“When I’m near him now, it slows me down,” Aisha said while trying to walk away from Avant.
Vofric walked alongside the owlbear and nodded. “It appears that Avant’s bolstering spells have changed in nature due to the Artifact. They allowed us to challenge the implosion and ignore his high gravity defense against the glass.”
“Few would be better wielders of such a tool,” Sariel agreed.
Avant trilled softly and deactivated the spell around him. Blades of grass slowly stretched skyward as the pressure on them disappeared. Learning his new abilities was at the forefront of everyone’s minds upon escaping the lab. Thankfully, they were easily grasped. Though openly carrying an Artifact was a dangerous prospect. The adventurers worked under the assumption that the demon king would seek it out but nothing was certain. Though retrieving it had provided an unforeseen boon.
When Veil’s hideout was eviscerated, it created a clear line of sight to a well constructed watchtower in the distance. Sariel flew up to get a better assessment and saw the massive city of Shusyoun surrounding it. Getting there was trivial and once the tower’s presence was known the party could easily track it. With no supplies left, it was best to trek nonstop and within a few days they arrived at the gates. They could finally learn what the demon king’s motives truly were. If not that, at least they could learn about Veil and make deductions from there.
Aisha immediately noticed the wall her swordmasters had mentioned. It was not a giant partition but rather the sprawling city that stretched across the land that connected the continents Teprav and Ioznel. Waste high stone barriers surrounded the perimeter with gates at many intervals. Entering the city from any location would be no issue. Though going to the rural farmland provided little in the advancement of the party’s mission. The best option was marching up to the main city gates and requesting assistance from a guard. With the number of gates around the city, there was no line to wait in before inspection to enter Shusyoun.
Half a dozen guards clad in steel armor stood spread out near stone arches leading into the city. Stones on the waist high wall laid higher to properly support the gate. The metal grated door was raised as individuals moved through after brief inspections.
“Where are you coming from?” a guard asked as the group approached.
With Kargon’s absence, Aisha decided to take charge in communications with public officers.
“We trekked from Mount Iana.”
The guard simply nodded and waved the party in. Their leader looked stunned and hesitated.
“Won’t you inquire about our business?” Aisha asked.
The guard raised a quizzical brow. “Most folks don’t want to share their business. Anything untoward we should be wary of.”
“No, not at all. We wished to know where we may go in order to speak with the Shusyoun scholars.”
“Oh,” the guard huffed and waved his hand dismissively. “They’re around. Look for anyone with a triangle shaped pin. The pattern’s also embroidered on the back of their robes.”
“I take it they aren’t your favorite people,” Aisha said. Getting more information from someone was always Kargon’s wheelhouse. Connecting with others on a personal level helped. While the Hero may come off as unreachable, a normal swordswoman could easily relate to a town guard.
The guard scoffed. “No. They’re fine folk. But if someone comes searching for them I can easily see how unreliable they are.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let me guess: You found some scroll or something. Was missing information, I bet. Couldn’t find anything else on your own?” The guard’s words grew louder, drawing the attention of his comrades. “Folks from Teprav are all far too stupid to be exploring the world but you jump at the chance. Yet you can’t do anything without our scholars. You waste their time for your pointless questions while they’ve got enough on their plates. Do you see what’s been happening in the world? Is your quest more important than the undead? Or the-”
“Damian! Enough!” another guard barked. He turned his attention to the party and said, “You all go about your business. Like he said, triangular symbol on the robes and pins.”
Aisha was taken aback. Part of her wanted to say something. Had she remained any longer she would have. Thankfully Vofric waved her along with Avant leading their small pack. He growled at the guards while passing by. They’d seen plenty of rowdy beasts and remained unphased. What they hadn’t seen were the sharp hateful eyes of a dragon who could threaten them without a single word. Slow deliberate steps carried Sariel past the guards. She didn’t need to get close for them to feel her terrifying aura.
The streets of Shusyoun were paved of stone and brick. Buildings of all shapes and sizes lined paths that spread with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Wooden structures bound by rope stood atop flat roofs. Cloth screens overhead provided cover from the light snow. People roamed the streets without a care. It was unlike the perpetual fear in Gromsev or Spirefell. They seemed unaware of the dangers around them. Many greeted the party with a smile before continuing the day. Guards amongst them looked on with disdain. They carried the same disgruntled attitude as the ones at the gate. None would be of any help in the quest.
“The rooftops appear to be openly accessible,” Sariel said and pointed at roaming citizens. “Our chances of finding scholars at a street level will rise exponentially.”
Aisha agreed and followed her allies. She would normally have thought of something similar but was still confused by the earlier encounter. No one needed to recognize her but it was peculiar that Shusyoun guards knew about the undead epidemic yet not other details. They should know her role in hindering it and protecting Dawncaster. It should be obvious she was working on remedying the problem on a global scale. Regardless, she pushed it aside and forged on.
There was no need to clamber up the walls or leap up with their heightened abilities. Many routes with stairs and ramps made the upper level of the city accessible. It wasn’t as busy since civilians primarily used it as an area for relaxation. Stationed guards used the space to monitor the going ons below. Only a few areas were off limits like the large watchtower and a handful of highrises. Surely the scholars met in one of these locations. But mistakenly visiting too many would draw the ire of the guards regardless of how relaxed they seemed.
Avant took careful steps on the rooftop pathways. They seemed sturdy but a creature of his size was rare even amongst the familiars roaming the city. Though that was a blessing in its own right. The sight of his shadow projecting below drew the attention of onlookers and made them pause to see the source. Majesty wasn’t what any of his ally’s would use to describe Avant. Shusyoun citizens would call that a travesty. Snow white fur and feathers flowing in the wind left them awestruck. Some saw it as a blessing while others sought it out. Aisha watched over the owlbear in place of her best friend. Thus she noticed the not-so-quiet chatter in her surroundings about him.
“Sariel, do you see that kid running?” Aisha asked.
The dragon grunted affirmatively.
“Follow her.”
Sariel dashed away, her wings carrying her over gaps and allowing her to travel in a nearly straight line.
“What is your reasoning for following the child?” Vofric asked as the rest of the party jogged after their swift friend.
Aisha explained, “She just saw something amazing and wants to learn about it. I’m guessing her elders taught her to ask scholars questions about things she doesn’t understand. It was similar in my village.”
It wasn’t long before Sariel found what she was searching for. The others weren’t in her line of sight. Obviously they couldn’t see her either. With a powerful thrust of her wings she flew upward like an emerald flare. The sun shined on her scales and drew more attention than she intended. Either way, upon landing she knew the party would find her.
Once everyone reconvened they watched over the child as she spoke to a woman in a gray robe. She was only slightly taller than the child which made it difficult to find any pin she might be adorned with. Upon turning around, a large blue triangle with silver engravings could be seen embroidered directly on her cloak. The party considered jumping down to her but seeing a group of armed warriors dropping from the sky might send her into a panic. Instead they found the nearest descent and made their way to the scholar.
Clearly the snowy owlbear caught her attention and she pointed it out to the child. The scholar assured that it was a tamed familiar. There was nothing to fear or to be in awe of. Some adventurers simply had unique tastes. Sariel didn’t care for the implication and it wasn’t important enough to mention to the others. The child ran off as the party approached.
“Your familiar has garnered quite a bit of attention,” the scholar chuckled.
“Apologies. We seek to learn from the scholars and his presence made finding you easier,” Aisha said.
The scholar nodded. “Of course. We expected your arrival, Champion of Dawncaster.”
Without another word she led the group away from the busy streets. Though her footsteps could be heard, the robe masked them. It gave her the appearance of gliding across the ground. As the group traveled closer to their destination the number of robed individuals rose. Buildings were more spread out with intricate paths weaving through them to lead to a single tower. Above the front arch were intricately carved letters that read “Bridging Athenaeum.”
Metal abstract structures extended out from the sides like hands trying to grasp distant knowledge. Stone pillars along inner walls created the illusion of windows. In reality they were doorways that anyone could use. Beings capable of flight jumped from one story to another without hesitation. Guards stood at each doorway and checked the identification of all who passed. The party entered through the main entrance with their guide. Others quickly took notice but turned away once the group passed. Even the receptionist paid no mind as they walked by without any hesitation.
That put the party on edge. Aisha hovered her off hand near Valefor to look as nonchalant as possible while ready to rip through the nearest threat. Sharp senses of a dragon were on alert for anything out of the ordinary. Clasped hands were prepared for an instant prayer since reaching for a warhammer was too obvious. Avant kept an eye out but couldn’t prepare since the change in his hide would alert even the most mindless civilian.
They were led to an inner room with a single wooden entrance and no windows. A stone table was carved out of the floor with metal seats surrounding it. High backs accommodated the tall brimless hats worn by the high-ranking scholars awaiting the party. Discerning glares studied each adventurer as they stepped inside and lined up. Their practiced positions looked awkward to the unknowing scholars. The furthest right was the dwarven paladin with a wounded elf to his right. The Hero stood on the elf’s other side with the owlbear. An awkward space was left between them that Avant shimmied into after realizing his mistake. The guide stood aside silently.
“Welcome, Hero. We are the high minds of the Bridging Athenaeum. We have awaited your arrival,” a woman said calmly. “What has delayed you?”
“Apologies, high mind. We sought information in Gromsev which then led us to Spirefell,” Aisha replied. “I am sure you are aware that the demon king has made his presence known. He has allies, one of which gravely injured our comrade and we searched for aid in his recovery. The land between Mount Iana and Shusyoun proved difficult to navigate and caused great hardship.”
“Are you saying you were present when the demon king retrieved Great Sunderer?” another high mind asked.
“Yes, we-”
“Did you do nothing to stop him?!” a different man yelled.
Aisha hesitated. The shame of not being worthy of her foe’s attention weighed on her. Training was necessary to match up to him otherwise she would have died on the spot. It was clear when a subordinate was able to take down Kargon with little effort.
“We were ill-prepared to face him,” she replied.
“Ill-prepared,” the first high mind huffed. “What other information do you bring?”
Aisha spoke but already had a feeling as to what the reaction would be.
“The demon king wields Great Sunderer and was able to single-handedly defeat a dragon. We suspect he will seek other Artifacts of Arcana. Please tell us about the remaining ones.”
A high mind scoffed. “You come with a request yet have nothing to offer.”
“We have retrieved an Artifact,” Aisha said readily and gestured for Avant to step forward. “The stone chestplate worn by our familiar.”
The high minds muttered amongst themselves before one replied, “That is simply a piece of magic armor. It is as much an Artifact as your sword. How were you unable to deduce such a simple fact?”
No one knew about Artifacts except those connected directly to them. Even scholars across the world only had a barebones understanding of them. Any expectation that someone not specialized in the field could identify one was foolish. There was no way the high minds didn’t know it and yet they looked down on Aisha for a simple mistake.
“You are dubbed the Hero yet fail to identify magic items,” the high mind scoffed.
Another grumbled, “And she allowed many to perish during the Dawncaster attack. Can we truly trust her capabilities?”
“It is a Teprav citizens limits. Things will only get more difficult in Ionzel.”
It stung but Aisha remained silent. People like the high minds were unlikely to stop from her reaction. Their voices cascaded over each other as a torrent of complaints crashed into the party.
“You have yet to uncover the demon king’s plans or motives yet seek guidance.”
“If you saw the demon king, why not fight back?”
“Why did you let him flee with no challenge?”
“You should have let your ally fall for the greater good.”
With that Aisha put up her hand to halt everyone. Decades of harsh training gave her strong willpower to tap into. Even if it was just to stop from reacting emotionally.
She dryly stated, “We will study public records and conduct research using our own capabilities.” One foot stepped back and she turned halfway away. But something nagged at her and she hesitated. “146 people. That was the number of casualties in Dawncaster. If you lack information, it is better to admit it than needlessly waste time berating those who seek your aid.”
Somewhere during the high minds complaints Aisha saw the obvious fear in their eyes. Their reaction was that of a child caught in a lie. Spewing false claims was the only path they saw when they couldn’t provide useful information to the Hero. Saving face was all that mattered even if it meant insulting the Hero. Honestly, Aisha could forgive all that.
But the high minds weren’t near the demon king. They didn’t comprehend the silent overpowering aura he emitted. Cutting down a dragon may have been something they learned about but seeing the efficiency of a powerful being was a wholly different sensation. And above all, Aisha couldn’t forgive anyone who would suggest unnecessarily sacrificing an ally. Especially not Kargon.
“With me,” she said with a heel turn.
The rest of the party wore similar faces of disgust as they turned away from the scholars. Shusyoun was their destination but the scholars were not their only option. Ease of access was never something they’d had luck with. There was no reason to suspect it now.
“Vofric, we’ll look into available records about the Artifacts. Start the legwork on any hint of Barbatos in the area,” Aisha instructed as she pushed through the door of the meeting room.
“Allow me to be of assistance,” said the guide who brought the party here.
“With all due respect, we don’t want your help.”
“I understand that the Bridging Athenaeum can be less welcoming than people expect. Our leadership is… hard to get along with. That is why volunteers like myself are necessary,” the woman said. “From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for bringing you to them so suddenly. My name is Kira Faan. Allow me to guide you to the public records of the Artifacts of Arcana. They are not kept on premises.”
Aisha stared at the short woman with discerning eyes. Having a guide around town would be helpful. Not to mention the time wasted from dealing with the high minds. It could even unlock avenues the party hadn’t considered. But it was best to keep a distance. Being overly trusting always ended in unfavorable situations.
“Lead the way,” the Hero said with a nod.
Kira weaved through busy streets in a manner similar to Aisha’s reflexes in combat. Though Vofric was similar in height he could never match that pace. Citizens packed into a single street were no obstacle on the tour through the city. Every so often the party lost track of their guide but after some searching she would pop up nearby. The robe seemed to be more of a hindrance than it was worth as it caused Kira to trip up every so often. Frustration was evident on her face when the group paused near a busy bridge. It crossed over a river that flowed from north to south through the city.
“There is a shortcut below; by the river,” Kira said. “I understand if you would rather avoid less sanitary areas of the city but I wanted to put the offer on the table.”
Aisha turned to her allies but was sure of the response; two shrugs and a flustered head shake no with a coo. She turned back to Kira and similarly shrugged before gesturing for the guide to continue.
Discreet stairs hidden from sight allowed them to descend to a lower part of the city. It wasn’t a complete level like the others. Only a single long passage stretched through the area near the river. At least at a glance. Kira’s time in Shusyoun had taught her to look at unassuming corners. Under this specific overpass - near a wall with an awkward indent - was a passage deeper into the city. The party was immediately on alert but their guide was unphased.
As they walked it became clear that this was no ordinary passage. Markings on the wall glowed softly as they passed. Kira’s touch made symbols morph and shifted nearby stones. There was a distinct lack of care in hiding her actions. After a few minutes of travel she stopped and removed her robe. Underneath was leather armor and a shortsword bound to the back of her waist.
Aisha drew her sword while Sariel checked behind them for an escape route. With a flourish, Vofric unhooked his light hammer and nodded to Avant. Meanwhile, Kira calmly tapped at small stones on a brick to her right. It opened a closet with a fur-lined trench coat inside.
“It’s good that you’re on edge. Wouldn’t do if you just accepted an invitation carelessly,” she said while donning the jacket. “Gotta say, some of our other recruits aren’t the biggest fans of dark and mysterious hallways. The lack of panic is a good sign. Makes me glad you’re the Hero who’s supposed to face Aeraza.”
Even though they were surprised, no one let it be shown. No route remained from the way they entered. Sariel summoned her bow but waited to create an arrow. Within the stone closet was an innocuous brick that Kira pushed. As the closet shut, the wall in front of them opened to reveal a bustling establishment.
“Allow me to introduce myself once more. My name is Kira Faan,” the guide said with a coy smile. “Welcome to Barbatos.”
“When I’m near him now, it slows me down,” Aisha said while trying to walk away from Avant.
Vofric walked alongside the owlbear and nodded. “It appears that Avant’s bolstering spells have changed in nature due to the Artifact. They allowed us to challenge the implosion and ignore his high gravity defense against the glass.”
“Few would be better wielders of such a tool,” Sariel agreed.
Avant trilled softly and deactivated the spell around him. Blades of grass slowly stretched skyward as the pressure on them disappeared. Learning his new abilities was at the forefront of everyone’s minds upon escaping the lab. Thankfully, they were easily grasped. Though openly carrying an Artifact was a dangerous prospect. The adventurers worked under the assumption that the demon king would seek it out but nothing was certain. Though retrieving it had provided an unforeseen boon.
When Veil’s hideout was eviscerated, it created a clear line of sight to a well constructed watchtower in the distance. Sariel flew up to get a better assessment and saw the massive city of Shusyoun surrounding it. Getting there was trivial and once the tower’s presence was known the party could easily track it. With no supplies left, it was best to trek nonstop and within a few days they arrived at the gates. They could finally learn what the demon king’s motives truly were. If not that, at least they could learn about Veil and make deductions from there.
Aisha immediately noticed the wall her swordmasters had mentioned. It was not a giant partition but rather the sprawling city that stretched across the land that connected the continents Teprav and Ioznel. Waste high stone barriers surrounded the perimeter with gates at many intervals. Entering the city from any location would be no issue. Though going to the rural farmland provided little in the advancement of the party’s mission. The best option was marching up to the main city gates and requesting assistance from a guard. With the number of gates around the city, there was no line to wait in before inspection to enter Shusyoun.
Half a dozen guards clad in steel armor stood spread out near stone arches leading into the city. Stones on the waist high wall laid higher to properly support the gate. The metal grated door was raised as individuals moved through after brief inspections.
“Where are you coming from?” a guard asked as the group approached.
With Kargon’s absence, Aisha decided to take charge in communications with public officers.
“We trekked from Mount Iana.”
The guard simply nodded and waved the party in. Their leader looked stunned and hesitated.
“Won’t you inquire about our business?” Aisha asked.
The guard raised a quizzical brow. “Most folks don’t want to share their business. Anything untoward we should be wary of.”
“No, not at all. We wished to know where we may go in order to speak with the Shusyoun scholars.”
“Oh,” the guard huffed and waved his hand dismissively. “They’re around. Look for anyone with a triangle shaped pin. The pattern’s also embroidered on the back of their robes.”
“I take it they aren’t your favorite people,” Aisha said. Getting more information from someone was always Kargon’s wheelhouse. Connecting with others on a personal level helped. While the Hero may come off as unreachable, a normal swordswoman could easily relate to a town guard.
The guard scoffed. “No. They’re fine folk. But if someone comes searching for them I can easily see how unreliable they are.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let me guess: You found some scroll or something. Was missing information, I bet. Couldn’t find anything else on your own?” The guard’s words grew louder, drawing the attention of his comrades. “Folks from Teprav are all far too stupid to be exploring the world but you jump at the chance. Yet you can’t do anything without our scholars. You waste their time for your pointless questions while they’ve got enough on their plates. Do you see what’s been happening in the world? Is your quest more important than the undead? Or the-”
“Damian! Enough!” another guard barked. He turned his attention to the party and said, “You all go about your business. Like he said, triangular symbol on the robes and pins.”
Aisha was taken aback. Part of her wanted to say something. Had she remained any longer she would have. Thankfully Vofric waved her along with Avant leading their small pack. He growled at the guards while passing by. They’d seen plenty of rowdy beasts and remained unphased. What they hadn’t seen were the sharp hateful eyes of a dragon who could threaten them without a single word. Slow deliberate steps carried Sariel past the guards. She didn’t need to get close for them to feel her terrifying aura.
The streets of Shusyoun were paved of stone and brick. Buildings of all shapes and sizes lined paths that spread with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Wooden structures bound by rope stood atop flat roofs. Cloth screens overhead provided cover from the light snow. People roamed the streets without a care. It was unlike the perpetual fear in Gromsev or Spirefell. They seemed unaware of the dangers around them. Many greeted the party with a smile before continuing the day. Guards amongst them looked on with disdain. They carried the same disgruntled attitude as the ones at the gate. None would be of any help in the quest.
“The rooftops appear to be openly accessible,” Sariel said and pointed at roaming citizens. “Our chances of finding scholars at a street level will rise exponentially.”
Aisha agreed and followed her allies. She would normally have thought of something similar but was still confused by the earlier encounter. No one needed to recognize her but it was peculiar that Shusyoun guards knew about the undead epidemic yet not other details. They should know her role in hindering it and protecting Dawncaster. It should be obvious she was working on remedying the problem on a global scale. Regardless, she pushed it aside and forged on.
There was no need to clamber up the walls or leap up with their heightened abilities. Many routes with stairs and ramps made the upper level of the city accessible. It wasn’t as busy since civilians primarily used it as an area for relaxation. Stationed guards used the space to monitor the going ons below. Only a few areas were off limits like the large watchtower and a handful of highrises. Surely the scholars met in one of these locations. But mistakenly visiting too many would draw the ire of the guards regardless of how relaxed they seemed.
Avant took careful steps on the rooftop pathways. They seemed sturdy but a creature of his size was rare even amongst the familiars roaming the city. Though that was a blessing in its own right. The sight of his shadow projecting below drew the attention of onlookers and made them pause to see the source. Majesty wasn’t what any of his ally’s would use to describe Avant. Shusyoun citizens would call that a travesty. Snow white fur and feathers flowing in the wind left them awestruck. Some saw it as a blessing while others sought it out. Aisha watched over the owlbear in place of her best friend. Thus she noticed the not-so-quiet chatter in her surroundings about him.
“Sariel, do you see that kid running?” Aisha asked.
The dragon grunted affirmatively.
“Follow her.”
Sariel dashed away, her wings carrying her over gaps and allowing her to travel in a nearly straight line.
“What is your reasoning for following the child?” Vofric asked as the rest of the party jogged after their swift friend.
Aisha explained, “She just saw something amazing and wants to learn about it. I’m guessing her elders taught her to ask scholars questions about things she doesn’t understand. It was similar in my village.”
It wasn’t long before Sariel found what she was searching for. The others weren’t in her line of sight. Obviously they couldn’t see her either. With a powerful thrust of her wings she flew upward like an emerald flare. The sun shined on her scales and drew more attention than she intended. Either way, upon landing she knew the party would find her.
Once everyone reconvened they watched over the child as she spoke to a woman in a gray robe. She was only slightly taller than the child which made it difficult to find any pin she might be adorned with. Upon turning around, a large blue triangle with silver engravings could be seen embroidered directly on her cloak. The party considered jumping down to her but seeing a group of armed warriors dropping from the sky might send her into a panic. Instead they found the nearest descent and made their way to the scholar.
Clearly the snowy owlbear caught her attention and she pointed it out to the child. The scholar assured that it was a tamed familiar. There was nothing to fear or to be in awe of. Some adventurers simply had unique tastes. Sariel didn’t care for the implication and it wasn’t important enough to mention to the others. The child ran off as the party approached.
“Your familiar has garnered quite a bit of attention,” the scholar chuckled.
“Apologies. We seek to learn from the scholars and his presence made finding you easier,” Aisha said.
The scholar nodded. “Of course. We expected your arrival, Champion of Dawncaster.”
Without another word she led the group away from the busy streets. Though her footsteps could be heard, the robe masked them. It gave her the appearance of gliding across the ground. As the group traveled closer to their destination the number of robed individuals rose. Buildings were more spread out with intricate paths weaving through them to lead to a single tower. Above the front arch were intricately carved letters that read “Bridging Athenaeum.”
Metal abstract structures extended out from the sides like hands trying to grasp distant knowledge. Stone pillars along inner walls created the illusion of windows. In reality they were doorways that anyone could use. Beings capable of flight jumped from one story to another without hesitation. Guards stood at each doorway and checked the identification of all who passed. The party entered through the main entrance with their guide. Others quickly took notice but turned away once the group passed. Even the receptionist paid no mind as they walked by without any hesitation.
That put the party on edge. Aisha hovered her off hand near Valefor to look as nonchalant as possible while ready to rip through the nearest threat. Sharp senses of a dragon were on alert for anything out of the ordinary. Clasped hands were prepared for an instant prayer since reaching for a warhammer was too obvious. Avant kept an eye out but couldn’t prepare since the change in his hide would alert even the most mindless civilian.
They were led to an inner room with a single wooden entrance and no windows. A stone table was carved out of the floor with metal seats surrounding it. High backs accommodated the tall brimless hats worn by the high-ranking scholars awaiting the party. Discerning glares studied each adventurer as they stepped inside and lined up. Their practiced positions looked awkward to the unknowing scholars. The furthest right was the dwarven paladin with a wounded elf to his right. The Hero stood on the elf’s other side with the owlbear. An awkward space was left between them that Avant shimmied into after realizing his mistake. The guide stood aside silently.
“Welcome, Hero. We are the high minds of the Bridging Athenaeum. We have awaited your arrival,” a woman said calmly. “What has delayed you?”
“Apologies, high mind. We sought information in Gromsev which then led us to Spirefell,” Aisha replied. “I am sure you are aware that the demon king has made his presence known. He has allies, one of which gravely injured our comrade and we searched for aid in his recovery. The land between Mount Iana and Shusyoun proved difficult to navigate and caused great hardship.”
“Are you saying you were present when the demon king retrieved Great Sunderer?” another high mind asked.
“Yes, we-”
“Did you do nothing to stop him?!” a different man yelled.
Aisha hesitated. The shame of not being worthy of her foe’s attention weighed on her. Training was necessary to match up to him otherwise she would have died on the spot. It was clear when a subordinate was able to take down Kargon with little effort.
“We were ill-prepared to face him,” she replied.
“Ill-prepared,” the first high mind huffed. “What other information do you bring?”
Aisha spoke but already had a feeling as to what the reaction would be.
“The demon king wields Great Sunderer and was able to single-handedly defeat a dragon. We suspect he will seek other Artifacts of Arcana. Please tell us about the remaining ones.”
A high mind scoffed. “You come with a request yet have nothing to offer.”
“We have retrieved an Artifact,” Aisha said readily and gestured for Avant to step forward. “The stone chestplate worn by our familiar.”
The high minds muttered amongst themselves before one replied, “That is simply a piece of magic armor. It is as much an Artifact as your sword. How were you unable to deduce such a simple fact?”
No one knew about Artifacts except those connected directly to them. Even scholars across the world only had a barebones understanding of them. Any expectation that someone not specialized in the field could identify one was foolish. There was no way the high minds didn’t know it and yet they looked down on Aisha for a simple mistake.
“You are dubbed the Hero yet fail to identify magic items,” the high mind scoffed.
Another grumbled, “And she allowed many to perish during the Dawncaster attack. Can we truly trust her capabilities?”
“It is a Teprav citizens limits. Things will only get more difficult in Ionzel.”
It stung but Aisha remained silent. People like the high minds were unlikely to stop from her reaction. Their voices cascaded over each other as a torrent of complaints crashed into the party.
“You have yet to uncover the demon king’s plans or motives yet seek guidance.”
“If you saw the demon king, why not fight back?”
“Why did you let him flee with no challenge?”
“You should have let your ally fall for the greater good.”
With that Aisha put up her hand to halt everyone. Decades of harsh training gave her strong willpower to tap into. Even if it was just to stop from reacting emotionally.
She dryly stated, “We will study public records and conduct research using our own capabilities.” One foot stepped back and she turned halfway away. But something nagged at her and she hesitated. “146 people. That was the number of casualties in Dawncaster. If you lack information, it is better to admit it than needlessly waste time berating those who seek your aid.”
Somewhere during the high minds complaints Aisha saw the obvious fear in their eyes. Their reaction was that of a child caught in a lie. Spewing false claims was the only path they saw when they couldn’t provide useful information to the Hero. Saving face was all that mattered even if it meant insulting the Hero. Honestly, Aisha could forgive all that.
But the high minds weren’t near the demon king. They didn’t comprehend the silent overpowering aura he emitted. Cutting down a dragon may have been something they learned about but seeing the efficiency of a powerful being was a wholly different sensation. And above all, Aisha couldn’t forgive anyone who would suggest unnecessarily sacrificing an ally. Especially not Kargon.
“With me,” she said with a heel turn.
The rest of the party wore similar faces of disgust as they turned away from the scholars. Shusyoun was their destination but the scholars were not their only option. Ease of access was never something they’d had luck with. There was no reason to suspect it now.
“Vofric, we’ll look into available records about the Artifacts. Start the legwork on any hint of Barbatos in the area,” Aisha instructed as she pushed through the door of the meeting room.
“Allow me to be of assistance,” said the guide who brought the party here.
“With all due respect, we don’t want your help.”
“I understand that the Bridging Athenaeum can be less welcoming than people expect. Our leadership is… hard to get along with. That is why volunteers like myself are necessary,” the woman said. “From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for bringing you to them so suddenly. My name is Kira Faan. Allow me to guide you to the public records of the Artifacts of Arcana. They are not kept on premises.”
Aisha stared at the short woman with discerning eyes. Having a guide around town would be helpful. Not to mention the time wasted from dealing with the high minds. It could even unlock avenues the party hadn’t considered. But it was best to keep a distance. Being overly trusting always ended in unfavorable situations.
“Lead the way,” the Hero said with a nod.
Kira weaved through busy streets in a manner similar to Aisha’s reflexes in combat. Though Vofric was similar in height he could never match that pace. Citizens packed into a single street were no obstacle on the tour through the city. Every so often the party lost track of their guide but after some searching she would pop up nearby. The robe seemed to be more of a hindrance than it was worth as it caused Kira to trip up every so often. Frustration was evident on her face when the group paused near a busy bridge. It crossed over a river that flowed from north to south through the city.
“There is a shortcut below; by the river,” Kira said. “I understand if you would rather avoid less sanitary areas of the city but I wanted to put the offer on the table.”
Aisha turned to her allies but was sure of the response; two shrugs and a flustered head shake no with a coo. She turned back to Kira and similarly shrugged before gesturing for the guide to continue.
Discreet stairs hidden from sight allowed them to descend to a lower part of the city. It wasn’t a complete level like the others. Only a single long passage stretched through the area near the river. At least at a glance. Kira’s time in Shusyoun had taught her to look at unassuming corners. Under this specific overpass - near a wall with an awkward indent - was a passage deeper into the city. The party was immediately on alert but their guide was unphased.
As they walked it became clear that this was no ordinary passage. Markings on the wall glowed softly as they passed. Kira’s touch made symbols morph and shifted nearby stones. There was a distinct lack of care in hiding her actions. After a few minutes of travel she stopped and removed her robe. Underneath was leather armor and a shortsword bound to the back of her waist.
Aisha drew her sword while Sariel checked behind them for an escape route. With a flourish, Vofric unhooked his light hammer and nodded to Avant. Meanwhile, Kira calmly tapped at small stones on a brick to her right. It opened a closet with a fur-lined trench coat inside.
“It’s good that you’re on edge. Wouldn’t do if you just accepted an invitation carelessly,” she said while donning the jacket. “Gotta say, some of our other recruits aren’t the biggest fans of dark and mysterious hallways. The lack of panic is a good sign. Makes me glad you’re the Hero who’s supposed to face Aeraza.”
Even though they were surprised, no one let it be shown. No route remained from the way they entered. Sariel summoned her bow but waited to create an arrow. Within the stone closet was an innocuous brick that Kira pushed. As the closet shut, the wall in front of them opened to reveal a bustling establishment.
“Allow me to introduce myself once more. My name is Kira Faan,” the guide said with a coy smile. “Welcome to Barbatos.”
