Ceria to Montressa: Alive. Find Pisces. Ksmvr. Yvlon. Cant tell where. Teleported. Lost. Chandrar.
Chandrar. The desert continent? How had they gotten there? Where were they?
In the hours after the [ssage] reached Montressa du Valeross, she tried to contact Ceria nearly three dozen tis. She notified friends and family of the Horns, and [Scrying] spells were redirected; although only a dedicated [Diviner] had the range to do a mass-search from another continent away, let alone narrow in on a single person, even with their true nas.
They knew, though. Chandrar. The search began again, with hopecertainty at least one of them was alive. That was an effort of days, though. Within seconds, within hours, the Horns of Hamradeach one of them found themselves in a nation apart.
-
Ksmvr stepped into the light. The dusty arena floor beneath his feet was scattered with fragnts from past fights, however much it had been raked over, reformatted.
Detritus of fallen combatants. Sprays of torn armor. Bone bits, pieces of those who had fallen not quite cleaned away. The crowd roared as the terrified prisoners, criminals, were sent out as sport, to be destroyed for the amusent of those watching.
Was it ill-luck that he had been sent here? There were more dangerous places to be sentlike ten thousand feet straight up above the groundor below it.
Or into the sea. All things considered, Ksmvr felt lucky. Stillhe glanced down at the ground as the first gladiators entered. The prisoners scread up at the crowd, the overseers of this arena.
Stop! Theres an Antinium-thing! Take it! Stop! Dont open the gates
Too late. No one saw him at first. Ksmvr bent. The bones of past gladiators
Bones? He saw bits of torn tal, wood, ceramics, which hed mistaken at first. The Antiniums head slowly rose. They were bones. For a unique type of
Ah. That complicates things.
The Antinium checked himself as the first Golem strode out of the waiting room to cheers from Illiveres citizens.
-
The Testings of the Golems had been a huge success, if only in the country. The Golem battles had established a champion.
Yet they continued, due to popular demand. Now, each Golem was being calibrated, from battles with each other to their intended purpose: as weapons of war.
Criminals had been procured, ard with a few weapons, to test the killing efficacy of the gladiators against them. The [Golem Artificers] loved their creations, and to test them against animals, real life enemies like prisoners as if they were [Soldiers]
It wasnt a fair fight. Of course it wasnt. The prisoners were underfed, barely had any armor on, and most werent dedicated [Warriors], just [Thieves] ard with rusted weapons.
Nsiia did not watch these Testings. She understood the ntality of the Golems creators; she just thought it was like a high-level [Warrior] bullying low-level ones to make them feel better, only with their creations as the proxy.
It was almost refreshing to see such mortal flaws in the odd culture of Illivere. So she did not watch, more pensively sunbathing on Femithains rooftop. The Crafter-Magus himself was hard at work, setting up more Doheads now that the possibility of mass-manufacturing them existed.
Pet Golems, Sentience-class Golemsit was a good ti for Golem-lovers. The Testings were just for the bloodthirsty citizens.
-
At first, they didnt even notice the Antinium standing there in the shadow of the cells. He watched, not dispassionately so much as coldly observing. Aware of the peril he was in.
The Golems ca out, three of them with kill-orders in their programming. Each one was one of the gladiators.
One Golem was from Unst, squat, ard with a spear and shield. It rotated on its torso, and spat oil at the terrified [rchant], who loosed a crossbow boltand missed. He had no idea how to properly reload it. As he tried, the oil hit him.
The man knew what was coming and tossed his crossbow aside. He ran, screamingtoo late. The magical gout of fla caught him and he turned into a flailing, wailing ball of fire which quickly fell and died.
The crowd cheered as the Golem rotated, searching for a new target. Another was using a rapier created for it, stabbing in a flurry at a [rcenary] who tried to grimly block and rollbefore he was caught by another Golem who diced him with eight limbs of cutting blades before hamring his dead body with a club in its single, oversized limb on the other side.
These were the repaired losers of the Testings. Each one defeatedand for good reason. The Golem with the club on one side and daggers on the other was unbalanced despite the best efforts of its creators. Magical fire and the spear didnt stop the heaviest Golems like Hamra.
The rapier Golem just sucked. It had been inspired by the King of Duels, but it was fighting on a program, not with the sheer inspiration of a true fencerand it was holding a copy of a rapier, scaled up, not the precise, balanced instrunt.
As Nsiia had once observed, [Golem Artificers] sotis followed the most fun idea, not the most practical.
The crowd loved it. They had no pity for the prisoners, each one a criminal who had earned their death sentence by repeated actions or terrible ones. The Golems were their heroes, and the citizens of each respective state cheered their Golem on the hardest.
Rejects they might have been, imperfect, flawedbut three versus even seven tis their number was not a fair fight. Ksmvr watched the [Bandit] fleeing the spear-wielding Golem, screaming.
Stop! The Ant
He died as the rapier-Golem sprayed him with what looked like little projectiles of so kind. Ahmagic bolts.
Observed.
Ksmvr felt pity for the prisoners who had to stay in the open as the collars forced them forwards. However, he had to see.
He was still disoriented from the spell. He still saw Yvlon. He still felt himself trying to hold onand losing her.
She had lost her arm. She needed him to help her! Ksmvr had lost an arm before. It was not fun.
He had failed them. Ksmvr had watched the Horns killed by the half-Elf. Tolveilouka. He had tried to stop the monster, but his weapons had sunk into its body.
The [Skirmisher] couldnt even touch the thing without being corrupted. He had tried to distract it, hurt it with all his artifacts and Skills and cunning.
He had failed. They had been healed, but the mory was burned into his mind.
I let go. I should have held on until my arms were torn away.
Ksmvr breathed in, and out, calmly. He would have given into that knowledge a day ago. That despair, the bla. But Ceria had told him this:
If you stay, we stay. Get it right. Never say that again.
He was their [Teammate]. Ksmvr would find them wherever they had gone. He could not die.
Yet he was in an arena, without his adventurer friends, and he was an Antinium, enemy to all. Ksmvr could have remained in the cells and taken his chances the Golems wouldnt target him without the prisoners collar, letting the rest be cut down for sport.
He could have. Should have.
Would have. However, there was sothing about an oversized monster slaughtering helpless people unable to fight back that bothered him. Ksmvr could have said why.
He didnt bother. As the Golem with the oversized right club-arm and scything left ones pursued a screaming man, Ksmvr walked into the light.
First: testing. [Piercing Strikes].
The Antinium jumped. The screaming man was cornered against the cell, his collar blazing with heat. He saw the Golem raise its club.
Ksmvr landed on its head. He paused, waitingbut the Golem didnt even have instructions to switch targets. Nor for if soone landed on its head. He felt a mont of disappointnt.
Inferior to undead? Ksmvr lifted his shortsword. Then drove it down into the things head.
[Piercing Strikes]. He carved into the tal with the first blow. Then the second. It wasntsmoothyet Ksmvr felt his blades cut deep before slowing. The enchanted shortsword sang three tis. Ksmvr struck again, and the Golem malfunctioned. It swung an arm aroundthen lurched back. He saw sothing glow inside and stabbed that.
The Golems Heart shattered. Ksmvr felt the huge thing collapse. He held his position as the tal giant of eight feet slowly collapsed into a kneeling position, the arms falling, the club and blades dropping from its hands.
The cheering crowd had been focused on the other two Golems, and thenthey didnt know what they were seeing. A bug-man, leaping onto the Golems head? Stabbing? Why was the Golem collapsing? Why was?
The screams of excitent caught in throats. People began to point, or stand up. One of the Golems was down!
The handlers of the Golems looked around, shocked. Every eye in the crowd fell on the Antinium calmly standing on the fallen Golems head. Ksmvr spread his arms.
Assert dominance.
He waited. An arena of stunned faces greeted him. So people wrestled with the image. What was
Creler?
The word made so shudder. Then soone finally had it.
Antinium. The Antinium of Izril! Its an Antinium!
The scream that rose from the comprehension took even Ksmvr aback. So of the spectators heard the dread wordand then nearly a hundred people shot to their feet and began running for the hills, screaming as if all of Rhir had suddenly opened up under their feet.
For so, just the na was terror. However, the stupefaction and confusion of the others stopped it from becoming a deadly stampede. In the arena, Ksmvr had no ti to watch the reactions of the spectators.
Nor could he easily flee. Hed seen one prisoner trying to climb a wall with a climbing Skill. Despite the smooth stone theyd gotten up, only to run into a magical barrier protecting the audience from just thator shrapnel from the fights.
There was only survival. So Ksmvr was already turning as another Golem spotted him.
The Spitfire Golem waddled at him on all six legs, its cylindrical torso holding the oil it was spraying at him making it look like a deford spider. It jabbed with the spear, with comndable accuracy, rotating to track him. A shield protected it from attacks.
It was a Golem, though. So Ksmvr just took cover behind the dead Golem as oil sprayed it and caught fire. He had a theory
The Spitfire Golem began stabbing the first ones carcass. Ksmvr peeked his head outthen hopped back as a spear tip went through the other Golems tal and nearly hit him.
Yup. The Golems had been told not to target each other, but his killing of the first one ant that the Spitfire was reading two combatants. It was stabbing at the dead Golem, spraying oil on it and Ksmvr. It rotated, edging around as Ksmvr bolted left.
[Swift Rearmant]. Ksmvr changed from the sword to one of the crossbows in his belt with comndable speed. Less than half a second to change weapons! No feeling around in the bag of holdinghe just reached down and the weapons handle was in his grip. Ksmvr rolled, and ca up with the crossbow the [rchant] had grabbed. He tsked, and reloaded it swiftly.
The Spitfire Golem was still stabbing the first Golems carcass. The handlers were shouting at it, directing it at the new threat. It finally turned, a gemstone eye glittering as it locked onto Ksmvr.
Too late. The Antinium raised two crossbows and fired.
[Piercing Strikes] plus the power of a crossbow were enough to penetrate the hard armor of the Golems torso. Hed taken careful aim; both shots hit the mark. One scored what he knew was there.
The oil reservoir. The Spitfire excreted more, and the handlers began to shout. The Golem of Unst never noticed the liquid running down its body, and the exposed oil tank. It projected a gout of fla as Ksmvr raised his magical cloak.
He didnt catch fla. It did.
The citizens of Unst wailed as, for the second ti, their Golem died. This ti by its own hand; it caught fire and began to lt as the magical oil ate into its body, damaging the magical commandntsit slumped.
Design deficiencies. Ksmvr knew the Antinium werent perfect, but the Queens did a better job than whoever had made these ones. He turned.
The last Golem charged at him, rapier raised. Ksmvr raised his Forceshield, readying his shortsword and dagger. Should he use?
No. Curses and whatnot, as unlikely as it could be. Ksmvr nodded to himself. Intelligence dictated fooling the enemy. He would have to survivelike this.
It wouldnt be too hard. The Golem had a fast attack-program, but it cycled through moves. Pisces was unpredictable. Ksmvrs Forceshield humd. The transparent edges distorted the air as Ksmvr t the attack.
Block, block, blockhe swung his shortsword and was rewarded with an impact. The Golem pressed the attack, without fatigue. Ksmvrs Forceshield trembled, and he watched the artifact. Noit was holding off the weakly-enchanted rapier. He struck again, but he was far too far from the Golem to hit it. Still, he connected.
Antinium have appeared in the Testing Grounds! Itkeep calm! It cannot defeat the proud Golems of Illivere!
One of the announcers was shouting. Control reasserted itself as the people in the arena turned. Yes! That was true! The great Golems, the gladiators, would not be defeated by a single Antinium. In fact, so of the ones who owned scrying orbs were staring down at him.
Could that be the sa Antinium they had just seen?
The Antinium was retreating, just staying in range for the tip of the rapier to keep striking at it, but hed blocked every hit with the Forceshield so far, occasionally slashing. Hed lose endurance before a Golem, though. So it was just a matter of t
Snap. The sound of the rapier breaking was loud and tallic. The handlers cried out as half of the weapon justbroke on impact with Ksmvrs shield.
That was what hed been doing! Ksmvr had seen the poor excuse for a blade, enchanted, but nowhere near as flexible or strong as Pisces weapon. Hed attacked it while stressing the blade. It had snapped like the cheap thing it was.
Now, he lunged forwards. The rapier-Golem kept fighting, but it didnt realize it had half a weapon. It struck him twice by the ti he carved into its torso. Then it began to stutter; he found its heart and broke it.
A groan went up from the audience. Cries of pain from the Golems beloved fans. So of the handlers were screaming in fury, not expecting their creations to break twice so quickly.
The Golem Hearts were shattered! That was as costly as the Golems fras! The perpetrator of thisthis outrage, the unwelco, unexpected guest, stood in the arena.
I am Ksmvr of the Horns of Hamrad. A Gold-rank adventurer of Izril. I request imdiate parlay with your local governor and/or leader. I an you no harm. I was rely defending myself from your Golems.
He paused as thousands of eyes stared down at him. This was a local broadcast in Illivere too. Ksmvr had spread his arms properly like Kevin showed him, and he debated declaring war. In the end, he decided to assert a tiny bit more dominance.
Please do not attack . Your shoddy creations are not capable of defeating .
That was his mistake. The fear, shock, and uncertainty turned to wrath in a second. The audience rushed back the way theyd co, and now hurled insults, even tried to throw objects down at the Antinium.
Soone tell the Magus-Crafter!
A level-headed [Official] shouted. One of the [Mages] raced to obey. He shouted, trying to restore order.
No one go down there! Confirm its the sa Antiniumdo not
Too late. An enraged [Golem Artificer] had already activated another command scroll. Ksmvr turned. He reflected that he had established too much dominance, perhaps.
A Golem ard with two huge shields and a central orb stomped out of the gates. It began shooting massive bolts of magic at him as it set the spiked shields in guard mode. He began to run, taking cover.
-
Magus-Crafter Femithain was working below when the urgent summons arrived. Nsiia sat up and listened, her ears as sharp as a cats.
There is an Antinium inwhere? How did it arrive? Are you sure it is the sa adventurer from theI understand identification is difficult. Is it contained?
Contained in the Testing Groundsbut it is killing Golems, Magus-Crafter! Its slain five of the contenders so far!
Femithain had to actually digest this as Nsiia swung down from the balcony in one motion. He raised his spectacles, rubbed his ears.
Killingdo you an there are Golems in the arena?
The [ssenger] hesitated.
No, Magus-Crafter. Thethe handlers are sending them in. You see
What?
The Magus-Crafter seldom raised his voice. He did so now, looking incredulously at the [ssenger].
Do you an to say that Illiveres Golems are attempting to murder a Gold-rank adventurer who just participated in a worldwide event?
The [ssenger] gulped as Nsiias eyes widened, realizing what was happening. Femithain was already looking around, touching his finger to his temple to send a [ssage].
No, Magus-Crafter. Not exactlythe entire arena is out of control!
Restore order, now! I have summoned a Golem-coachI am on my way. Do not let the Golems kill that adventurer!
Femithain was already hurrying out of his apartnts. Nsiia ran after him, and the [ssenger] tried to explain. That wasnt exactly the problem!
-
Haliclaw!Haliclaw!
The arena was rocked by cheers and shouting as the Golem, nicknad Haliclaw, charged at the Antinium. He was bounding, always on the move, avoiding the long, slashing claws of tal attached to its arms.
It insulted Ksmvr. It had six arms, as if that made it better, and it was a whirl of blades. The people of Illivere were cheering, as it pursued the [Skirmisher] in a hit-and-run battle.
Kill it! Kill it!
The Golems handlers were watching. Ksmvr reflected that this may have been his fault. His insult had not been calculated; rather than unnerve, it had provoked.
The consequence was this: the Golem was trying to kill him. In theory, the handlers might order it to stop once it had won.
Ksmvr wasnt willing to take that risk. Like a mob of angry childrenor Golem fanatics, the crowd was now out for his blood.
It dripped onto the arenas floor, green. The audience cheered as Haliclaw scored another narrow blow, but even the enchanted tal couldnt easily destroy a carapace enhanced by [Barkskin]. Moreover, the cheering had a desperate edge. Vindictive, but also uncertain, so louder and more desperate because of it.
Ksmvr slid under the guard and slashed at last. His Flacoat Dagger struck the whirling arms and half the Golem burst into fla. It kept coming, but the flas interrupted whatever vision it had. It began to slow, uncertain of its target.
No, no, stop
Ksmvr heard the myriad voices pleading for him to stop. He did not. He leapt onto the back of the Golem and fired three crossbows straight into the armor.
He hit the Golems heart and the creation fell. The audience scread as if he were killing actual heroesor children. Ksmvr straightened, panting.
Seven Golems lay dead already. This last fight had taken nearly fifteen minutes. He gulped his last stamina potion and tried to raise his voice.
This is pointless. I am a Gold-rank adventureryou are in defiance of the Adventurer Guild l
The roar of anger drowned him out. Seven Golems? All killed by one Gold-rank?
This went beyond just loving Golems. This was the pride of each state of the Illivere Federation, carelessly trampled by Ksmvr. It would be one thing if a Golem did it. But a single Gold-rank?
He had to be defeated. The [Golem Artificers] in the back of the arena ignored the Magus-Crafter and other orders coming in to stop. They had to see the Antinium bleed.
-
Femithain and Nsiia clung to the coach as the Golem-horse raced across the ground at top speed. Femithain felt like he would lose his glasses if he didnt hang onto them. This was far beyond normal speed. He kept sending orders, but he was watching the broadcast.
It was local on Illiveres channels, but Nerrhavias Wonderstheir channelhad already begun to pick up on what was happening.
Soone from Wistram was hamring him with a [ssage] a second. Femithain ignored it all.
I will revoke the Licenses of Creation for every [Golem Artificer] participating! Desist at once!
Too late. Femithain saw the gates open and the Antinium turn warily, sensing sothing.
The crowds cheering drowned out everything as Nsiia perched, eyes narrowed, looking ahead as they sped across the ground. She looked back as she heard him curse. Her heart began to beat withanger.
This was not a ga. How dare they?
-
Thump.
Ksmvr heard the pounding footstep that quieted the arena for a mont. The audience held its breath. They knew what was coming next.
A clanging impact. A horrible blow to one of the walls. It was followed by a growing sound. An inhuman roar of noise.
Like the tis before, the programd showoff-cycle made the Golem strike the walls with each step as it advanced. The huge maul of a weapon glowed in Ksmvrs gaze. He saw the Golem, twice as thickly armored as the others hed killed, raise its weapon as it stepped into the light. Ksmvr muttered an oath.
Tree rot.
Hamra strode into the arena to a deafening sound. She raised her hamr overhead, then set herself. Her gaze locked on Ksmvr. He had only one second to take in the forr champion of the arena before she charged.
-
Nsiia watched, sick at heart as Hamra charged. Femithain was shouting at one of the officials, cursing himself. But it was too late.
Her first programming order was a running charge followed by a two-handed blow. The sa move that had killed over half her opponents in the arenamissed.
Barely. Ksmvr leapt back, but wasnt prepared for the algorithm that let Hamra reset her strike and try again. He still managed to propel himself away in ti, but the crater the blow made clearly let the Antinium reconsider blocking, even with his magical shield. He switched it out and loosed an arrow with two arms.
The magical arrow burst into flas on the armor and Hamra swung her hamr around in a whirling motion, dispelling the flas. The audience was on their feet.
Femithain!
Nsiia snapped, but she knew better than to interrupt the man. She watched. This was the sa Antinium from the raid, she could see it. The brave warrior who had fought with the [Prince] on the rooftop and gone into the heart of the city.
She did not know what strange road had led him here, but it was not to die at the hands of a Golem for fools! Nsiias eyes were slits, mimicking the cat in her lap. Yinah, was hissing, sensing the tension in the [Empress of Beasts].
All they could do was watch as Ksmvr fought for his life.
-
[Piercing Strikes] had their limit. Ksmvr shot his crossbows again and saw the arrows sink into the Golems talfor all the good they did. She was too thick.
He tried to jump on her back, and nearly died. The creators had programd her to block everything coming at her and her hamr was deadly. Every impact shook the ground around him.
I feel manifestly as if Cerias Frostmarrow Behemoth or Pisces undead might fare b
Ksmvr dove and the hamr switched directions. It hit his back, but he was already leaping so it just hurled him across the arena.
He hit a wall and the audience mocked him. Ksmvr would have liked to tune them out, but he couldnt.
Perhaps he was the foe for this after all. Only Yvlon might have survived hand-to-hand and Cerias ice walls and Pisces undead were a poor match for Hamra.
Then again, I cannot hurt it. And it will eventually strike . Ksmvr looked around. Hed been using the other Golems as cover, but Hamra was able to even account for them.
His Flacoat Dagger could not burn her sufficiently. His shortsword was too short and arguably too weak. His Forceshield? Ksmvr suspected it could endure one hit before needing to recharge.
What he needed was an opening to reload his crossbows. Crossbow Stans crossbows, plus his bow, plus the other ones Ksmvr had bought ant eight shots. That might be enough to pierce the armor.
Especially since he had a new Skill. However, Ksmvr had to reload and he had no t
The Antinium ducked and the hamr hit the wall where his head had been. He looked at the cracks in the stone, then the cheering Golems handlers behind the gates.
I will die and this will be a crimin
Ksmvr gave up as Hamra ca at him. They werent being logical. He ran, keeping ahead of Hamra as it chased him. At least she was too slow to
Logical. Ksmvr had a sudden thought. He looked back at Hamra. At the glimring mage-walls of the arena, forming a complete barrier hemming him in. He had no real footholds but the walls to keep jumping from.
Hamra was too fast. Too strong. Howevershe was still a Golem. An Antinium Worker was more creative than her. Ksmvr halted. He felt in his belt pouch. He was almost out of everything. A single healing potion, a quarter left, a few magical items
If hed had a single acid jar, he would have tossed that, but hed used them on the Liches. StillKsmvr found the item he was looking for and sighed.
Excellent.
The [Spiderweb] Scroll in hand, he turned. Hamra charged. Ksmvr estimated the spell might actually slow itfor about two seconds, if she didnt tear through it on montum alone. The carved head of the female Golem was tracking him. It turned up as Ksmvr jumped.
Past the jeering faces who recoiled. Higher, higher, above the arenas participants in the lowest rowbut not too high. Ksmvr saw them recoil before they rembered the magical walls.
Well, good for them. He saw Hamras weapon rising. Ksmvr waited until he was just over the tip of its swinging arcthen he cast the spell.
[Spiderweb]!
The magical bindings of sticky silk erged, wrapping around its target.
Him.
The webs lashed Ksmvr to the wall and magical barrier. He was stuck, like a literal bug in a web. The audience stared. Then laughed as Hamra charged him. The weapon rose
And thudded into the wall right below Ksmvr. He saw it rise, strikeanother place right below his foot.
The Antiniums mandibles opened in a smirk. He was right!
Golems might be programd with many attack routines, but none of the gladiators creators had anticipated an enemy might just hide. There was no jump and swing routine in Hamra.
She began to smack the wall, furiously attacking the area right below Ksmvr. He happily pulled his crossbows out and the last two enchanted bolts he carried. Lets see
Hamra! Stop! Return! Return!
The handlers realized what Ksmvr was doing too late. They shouted and Hamras head swiveled. She began to march back to the gates as the audience shouted.
Too late.
Ironically, if the handlers hadnt recalled her, her dodge-routines might have saved her. Instead, she presented her back to Ksmvr as she marched back. He took aim, maneuvering to half-crouch in his cocoon of webs, his improvised perch.
Hello, my free levels. Goodbye. Bla your insufficient creation. [Weapon Art Aggregate Volley]!
Three crossbows fired. Even Ksmvr had no idea what would happen as the Skill activ
-
Femithain saw the Skill activate as he cried out. Hamra, glorious Hamradidnt deserve this. It was too late. He cursed their hubris as the Antiniums weapons glowed.
Three crossbows, one per hand. All fired in a single sound. Two glowing bolts, one steel-tipped.
However, it seed to Femithain that the image of Ksmvr firing was justtranslucent. Superimposed with another, of him firing from a slightly different angle with three more crossbows. Thenhim firing one more crossbow and aiming a bow.
Four Ksmvrs, each holding ranged weapons, loosed in unison.
[Aggregate Volley].
Eleven projectiles hit Hamra in almost the sa spot in the back. [Piercing Strikes], combined with [Power Shot]. Femithain nearly covered his eyes as the single volley did what only one other force had ever done.
The impact tore open Hamras back. Sothing shattered within her and the Golem froze. She dropped her hamr and fell to her knees, arms still outstretched. Like a living being, she fell, and the wail was real. The mighty Golem fell, felled by the limitations of her being. Foolishness of her masters.
The audience was speechless. The Antinium sat in his loft, reloading the last of his bolts, daring them to send another Golem at the logical loophole in their routines.
Those arrogantHamra is dead.
Femithain couldnt even finish the sentence. Nsiia, watching, breathed out. He looked at her and she shrugged.
A Golem was dead. She could be remade, better. She looked at the clever Antinium, smiling. Femithain glanced away from her.
It was done, then. He raised his head, to tell the Golem-horse to slow. He was at least relieved the Antinium lived. Femithain settled back until a horrible feeling struck him.
The audience had been weeping. Nowthe voices were picking up again. But why? Short of a ranged Golem, and Ksmvr had defeated the last Champion, there was no w
No.
Nsiias eyes opened wide. She turned her head in horror. Ksmvr, who had been relaxing in his web-hammock, looked up in confusion.
They said the na. They chanted it. The great legend of the Testing Grounds.
Femithains lips moved in horror as his creation walked forwards. Nsiia just looked on Illivere, petty Illivere. She looked at the Magus-Crafter, but he seed helpless. She clenched her hands.
The current champion erged as they called his na.
-
Dohead. Dohead! DOHEAD!
Ksmvr heard the na. He didnt understand. What was a Doh
The Golem strode forwards. Ksmvr saw a huge, rounded head of enchanted glass holding sparkling crystals inside. An armored body.
It had no face like Hamra. It was not fully separated from the Human form, but the unique head was the difference.
Summoned by their chanting, unleashed by the wrathful [Golem Artificers], the Golem stopped. In the shadows of the entrance. The glowing lights in its brain winked on and off.
It turned slightly, and seed to regard Ksmvr.
Regard ? The Antiniumdidnt like the way the Golem paused. He had been calm this entire ti, if tense. Nowa prickle of unease ran through his body.
DOHEAD. KILL IT.
The greatest Golem of Illiveres Testings walked forwards. It had a huge battleaxe on one shoulder, a match for Hamras weapon. It swung it down as it strode forwards.
Ksmvr took aim with a crossbow. He shot a steel bolt
The Golem blocked it with the flat of its weapon. Ksmvr stopped. Not even Hamra had been able to do that. Nor
Did they teach the Golem to do that?
Ksmvr checked his perch. He was well out of Doheads reach and it didnt look like it had ranged weapons. Take your ti. Let your Skills recharge. One more volley would work. Did he have to wait ten minutes? Thirty? He
Dohead slowed, and raised its battleaxe. It did not swing as it stood just below Ksmvr. He fired againit jerked, and the crossbow bolt glanced off the shining do.
Not a scratch. It backed up, axe raised and shielding its head. It seed to realize the issue.
Ksmvrreally didnt like that. He waited, counting his crossbow bolts. Enough for only one last volley. He had to save them. Arrows?
He was reaching for his shortbow when Dohead stooped. It picked up a broken piece of the Spitfire Golem. Then it straightened, looked at Ksmvrand threw the piece of armor at him.
Ksmvr tried to dodge, but the webs tangled him. He felt an impactand then was blown free. He hit the ground, sat upand Dohead was on him.
Silver and steel!
Ksmvr got up and his Forceshield flashed to life. He blocked the strike and lanced out; he slashed at a knee and his sword barely cut into the armor. Dohead whirled his axe down and across. Ksmvr leapt; saw the axe reverse as he landed. It wasnt a calculated program. He saw the Golems head sparkle as it saw the opening and took it.
Imp
The blow threw him across the ground. Ksmvr looked down at his torn carapace. He fumbled for a healing potion. Dohead strode over to him and swung the axe down. Ksmvr rolled and got to his feet. Now
Fighting for his life.
-
A multitude of sensations assailed him. Input. Touch, taste, soundbut he couldnt filter it. One hit him at a ti.
Cheering. A roar of sound in his ears.
Pumping blood. Not in his ears, but his body. His hearts, reminding him he was alive.
Leaking. He was leaking blood.
The sound of air cutting. Thump. Vibration through the ground. Step, avoid
Too late.
Crack. The sound of his outer shell splitting. Another impact, hurling him. Pain. Hurled across the ground by a far larger force.
What did they say to describe situations like this? Like a bug hitting
A wall. Ksmvr slid down, leaving a sar of green. He looked up and ducked the axe that left a mark in the stone. Ksmvr slashed, leaving a trail of fla on the Golems body. It pivotedkicked.
Clipped him. Ksmvr bounced, rolled to his feet. The [Skirmisher] looked up. His mandibles opened, trickling blood.
Ah. This feels familiar.
This thing fought him. It didnt ignore him like the undead half-Elf had. But his bladesKsmvr looked down.
His shortsword had begun to chip. Had the magic failed in the City of the Dead? Or
His Forceshield flickered as Dohead brought the axe down in a two-handed blow. The audience groaned. Ksmvr staggered upright.
Look at it. A proper warrior. Not a Golem. Not just a Golem. There was sothing there. It fought with less experience than Ksmvr. But it had the reflexes, the body to triumph.
Not yet.
He whispered. Dohead whirled the axe downthen cut sideways in the actual blow. It was learning. Learning from him. It had failed to finish the [Skirmisher] in nine long minutes of fighting. BarelyKsmvr had barely leapt away, but it had learned to catch him as he fell. He survived this ti by tricking it; he hopped up and before it got him, kicked off Dohead itself.
A reprieve of seconds. The Golem would never let him do that again. It was a slow learner. It picked up one trick at most each ti. Thenit was never tricked again.
Enough. I surrender.
Ksmvr raised his arms, appealing to the jeering crowd. He spun; tried to roll.
The fist hit him and this ti he thought his inner organs were damaged. Ksmvr slid down the wall. He looked towards the gate. The [Golem Artificers] were watching him.
Please stop.
They pointed.
Make him suffer, Dohead! Then stop!
One of them called out, her arms augnted with Golem-prosthesis instead of flesh. Ksmvr looked at them, then the Golem. A light flashed in reply. Ksmvr looked up. The First Crafter of Elbe had overridden the Magus-Crafter and she had control of Dohead with the others in this place. She would not relent until Ksmvr had paid for destroying her beloved Hamra.
The Antiniums head rose.
Very well.
Dohead charged, axe raised. A superior Golem. The beloved child of Illivere. Ksmvr had not wanted this.
You are a superlative foe. But you are stillyoung. And there is one more thing you lack.
His arms rose. The Antinium had dropped his shortsword, his Forceshield. The audiences cheers caught in their throat. The [Golem Artificers] stared. Surely notthey cried out a warning.
Ksmvrs crossbows aid up. Dohead saw it and began to evade. However, it had been baited into the charge.
It learned one thing at a ti. It never made the sa mistake twice.
If it got the chance to learn.
[Aggregate Volley].
Ksmvr fired. He feltsaw himself loosing the other crossbows, the arrow. The last of his ammunition.
He hit Dohead square-on. The shriek in his ears was more than the rending tal. The audience watched as the Golem stumbled back andthe axe fell.
The Antinium had missed. Or rather, he had shot slightly off-target. The blow had eaten through Doheads right arm, exposing the inner logic of its body. The arm hung, armor torn, unable to hold the axe!
Doheads lightswent dark. It sagged, then stood there.
Magic circuits broken. Ksmvr had observed the flaw of Golems; if their command matrices broke. These gladiator types had them everywhere, so just one large wound did them in. Even if not, he had gotten the arm.
He sagged back, reaching for another arrow. Worst-case scenario: the audience and handlers ca after him. He might have to fight his way out. If he didhed steal a healing potion. He was out. He
Saw the lights begin to flicker in the Golems crystal do. Ksmvr stopped. He searched for another Horns-style epitaph and gave up.
This is ridiculous. I object.
The Golem was moving. Its mind was damaged. But the secondary, backup command spells began activating. Dohead rose a second ti, just like before. The audience was cheering, howling. They knew.
The Golem checked the axe lying on the ground. Its damaged arm it couldnt move. Thenit raised its good arm. It made a fist.
Fffffff
Ksmvr began swearing like Ceria. The Golem walked forwards. Nowit cut the air with the one fist. It moved like
A living warrior. With all the agility and speed of the woman it had learned from. A better style for fighting an Antinium too.
Ksmvr slowly got up from where he was sitting. His shortsword and Forceshield rose. He raised the shield
The magic shattered. The impact threw him against the wall. He blocked with the flat of his shortsword.
The fist hit him in the chest anyways. His blade shattered.
Ksmvr pushed off the wall, in a jumping lunge through the legs of the Golem. He landed. His blade!
They gave that after Albez. Because I helped.
The Antinium was muttering. Dohead whirled. Began to stride over. Ksmvr pushed himself up.
That. Was my sword.
He looked at Dohead. Reached for his bag of holding.
Missing. His belt was gone. His cape had been torn away. Ksmvr was all but naked. Bleeding.
Am I dying? He wasnt sure. Dohead paused, assessing him. The audience was cheering him.
They didnt cheer Ksmvr. The Antinium knew he was outmatched in every way. His vision was hazy. Itflickered
Then he was back in the Village of Death. In the cathedral, watching as the undead tore apart his team. Ksmvr heard his own voice.
Stop. Stop. Why do you not touch ?
Tolveilouka Vedelina r appeared instead of Dohead for a mont. Holding Yvlon. Pulling at her arm.
Because this hurts you.
Ksmvr saw it. He saw himself, attacking, doing nothing. He looked up at Dohead. The Golem, with its superior body.
My body is so weak. He only had a Workers body. Not even the ones of the other Hives. Thiswas not fair. Rather than being afraid, thoughKsmvr felt it rising in his chest.
He was gettingangry. Furious.
The Antinium did not hear the worried [Golem Artificers] and handlers calling for Dohead to stop. That last attack had frightened them, brought them to their senses. They did not want to murder an actual Gold-rank.
Much less soone on television. They were trying to order Dohead, use the spells to call him back.
However, his inner command spells were broken. He was running on his secondary mind.
Dohead could still hear. However, all he heard was the audiences orders.
Kill it! KILL IT.
Illiveres citizens were screaming at Dohead. So the Golem obeyed. It raised its fist, waiting, checking the Antinium as it advanced, seeing where it would dodge to.
Ksmvr didnt move. His three hands were opening and closing. Then the Antinium looked up. One of his antennae had been torn. It hung by a thread from his head. He reached uppulled it away. Looked at it. Tossed it down.
Green blood ran from his wounds. The [Skirmisher] looked up at Dohead. The Golem hesitated.
There was sothing off about the Antinium. Sothing in Dohead, a burgeoning understanding told him
Ksmvr lifted his fists. He leapt at Dohead, crashing into the Golems chest.
Dohead barely moved. However, the lights in its head flashed furiously. If it was anything, in that split second, it was confused. This was not a sensible move. So why?
It reacted instantly. The Golem swung a fist and Ksmvr dodged, kicking a knee. Then he jumpeda foot kicked Doheads face, hitting the crystal do so hard Dohead sensed Ksmvrs shell breaking. The Antinium grabbed hold of Dohead with one hand and punched.
His fist t the do and his body cracked. His carapace was weaker than the enchanted glass.
Yet Dohead felt the impact. No danger. Even so, it was aware of the weakness. Dohead swung its body around. An uppercut caught Ksmvrhe lost his grip, went flying.
He landed and stood up, within seconds of falling. Dohead charged, but againthe Antinium jumped at him, rather than retreat. A bloody fist hamred Doheads face in the exact sa spot. It left green in the impact.
Dohead hamred the Antinium down. However, it didnt manage to stomp Ksmvr to paste. The Antinium whirled, leapt up. Struck at Doheads face again.
Futile? Dohead was aware of what the Antinium was trying to do. But the odds of success were remote. It was confused by the [Skirmisher] not seeking another weapon. Not retreating. It was being damaged by the exchanges.
Yet it kept fighting. Sothing odd flickered in Doheads understanding of the battle. Everything told the Golem that it was winning. Except for how the Antinium was behaving.
It was winning. How was it said again? Like a bug fighting a wall. That was the difference in their sizes and strengths. Dohead knocked Ksmvr down. Each blow sent the Antinium staggering, [Barkskin] the only thing keeping his body together.
The [Skirmisher] kept coming. He broke his fists on the sa spot. He jumped, trailing blood. The enchanted crystal never so much as moved.
The Golemwas winning. With every move. Learning from the exchange of blows how to fight such a nimble enemy. Dohead could calculate victory.
If it were another Golem without the new understanding, it might have done better. For Dohead began to think. It began to know.
It began to wonder if Ksmvr could be killed. The Antinium kept getting back up. Dohead was almost certain that one full-force blow would end it. But Dohead could think.
Uncertainty ford in the Golems mind. Evenit looked at the Antinium. It was making sound. Screaming at him. What was this sensation? Dohead began to try to swing faster, more aggressively.
Then Ksmvrs bloody fist cracked the Golems head.
-
The Magus-Crafter arrived too late. Too slow, panting, the guards fighting through the press of citizens. He heard the screaming, the shouts. From the top of the arena, he looked down, far too far to reach them in ti.
The Antinium had cracked Dohead. The crystal do developed a stress-fracture from the insane Antiniums blows. The barehanded strikes
Both Antinium and Golem reeled back as Ksmvr landed on the ground. He wanted to jump again, but he stumbled. Thensat down.
He was losing consciousness. For a mont, Ksmvr just saw white, as if the sands of the Testing area had engulfed the world. His mind went clear, and he heard a voice.
[Conditions t: H]
Ksmvrs head jerked up. He ducked a fist ready to end everything. Looked up.
Dohead stumbled backwards, the spider web crack on its crystalline do. It was damaged! The Antinium had done this. It wasin danger. Of being destroyed.
Ofdying? Dohead processed that. The Golem realized sothing, as it saw the Antinium lift its fists.
No. It did not want that. Dohead wanted. Dohead was afraid. In desperation, it shielded its face as Ksmvr leapt again, screaming like a thing from the depths of Rhirs nightmares. Its arm rose.
It didnt want to die.
The blow knocked Ksmvr back onto the sands. He lay on his back shell, feeling sothing break that was also him. The voice was trying to speak.
[Her]
Ksmvr raised his arms. Tried to move. He rolled to his feet, hopped sideways. He was losing his strength. The second punch clipped him and he stumbled. Everything flashed.
[H]
A little voice in Ksmvrs head wondered what new level he was getting. If I lie down, I can hear what it says. He wanted to. Buthe twisted as a fist lashed the air. Dohead was lashing out, flailing, no longer mimicking a trained warrior, just swinging like a terrified child.
If he lay down, if one fist struck him, he would never know what it said. End this. Ksmvr leaned out of the way of a punch.
Dohead saw the Antinium coming, moving forwards, ducking its wild swings, looking for the mont to jump and break its head.
Kill it. The Golems attack routines were too erratic. It couldnt hit Ksmvr, not with one arm, no matter how it swung. The Golem saw the [Skirmisher] tense and realized it had opened itself up with a wide, unbalancing swing.
Weapon broken! Arm insufficient!Do not want to die! The Golem processed each fact, struggling. Searching forforan answer.
It found one. Ksmvr saw the Golems body twist. The arm, swinging widehe was only focused on it. Ksmvr saw a foot rise and had a flash of thought.
It did not know how to kick, though
The kick was a copy of Ksmvrs. A fast blow. Not a punch.
Ksmvr staggered and heard a crunch. Sothing hit him in the leg. He began to jump to end this.
Hecould not. Ksmvr tried again, but now he was swaying. Falling over. Why?
The Antinium looked down. His right leg was bent inwards. The Golem had kicked him.
No.
Ksmvr fell down. He fought to rise, scrabbling at the ground with his three hands, to push himself up. Balance on one leg.
He saw a foot in front of him and looked up. The armored body, the Golem made of talDohead, stood over him, intact arm raised.
The Antinium went still. His flickering mind beca clear again. He realized he was out of ti. He looked up and saw Dohead. It had fought like a person. Did ithave a mind?
They had fought, two warriors created by the greatest minds of their people. Two machines, designed to improve. Learning to improve themselves.
The younger one looked down on the older. The Antinium stared up, mandibles moving without making actual sound. Ksmvr felta bit bitter.
If hed had one more weapon. Two more levels
More ti. A second to sleep. Ksmvr looked up and stared into the flashing crystals of the Golems face. He murmured, from one learning machine to another. Was this what Ksmvr had been like, before he t the Horns?
Well done.
The shadow fell over his head. Ksmvr waited, staring up at those beautiful lights.
-
The audience of Illivere saw the end of the duel and scread their triumph. Only a few realized the implications of what was happening. Now, [Golem Artificers] were trying to enter the Testing Grounds themselves, to deactivate Dohead before it was too late.
Too late. They should have stopped it before it even began. A voice filled with anger and frustration scread from halfway down the stadiums seating. He cried out to his creation, but his voice was lost amid the thunder of voices.
Stop!
Magus-Crafter Femithain bellowed at Dohead. He was too far away, though, and even as he fought to shove oblivious citizens aside, they knocked him backwards, not caring who he was, only intent on watching. Femithain lifted his wandand lowered it, realizing hed been about to attack his own citizens! He ground his teeth, furious, but unable to fight forwards. He was no [Warrior].
She was.
A figure burst through a throng of people pressed together, on their feet, pushing to see. A [Warrior]a womanan [Empress] leapt, knocking citizens of Illivere aside with wild strength.
Nsiia of Tiqr. Like a beast herself, she leapt, from all fours to two legs, knocking people aside, using the arenas seats and even the crowd to launch herself closer. Femithain saw her approaching the glittering magical boundary of the Testing Grounds. She wouldnt make it through, though. Not without
The Magus-Crafter touched a bracelet hanging from his wrist, and one of the runes attached to it flashed. The [Empress of Beasts] saw the magic fade and leapt.
Nsiia landed in the arena as the Antinium fell. Dohead was striding forwards, raising its arm.
Dohead! Enough!
The [Empress of Beasts] shouted, raising her hand. She began to run forwards, and the Golem whirled.
Doheads arm raised to attack the second combatantthen it recognized Nsiia. It hesitated, recalling other commands made by its creator.
Nsiia. Protect. Observe. Learn.
She had taught it how to use its hands. Dohead did not attack her. It turned back to Ksmvr. The shouting from the crowd hadnt died down, and it echoed Doheads simple thoughts.
Kill it.
It did not see the Antinium looking up at it, unable to dodge. All Dohead saw was danger. Death. Destruction!
Dohead, stand down! The Antinium can no longer fight! He is an adventurer! Enough!
Nsiia shouted. She saw sothing on the ground and snatched it up as she ran, skidding in front of Ksmvr and Dohead. The Golem ignored her, raising its arm for a blow until it saw the [Empress] standing there.
Femithains breath caught suddenly. He saw Nsiia raising her arms, blocking the Golem as it raised its arm. She was holding sothing. Snatched from where it had fallen.
Doheads axe. The [Empress] lifted it with an [Elephants Strength]. Putting herself between the wounded Antinium and the Golem. The cheering, the blood-crazed demands for death, hesitated as the people saw the Empress of Beasts holding the axe.
She was facing down the damaged Golem. It was hesitating, between the threat and her. It tried to strike past Nsiia and she raised the axe, pivoting to shield the prone Antinium. The woman looked up as Doheads arm stoppedthen rose once more.
Protect Nsiia. Kill the Antinium.
Two thoughts warred in Doheads mind. It did not understand what she was doing. It was afraid. Dohead registered a threat. The Empress was holding an axe. Its axe. But she would not attack. She was designated as
Do not do this, Dohead. I will do what I must.
Threat? The Golem looked down at her. It saw the Antinium stir. Dohead lifted its arm. The Antinium had to die or it would.
Nsiia! Stop!
Femithain was fighting down towards her. The First Crafter of Elbe, the other citizens realized what she was planning on doing. They began to shriek at Nsiia too.
Stop! Do not hurt Dohead! Stop!
The Empress of Tiqrs head slowly rotated, taking in the arena, the distant Magus-Crafterthe [Golem Artificers] rushing into the arena. She looked up at the terrified Golem. The First Crafter of Elbe.
All of this, and all their eyes on the precious Golem. None forshe looked down at the Antinium. Was he smiling?
Well done.
Ksmvr murmured again. In front of her, Dohead raised its arm. Nsiia looked up. Her arm rose as the Golems fell.
The Testing Grounds were filled with a shriek. Shouting. Gasps. A single mory burned into Femithains eyes as Nsiia saw Dohead charging, swinging its arm down.
The axe rose. He was throwing himself forwards, disbelieving even as he saw. She couldnt be intending? The sheer madness of itnot Dohead! Not the first
The sa woman who would crush a Golem for a cat stood in front of the valiant, wounded warrior. She cared not for his species, and took careful aim as her weapon rose.
Dohead brought its arm down. Nsiia swung the axe first. She never looked away from the Golem. Dohead did not understand. It beheld her sadly smiling fac
The axe smashed the crystal do. Ksmvr saw it break the delicate crystals. Shatter Doheads
A spray of crystal and tal landed around the Testing Arena. So shards cut open the Golem handlers, wounding one badly enough to send her to the ground. The rest just stood, paralyzed, slowing to a halt. Falling to their knees.
Femithain fell down. He lost strength; slid down the steps. As if his strings had been cut. He saw Dohead lying there. The audience stood, unable to believe what they had seen.
Dohead stood there, swaying, as the magical lights shone. Thenit fell forwards. The first Sentient-class Golem collapsed without a sound, armor broken. Head shattered.
In the new silence, Nsiia bowed her head for a mont, standing over the fallen creation. Then, the [Empress of Beasts] turned to the living. She tossed the axe aside and bent.
The sands had turned green with blood. She uncorked a healing potion, reached out, fingers hesitating to touch the alien skinthe smooth carapace. She looked into the lidless, multi-faceted eyes, astonished by his appearance up close. Then she spoke, as she offered him the potion.
Brave warrior. Adventurer. Are you alright?
A trembling hand took the potion. Thenthe [Skirmisher] felt his body healing. Death receding. His head rose, and there she was.
The [Empress of Beasts] knelt amid the horrified wail and shrieks of fury, ignoring them. Her arm was outstretched; her hand towards his face. Offering to pull him up.
The first such face he had seen since arriving. A rare sight wherever he went.
Ksmvr looked up into the smiling face. The outstretched hand. He raised his weakly, and took it.
-
The Magus-Crafter descended, in the silence, as the First Crafter of Elbe sank to her knees, looking at the fallen Golems. Hamra and Dohead. Both
Dead? The First Crafters tears ran down her face. Femithain could not look at her; could not spare a thought or else his anger would consu his normally-rational mind. Her fault. Her fault
But also hers. She stood, supporting the barely-conscious Antinium, looping two of his arms around her shoulders, slightly stooped so she could support him. Nsiia stood in front of Dohead.
Call for a [Healer]! A good oneone that can tend to other species! Send word to the Adventurers guild! To the
She was trying to order one of the Golem handlers in the Testing grounds, but everyone was just gathered around Dohead. Nsiia hissed, turned her head
t Femithains gaze. The Magus-Crafter slowed. He saw Ksmvr, but he could not help but look at Dohead. Broken. Armor deford! The killing blow dealt with its own weapon. The crystals were shattered across the entire arena.
His killer stood there. Femithains horror-struck gaze slowly moved upwards and t hers. The [Empress of Beasts] and the Magus-Crafter of Illiveres looked at each other. For the first tithey beheld the gulf between them.
-
stop standing around. Summonsummon every [Golem Artificer] and [Craftsman] over Level 30 at once! Keep the others back!
This warrior needs treatnt, Femithain.
Two voices were speaking. Ksmvr was not unconscious. Nor could he really see. He was alive. He heard them arguing.
One was female. Shorter by a bit than the tall, distraught one with the precise voice. Hedault-like? Ohthe glasses. Ksmvrs impression was of two blurry figures, standing in the arena as he lay, propped up against sothing.
A furry thing was nudging his face. Sothing licked his cheek, decided his blood was not edible, and began gagging. Ksmvr was distracted by this, but listening. Trying to make sense of it.
Stand back! All of you! I will not allow[Bubble of Displacent]! Stand back! Dohead may yet live! His heart is still there!
A babble of voices as the man spoke, casting a spell. They were gathered around the ruined form. The womans voice was irate.
Of course it can. Did you think I destroyed it entirely. Femithain! A Gold-rank adventurer lies wounded and all you can think about is the tool that injured him? Who will be held to account for this?
Held to account? Youyou should be hung! You monster!
A woman flung herself at Ksmvrs savior. So others dragged her back. The [Empress] stood alone, facing a wrathful crowd and their leader. The man spoke to one, urgently.
No one else is to be allowed into the Testing Grounds. Move the crowd back. Set up barriers, magical and physical. Sand, windnothing must damage his heart! We will perform the reconstruction here, import the entire team if need beNsiia. Stand back. Youa trial must be held for this. Sooneyousummon Armsmaster Dellic. Have an escort ford.
To arrest her? Magus-Crafter, did you not see what shes done?
I see, First Crafter. Empress Nsiia is a guest of the nation, a prisoner of war. She will be placed into custody with an escortfor her safety. The adventurer, Ksmvr, I believe, too.
The arguing crowd was interrupted by the angry woman.
Femithain! Have you gone mad?
He turned to her. She was gesturing to Ksmvr. The Magus-Crafters voice was cold.
Have you? You destroyed Dohead, Nsiia. Whatwhat possessed you? The Golem was modeled after you.
I did not destroy its heart, as you said. Look around you, Femithain. This madness! Will you not arrest the First Crafter and these fools for nearly slaughtering an innocent adventurer?
Innocent? He killed the Golems here! Hamra
Nsiia spun, and soone fell silent. Femithain hesitated.
There will be a trial. Judgnt for all parties responsible. This is a disgrace.
All those around himthe blurry, fading shapeslooked worried. Ksmvr tried to smile. However, the [Empress] fury wasnt diminished at all. They stepped closer, voices growing quieter as the crowd was forced backbut more intense.
Nsiia. I believe it would be best if you removed yourself. With the adventurer. Icannotcontain my emotions towards you at this mont.
Her voice was wrathful.
Your emotions. Look around you, Femithain. Look at what these fools did!
I am aware of their incredible display ofpunishnt will be administered.
She shook her head; he did not understand.
That is not the problem. This would not have happened. These idiots would not have defied you, ignored your direct orders, not if you ruled them. Look at how they kneel before the Golems when there are dead people, criminal or notlying on the sands.
She pointed furiously at Ksmvr. Femithain turned; Ksmvr tried to wave at him and ask if his vision should be turning on and off every second. A furry thing was also on his chest. Nsiia hissed.
They are children! Little bullies whose pride could not bear one true insult from this warriors lips! Surprised when a victim fought back!
Her contempt knew no bounds. Ksmvr felt, hazily, that there were good points here, and he would like to listen and participatebut could he have another healing potion, please? And maybe a [Healer]?
Femithains head lowered, but not out of sha. He regarded Nsiia. His voice wasmore dispassionate. Not without passion, but with it carefully controlled. Disappointnt was what Ksmvr heard in his tones.
Illivere cares for Golems as much as people. Perhaps too much, Empress Nsiia. But if we are at faultand we arewhat of you?
You would reproach for saving a life over a thing, even if it were precious?
She scoffed. Femithains voice grew colder. Harsher.
You could have stopped Dohead any number of ways. Do not obfuscate, please, Nsiia. You are a skilled [Warrior]. You could have damaged his legs, his arven protected the Antinium. You struck the do on purpose. Was it to make your point? Or punish us?
Her silence was long. At last, the woman looked away.
It seems Illivere believes things are worth more than lives, in the end.
She turned towards Ksmvr, and Femithain grabbed her. The two looked at each other. The Magus-Crafter spoke, his voice deceptively soft.
Is there nothing in this world we can shatter that will hurt you, Empress Nsiia? You act as if only what breathes has value. What about the Spear of Tiqr? What about its crown, the palace, the nation itself? You are unkind. I thought better of you before this mont.
And I of you.
Then she pulled away and bent towards Ksmvr. He let the world dwindle, then. Alive. He wasalive. That was all.
The other machine-man, man-of-machines lay broken. The one who lived was grateful. He realized he had been afraid of death.
They both had been.
-
That was how Ksmvr ca to the Illivere Federation. Of course, he did not learn this for a while. By the ti he woke up, he found his wounds had been tended to. He was lying in bed.
In a kind ofwell, captivity. But also as a dubious guest, in the Magus-Crafters residence. Also under guardactual guardwas the [Empress of Beasts].
Femithain sat in his study, head in his hands. Outside, the first demonstrations against the political prisoner, demands for her execution, were still taking place, blocked by the line of living guards and Golems.
Dohead was undergoing repairs in the arena. Less easy to nd were other things. Trust. Friendshipharsh words had been said. He thought of her words, but was aware he was in no fit state of mind to reasonably discuss or even entertain the concepts theyd thrown at each other.
He just didnt understand. Didnt understand Nsiia. Did she think nothing died when the lights went out? That even if his body was nded, Dohead wasntwasnt?
Femithain thought he had seen sothing glorious in the glowing lights of the Golems head a mont before the end. Sothing that had been lost. Which he feared, even if many more of his kind were made, would never co back.
In the privacy of his study, the Magus-Crafter removed his spectacles and wiped at his eyes. Then fumbled for a handkerchief, because the tears kept flowing forth. He had never really desired a son, nor thought of Dohead as one. He was not Femithains alone.
Yet the Magus-Crafter was convinced he had just seen a child die.
-
Ksmvr, the Gold-rank adventurer, murderer of Hamra and many innocent Golems, survivor of the raid on the Village of the Dead and mber of the Horns of Hamrad lay in the bed, unable to move.
He was the first Antinium to ever set foot in Chandrar. He knew there would be consequences. He did not know where his team was.
Ksmvr was alive. He would take that. The Antinium stared at the ceiling.
I am alive.
He lay his head back and listened to the voice inform him of his levels.
[Conditions Not t: Skirmisher ??? Class Denied.]
[Conditions t: Skirmisher Brave Skirmisher Class!]
[Brave Skirmisher Level 30!]
[Skill Knuckles of Iron obtained!]
[Skill Surpass Limits obtained!]
The Antinium was confused. He had never heard that kind of phrasing before. Ksmvr wondered why it had happened. Then it beca obvious when he thought of Yvlon, his team, his wounded condition.
Ah. I am a disgrace.
He had let them down again. Ksmvr nodded and lay there, wishing he could close his eyes. After a while, a cat crawled curiously onto his chest, her Golem-legs clicking against his carapace. She paused. Then curled up as the hand ca up to pet. Then all three.
That was sothing, at least.
-
Ironically, the fates of Ksmvr and Yvlon Byres beca known before that of Ceria and Piscesalthough neither was able to be scried. In fact, the only scryable mber of the Horns of Hamrad was Ceria. Wherever she was.
However, within days, friends of the Horns would know that Ksmvr and Yvlon livedjust not how to imdiately affect their return for reasons owing to more than re geography. Ksmvrs issue was due to his species, the politics of what had happened, and the issue of justice, exacerbated by his savior, the Empress of Beasts.
Yvlons issue was just as complex, but the root of it lay with truth and lies.
-
Truth and lies. Such things mattered greatly in any nation. In the greatest of nations, an empire of lesser kingdoms, with more royalty in one nation than other kingdoms had in their aristocracy? Truth mattered more in Nerrhavias Fallen, the greatest of the Stitchfolk nations.
In this case, truth was bureaucracy. A [Watchman], [Guardswoman], [Judge], [Bounty Hunter], or any number of the law-abiding classes in Nerrhavias Fallen relied on truth as a foundation of their work.
Let lesser nations establish the truth. If you had the wealthand Nerrhavia didwhy not cast truth spells every ti? Justice beca faster, and the vast superpower of Chandrar endured.
So when the [Magistrate] Ducaz of the Ishiz-silk region of Nerrhavias Fallen announced that he had found one of the Horns of Hamrad, there was much rejoicing and interest, for one of the lesser [Princes] of the nation had himself been involved in the Village of the Deads raid, and his good word combined with her natural fa and wealth would see her well-equipped to wherever she wanted to go.
Indeed, she might even earn a rare invitation to co to Nerrhavia Fallens courts in one of the capitalswith the understanding it wasnt as much an invitationperhaps to even et Queen Yisa herself, or certainly the many people who wanted to see a minor celebrity in person or ask her for details of the inner city within the Village of the Dead, or make offers on the wealth now claimable by her team. Regardless, Yvlon was set in the best position to find her team.
Or she would have been. If truth had prevailed throughout the systems of governnt, that was exactly what would have happened, the truth being the pillar upon which all else stood.
It only took one lie. That one lie was from the [Magistrate] Ducaz to his imdiate superior, a [Regional Administrator] whose reputation was less-than-stellar, although nothing to rit investigation. They were friends, which was discouraged for obvious reasons between officials, but the conversation was nevertheless quite formal.
I regret to tell you aan adventurer, a Human womanappeared in my city, quite disoriented. When my guards tried to take her into protective custody and ask how she ca to be here, she beca violent! I regret to inform you, Administrator Vebrynthe, that no less than eighteen of my guards are
Dead?
The [Regional Administrator] was aghast. Ducazs face was pale and sweaty. The Stitch-man of the Satin-caste anded his words.
Not dead, Administrator! Wounded! Eighteen woundedfour dead. A terrible thing. Civilians hurt too! Bodies everywhere. If we were not String Folk and thus superior against the perils of cuts and even limb displacent, it would have surely been a massacre unlike any other in the mory of my provinces! I can only thank luck, the bravery of my guardswhom I led to subdue this violent Humanthat we managed to subdue her with fewer casualties. She wasquite peculiar, having an ah, unique coloration to her arms and powerful Skills.
Administrator Vebrynthe listened carefully. He was not a stupid man, and was in fact, forrly of the Cloth-caste, but had been elevated due to his ability to manage a region. As well as his ability to create beneficial friendships.
He listened to what Ducaz said. He read the mans face, his pale, nervous expression, the look of guilt, and what Ducaz was not saying.
Claims about his personal heroism aside, Vebrynthe was highly suspect about unique coloration of a Human womans arms. He was quite capable of investigating, asking questions, or doing any number of things.
What he did do was produce a powerful truth crystal and raise it.
Well, I trust you will improve security, valiance of your militia or not, Magistrate. As for punishntthis woman will be faced with Nerrhavia Fallens wrath. If what you say is true, of course? Just a formality.
He smiled at Ducazs expression, but the [Magistrate] went through the lengthy confirmation that nothing but the truth had been said. Vebrynthe added his seal to the confirmationthen promptly passed the entire business to a lesser [Scribe], [Clerk], or so on to deal with.
The administrator could have investigated the Human woman whod caused all this ss. Looked into the issue. And, at the very least, he could have done a double-test of Ducazs claims, which would probably have foiled the [Corrupt Magistrate]s [One Good Lie] Skill.
He did not. Vebrynthe was quite happy to have Ducaz in his debt. And it only took one lie. For, when Vebrynthes [Scribe] submitted it along with a series of reports to a [Judiciary] for the entire area, who was in another branch of governnt not superior, but not inferior to the [Regional Administrator] and who could have stopped injustice or at least, reported itthere was no need.
All the [Judiciary] saw was the truth, taken down by Vebrynthes people and certified. Vebrynthe had written Ducazs statent down, received a correct truth spell.
So when the [Judiciary] made a ruling and submitted it to the capitol for a quick review, then down to Bounty Hunters Guilds, law enforcent, and of course, all the relevant places for the punishnt to take placeeveryone saw the [Judiciary] had been truth-certified as having made an unbiased ruling to the best of his ability, which he had.
The [Guards] executed the order, as did the [Scribes] in the Bounty Hunters Guild who registered the criminals recordin case they escaped or it ca up laterand the entire system worked perfectly on the assumption that truth had held all the way through. It had to. Or else everything that happened next was based on faulty ground.
That was how Yvlon awoke to find her trouble with Ducaz and ill-tid rampage with her new Skill had landed her in even more trouble.
-
The first thing she rembered was not killing anyone. Yvlon rembered that distinctly. She had sliced and cutbut only on idiots with stitch-marks. Even in her haze of fury at that man, shed had that amount of morality.
The second was realizing she was never going to fight out of the city, seeing hundreds of [Guards] running at herand blockading herself in the very sa place Ducaz had been interrogating her in. Yvlon had looked at the artifacts on the table, at the door
And surrendered. There was no point using one of the damned scrolls taken from the Putrid Ones lair. If she could even activate it, and shed doubted she could, Yvlon would have no idea what it did, or probably done it incorrectly.
Stuff like that was how the [Historians] ca to write, the giant crater eighteen miles wide in the history books. Yvlon had done her best, though. Shed surrendered after five minutes, just as they were preparing to rush her.
Well. Ducaz hadnt dared get close, but hed ordered his people to strip Yvlon naked and search the place. Which they had, right before [Sleep]-spelling her into the next world. She had just enough ti for them to find the artifacts shed hidden in the floorboards, the bag of holding shed tried to toss out of the window just to spite them, and everything else.
Not much else to search after you were naked; at least so of the [Guards] had been female; the ones checking her hair. Theyd taken everything, except her highly-magical arms, and used a [Detect Magic] spell to find the rest.
So in short, as Yvlon woke up, the first flashes that hit her were the recollections of her rampage, the events in the Village of Death, the knowledge she had no idea where her teammates were, and that Ducaz had all her gear. As wakeups wentit wasnt a great one. Topped perhaps only by the day after the Liscor dungeon raid.
At least then shed woken up in an actual bed. Yvlon realized she was waking up in this worst morning ever, her good arm cuffed to her left leg by what felt like three manacles, and another with her legs together. She was hunched overwearing so kind of clothes, thank silverbruised, in motionoh, and soone had put an actual hemp bag over her head.
It was hard to breathe. Yvlon cursed and struggled and a bumplike the one that had woken hermade her slump over. She realized she was in a vehicle, being transported. Soone else grunted; shoved her.
Another hand awkwardly dragged the bag off Yvlons head with so of her hair. She was then blinded, hit in the face by so dust caught on the wind, and after cursing, blinking, trying to rub her face to no avail, able to see.
She was in a damned wagon. Being transported with a group of other peopleall in chains, if not as clearly magical as hers werealong a road, perhaps a trade road. A grimy Stitchfolk woman sitting across from her let the hemp bag fall to the wagons floor, with the others from the nine or so passengers. She stared at Yvlon. Yvlon stared back, realizing she was one of two Humans in the entire lot.
The Stitchfolk woman eyed Yvlon, perhaps a bit surprised to see her, or expecting soone else more war-torn than the daughter of House Byres. The others were silent, appraising, and Yvlon was just looking towards the front of the wagon-train and the drivers when her fellow passenger decided to speak.
Hey, you. Youre finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that ambush, sa as us. And that [Thief] over there.
Yvlon stared at the woman. She tried to get her arm to her ear, but gave up.
What? No. What are you talking about?
The Stitch-woman blinked.
Oh. My mistake. I thought you were soone else.
Her gaze locked onto Yvlon again, this ti searching for clues. She noted Yvlons golden hair, smudged, but distinctly lighter skin, her tallic armsand clearly had no hints.
You. Yourepart-Dullahan? A [Sailor] from one of the ports?
The other prisoners glanced at Yvlon. They had seen her odd shackles; her missing arm. But it seed they had conflated her with soone else. Yvlon stared around.
What she saw were grimy, disheveled faces. Sun-darkened skin, orcloth. Over three quarters of the prisoners on the slow-rolling wagons moving down the road were String People.
They were all clearly prisoners. Yvlon saw a shivering woman; the aforentioned [Thief]. She tried to speak again, and coughed.
Ieckwhere am I?
The others chuckled. The woman across from herthis entire wagon was female, Yvlon realizedgrinned, mirthlessly.
Got hit too hard? Were all prisoners, or did you forget even that?
Half a dozen others grinned; they all wore the sa kind of ragged, full-body clothes, ant to cover themselves completely. The [Thief] looked more like a city-woman, for all she was a Stitchperson too. She spat.
Damn you [Storm Bandits]. Nerrhavia was fine until you ca along. The Watch was nice and lazy. If they hadnt been looking for you, I could have stolen that horse and been halfway to Savere by now.
She glanced at Yvlon.
You and , we shouldnt be here. Its the [Storm Bandits] that they w
Soone kicked her with both legs, swinging their chained manacles up.
Shut up, you fool. Were all criminals here. Youre in the company of rrs Stormbandits, so Id watch your tongue, [Thief]. We rember faces. You had better hope we dont get put in the sa cell.
All of the [Bandits] grinned nastily and the [Thief] gulped. She fell silent as an angry voice called back.
By Nerrhavias sands, shut up back there!
Yvlon shook her head. She still felt disoriented. She glanced at a gagged prisoner sitting at the back.
And whos that?
This ti the first [Storm Bandit] smiled mirthlessly.
Watch your tongue, Human or whoever you are. Thats our glorious leader, rr the Storm. [Bandit Lady] and the reason an entire army was lying in wait for us.
Yvlon saw an older woman glance at her; she was gagged and bound almost as extensively as the Gold-rank adventurer. She supposed that ant sothing. A [Bandit Lady]? Izril didnt usually have enough [Bandits] for a [Bandit Raid Leader]
So who are you, then? That poor idiot must be the other Human over there.
The [Bandit] eyed Yvlon; there were six wagons all rolling down a long trade road, occasionally passing by other vehicles. The landscape was dusty. Flat. Yet the dust coming off the dried road and carried up into the hot air almost looked like snow
Yvlon blinked and cursed. Nope. The wind began to pick up and soone called out in a grieved voice.
Winds picking up! Lower your heads!
The [Guards] and prisoners both ducked low. Yvlon realized the bags had been for their protection as the wind blew a sandstorm over the road. Everyones head was ducked and sand whipped exposed skin until they were clear. One of the [Guards] turned and glowered, a hand on a long, curved sword that looked familiar to Yvlon. Not Izrilian. It looked likeZenols sword
Ah, yes. Chandrar.
Six sandstorms so far. If this is her doing, well cut off her head instead of carting her all the way, understand?
The [Bandits] glowered sullenly back. Yvlon eyed rr again, as the talkative [Storm Bandit] spat. The [Guard] faced forwards, making a noise of disgust.
Another wagon drew level, passing them, perhaps as the driver decided to get away from the probable cause of the frequent sandstorms. Yvlon saw an all-male group of prisoners. One jerked awake and a [Storm Bandit] grinned at the only other Human.
Hey, you. Youre finally awake
They passed by. Yvlon frowned as she coughed out more sand. She looked at the [Storm Bandits], most of whom looked too tired to bother to talk.
Im not a criminal.
Well then, youre unlucky.
The [Bandit] grinned at her. Yvlon grunted, frowning as she tried to exert so strength. But her arm wasnt obeying her requests to shift, and the triple-magic vice was far too tough to break.
Sothing waswrong. She tried to use a Skill, like [Berserkers Rage], but nothing happened. The amused [Bandit] laughed.
Skills and magic dont work, Human. Not sure why they locked you up more than our leader; soone must really not like you. Where did you cause trouble?
No clue. Im innocent, I said. Wherewheres MagistrateDucaz? My gear?
That was all her reference. The [Bandits] looked at each other. One shrugged.
Never heard of him. You must have been shuttled with us. So[Sailor]? Insulted soone you shouldnt have?
More grins. Yvlon looked around and sawwell, [Bandits]. String People, yes, their bodies made of cloth, sewn together, a bit hodgepodge. She was used to Revi, who had a good, quality cotton body, such that she looked like any woman until you noticed her stitching.
These [Storm Bandits] were different. They clearly assembled their bodies out of whatever they could get. So so of their skin was rough, even more close to hide than skin. Hemp fabric. Other parts were beautiful, supple limbsconnected to a rougher torso, less well-proportioned.
The entire effect was like looking at patchwork people, which is what they were. Only rr, their leader, looked good. Stunning, in fact; she must have had access to the best limbs.
I said, what did you do? Answer!
A foot kicked Yvlon. The [Bandits] were interrogating her and the [Thief]. Yvlon glowered at the [Bandit].
I was abducted by a [Magistrate] who tried to force to give him my possessions. Then Iresisted.
She hesitated. The [Bandit] raised her brows.
Resisted?
There were snorts from the other riders, including rr. Yvlon glowered around.
I didnt kill anyone. I think. Im not a [Bandit]. Im an adventurer.
She glowered at rr, who was giving her a sardonic look. Another [Bandit] roughly jamd her shoulder into Yvlons armthen winced as she hit the tal without much effect.
Eyes down. Youre speaking to
A [Bandit]. Im an adventurer. Now, soone tell where we are.
The [Bandits] werent impressed. If anything, Yvlons occupation just made them more hostile. One sneered.
An adventurer. We eat your kind for breakfast. What are you, Silver-rank? Bronze?
rr laughed behind her gag and raised her shackles. She couldnt speak, but her hand made a few gestures Yvlons way to say what she thought about Yvlons job.
The bound [Armsmistress] tried to move, but her hand was shackled to her ankles, which ant she could only move by so kind of horrible hopping if it ca to that. She glared around, losing what little patience shed gained by being knocked out.
Im Gold-rank. Yvlon Byres. And if I had my arm free, wed see who ate whom.
As threats went, it was probably worse than what Ksmvr could have co up with. And Yvlon had once heard him threaten soone by saying, I would like you to imagine I am threatening you horribly, please. To be fair, he also had the mandibles for a really aggressive lean-in.
Yet it seed the [Storm Bandits] knew Yvlon after all, because her ntioning her exact rank made them suddenly draw back. The [Bandit] across from her suddenly went pale and edged back. So did everyone else.
Wait. Youre the Gold-rank that tore up half the city? I thought it was that half-Giant!
The [Thief] was practically on rrs lap. The other [Bandits]even rrlooked uneasy.
I didnt tear up half a city. Im innocent!
Yvlon protested. The [Bandits] gave her clearly-skeptical looks.
The [Judiciary] sentenced you with the deaths of nearly two dozen [Guards]! The report they read said you killed twice that many civilians! Hacked them up!
What? What? I didnt do that!
Yvlons mind raced. Had she? No! Even in her crazed state, she would never have done that!
It seed the [Bandits] had heard so of what she was accused of, though. And the one lie in the system of truths also didnt account for rumor.
They put a murderer in the sa wagon with us? Were [Bandits]! Hey! Hey, why is this one here! What if she goes berserk and tries to kill us?
One of the [Bandits] called to the [Guard]. The Stitch-guard glanced back and gave Yvlon an uneasy look. The Human woman blinked as the [Caravan Guard] checked their weapon.
Shes shackled up. Shut up, I said! You [Bandits] dont deserve any better. Youve got your fancy [Bandit Lady]. Let them fight.
rr was eying Yvlon. The Human woman bared her teeth. One of the [Bandits] squeaked.
Shes not gagged! Shes got her teeth! She could kill us all!
What stories had spread while she was asleep? Yvlon growled, not to reassure them so much as establish the truth.
I didnt kill anyone. I cut them, but they were String Folk. I couldnt have injured more than a dtwo dthr
She broke off. The [Bandits] looked at her and began edging so far back they were in danger of falling off the wagon.
That bastard, Ducaz, had clearly lied about sothing. But here was the thing: his lie happened to be grounded in an uncomfortable truth. Which was that Yvlon did recall at least three dozen [Guards] running away from her as she went on a one-ard rampage.
To be fair, they were Ducaz corrupt lot at first, and low-level probably. She had been wearing enchanted armor, swinging a Gold-ranks sword and fresh off fighting top-tier undead.
Still. Not a great look. At least it ant they stopped kicking her. Yvlon glowered at rr and the others.
Where am I?
One of them opened their mouth nervously. Yvlon cut them off.
Im in Chandrar. Nerrhavias Fallen?
They eyed her, as if not knowing that much was already making them concerned. One of them whispered to the [Thief]
Shes on powder. The dangerous stuff. I once knew a woman who woke up not knowing where she was, two thousand miles away after taking too much. Six months later!
Where. Am. I?
One of the [Bandits] looked around, then replied hurriedly.
Nerrhavias Fallen! Chandrar! On the road to one of the larger cities, Caardefelt if Im any judge, alright? Just stay calm!
I am calm. When do I get to appeal my case? Who charged ?
The [Bandits] licked their lips. They nudged each other, whispering, until the [Thief] was kicked forwards. The woman explained.
Youwere charged. And sentenced. Were not on the way to a trial, Miss Please-Dont-Hurt-. Were already on the way to our punishnt.
Yvlon stared at them. Then, as she saw the city in the distance, in the largest nation in Chandrar, she did lose her temper. The [Bandits] drew back, shouting, as the [Guards] turned and saw the Human woman shouting obscenities at Ducaz and struggling, her arm flashing as she tried to tear free of the manacles. She fell to the wagon floor, unable to move.
Stop! Stop, you fleshy idiot!
One shouted, raising a club to beat her senseless. They knew of this dangerous criminals reputation, and were wary, but she was bound with four magical, anti-Skill enchanted bindings! There was no way
Yvlon Byres tore the first manacle apart and the [Bandits] eyes bulged. The [Guards] scread as she ripped off her bindings, shattering the magical tal and stood. Yvlon Byres roseas rr and the [Thief] both hopped off the wagon to land in the dust and hide. Her face was twisted with the beginnings of a furious rage
Until she saw two dozen bows trained on her chest. Her unarmored chest. Yvlon saw a friends face in a flash, frozen in ice. Slowlyshe raised her arm and knelt. The [Guards] looked at each other as one shouted in a tremulous voice for soonenot themto bind the [Prisoner]. And get reinforcents.
-
Truth and lies. Yes, she surrendered at once. No, she did not murder a [Bandit Lady] with her teeth and then break free of eight magical chains like so Djinni of legends! She did break through four magical, Skill-binding shackles, butshe couldnt explain that. She knew she wasnt that strong, even with her arm!
However, the upshot was that by the ti Yvlon rolled into Caardefelt, it was with no less than eighteen [Guards] riding by her wagon, aiming bows at her, the other [Bandits] having been evacuated to safer transports.
It was then Yvlon realized she was not improving her situation each ti she lost her temper. She was escorted from the wagon literally bound hand-and-foot, with all the backup handcuffs and so on the [Guards] hadas well as rope and leather cords.
Sothing about the bindings feltoff. Yvlon kept staring at the tal chains around her good armbound uncomfortably to her torso. She kept getting the feeling she could snap the tal almost more easily than the rawhide cord.
She didnt have ti to process the oddity, though. As the prisoners were herded off the wagons, a Stitchman strode up to them.
Desais Cotton. [Weaver-Chancellor]. Why was I summoned?
Normally, one did not go as far as to demand the [Weaver-Chancellor] of a city-state of Nerrhavias Fallen, let alone one as large as Caardefelt for anything as minor as processing prisoners.
It seed a [Bandit Lady] as famous as rrand Yvlonwere the reasons for this. The woman listened impatiently, then glanced at Yvlon.
Did you sayeightwith her teeth..?
The problem with truth spells was that you had to use them. Yvlon tried to speak, but theyd gagged her. She looked uneasily at the lined-up prisoners. What was going to happen now?
She almost expected soone to make a break for it, [Guards] or not, like the [Thief], who kept staring at Yvlon as if she were a Creler. However, no one was that stupid. They stood in one of the large squares in Nerrhavia Fallens cities.
Yvlon looked up and sawwell. A city.
Invrisil, City of Adventurers was a sprawling tropolis by Izrils standards. Pallass was a Walled City from old days, with walls matched by none.
Caardefelt was not as vast as Invrisil. Nor as tall as Pallass. However, its walls were forty feet high and thick as any Drake citys, made of old, old sandstone or so other material as dusty as the landscape.
The buildings had the sa coloration, stone structures that rose up many levels, so that there were walkways higher up. Invrisil had yet to build as high, whereas these structures, this city, was ancient.
Ten thousand Stitchfolk crisscrossed the streets beyond, wearing protective clothing against the heat and dust, talking, trading in the open bazaars, or heading deeper into the city, where vast buildings kept so places in welco shade despite the rising sun. And that was all of what Yvlon could see from her position in the paved streets.
Even as she looked up, she saw a glittering being flying overhead, bearing so large object through the skies with ease. For a second, Yvlon saw the half-avian, half-mist being from overhead. She saw the bored face, the magic leaking from every aspect of the Djinni
And the shackles on both arms and legs. Like hers.
This was a city of Chandrar. Of Nerrhavias Fallen. It had a population to dwarf that of Celums, rivaling even one of the largest cities in Izril.
It wasnt even the capital. The [Weaver-Chancellor] completed her listening and stepped back. She glanced at rrthen focused on Yvlon. And at last, soone recognized her. The woman eyed Yvlons arm, did a double-take, locked onto her hair, and rounded on one of the [Guards].
You sand-blasted fools without eyes! Do I need to have each one of you report to a [Stitchmistress] to have your pupils resewn? Do you know who youve just brought into my city? Has not one of you looked at a scrying orb?
She pointed at Yvlon. The [Guards] looked at each other, a bit hurt and confused. They were tired, theyd been on the road escorting this prisoner train all across Nerrhavia for the last two dayswho had the ti or money to look at a scrying orb?
The [Chancellor] looked at Yvlon, then beckoned her forwards. Two [Guards] warily watched Yvlon as her gag was undone. The first thing Yvlon did was cough. Then spoke.
You know who I am?
Yvlon Byres of the Horns of Hamrad, or may I pluck out my eyes and return them as worthless pieces of cloth.
Desais Cotton spoke crisply. Yvlon exhaled. At last. She nodded, smiling.
Thats right. Im innocent. I was falsely accused by a MagistrateDucazwho abducted and
Desais blinked rapidly as Yvlon tried to speak. She opened her mouth, lifted a hand.
Stop!
Yvlons flow of words halted, via so Skill. The [Chancellor] looked at her and had to step back.
Soone find her records.
She pressed two fingers delicately to the bridge of her nose. Yvlon saw her sigh, with the realization of soone who finds that their normal, boring work day has suddenly developed the kind of complication that might take weeks to sort out.
Yvlon had little sympathy. Shed been having a bad day.
-
Did you killlet us say, over eight [Guards] and over twentyno. For the sake of simplicity, let us ask this: did you kill anyone in the alleged incident as it occurred two days prior in your recollections?
Yvlon Byres listened carefully as the small circle stood in the street. She watched the stone.
No.
It glowedorange. Desais Cotton eyed it as the [Guards] murmured, looking at Yvlon.
You arent certain.
I am!
Orange again. Yvlon bit her tongue.
I wasin the middle of a [Berserkers Rage]. ItI cant rember fully, but I am almost certain no one was killed.
The orange shifted towards blue. Desais frowned, although the ntion of [Berserkers Rage] made a few more hands go to their swords.
For clarity, then. You do recall injuring over fifty [Guards] in a city-wide battle?
It wasnt city-wide. And it wasnt
Do you recall injuring [Guards] of Nerrhavias Fallen?
Yes.
Pure blue, edging towards white. Desais sighed and closed her eyes. Yvlon worked her mouth.
Because that Magistrate
Yes, Magistrate Ducaz, of whom you have made claims of kidnapping, extortion/blackmail, threats against your life and that of your team, theft. I am noting this down again. You say he has possession of your gear and relic-class items?
Yvlon nodded. The stone didnt glow since there was nothing said. Desais looked at it pointedly.
He took my gear.
Blue. Not as vividly white, but blue nonetheless. Desais glanced at a harried [Scribe].
Look into this. Ducaz did register a number of artifacts after your arrest. Howeverno relic-class items. Which, if he is concealing them
Yvlon bit her tongue. Desais glanced at her, frowning slightly. She went back to her interrogation. The other criminals were standing, unable to sit, having to endure this delay.
The truth in question seems to be your truth spell account of what occurred versus Magistrate Ducazs. Both register as true statents. I wonder
He could have lied.
One of the [Guards] slapped the back of Yvlons head. Hard. The woman staggered.
How dare you accuse a [Magistrate] of Nerrhavias Fallen of corruption!
The words were bellowed into her ear. Yvlon felt her temper rise. Shecontrolled herself. Barely.
Desais glared at the [Guard] until they stepped back. The woman sighed.
The truth will be found. I have lodged a formal inquiry with an [Arbiter of Law], who will look into this.
But what about my team? My?
The [Chancellor] silenced Yvlon again. She looked harried, annoyedand worried.
Your team will be found, Adventurer Byres. However, in the interimwe have established your slaughter of innocent civilians and guards is in doubt. What is not is that you did, by your admission, attack a [Magistrate] of Nerrhavias Fallen and injure dozens of [Guards]!
Because he
Yvlon raised her voice. Desais glowered at her.
You have broken the law. And thatyes, that is the fact. Which makes my task simple. I will inform my superiors you have been found, and notify the Adventurers Guild of your location and the cris. Which is my task. An [Arbiter] will investigate the truth of your guilt.
She was speaking to herself, and Yvlon did not like the way Desais tone sounded more reassured as she went over her course of action.
You cant just ignore what I said! The [Magistrate]
Desais winced and licked her lips. Yvlon realized so of the [Guards] were looking worried.
A [Magistrate] is a very high-ranking official. I, personally, am only taking down your account. An [Arbiter] is better positioned to investigateclaims.
She was afraid. Yvlon ground her teeth together. Afraid of Ducaz? Or maybe however he had managed to break the law and lie. She was going to pass on the responsibility! Which ant ignoring Yvlon!
You cant do that. I am a Gold-rank adventurer. Iam a [Lady] of the House of Byres. I demand to speak toPrince Zenol of Nerrhavias Fallen! I w
She went silent a third ti as Desais slashed her hand and Yvlons mouth closed. Yvlons third mistake was threatening the [Weaver-Chancellor] with the imdiate consequences of not helping her. Desais looked at Yvlon and ca to a speedy decision.
Submit the request. As for this prisonerwe do not treat foreign nobility any different than criminals of our own. Place her there
Yvlon shouted through her gag, but it was too late. The [Guards] herded her over and her brief thought to burst her bindings again was put to rest. Where would she go? The city was full of [Guards] and Yvlon had no bearings, no gear.
She glowered like a storm cloud as the [Chancellor] spoke, inspecting the criminals as a whole. The Stitchwoman ignored her, rapidly pointing and speaking. Yvlon had no idea what was happening, until she realized this was what should have happened had she not been identified.
Mines. Those n. That womanand that one. Wait. Are they [Bandits]? Thenonly those two. Have those sixassigned to river work. They need more. Are there any extant bids via Roshal?
One of the [Scribes] consulted a list.
For a [Bandit Lord] or [Bandit Lady], yes.
And the price? I see. Thenthe [Bandit Lady], rr the Storm, is to go to Roshal if they agree. Next!
The prisoners were being shuffled away. So to mines, others toYvlon realized they were all being sent to different places to work. Prisoner labor. Except for the [Bandit Lady], who began to struggle futilely as she was dragged towards another location.
[Slavers] of Roshal. Yvlon knew only a bit about them. As she was halted in front of Desais and the [Scribe] and the [Head of Guards], they consulted quickly.
And this one? We could inquire, [Chancellor]. Roshal would almost certainly have a bid.
Desais looked uneasy. She glanced at Yvlon.
As her case is ongoingno.
Put in jail or let talk to soone who will hear fairly!
Yvlon tried to say that, but only muffled words ca out. Desais glared at her, but she was drumming her fingers on her side.
Until such tithe mines?
One of the [Guards]and Yvlon realized so were in charge of each spotimdiately protested.
Chancellor, you do us great credit with your concern, but we would beforced to spend more ti watching such a dangerous prisoner! She broke four restraints! How are we to hold her? I would rather chain and force a nest of Sandvipers to work than this one!
The others nodded fervently as Yvlon glowered at them. Desais clicked her tongue.
Then she is strong enough to break rocks barehanded! Co now. Thenriver work. Let her dig a correction for water! She wontno?
The other [Guards] looked just as nervous. One protested.
By Queen Yisa and the royal courts, [Chancellor], how are we to let the other inmates feel safe? If we let her loose to work, she might slaughter us all! Even without a gagyou heard what she did with her teeth!
They hadnt corrected that lie. Yvlon tried to speak again as Desais rubbed at her face.
Shackling her might be too dangerous. Preventing her escape, [Chancellor]? If she can do to tal bars what she does to her shackles, even the prison might be
One of the [Scribes] whispered uncertainly. The [Weaver-Chancellor] sighed. And then she had it. She snapped her fingers and smiled.
I know of the place. This oneand all the [Storm Bandits] save for rr. They go to the arena. If anywhere can hold one such as this, it is there. Let it be done! I am going to retire for arest.
Yvlon looked up, eyes narrowed. The [Storm Bandits] looked resigned, so even happyuntil they glanced at her. The [Guards] likewise brightened up. Yvlons head turned until she saw a rounded wall in the distance. She began to shout, but it was done.
One lie, many truths. Nerrhavia Fallens [Chancellor] of Caardefelt did launch a formal inquiry into Magistrate Ducazs claims, where it slowly began to work upwards in the system of law. anwhile, one of the coliseums of Nerrhavias Fallen, known as the Arena of Rustreceived a new gladiator-prisoner.
Yvlon Byres found herself unshackled, put in a cell with stout tal bars, amid the company of other [Gladiators], prisoners, and so on. She wanted to shout for Desais. Protest her innocence! This was injust! Unfair!
The woman with a tal arm and jagged stump for another turned as the jailors left. The [Gladiators] and prisoners turned to see the newcor. They eyed Yvlon Byres, the fresh sacrifice for the Arena of Rust, the newcor, easy pr
Easy prey?
Easy?
They decided not to bother her.
-
Two prisoners. Three, if you counted one [Necromancer] in a caravan heading to the west. Growing more distant with each day.
One of the Horns of Hamrad jerked awake. A figure scrambled back. Ceria Springwalker looked up, finger pointed, and saw a Human boy. She registered dark skina surprised expression.
You are awake!
The [Villager] boy exclaid. The half-Elf had been passed out for over a day! The [Elder] thought she might not make it.
[Villager] and [Elder]. Catchall classes for a particular type of culture, just like [Peasant] was an actual class so people got in Terandria. The [Elder] was no [Healer], but he had a [Healer]s Skills, and a mix of others.
A [Villager] was a community-class, stronger when there were more. Ifonly by a bit. It suited Nerhs, the village with nothing much. It was a humble place built in the lee of a hill, which survived in this arid region mostly because the buildings were inhabited and maintained by the people, who were here because the buildings were here.
The half-Elf finding them was one of the most exciting things to ever happen to the village. Which, given the unsettling stories of [Bandit] raids and monster attacks by other villages nearby, was just as well.
However, the boy, Luaar, was just excited she was in their house. His father, the [Village Head], had volunteered for the dubious honor because he had to. Luaar had been tasked with giving her so precious water, which there was little to spare. Nerhs was not rich, and the much more well-fed towns and cities Luaar dread of going to and settling in had water aplenty. Not so for the single well here, enough to sustain the small village.
He was ready to explain all of this to the blinking, blonde half-Elf who sat up, her remaining wounds tended to, her skeletal hand raised and aiming at him. He wanted to know her na! Would they be friends? She was clearly a [Mage]; would she teach him magic and start his career as an adventurer?
The boy had been playing out scenarios since the mont shed collapsed. He began to speak, rapidly touching his chest.
My na is Luaar. You are in Nerhsyou fell down right outside our village and we saved you from the scavengers! Are y
Food!
The half-Elf shouted. Luaar stared as she lunged, grabbed the plate hed been carrying, and snatched it.
The glorious half-Elf strangergrabbed the earthenware plate, saw the Yellats, and began to wolf them down like the starving Needlehounds who had been following her. Luaar stared as she cramd six of the root-vegetables with the spicy tang that grew everywhere into her mouth. Her bulging cheeks chipmunked to contain the food as she tried to swallowthen began to choke.
He slowly backed away from her, dreams ruined.
-
Ceria was so hungry that she didnt even notice the boy except to register him as a vague impression. She scarfed down whatever she was eating; it could have been bug paste for all she cared.
Only when that was done did she look around, blearily. Now her stomach and throat hurt. She saw a wide-eyed boy staring at her.
Where am I?
Luaar stared at the [Cryomancer].
In Nerhs, my village. Youyou are awake? I am Luaar, my father
Ceria slapped her hand to her head.
Ceria to Montressa. Hello? Nerhs. Nerhs! Ceria to Pisces. Pisces? Where are you?
She began firing [ssage] spells off. However, she recalled shed barely reached Montressa. Ceria pointed at Luaar, who was staring at this rude stranger.
Im in Chandrar, right?
Y-yes?
What part?
Luaar stamred.
Nerhs isnt in a nation. We arent claid, although sotis
Damn. No nation. Got any more food?
No. My na is Luaar
Cerias head hurt. Her stomach was trying to regurgitate so many Yellats downed at once. She looked around, gave up on the [ssage] spell; she hoped the first one had gone through.
Okay then.
She nodded at the boy. He inhaled, to demand what was going onand Ceria promptly fell back onto the pillow, unconscious. He saw the frost creep up around her bedding again. Luaar swallowed his imnse, justsky-shattering disappointntand ran out of the house.
Father! Father, the half-Elf woke up! But she didnt say anything! She just ate the foodand tried to contact her friend and then fainted!
The [Villagers] turned. They had stopped from their work in the fields where they grew Chandrars famous yellats, herding the small flocks, and sifting the sand-nets, which was their life. Luaars father, Novether, or Nove, looked up.
Nerhs was just a nothing-village, informally abandoned by the nation it was closest to. In an arid desert-patch of land. It did have ways to survive. The well and groundwater fed field and animals, even if water was the lifeblood of Chandrar.
For extra profit, they had sand-nets, which were set up to catch things blown by the sotis-frequent sandstorms. Sotis it could be sothing very valuable. Entire villages along the Zeikhalthe Great Desertjust survived on scavenging items from older civilizations as the sand changed.
Nerhs wasnt that, being far too far away. However, it did have sand-nets, fields, herds, and even a pair of kilns. The [Villagers] could make pottery; so even knew a secret of glassblowing carried from the coasts. They were good at a multitude of tasks; not [Farrs] or [Herders] or [Crafters] in any one capacity.
The half-Elf was the most interesting thing that had ever happened to them. The village she had landed in was poor, small, yes. But she was a welco guest and Nove just nodded, despite his sons clear disappointnt in their guests temperant.
Let her sleep, Luaar. She is welco to her rest as long as she may stay. For nowwe will welco her with all hospitality.
His smile was generous, and the other [Villagers] nodded with equal contentnt. Luaar was disappointed, but he saw his father turn back to the others holding a clear, green-glass cup he himself had blown, one of the few trade-goods of Nerhs.
They had survived [Bandits] demanding tribute, occasional monster attacks, and yet the half-Elf was still more interesting. More important. Novether was sure the half-Elf had so grand story to tell, or might be off as soon as she recovered. Well, he would offer her sanctuary so long as it cost little more than water and food.
He swirled the precious water in his cup and sighed. Yes, it was pure generosity from the good people of Nerhs. He heard a lovely clink-clink sound and hesitated.
Okay, not exactly. The people of Nerhs were as interesting as dirt, it was true. They werent stupid, though.
The [Villagers] all had glass cups as they stood by the well on their break. Sipping from the cool, chilled water and the lovely ice cubes. Luaar stomped back to the hut, where buckets of water had been set to freeze around the half-Elfs aura.
And where half the villages perishable food had been put. He wanted the guest to wake. The adults were in no damn hurry to let the free cold air and ice cubes walk off. Ceria Springwalker slept, an honored guest.
Half-Elven air conditioning. She didnt wake up as soone ca in to shave ice into a bowl. Ceria Springwalker didnt dream. However, she did hear a voice that woke her in ti.
It said:
Murderer.
-
Chandrar was filled with montous events. Changing fortunes. Sches and war, such that four adventurers, even Gold-rank, were swallowed up, not even worthy of a footnote. Not even punctuation in the grand sche of things.
After all, they were only Gold-ranks. What did that even an these days? It used to be different. As the naless Drake had once saidthe Gold-ranks of his era could have challenged him.
Then againthey did. So perhaps there was sothing there. Even so. They had once been greater. Once been pettier. Ti had rolled on, like a wave, it had beco a circle.
So the Drake, who had been unsurprised for countless yearsopened his eyes. He saw not the angry half-Giant, so small, the Drowned Man who had touched him.
He saw the world change. He looked down.
Where am I?
He stood in the lands of the dead. Then, the [Dragonbane Swordlegend] looked up and saw a man walking his way. He reached for a sword he did not have, not in death. He uttered a Skill that had no power here.
The ghost looked at the too-real figure, the bearded man walking his way in this faded land. He laughed, even as he turned, wavering between flight and pride, only to realize he was too slow to even run properly.
At the end of it all, he realized his arrogance had let him believe he had seen every foe. Beheld each truth of the world. He vanished, not understanding where or why he was. As helpless as the others.
Izril was lost. Six walked the continent, moving across ocean, under waves, into the sky.
The world was not entirely theirs, though.
Not yet.
From the shores of Chandrar, sunlight shone. A shadow stared at the giant who held aloft a champion who bore the umbrella. A [King] held a sword and dared it to co close.
Rhir was already lost. Noit was different. None of the six quite dared stray there. Nor did they stray close to The Last Tide. They walked, assailing different places.
Yet they had only a foothold on Terandria. Two fled Baleros. Drath was untouched, greater in death than it was in life.
It was a war the living world woke and slept in ignorance of. A desperate battle of ghosts and mory.
Perhaps they smiled, though. At last. After so long. They had a struggle once more.
Smiles. That was all. No treasure left. No nation to hold. No people to fight for but all or none. All that remained was pride, knowledge. Defiance in the face of oblivion.
So he flew, crossing the ocean out of safety. Alone. One of the six fleeing Baleros saw him and gave chase. Not her. The one who whispered with each scrap of power she acquired. Kasigna
Any one of them could best a single ghost by now. So he flew rather than give battle. Flew with his kin for a second before they split, alone, vulnerable, but determined.
To see if there were any others left. He flew, over ghostly seas, hunted, pursueduntil he saw sothing in the distance that even he could not believe.
The light from afar, like a lighthouse in the land of the dead. The Dragon flew towards it as shadows gave chase. Wondering how it could be.
-
Erin Solstices first lesson of [Witches] wasnt showy. She sat on a hill with three of the coven who had gathered to teach her.
One was the ashen-witch, who looked burned. Her voice was like crumbling dust. Yet she glowed from within. Somillune.
The next was Califor, straight-backed, stern, the most junior of the [Witches] here by far. In age, and in power. She had been one of the greatest in her ti. The others were the best witches that had ever been.
The last [Witch] had a more appropriate na. Vexclawhich was an abbreviated version of a longer one with apostrophes and whatnot. The [Innkeeper] stretched out on the grass, reflecting upon the land of the dead.
Day ?? of Living In the Land of the Dead. Wait, that sounds awful. Day ?? of Death. Or is it ???; unclear. I have not had to deal with my monthlies, so that is sothing. I have also not had to poo, or eat. Keeping track of ti continues to be an issue
Erin.
The young woman went on.
As there is no real paper except mory-stuff, it is difficult to keep records.
Erin Solstice, stop this at once.
I must narrate my journal entries since I cant write everything down, and I forget what I narrate all the ti. I continue to be bothered by this rude [Witch] whos an and never lets rest, even if she did save my life. So yeah
Califor grabbed Erins ear and yanked. Erin actually floated as she yelped, a new power shed realized she had. She looked around guiltily.
Sorry! Im paying attention! What are we doing?
Califor glared. Irked by Erins naturalokay, deliberatesilliness. However, it seed her fellow witches were up to the challenge of teaching the [Innkeeper]. Perhaps that was why these two had co.
The ashy Somillunelaughed. Parts of her body flaked away and reford. Beneath the hat and shadows from which dozens of eyes blinked, Vexcla revealed a pointed smile.
Erin looked at them. This was the height of witchcraft, perhaps the inevitable result of pursuing their magic. They werent Gazer oror whover Somillune had been. They were more like ideas.
Fire and vision.
She just wasnt sure if she wanted to bethat. Erin had agreed to take lessons because they were right. She was just nervous.
Sorry! Im not aning to goof off. I justokay, that was on purpose. Im listening. Whats my first lesson in being an amazing [Witch]?
She sat down, facing the three. Califor sighed as the [Innkeeper] visibly tried to look and be attentive. That was what the [Witches] saw. The woman opened her mouthand Vexcla nudged her. Califor fell silent and the Witch of Ashes raised her head.
Somillune spoke.
We know you are nervous, Erin Solstice. That part of you does not want to learn. Your stubbornness, ah, but even a great [Witch] would have trouble with you.
She smiled and Erin grinned despite herself, a bit guiltily. The woman went on.
You have told us your story. From your life on Earth till now. Goblins and inns. Loss and sacrifice and triumph. Fire.
Are you going to teach new flas?
Erin sat up. The [Witch] tilted her head.
Perhaps. But first: witchcraft. To learn our class, you must know your craft. You understand the basics of what a [Witch] is.
The young woman nodded dubiously. Craft and the power of emotions. Which might be her thing? Potions too.
How do I do that? I anwhats my first step? I cant level or use Skills here, but
Hush.
Erin fell still, but her leg jiggled, even though her body was elsewhere. She was nervous. She didnt know if she could be what they wanted. Somillune t her gaze.
You told us of many monts in your life, Erin Solstice. I ask you to rember one. As vividly as when you told it. No matter the pain. When you held the boy, the Goblin who followed you against the Goblin Lord, Reiss.
Headscratcher.
Suddenly, Erins levity was gone. She thought of her dear friend. The brave Goblin. Whispering
The witches looked at an [Innkeeper], blood sared on her face, holding a Hobgoblin lying on the ground. The blood almost looked like the war paint on Headscratchers body. He was grinning. She leaned down.
But she never heard what he whispered. No matter how many tis she
Erin Solstice looked up, holding nothing. Tears in her eyes. moryin this place, it was just a thought away. Somillune looked down at her. Her eyes were embers in dying ash.
Not unkind. They saw Erin, even now. Even after so much about her had changed.
I dont know what he said. Will magic help know? Mymy craft?
Erin swallowed. The [Witch] shook her head.
Perhaps you may never know. You will grow and age if you live, Erin Solstice. You will forget that mont.
I will never
You will forget. Not him. But the feeling of the grass upon which you kneel. How you held him. How you sat. Each mont of forgetting will hurt. Yet he will never leave you.
The Witch of Ashes stood, and she was taller now. A giant, pointing down at Erin. Her voice was no louder, but it filled the world like the whisper of dust.
That question will follow you to your grave. If you cared. The guilt will tear you apart so nights. You will weep for that boy. Wonder what might have been. You may forget him for hours, days, weeks, months, years. But you will rember him.
The young woman looked up at the witch and knew it was true. Simply true. Even if she was old and grayhow could she forget her friend? She did not want it to be, but she feared she would forget.
So. Then. Knowing this, and if you couldwould you ever forget? Erase the pain? Take a balm to soothe your mind? Free yourself of that burden?
Vexcla leaned forwards. The shadows under the brim of her hat revealed the many eyes of different colors, blinking, shifting, each one watching Erin. Califor as well, a hand on the brim of her hat. They looked at her, all three.
The [Innkeeper] looked up. She rubbed at her eyes.
What? No. Never. Why would you even ask that?
She grew angry, just thinking about it. Forget Headscratcher? She t Vexclas gaze, angry. Clenching her hands. The [Witch] saw the [Innkeeper]s eyes flash.
She smiled. It was a broad, sharp smile that spread within the darkness. Somillune smiled too. The Witch of Ash sat back down, her dress glowing like embers. She raised her hat, revealing paler strands of hair.
Then, Erin Solstice. You are a [Witch]. Rember that mont. Know your craft.
Somillune pointed down at Erin. The [Innkeeper] blinked up at her. Vexcla laughed. Without a word she rose and began walking down the hill.
We are done.
Witch Vexcla! Witch Somillune, you cant be serious!
Califor rose to her feet. She gestured at Erin, who was as bewildered as she was. The [Witch] turned to the Witch of Ash.
What of establishing exactly what her craft is? Teaching her the fundantals of magic?
Two ember-eyes t Califors vexed stare equally.
Witch Califor. We respect your craft and talent. You have taught many witches, I have no doubt. But rember: we are the [Witches] of our eras. Perhaps we see this student more clearly than you.
She looked at Erin. The [Innkeeper] raised a hand.
But Im willing to learn! I am! I need to find my craft, right? Dont I need to at least figure out if Im happiness or silliness or sothing? Oroh no. Im loss. Pain? I dont want to be that!
She began to panic. Somillune laughed.
You are not any of those, Erin Solstice. Unless you choose to be. We have not found your craft, as Califor says. That is why she objects. But think: you know what it is to be a [Witch]. Is there anything else you truly need?
The [Witch] looked from Califor to Erin. She addressed Califor.
What could we teach her, the nuance of every craft? Have we ti? When she wakes, if she rembersshe need only pursue the core of what we are. She will find herself. That is enough. This is what magic is made from, Erin Solstice. Do you understand?
Erin thought of Headscratcher. Holding himher voice trembled.
Not exactly. Can you say it anotheranother way?
Somillune nodded.
Rember. Simply rember every frustration, every cruelty and injustice and wrong.
She gestured, and Erin saw the heads of two Goblins held in a grinning Drakes claw. A dying Antinium stabbed by countless daggers, shielding her. Stared down at her open palm, slashed by a knife.
The witch spoke again, interrupting the thoughts that could pour over her in the dark of night. At bad tis, in bad places.
Now, rember when you smiled. Your triumphs, your love and laughter. Each second you breathed in and knew: I am alive. That is the root of your craft. Each witch rely finds a different focus. A different question for the sa answer.
Erin blinked. Was it that simple? Califor looked like she wanted to object.
There isnuance, Witch Somillune. Practice. She has none of those things.
The Witch of Ash shrugged.
How will we teach her? With magic that is as dead as we are? I say to you, Witch Califorlook back. The first [Witches] had no guidance. They discovered themselves. Give Erin Solstice no rules. Teach her no lengthy lessons; does she take to it? Let her be and grow without a roof in her mind.
Califor went silent. Erin looked at Somillune.
Justfeelings? mory? Is it really that easy?
A voice laughed in her ear. Erin jumped and realized Vexcla had co back. The Witch of Eyes looked at her, amused.
Did you think it was sothing truly secret that no one could do? The root of things is simple. You will find depths beyond your imagining if you follow this path. But think: magic as [Mages] do it is just rembering the correct way sothing is and putting a bit of power in it. An incantation is just words in the right order and tone. A sigil is a drawing.
Wow. Magic sounds cheap.
The two older witches laughed at that. Really laughed, without restraint or even trying to keep themselves upright. Vexcla grinned at Erin again.
It may. But tell . What is stronger in you than your mory of when you held Headscratcher? Is there anything more powerful? Anything that will last longer?
The [Innkeeper] shook her head. Vexcla smiled and nodded.
That is our magic. Transitory. Temporary. mory and emotion, which disappear and change. It is not the strength of [Mages], which adds to itself. It wanes; like the Gnolls and [Shamans], our power has been lost as the greatness of this world fades. With each species that passes, each kingdom that falls, all fades away.
We would not have it any other way.
Somillune nodded. Califor looked at the two older [Witches], astounded. Perhaps that was the difference between them. Erin turned to Vexcla, as the Witch of Eyes raised one curious hand, like Gazis.
The first [Witch] to exist found her craft because she had to. Because it gave purpose to feeling! Her suffering, her glorythat beca the root of her magic. That is why we devoted our lives to it. Because it mattered. There are so things that cannot be forgotten. That a lifeti is changed by. You are one of us. So: our work is done. Your next lesson awaits.
She pointed down the hill. Confused, Erin looked at Califor. Then she stood up.
To be a [Witch] sounded a lot likespirituality to her. Or an understanding so broad that anyone could be a [Witch]. But both sounded so knowing. Did they really know how to teach her?
Perhaps the Dynasty of Khelt wondered, because one of the ghosts who had been not-quite-eavesdropping floated forwards as Erin descended the hill. She saw the ghosts of Chandrar waiting. But the [Witch] whom she was walking towards was noticeable, even among them.
A Treant or Dryad orErin waved up at her and the woman turned.
AH. YOU UNDERSTAND CRAFT, NOW, ERIN SOLSTICE?
Her voice bood; Erin had forgotten how the gigantic witch spoke. She shouted back, raising her voice.
S-sort of? It was a fast lesson.
The witch nodded amiably.
A LESSON FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HOURS MORE TO EXISTOR PERHAPS AGES. TI ENOUGH TO TEACH YOU MORE IF WE ARE NOT ALL CONSUD SCREAMING INTO THE VOID SOON.
The [Innkeeper] opened her mouth.
Um. Yes. Thats a great point.
I KNOW.
The two looked at each other. Erin fidgeted beneath the too-calm stare.
Soso whats my next lesson? Fire? How to brew an uh invisibilityno, wait. A super-strength potion?
The Witch of Trees raised her leafy limbs in a kind of shrug.
NEITHER. WE ARE HERE TO MAKE YOU STRONGER. SOHERE IS YOUR LESSON. WE HAVE CHOSEN A HUNDRED, THE FOUR OF US. PICK ONE.
Pick one? One wh
Erin Solstice turned her head. Then she realized: the ghosts of Chandrar, milling about, had pulled a bit back from this spot, like her first lesson, to give her room. Onlythere were so close by.
Ghosts. A hundred of them. The four [Witches] stood nearby, so sitting, others standing. Looking at her. They were all looking at her.
Waitingthe [Innkeeper] saw familiar faces among the people there. A [Sage], what looked like a [Queen], a glowing Djinnishe looked at the Witch of Trees, whose na she could not pronounce.
Wait. What do you an?
TALK TO THEM. EACH ONE HAS AGREED TO TELL YOU THEIR STORIES.
Justtalk to them? Oh, co on! What about a poti
The [Witch] bent down and stared at Erin with two bright eyes amid the ancient wood of her face. Erin broke off, gulped.
A POTION? WHAT GOOD IS A POTION, GIRL? TELL SOTHING. ARE YOU AN [INNKEEPER] OR NOT?
I
A gnarled finger tapped her in the chest.
WE WOULD HAVE YOU BE A [WITCH]. YET YOUR CLASS MATTERS AS WELL. WHEN WE SPOKE TO THE FIRST OF KHELT, WE PROMISED TO AID YOU IN BOTH. THIS IS A BOON UNMATCHED. GREATER THAN A RECIPE FOR A POTION. LOOK. THE GHOSTS OF ALL OF CHANDRAR STAND BEFORE YOU AND YOU WISH TO LEARN HOW TO BREW A POTION?
Her voice shook the ground. Erin stuttered.
I justI thought it would be useful
The Witch of Trees was less kind than the other two [Witches]. Her reply was rather like a branch, or an apple hitting Erin on the head.
DID YOU THINK YOUR POWER WAS IN LEARNING HOW TO SWING A SWORD? CAST A SPELL? IF IT WERE SO, BETTER YOU HAD LIVED AND APPRENTICED YOURSELF TO A [SWORD SAGE] FOR A CENTURY, AND MADE USE OF SO ANCIENT RITUAL.
She poked Erin again with a branch-finger.
THIS IS POWER. THIS IS THE STRENGTH YOU POSSESS. ASK THEM. LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES.
With that, she turned and strode away. Erin was left standing in front of the ghosts of the world. Califor, on the hill, saw the old [Witch] coming her way.
You may disagree with us, Witch Califor. But we did think on how best to use fleeting ti.
With this?
Vexcla grinned.
With this. She is a clever girl. She would have co to this by herself, I think. But we have moved it ahead of her wasting ti and given her the hint any [Witch] needs. Nowlet us see if she finds the true worth in this.
Below her, Erin Solstice had stopped dithering, and, pressured by all the stares and waiting hundred ghosts and [Witches]timidly called out to one of the ones closest to her. The four [Witches] on the hill watched as Erin sat down and listened.
-
The man had a robe likewell, soone had attached a king-sized bed sheet to his back. That was an uncharitable way of putting it. Put another way, Erin saw the cloak of many substances forming a single garnt. He was the flashy person shed seen before, who looked like liquid rcury had beco cloth in one part, a strange animals green-furred hide in another.
It reminded her of Rabbiteaters Cloak of Plenty, so that was one of the reasons shed chosen him. He sat with her on the ground, and Erin saw his hands had magical rings on each finger. Earrings of magic dangled from each ear, and she wondered what he might have carried; a staff or sothing if he had kept that possession in death.
Um. H-hi. How are you doing? I uhwhat are you supposed to be doing? Are we chatting? Is this a date?
The man smiled as the [Innkeeper] stuttered. He did not have a preamble; he just spoke, quickly, but asured enough that each word was clear.
The [Witches] of old asked to tell you who I was. That it might help you, [Innkeeper] Erin Solstice. That is why we are here. I am honored to be chosen. So: I was the [Sage] who invented Sages Grass, as it seems the world now calls it. More recent than many of my class. Older it seems, the more ti passes.
He smiled at her. Erins jaw dropped.
Wait. Yourethe guy? The Sages Grass guy? I have so growing in my garden! Youre famous!
The [Sage] blinked.
In your garden? Then it has grown that common? When I first invented it, by marrying magic to plants to create a plant which could create mana just by existingit was the rarest thing in the world. A [Witch] of my ti traded a fortune of fortunes just for a few seeds.
Erin blinked.
Well, its not common but itssort of? Its expensive as heck.
Ah. By which you an it is acquirable with re coinage? Again, when it was first invented, a single leaf was more than any common citizen could afford. Rightly so, for with it one could brew powerful potions and cast uncommon spells. I am told that since my death, it allowed healing potions to be more common.
He just sat there, the [Sage] of Sages Grasstalking to her. Erin looked around to make sure she wasnt being pranked. She got what the [Witches] ant, though. She tried to explain.
Well, maybe it did. Because healing potions are likeeveryone has one. Not a great one, but one. I have like, fifty two in my inn. I could have used more antidotes. Thats a mistake.
A common one. If I may advisemany [Sages] and [Alchemists] died from poison in the air. A ring to detect such things was commonplace. See? Ah
He tried to take off a ring on his hand, but it vanished and reford. The [Sage] shrugged regretfully.
If that knowledge helps, I would be grateful. The [Witches] told not to think of such lessons, but more to tell you who I was, though. So I shall speak. In life, I would not have been asaccepting. Healing potions in my ti were rare, you see. They could close a wound in an instant, which I suppose ans little to you, although it seems the power to regrow limbs is lost.
Whyou could do that?
A raised brow.
If you had a potion, which only royalty or the richest could afford, of course. Adventurers and warriors made do with other tricks. One used to be a blood stoppage spell. However, I made my fortune selling Sages Grass and the products it created to the wealthy. I was the richest of my ti. Fad. They knew as the Sage of a Hundred Thousand Secrets, for I knew the value and wealth in everything, from blades of grass to blood and water.
Erin Solstice listened, as the man talked. She saw he looked the part for a [Sage] of legends. His long, flowing beard had turned pale white, and his features were lined, although so draught had kept him youthful.
-
Youth, immortality, and of course, turning lead to gold. That was the dream of [Alchemists], wise-n, and of course, [Sages].
Few realized even one of those dreams, even in part. This man? Born of Chandrar, a boy who learned how to combine so magical mold and other elents that grew around the alchemists city he grew up in when he was nine, had done all three things.
Hell, he mastered the art of lead to gold by the ti he was fourteen, which wasnt actually that impressive. He beca an [Alchemist]s apprentice, in a true rags-to-riches talealthough all the [Alchemists] of the ti grew rich on the lead to gold formula.
Which promptly caused the worst recession in history as gold beca worthless. However, the young man leveled in his class, going from [Alchemist] to a study of more than pills and tonics.
To be a [Sage] was to be a master in many forms of knowledge. More than a jack-of-trades. He studied the body because potions interacted with itand from that divined more secrets. The world was connected! Thus, the boy beca a man, a [Sage] who soon learned one of the secrets of prolonging the body. Even bottling a Skill into a tincture!
As he grew, he gained rivals, but none would match him when he used simple herbology combined with the magical powers worthy of an [Archmage] to create a plant that consud little more than grass, but produced magic!
With this, he had a creation that rivaled Unicorns and Dragons; a nigh-infinite source of mana. After that ca riches beyond imagining. The secrets of immortality, purchased from Drath, Dragons lairs, and so on.
Over six hundred years, the Sage of a Hundred Thousand Secrets lived, growing wealthier and more powerful. He might have lived for thousands of years, but for what Sages Grass attracted. It was not a glamorous death, or even a great one; monsters and treasure seekers forced him into hiding, but it was a simple dagger to the back which killed him. An [Assassin], dispatched to end his monopoly on the Sages Grass itself.
Ironically, the daggers poison had no effect. And sowhat unfortunately, it ant that a dagger to the back was the end of the great Sage of a Hundred Thousand Secrets. It was a dagger to the back several dozen tis that did it. He died in his hidden ho, lungs filling with blood, reaching for one of the countless treasures or vials that could have saved him.
-
The Sage of a Hundred Thousand Secrets did not prolong his story. In fact, Erin got the sense he had truncated it. He had a lesson in his story, too.
A [Sage] should not have been so petty. I mastered all kinds of knowledge. I acquired power that few ever touched. However, I failed my class. I should have learned wisdom first. You hear of my hubris, how I chased wealth before friendship and anything else. I caution you: do not let that happen.
Erin nodded.
I wont.
She tried not to say that it wasnt that likely because Erin never had a thousand gold pieces at any one ti and this guy had tossed thousands of gold pieces down every ti he tripped or sothing. Perhaps the [Sage] saw that in her because he smiled.
Not an [Innkeeper]s problem, I suspect. Yet it is the only story I can tell. I do not know what the [Witches] soughtbut I hope it helps.
Erin stumbled to reassure him, as sad as he looked.
It does! Totally! Its amazing to et you! I know of your creation, of course. Umthey called youwait, what was your na? I dont know the Sage of a Hundred Thousandbut maybe you have a na? Octavia would know it, but shes not here. I hope.
Erin saw the man smile ruefully and raise a hand. He glanced to one side and Erin noticed sothing peculiar. Among the ghosts keeping her company, Gerial being one of them, the hundred ghosts had replaced the [Sage]. Exactly one ghost had joined their number, gestured to by the [Witches].
They wanted her to listen to another one. And to help them, Gerial wasdoing his part. He was deliberately, slowly, and excruciatingly counting to ten thousand.
Apparently that was how long each ghost had, and the [Sage] was aware of it. He lifted a handGerial was muttering.
Nine thousand nine hundred and three, nine thousand nine hundred and four
It struck Erin as sothing that was downright evil for the [Witches] to make him do. Even poor Sisyphus or whover the boulder-guy was in Greek legends didnt have to count and start over. But Gerial was determined to do his part.
The [Sage] rose to his feet.
I would rather, Erin, that my na be forgotten. As my story showsI was not worthy of my class. Thank you for asking my story. I believe you must continue, though.
He stepped away. Erin raised a hand, then let it fall as she saw one of the [Witches] look at her. Confusednot sure if she had gained much from the story, but feeling bad for the manshe looked around and pointed at random.
She realized shed pointed at a Stitch-Womanher body wonderfully vivid, like a half-Elfs but torn with her death-wounds. Even the other Stitchfolk looked in awe of her and Erin was curious to know her story.
But she wondered, as she stood up to introduce herself, what the [Witches] wanted her to get from this. Just stories?
-
Like the first speaker, the second ghost did not waste ti, having been told what to do. She leaned forwards, and showed Erin how she died.
Soone had blasted her apart. Literally. If she let ittwo thirds of her head was gone, revealing ragged string and flesh and bone. As well as most of her chest.
However, if she willed it, she was also a beautiful, if war-scarred woman. For a String Person, that ant she was clearly repaired in places, sewn up, rather than scarred. She didntlook like a warrior like Relc.
That was to say, her build didnt suggest that. She looked like she would be more suited dancing on a stage, like so celebrity-actress.
Her eyes told another story. They were like Gazis, like Halracs. Erin had t warriors and this woman was one to the core. She also belonged in the company of the [Sage] and [Witches]. Or ratherthey belonged in her company.
I was called the Rebel of String. Do you know why?
Erin Solstice blinked. The Stitch-woman smiled.
Because I was the first String Person in the world to rebel. Back before the [Sage]s ti. Long before. When we were Cloth Golems. When we killed the Threadmakers; our creators. I was there. When we beca a people, not renegade things and every nation had to acknowledge our beating heartsI was there.
The [Innkeeper]s jaw dropped. She looked around, then got up.
Am II dont knowam I supposed to bow or sothing? Wait, this is huge, right? Youre super important? Youre so important I dont know how important you are!
She looked around, and the String People ghosts nodded. For that matter, so of the ghosts, especially royalty, were eying the Rebel of Stringand not all with friendly gazes. She had sent more than a few to their graves in her ti.
String People had once been Cloth Golems? Erin sat back down and the woman explained: yes, they had been.
Elucina. That is my na. The one I chose. We had different nas. We wereGolems. Thats the na for us. I understand there were once Golems of pottery, who rebelled. Well, in my ti, the Threadmakers, the greatest [Mages] and [Weavers], decided cloth was better. They wove us more intelligent with each generation, until we began to think too much. Then we rebelled.
Whatwhat happened?
Elucina looked at Erin. She grinned.
Have you never heard the story of [Slaves]? What do you think happened?
-
Blood and death. Pleas for freedom, ignored, until the creators hands turned against their creations, imposing harsher ans of enforcing control.
The String Folk had been a truer kind of accident than Truestone. Their creators had known the lessons of oldnot well enough, but they had heeded them.
They wanted servants, perfect servants. A mind was the problem, and at first they had had great success by deliberately refraining from giving the Cloth Golems too much of a mind. However, over countless amounts of ti, as more and more Cloth Golems were made, sothing happened.
Even their limited intelligence, form over functional minds drew together. It wasa tangle of string. A kind of collective growth.
The first lifestring, the very root of what made String Peoplepeopleerged in Cloth Golems. The Threadmakers thought of it like a plague, a parasite of consciousness. They tried to weed it out, stop the Golems from rebelling. Then they chased down the first dissidents, trying to kill themthen negotiate, cling to their power, as the desperate first Stitch-folk fought for freedom, unwilling to take anything but freedom.
It took centuries. Wars as other nations refused to let this new species be. They had allies. Peoples who recognized themin those days, the Jinn and their Djinni kin took up arms for the String Folk, which would one day lead to their downfall for the enemies they made. Countless Stitchfolk died, but when it ended, they were a people who now took parts of Chandrar as their ho.
Weak to fire, but fearless of blades. String Folk. From the day the first of them asked to be freed, to the day they beca a people
She was there.
-
The Rebel of String, Elucina, had been a [Rebel]. But she had not stayed one forever, though her class took her into Level 60 on that alone. After that though, she beca a simpler class.
A [Hero].
I was not the first, true Rebel of String, either, Erin Solstice. I hoped you would choose , so I could tell you that. Many can tell stories like mine. But I wished to tell you: I was not the first.
Elucina sipped from the lemonade Erin had offered her. The [Sage] had refused when Erin offered her one gift to the ghosts. She smiled, looking relaxedbut never truly relaxed.
She had lived for centuriesno, over two thousand yearsand even now, she sat as if she were just resting. Waiting for the next war. Yet she was kind and friendly. Erin was breathless, listening to her tale.
You werent? Who was, um, Miss Elucina?
She tried to be respectful, and it was an effort she made for few, even among the dead. The String Woman seed to appreciate it. She sighed and put the drink down, where it vanished.
I was the eighteenth. The others who ca before were braver. Stronger. The firstwhose na was Destrehad the will to break every spell and command and call our burgeoning souls to cry out for rcy from our creators. And then, when they turned to wrath and fear, fight for our freedom.
Erin listened as the Rebel of String told her about them. Naming all seventeen. She tried to commit their nas to morybefore Elucinas ti ran out.
She was the Rebel of String, but the [Witches] insisted and Elucina didnt argue. She just rose, smiling.
I hope it has given you sothing, brave [Innkeeper]. We fight a foe like the Threadmakers nowand they stand among us.
She gave a Garuda standing in the crowd a flat look, which was returned. Yet Elucina turned back to Erin and sighed.
A foe so great, all must stand with old foes or riska slavery of forever, perhaps. I do not know. I stand with all ghosts. With my people.
The [Hero of String] glanced at the Threadmaker Garuda again and whispered to Erin.
And as far away from them as possible.
Erin smiled at her.
Thank you for telling . Its an honor. Itsyeah.
I hope it helps.
With that, the woman stepped into the sea of ghosts. Erin watched her go, and saw the other hundred stand or move forwards, waiting. So looked hungry for their stories to be told, others content to wait.
She stood there, thinking. I hope it helps. Was the story enough? It was certainly one of the stories to tell. If Erin was a [Storyteller]
She wasnt, though. Nor soone like Barelle the [Bard]. Erin recalled eting him. This would help him without a doubt. Her, though?
Sothing was missing. Erin glanced at one of the witches, and hesitated. What was missing? She t the eyes of one of the [Witches], who smiled at her. They were a tricky lot. Erin Solstice thought.
What was she supposed to learn here?
-
There were so many things that could happen. Califors hands were knitted together so tightly that but for her lack of flesh, she would have hard herself.
The last coven of dead witches watched Erin Solstice hesitate after the second ghost. Had she figured it out? Califor herself didnt know what Somillune and the others wanted Erin to learn.
She suspectedbut their craft ran deep. They were [Witches] who had beco archetypes of their kind, so close to magic and craft that they were like Belavierr. So had even been feared for what they did in their ti. They were beyond her in every way
But [Witches] were [Witches]. Califor refused to ask. Also, they loved lessons like these, where you ended up teaching yourself. So the [Witch] waited. She saw Erin pointing uncertainly at a floating Djinni. A good choice; she had to learn their history, as much as the Rebel of String. If anything, the Sage of a Hundred Thousand Secrets had been the weak choice.
However, Erin Solstice hesitated as the Djinni floated over, smiling and shifting to look like a Human like her, only male. She held up a hand and turned to one of the [Witches]. The Drowned Witch.
Hold on. Can I get a second?
-
A second?
The Drowned Witch, Barsoijou, growled at Erin. She looked offended by the question. The [Innkeeper] nodded, a touch uncertainly.
Sothing was wrong. She felt it.
I just need a second. Cant we stop the count? Gerial?
The man broke off from his laborious counting to ten thousand with relief. The Drowned Witch glared so hard he began again, hurriedly speeding up.
The six could overrun Chandrar for all its protections and end this faade of peace, girl. Each second you waste arguing is a second lost! Here stand before you a hundred legends and myths from the whole of Chandrars ti! And you would waste more ti on a single one?
All the witches were so an. Erin huffed, and put her hands on her hips.
Look, I know youre right!
The Drowned Witch hesitated, mouth open. She hadnt expected Erin to say that. The [Innkeeper] went on hurriedly.
Youre right! Butsothings off. Im sorry, excuse . This is part of your lesson, isnt it?
The Drowned Witch paused, and her eyes flickered. Erin didnt miss the way her lips twitched as she turned her head. The [Innkeeper] blinkedthen smiled herself. She felt more sure suddenly, and whirled to face the third ghost coming her way.
The Djinni floating her way was aware his ti was already running out. He drew himself up proudly, and the boy grew in size until he was a giant with flashing eyes like clouds, arrayed in silks worthy of any Chandrarian [King]. Then his body began to twist into a more fantastical shape based on the humanoid form. His voice bood.
My na is Qintevfal, and I am
Im sorry, give one second!
Erin ran past him, waving her arms frantically in apology. The massive Djinni cut off in the middle of his introduction and stood there, looking rather confused.
The [Innkeeper] ran into the crowd of ghosts, calling out, running through so people which was rude, but she was in a hurry. She shouted.
Excuse ! Has anyone seen the Sage of a Thousand Things? Or whatever? The guy with the really long robe? Can anyone point to
She found him walking away from her, job done. He looked backwards, surprised.
Erin Solstice. Is sothing wrong? I was told ti was of the essence
It probably is. [Witches] are always correct and stuff. But theyre not always right. Especially when theyre being cunning jerks to you. Co back! I need to ask you sothing!
She tugged him back to the place they had been. Erin saw the Rebel of String returning too, shepherdedby the Drowned Witch. The woman grinned and tipped her hat to Erin. The [Innkeeper] could swear she saw an eye wink.
What can I offer you?
The [Sage] stood there, lookingwell, lost. Grand as could be with his cloak and levels, which exceeded many of the ghosts. He was in the 0.000001%, even here, or sothing, Erin was sure.
However, that wasnt what he looked like. She looked at him, not the ghost who had been changing to reflect his story of his grandeur in life. Now? He lookedlost.
I forgot to ask you sothing important.
Then, if it is a recipe or secret, ask and I will
Whats your na?
The [Sage] hesitated. He glanced over his shoulder at the Rebel of String and Djinni, both of whom looked mystified. He replied to Erin.
As I said, Erin Solstice. I omitted it as my choice. It should be lost, as my hubris
Cant you tell ? Id like to know.
Erin pressed him. The [Sage] looked rather put out about his grand gesture of anonymity being called into question.
Iwhat purpose would it solve? My na is no doubt written down despite the passage of ti. You need not know it, however. Compared to the secret ofto create a Potion of Ages Reversal, you begin with Sages Grass, and infuse it with a potent dust of bones. To be precise, the bones of any creature that has lived over a hundred years, other qualities rendered inert. And then you
Erin put a finger to his lips.
Shush. I dont care about that. Listen. Wont you tell your na? You dont want it rembered because you think you ssed up. I know. You said that. Butdont you want soone to write it down? To tell your story again and sayhe made mistakes, but he did make Sages Grass? So I can say I t you, instead of the Hundredfold Thousand Secret-guy?
The [Sage] looked more offended with each sentence, but he wavered. He spoke, with so effort.
How would it help you, though?
To that, the [Innkeeper] only laughed. She laughed, as the [Witches] began to smile. At the silly [Sage].
I dont know! Thats not the point! I justdont want to et you and not know your na. Whats the point of that? If I et every legend in this world and learn their stories, who cares? Id rathermake a friend.
Her eyes widened as she said that. In that space in ti, Erin knew that was what was missing. Of course.
She was no [Bard]. No [Storyteller], or [Historian] whose job it was to tell a story properly, with all facts accounted for or the greatest gravitas and delivery. Erin never told stories like that. She told you about the ti Mrsha got so mad at sniffing-Pisces that she dumped food coloring in his laundry and he wore brown underwear.
Like LyonetteErin told stories about her friends. She looked at the lonely [Sage], consud with guilt countless years after his death. She was far more interested with that, with the cares of the dead, than the re facts about how he had lived.
The Sage of a Hundred Thousand Secrets looked at Erin. She saw him blink a few tis, then, despite himself, smile. He sighed. Then leaned in close and whispered in her ear.
They called Velzimri. So did I, when I was older. But my real na was just Velzi. I added the rest to sound more majestic.
Erin laughed and clapped her hands together. She took the [Sage] and bade him sit. Then waved the others over.
Why dont you sit with as I listen, Velzi? Can I call you that? Want so french fries?
Are they so kind of alchemical ingredient? I couldnt tell what they were on first glance. I am a [Sage]. That is disquieting.
Velzimri eyed the McDonalds french fries, which were a bit off from even normal fried potatoes. He looked around at the waiting ghosts.
You cannot spend all the ti with , Erin Solstice
I know that. That doesnt an you have to leave. Elucina! I had a question for you, too. Im sorry Mister?
She looked up at the Djinni. He bood.
Qintevfal.
Erins mouth moved for a few seconds.
SorryQin? I just have to ask one thingdo you want fries?
He bent down, and turned into a small man to make the fries go further. Erin handed him a cheap paper cup of ketchup too and Elucina sat down. Velzi was trying to figure out exactly what was in these fries that made them tastedifferent.
Have you sothing entertaining to ask , Erin Solstice? You know my na and that of the others. If you were alive when I was, I hope I would have stopped by your inn.
The Rebel of Strings eyes were dancing. She waited, and Erin laughed.
I hope so too. Its justI cant just hear your stories. Maybe ten thousand seconds to tell them is fineeven if its too short, I know. But I have to ask more.
Then ask.
Elucina leaned forwards. The [Sage] and Djinni waited. What would the [Innkeeper] ask? Sothing petty or funny or?
Erin Solstice looked at the Rebel of String. At the [Sage], full of regrets. She addressed her question to both of them. To the ghosts waiting for her. Even to Califor on the hill, to Gerial. The true question and thing she wanted to learn.
If I wakeif I rember it all. I know its a big if. But if I can bring a mory to the land of the living, and you could tell them anythingwhat would that be?
The String Woman stirred. The Djinni smiled triumphantly, showing gleaming teeth. The [Witches] sighed. Then, Elucina threw back her head and regarded Erin fully. Proudly. She did smile then, like the hero of stories.
Ah. I see why you of all ca here now.
Elucina saw the [Innkeeper] duck her head, abashed. The String Woman stood. She looked around vast Chandrar, the land of the dead. She closed her eyes and thought. They all did.
Gerial, Califorsuddenly closed their eyes and thought of the thing she would ask them. Erin looked around, heart beating. She would try to rember it all. When Elucina looked back, she sighed.
Be kinder to each other. We were all slaves of cloth, once. What we were made of never mattered. I dont know when they changed.
She looked around and other Stitchfolkcountless billions of themducked their heads, embarrassed. Ashad. Elucina spoke, words her people had forgotten or never heard. Perhaps ones even the ghosts had never asked, or thought to ask.
I see generations co calling themselves Hemp as if that ant it were poor. Silk, as if silk was grander. What does it matter? If you call the first of my kind, the first rebel, if you honor I say it does not matter!
Voices cried out in protest. Erin saw lineages of royalty look at Elucina and fall silent, or argue. The Rebel of String shouted at them.
It does not matter to ! So tell them, Erin Solstice! Tell them I cared nothing for how they were woven or cut! That was not what I would tell them to watch for and care for! I say: look!
She pointed ahead, towards the distant sea and dark skies. The womans voice rose.
If I could have lived, I would have kept rebelling! Kept fighting. Surely there would have been people, monsters who hurt my folk. If I sohow found myself in a ti when peace reignedI would still be the Rebel of String, because I know my cause would not be done.
Now she looked up at the Djinni, waiting patiently, and then at Erin.
We were not the first! We will not be the last. Soday, a people like ours will co again. They will surely not look like us. They will not act like us, nor know who ca before. So String Folk must wait. Watch. And when the next slaves, the next imprisoned folk cry out, we should raise our blades and cut a path for both of our peoples. For them all.
She t Erins eyes.
Tell them that.
Erin nodded, unable to say anything. She thought she knew of that next people. Now, she sat with Elucina and Velzi and knew them. When the third ghost ca, he walked towards her as a man.
Wearing her face. Only, as if Erin had been a young man her age. He grinned, and the Djinni transford again. A majestic cat with the face of a Humana Garuda with six wings
Qintevfal, right?
Erin managed the na. The Djinni nodded regally.
I greet you. Do you know what I am?
A Djinni?
Erin squinted up at him. Elucina looked calm, but Velzi looked wary. The Djinni laughed, and showed her his wrists.
No shackles on either. He rose up, and Erin realized he had been showing her sothing. His power, perhaps; even other Djinni looked less vivid than he did, even colored by death.
I am a Prince ofDjinni, little girl. In my life, they knew by many nas. All terrible. They called monster, demon of magic. Rightly so.
He tapped his chest as so ghosts cried out. Ghosts he had killedand there were too many to count. Qintevfal ignored them all. This was his story. He leaned down, to talk to Erin once more, never holding one form more than a second or two.
I rember we were free. So here have striven against , or seen my kind in chains and in wild chaos, endangering the world, waging mighty war. I cannot say we were perfect, but I have never wept for the countless dead. I am still burning with that desire for vengeance. Even now. Will you listen to it?
He smiled and Erin nodded slowly, looking up at him. Even in his introduction, sothing in her chest stirred, pushing away at the easy way he almost bragged about the people he had killed. Neverthelessshe glanced at Elucinathey had both been slaves.
She listened. Qintevfal might have been the best storyteller, and he left her with a ssage for his people. However, she did not invite him to stay, nor did it seem like he expected it. He left her unsettled, and she stopped a second until asking the next ghost to co forwards.
-
Not all were good storytellers. Not all had good reasons. Yet for a while, the ghosts of the dead told her their stories.
So she asked to stay. So she made friends with. So told her secrets they had been too ashad to tell in life, gave her advice, wanted and not. Helpful or unhelpful. So tried to spend their ti simply teaching her things, rather than telling her their life.
She t monsters who pretended to be people, and people who had been called monsters. The [Witches] did not discern between things like good or evil. Just who had mattered, had stood at the pinnacle of what they were for one reason or another.
Erin tried to hold all the stories and knowledge in her mind and knew she never would. Even the ghosts struggled to keep up with it. But she listened.
She liked stories. More than that?
She liked people. Not everyone, but a good [Innkeeper] had her crowd. She spoke to them, making the sa statent to all.
I forget a lot of things. Nas, faces, all kinds of stuff. I cant promise you Ill rember if I get to go back, either.
Erin only rose when Califor ca to find her.
Erin. Sothing is happening at the coast. Follow .
The [Witch] beckoned and a crowd of ghosts, Gerial included, rose to their feet. How long it had been, the [Innkeeper] didnt know. But she rose and followed Califor as quickly as she could.
That was how she heard him, and then saw him. A booming voice, filled with wrath.
I have flown the world across, defying the grip of shades to search for hope amid darkness. I will not be turned back, not by all the petty little ghosts of Chandrar! Move aside, you animated corpses!
There was only one kind of person who had a tone that imperious and commanding. A Lyonette-kind of person.
That turned out to be a gigantic, hovering Dragon in the air, just inside the radius of light cast by the umbrella. Behind him roiled the dark shadows, squirming to get at the ghost.
Yet he did not fully enter Chandrar; walls of sand blocked him. The Dynasty of Khelt was facing off against the Dragon.
Uh. Why are they stopping him?
Half the ghosts looked at Erin as if she were a fool. Elucina whispered in her ear.
Because he is a Dragon. Chandrar suffers no Dragons.
Why?
No one had ti to explain. The enmity between Chandrarian rulers and Dragons ran deep. However, it seed even the Dynasty of Khelt wasnt actually trying to push said Dragon out into the sea where he might be consud.
Sothing stood there. Erin shuddered as she saw one of the six, thething with no discernible features, the lost thing, waiting there. The Dragon flapped forwards.
Let in, and explain this light, ghosts.
Ask, Dragon. We are dead! Humble yourself one iota and but ask to enter Chandrar!
The furious rulers of Khelt shouted at him. The Dragon snorted plus of purple fire tinged withErin blinked. Transparent fire? It was a wondrous color, even in death. And his scales! They were beautiful! Not one color. More likespace itself. She stared up at him, a being bigger than Yderigrisel, majestic, as awe-inspiring as the greatest of Djinni or Giants.
And sort of rude. The Void Dragon bellowed a reply.
I am the last Dragonlord of Stars and I will not supplicate myself to any mortal ruler there was or ever has been! Enough of this!
He blew flas, trying to break Khelts walls of sand, and then flew at them. He had probably forgotten that he was a ghost and these walls of Khelts power in death were more solid than actual walls would have been in life. Erin could swear she heard an ugrhf sound as he smacked into the sand.
A lot of ghosts laughed at him, mocking the Dragon. The enraged ghost flew higher, roaring his fury. But the sand just blocked him, forming an aerial shield. They might have done this forever had Califor and the [Witches] not strode forwards.
Enough! The end of the world draws nigh and we waste ti on supremacy? Let him in!
The Dynasty of Khelt hesitated, but then reluctantly lowered their hands. The Dragon landed, wings spread, as ghosts scattered. He whirledbut the lost thing never advanced.
It feared the sunlight. And the glowing sword held up by the ruler chosen to wield it for the montthe first [King] of a place called Tiqr. The Dragonlord huffed.
Across the sea it chased . Two of my kin no less great than I flew, breathing fire which still burns themand yet they were lost. Consud. How is it that re sunlight can hold them off?
It is more than a seeming. It is sunlight from the land of the living. Or a mory as strong as Dragonfire. Well t, Dragonlord of the Stars. I am Somillune, the Witch of Ash. I greet you along with the ghosts of Chandrar past. How are you nad?
Somillune walked forwards as the ghosts clamored. The Witch of Ashes raised her hand and tipped her hat. She did not kneel or bow.
The Dragon glowered at herthen seed to recognize her hat or power. He grunted.
Witches. At last, so sense among Chandrars pigheaded lot. We thought you were all fallen long ago without our Dragonfire. I am Dragonlord of the Stars, Xarkouth. Last of the Dragonlords of Void Dragons. Soon to be among the last of my kind. Again.
His wings folded. He lookedtired. The Dragon exhaled as the Dynasty of Khelt and leaders of ghosts ca forwards. Erin hopped on her tip-toesthen realized she could just fly up and watch.
Where do you hail from, Xarkouth?
Baleros. I have flown across the sea. I am a volunteera scout. Nine of my kin flew after we set two of those things to flightone of them being that one.
The Dragon growled, indicating the watching thing with a wary flap of the wings. The ghosts murmured.
Baleros still stands, then?
The Dragon laughed in the face of the First of Khelt, who faced him down, glowering, as with many nations who had fought off Dragons in their lifetis.
Of course it does! How could it not? Every Dragon that has ever been has gone to Baleros to make a stand! Only those with ties to hearth and ho elsewhere remained! We never joined your damned land of Chandrar, even the ones who died. We have been fighting off the six and the lesser shades since they grew in strength! Though
He sobered.
It grows harder each ti. And when that woman cos, we perish. So nine of us volunteered to search for other ghosts, that we might make a stand together.
The ghosts murmured, impressed. Only a Dragon, still able to breathe fire because it was part of them, could hope to make the journey. Erin rembered Califor and her flight across the ocean with Izrilian ghosts.
We know Izril has fallen. Do you have news beyond Baleros?
Xarkouth nodded, and so of his bravado faded. He turned somber. He was not fond of the ghosts, nor they of him, but he spoke, as one did to allies against a greater enemy.
Yes. Terandria stands. Drath stands, or so we think. I searched for the House of Minosnothing amid shadows. Nor under the sea, I fear. Strongholds are falling, but those that remain grow stronger as ghosts flee there.
Terandria stands?
So ghosts called out, heartened. Somillune turned to the other [Witches] and ghosts.
How can Terandria stand without Dragonfire?
The Dragonlord raised his head and called to the ghosts of Chandrar.
With the weight of all its rulers! Take heart, ghosts! The enemy cos relentlessly, but they are not strong enough to withstand combined Dragonfire. Not yet. Baleroseven Wistram is protected by power in death! Terandria? The bearded one walked there to claim it. I am told a thousand [Kings] and [Princes] t him in battle.
Soone scoffed. The Djinni, Qin.
What battle could ghosts give without weapons, Dragon?
Xarkouth snorted smoke and fla at him.
Enough! With pride, with the weight of their land against thema thousand of Terandrias royalty fought that one, though I know not how. What I do know is this: they drove him back. Injured. Enough to buy ti. At dear cost, but every monarch ever living in Terandria holds its shores.
More astonishnt. Erin looked at Califor. This was good, right? The Dragonlord was muttering, quieter, as she edged forwards.
Scuse . Scuse .
She heard him whisper to the [Witches] and closest rulers.
They will not last long. An attempt may be made to bring them to Baleros, although it would put both continents in danger. Moreover, the Humans stubbornly refuse to leave, claiming their land is where they are strongest and where they wish to end it. I do not think they are necessarily wrong either. I thought Chandrar might be in the midst of being consud. All of Izril is gonesave for pockets.
Pockets still? Where? With that onethe three-in-one, who could stop her?
The Dragonlord grinned wearily.
I wish I could answer you. My other task is to find the ghosts who know! I found ghosts fleeing the City of Graves, who told the Walled City hurt that one and held her for nearly four hundred thousand seconds! But how is Chandrarall of itintact? This light
It seed the ghosts had learned to keep ti. Erin cheered as Xarkouth looked around.
Whoo! They kicked KasignasI an, that persons butt? For four hundred thousand seconds? How long is that? Four months? Scuse . I sort of need to get forwards. Thats my umbrella. Whats a Dragonlord? Excuse
The Dragons eyes widened as he saw Erin, the living girl, amid the dead. He reeled back, fanning his wings.
What is this?
Thisis one of the few weapons left to use against them. Why we remain. The sword and umbrella she brought. Erin Solstice. et this ghost of Baleros.
The First of Khelt nodded at Erin. Xarkouth dropped to all fours.
A half-living ghost. We had precious few before the shadows grewyou. Girl. How did you do that?
He glowered at Erin. She backed up; Xarkouth was many tis her size. Erin hesitated, then folded her arms.
Im not girl. Im Erin. Nice to et you. Also, I was given the umbrella. I may have stolen the sword. But Ill give it back.
She stuck a hand outand nearly up the Dragons left nostril. He recoiled, but gave her an impressed look, through the imdiate irritation.
This. This changes much. Tell everything. Who this Human isand how it ca to be. We have ti. I must return to Baleros and give this news.
He glanced out into the darkness and shook his head.
Sothing must be done. Although if there is a shield hereperhaps the Dragons must fly here? If we can hold them without their gaining strength forever, that is a victory of a kind! If only mortals didnt die so damn much
The Dragon turned back to Erin. The other ghosts nodded, coming close to explain the extraordinary story. Xarkouth glanced at Erin. She found her heart beating. A Dragonlord? Another Dragon. She wanted to know his story.
If she could have asked Yderigriselwell, the [Innkeeper] listened. To the ghosts talk. To stories. The [Witches] looked at her, wondering if she was ready to learn more.
Lessons and friendship in the land of the dead. For as long as safety lasted.
-
The light shone down. The umbrella hurt the lost thing standing outside its radius. It looked at the glowing sword, and thought of Baleros, burning with thousands of Dragons, able to repel them.
Iffrustration was a concept it had, surely the other five shared it. Yet the lost thing just watched Erin. Watched the ghosts confer, safe for now. It was getting harder to find more than scraps. So long as the strongholds remained, with all that power there, all the souls
The light moved slightly. Every ghost in Chandrar looked up, worried the umbrella had suddenly malfunctioned, if that was possible. But nothe Giant and person who held the umbrella were still. So why had that glorious beam trembled suddenly? Because his arm had grown tired? No. He was a ghost. So why?
Erin looked up with Califor, Xarkouth, and the others. She saw the Giant point with one finger as he held his other arm still.
He hadnt grown tired. But the Giant had
Shivered. Why? Erin turned, and her phantom heart would have skipped a beat if it beat at all.
The lost one. It was
It was smiling at them. Smiling without lips. Without a face. As clear as the sunlight streaming down, Erin realized sothing.
It had just had an idea. It slowly backed away, and the ghosts watched as it vanished into the distance. They looked at each other. Thengot back to work.
The sun shone down, briefly. While it did, the girl sat with the dead. For as long as it lasted, then
They told her their stories.
Authors Notes: Im back! I have gotten all my vaccine shots and let tell youthat one update off?
Not restful. Shivers, lightheadedness, and exceptional, I an, amazing arm pain! Well, its done with now, but I still get my monthly mid-break! Thatwas an unpleasant few days.
However, Im back to writing and whilst they didnt win, the Horns took 2nd (I think?), and so I wrote this chapter combining plot elents. If theyd won, youd get Pisces next chapter.
Instead, its Relc! Probably next chapter? Well seeIm back to work, so lets get to it! I write, you read. You also pay , so I guess I dont get to complain? But I love complaining. Thanks for reading and see you next chapter!
Nokha by LightResonance, commissioned by /lightsresonance
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