, no matter how ruthless or depraved, would never dare attack a temple. And if they ever tried setting their foot in this house of worship, with any intent other than confessing their sins and repenting, our paladins would make short work of those ruffians.”
“...I see.”
Perhaps the tone with which Pinpin spoke of them unknowingly sowed the seeds of terror deep within my heart. However, now that I thought about it once more, even if every mber of the gang was a Path-bearer, and their plundered resources were beyond what most regular businesses in the city could muster, they were still nothing but petty criminals before the Sun Temple.
“Send apprentice paladin Joshua up here once you descend those stairs. I will tell him to arrange temporary lodgings”
“Thank yo- ah, I still have most of my travel equipnt there.”
“Is it important?”
“Not really. But I also have to collect the armor I left for repairs from the Eastern Industrial Zone. Of course, it's probably too late today..”
“Hmm.. very well. Then stay here tonight. Tomorrow, Joshua could escort you, so that you may finish your errands in one fell swoop.”
“I- Thank you. But I shall at least go fetch a book from my horse, first – it's in the stables nearby.”
“That is fine. The Enclave Of Faith would likely be safe, even at night. However, do not wander far. And after tomorrow, do not leave the northern district, even with Her light still in the sky.”
A glimr of worry flickered in the priest's stern eyes.
“These are turbulent tis – even I have heard about the restlessness brewing under the city's surface.”
“I will do as you instructed. Once more, thank you for everything.”
“May the light shine on you, Sebastian.”
With a curt bow, I walked to the stairs, leaving the audience chamber.
As I approached the gate, I saw Joshua still standing beside it, keeping it from closing using his tal boot.
“The High Priest asked to send you upstairs.”
“Then I shall go. Please remain here.”
Walking past the paladin, I took my previous seat at the waiting bench, as Joshua went up to the priest.
‘Perhaps luck is finally on my side.’
I got everything I could reasonably hope for, and more. Not only was I closer than ever to solving my biggest problem, the soul corrosion, but I even got a solution to my imdiate one.
‘Co to think of it, even once I leave the temple, I can probably get a room in one of the inns in this district. As long as it's close to this plaza or the Ministry, it would likely be safe.’
Over this long day, the number of reasons I had to remain in the city only grew.
‘I wouldn't mind properly learning the basics of magic from that high mage.’
I also had to stay beside the Sun Temple for now. And this district contained the Adventurer's Guild, too.
‘Sure, the other districts are locked for , so I might be unable to take most missions. But who knows - perhaps the Ministry has so missions even soone in my position could take.’
By tomorrow, I'd be done with all of my errands in Eastern, anyway. At least until the ti I actually decide to continue on to Valor's End out of my own volition.
‘Also, I might be able to help Bern after all.’
I didn't want to travel to his inn - or rather, tavern - this late, with the sun already hidden behind the horizon, but I could do it after I finished my errands tomorrow.
Now, I could only do my utmost to stay cautious, and hope everything went as planned.
***
“Bloody hells! This one's out, too!”
The dwarf hit the wooden table in frustration, with its wooden legs emitting a dangerous groan.
Normally, one of his companions, probably Xin, would scold him, but after spending all day locked in a small room, trying again and again to co up with a plan, only to find at least one critical flaw in each potential course of action, everyone at the table shared his frustration.
“Damn it all! We already know where their base sits, we can find out the ti of each future eting, and we even managed to learn a secret way in! Is this not enough to get them to commit to a full-scale assault?!”
“Like Bern said, they already know where it sits, too. The problem is we don't know the inner layout – the ancient maps have been inaccurate for centuries, and, unlike the Shadows, we know neither the extent nor the exact locations of the surrounding dangers.”
“But the passage!..”
“That passage leads to the edge of their hideout, the surrounding passages are narrow and linear, and it is highly likely the exit has at least a few alarm traps which we don't have the key to pass through. It can be used if they are already distracted, but it can't serve to deploy the main force – if we can even get a main force, that is.”
“Then there must be so other way! Maybe if we can divide their leadership, lure so of them out – how about that?”
“That would help, Ornor. But how exactly can we lure them out? Aside from making it believable, it's not like we have anything they want. We don't even know what they want.”
“Then let us scour the slums! If we can find so of their child gangs, we could get more clu- No, not just clues. We could send a ssage! Make them co to us!”
“That won't work.”
Finally Bern, who had been sitting in silence all this ti, decided to speak.
“Even if we could make enough ruckus to get noticed, gather so clues, and do all that in less than 13 days, they would undoubtedly investigate us before making a move. It's bad enough that the Tainted Angels discerned our identities with ease, but if the Scarlet Shadows learn who I am, there is a good chance they see through our real goal. And if they do – this whole endeavour would be at risk.”
“...”
All three n sitting at the table fell silent once more.
“Let’s rest for now. We are clearly exhausted – better conserve the candle for the morrow, rather than let it burn out today.”
At Hilda's suggestion, as if waiting for a signal, both Ornor and Xin stood up almost simultaneously.
“I’m gonna go grab a nice, big mug of ale.”
“I’m off to the Guild. I still need to adjust to my new Path.”
Bern nodded.
“Training is always important, and more so at a ti like this. However, I think I'll stay here.”
Hilda gave Bern a scornful look, but sighed in resignation.
“Think I'll make a trip to the Golden Rake, then. Offer a tribute to the Smiling Lady.”
She stood up, grabbing her reserve coin pouch from one of the backpacks in the room, and tossing in a few gold coins from the main one.
“...after all, it looks like we'll need all the luck we can get.”
Her last words were too faint to reach any of her companion’s ears.
***
sniff, sniff
“What is it, Fluffy? What did you find?”
The almost-full light-blue moon was nearing its pinnacle, washing the city in its bright light.
Of course, filled with universally-working oil lamps, at relatively short intervals, too, the eastern district didn't have much use for the generous moonlight. At most, so of its darker alleyways beca a bit brighter.
However, such alleyways were exactly where Smallfang was hiding, waiting for the passing patrol to turn the corner of the main street.
In fact, just to be safe, he made his way through most of the alley, nearly reaching the parallel street. But, just as he stopped, his Imperial Hound picked up the scent once more.
“Woorf.”
Fluffy’s soft bark was all the confirmation he needed. Checking the other street for patrols, he swiftly exited his hiding place, following the excited Fluffy, his cloak flapping in the chilly night wind.
“We are getting awfully close to Northern…”
Smallfang couldn't help but mumble to himself. They had already confird their target went through the inner southeastern gate, but if he continued on to Northern, it would be a problem.
Even in Eastern, the watchful night patrols were nothing to scoff at – just moving above-ground was a risk, even with Fluffy being able to alert him in advance.
However, if this Seb was hiding in Northern, getting to him would require a proper assassin. In fact, even the regular sewer checkpoints connecting to Northern were being monitored by arcane constructs and a few patrols – trying to sneak in with an Imperial Abomination in tow would be tantamount to suicide, for both Fluffy and himself.
‘At least this isn't the direction of any gate.’
His only relief was the fact this street led to a point just between the two gates, closer to the outer one. If their target was going directly to Northern, it wouldn't have taken this road.
“What’s that? Is he in that inn?”
“Woo-uuph!”
“Hush!..”
The creature exclaid in excitent, only to have its snout hastily shut close by Smallfang's iron grip.
While the RCR 1 creature could probably wrestle itself out of the grip of a level 1 Path-bearer, it wouldn't dare disobey its owner's worried command, obediently closing its mouth.
“Good job, girl. Now let’s get off those damn streets.”
While Smallfang tried to avoid visiting Eastern, it was unavoidable that so of his targets hid there – as such, he had already morized most of the upper sewers in this part of the city, which included the locations of the manholes. One such sewer lid was just nearby.
Before jumping down, he reached for sothing inside his cloak.
***
In a small room, located sowhere in the sewers, a half elf clad in dark leather armor was sitting on a derelict stone slab, or rather, the crumbling remains of one.
Before him, laying on a relatively fine plank, were six small spheres, each with a tiny white crystal within.
Suddenly, one of the spheres emitted a pulse of faint white light, while vibrating hard enough to move a few centiters to the left. After exactly three seconds, it lit up and vibrated once more.
“Finally…”
The man pressed his thumb against the indentation in each sphere, feeling a montary surge of heat at his fingertip each ti.
Soon, this annoying pursuit would finally co to an end.
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