It didn’t take long for Freckle to leave with Spike. The realization that Aeraza and his comrades already outpaced Barbatos enraged her. But exhaustion and a life threatening battle weighed on her. Rest was necessary before whatever next step she took. Thus the young woman and her familiar returned to the nearest village as the Hero’s party pushed onward. The most she could do was point them in the direction of their destination. Much like the experienced Barbatos member, Aisha was uncomfortable with her enemies’ lead on the Artifacts. Either the guild had less information or they lied. Neither was good but the former was preferable. The best way to test it was to visit Deriich like Freckle suggested.
With the location of the destroyed cave marked on their map, it was easy for Sariel to deduce the time needed for them to reach the town. Unfortunately, it would take about a week to arrive. They had already spent months not going where they were suggested to. The thought occurred to Aisha that the contact may no longer be there. Even if Freckle agreed that it was the right place to go. Her communication means had been too unreliable to go off of. The best option was to focus on getting to Deriich quickly.
“You cannot be suggesting that we ignore the plights of innocents that we pass,” Vofric said cautiously.
“Of course not. But we can’t have another Foxhill,” Aisha explained.
“We have to rest on our own and ignore anything unrelated to the Artifacts,” Kargon added.
“Exactly. He’s too ahead of us. We can't let ourselves be distracted.”
Sariel grunted. “Worse yet is that we do not know the discrepancy in our knowledge.”
A perpetual air of uneasiness weighed on the party as they traveled. Thankfully, it was one of few hindrances in their way. Being a month into summer meant there was no snow left in the lower parts of the world. Fruits were sprinkled in the trees and animals roamed as freely as possible with the current circumstances. The lack of supplies didn’t prove an issue with the ability to hunt easily. And with Sariel’s mastery over nature, there was no longer a need for carrying tents. The lighter load was an unexpected yet appreciated result of the group’s training.
Battles against minor demons weren’t worth considering. A few coordinated attacks wiped them out in seconds. Casualties were difficult to avoid in places where the party arrived after monsters appeared. Though villagers always felt at ease the moment the Hero’s party arrived. Some had heard of them specifically appearing to defend Ionzel’s smaller settlements. They provided what aid they could before sending them on their way. Timing never allowed the party to rest at a comfortable inn on their journey but they’d accepted it wouldn’t happen again for a long time. Stress and pain on their shoulders wouldn’t dissipate from one night of pseudo restful sleep.
There was little ease for any adventurer currently traveling around Vethyea. Greenhorns were met with insurmountable odds. Experienced travelers had to contend with the weight of a horrifying future. Worse yet for all of them was the fact they would always be second to the Hero and her companions. Though many didn’t complain about such a reality. It was obvious that whatever a normal warrior felt was significantly worse for someone facing it on the frontline. Knowledge of what and why everything was happening was less helpful than anyone assumed. It only cast a shadow of fear based strictly within the reality that Aeraza would always be ahead of humanity. The day Aisha faced him, it would be from an unenviable starting point.
Kargon couldn’t shake the flood of anxiety that washed over him whenever these thoughts arose. Voicing them was pointless. Not because he didn’t trust the others but because they knew. And reiterating it would only make Aisha’s stress worse as she focused on a plan. The battle on the horizon was fast approaching and she needed to know every possible contingency when facing her eternal enemy.
Maybe it was the thought of him that made her hesitate as the group got within sight of Deriich. The small town was reminiscent of Neves with a guard tower at one side and townhall nearby. People roamed the streets without a care in the world. But none crossed the gate facing the Hero’s party. Some walked nearby and looked towards the wooden observation tower outside before moving on. From afar no one could be seen inside. The party knew better than to trust the naked eye. Almost collectively they turned to Sariel for more information.
Squinted eyes looked towards the hut atop stilts covered in shadow. A figure crouched in the corner watched the land outside Deriich. A soft smile passed over the elf’s face as the watcher’s features became more clear.
“Let us continue forward. We are not what he seeks,” she said.
“How do you know?” Kargon asked. Even while challenging Sariel, he still followed her lead with the others.
“Give it a moment. You will understand shortly.”
As the group got closer, the covered figure slowly rose. His form was a dark silhouette due to the sun beating down on his back. Even without clear features the watcher appeared nonthreatening. With a tilted head he focused on the approaching party. A few steps brought him closer to the edge of the tower.
“Uncle Vof!” Albert yelled happily.
Dusty blonde hair hung down to his upper cheeks. Lean muscle was packed onto his oncethin form. The old gray metal plating on his armor was replaced with identical silver ones. The Dicoris family crest was engraved on the chestplate. Telltale signs of childhood had faded over the two years he had last encountered the Hero’s party. Stubble riddled his chin and gave him a faint shadow. Many years would need to pass before he could hope to match his uncle.
The young man climbed down from the tower and quickly hugged Vofric before shaking hands with everyone else. Avant received a well deserved head ruffle.
“What are you doing here, Albert?” Aisha asked.
“It’s a long story. Probably shouldn’t spout off about it here. The guards will be back on duty soon so we can go talk,” he replied.
“You’re covering for them?” Kargon asked.
“Something like that, yeah.”
As they stepped into the town, a group of guards greeted Albert and returned to their positions. It would be hard to describe the town as bustling. Many people had relocated after the appearance of the demon king’s castle. The deeper one went into Ionzel, the closer it became. It was many hundreds of miles away from Deriich. However, the cliff it stood atop could be seen from here. Even its vague shape felt threatening. It was no surprise that townsfolk fled at the sight. Those who remained looked unphased by both the castle and the adventurer’s presence.
“Some see this as the norm. Others have given up,” Albert said when he noticed Kargon’s wandering eyes.
“This isn’t like anything they’ve seen before,” he replied. “Not unless someone here is over a millennia old.”
Albert chuckled softly. “Yeah. It’s weird that the ones who’ve given up have a more logical response to what’s going on.”
He led the group past the central inn and into an alleyway. Weaving through the buildings wasn’t difficult with the spacing but it was odd that Albert was staying off the beaten path. The establishment they arrived at wasn’t decrepit but it was far less pleasing to the eye than the ones on the main road. The inside was acceptable but once again, Albert led the group away from the obvious stairs. He passed by the front desk, nodded to the clerk, and stepped into the backroom. Inside was a door to a hidden room with a simple bedroom layout. A circular table sat at one side with a couple chairs. Albert dragged in a few more so everyone had room to sit before doing so himself.
“Okay, what do you want to know?” he asked.
Aisha stared at the younger man and contemplated the only question she had asked. Based on the gauntlets hanging on his hips and the keen eye used to survey the land, many things had happened since they last met. Whatever he was searching for outside Deriich was rooted in the experiences that transpired over the last two years.
“What’s happened since we left Dawncaster?” she answered.
“That’s… oh boy.” Albert exasperated. “Remember how Makani said he’d be an adventurer to learn about the world? Well, he needed training. Some more combat but mainly learning about how to handle situations we’d face while on the road. So Victor trained both of us for a year. Give or take. In order to avoid people revering the prince too much, his father teleported us to Shusyoun and we’ve been helping folks around here. When the castle showed up, we started focusing on smaller villages and towns that didn’t couldn’t easily defend themselves.”
“Is that what you’re doing here?” Aisha asked.
Albert looked around the room and hesitated. After more experience he’d be able to study people’s faces without giving away what he was doing. The party looked to Vofric as his god-son contemplated his next words carefully. The dwarf kept a calm face and looked at the young man’s eyes. Trust and doubt were evident on his face. Something weighed on him but Vofric refused to speak. This was a battle that was bound to happen for any adventurer. Better for it to occur in the safety of a small inn with friends than an unknown place. The violence of Balur weighed heavily on the soldiers of the Hero’s party.
“Kinda,” Albert muttered as he lost his battle to doubt. “Makani can probably explain better. He’s a lot smarter about this diplomatic stuff.”
The room grew quiet with his response. It was only a few seconds but he couldn’t handle what he perceived as scrutinizing eyes.
“What are you doing here?” he blurted out.
Sariel seemed to perk up at the question. Only Kargon noticed the small twitches at the end of her ears.
“Looking for someone,” Kargon said. “An ally we got separated from said we could find them here.”
Albert smiled softly. “You guys make friends wherever you go. I hope we can do the same once things cool down after all this is over.”
“Don’t focus on an unsure future, Albert.” someone said as the door to the room opened. Prince Makani stepped through and greeted everyone. “Aisha has grown far stronger than us. But she already carries much on her shoulders regarding the upcoming battle. Let us not increase its weight. The future may be enjoyed once we reach it.”
The prince had grown taller and developed much more muscle. His sharpened jaw and longer hair were reminiscent of his father. Confident and clear eyes reminded the party of the queen. Strapped tightly to his back was a staff wrapped in white. Everyone in the room recognized the shape to be Lightbringer.
“They just let you leave the city with an Artifact?” Aisha asked.
“There were few options of what to do against the odds we face. Leaving Lightbringer in a vault helped no one.”
Makani was obviously right but what the party immediately understood was how his words matched Elmud’s accusations. Artifacts were left intact for defensive purposes. Though there was never a guarantee someone like Aeraza couldn’t get their hands on the tools. Aisha pushed the thought aside to gain a brief moment of rest. She shared a look with Kargon and he knew to take over as the party’s speaker.
“Albert implied you’re doing something more than protecting Deriich. Is there some way we can help?” he asked.
“I’m unsure. We crossed paths with someone early into our journey. Constant contact has been kept and they told us to remain here to receive someone. That was months ago and they left no information regarding who we await,” Makani explained.
Sariel shook her head and scoffed. “Freckle should not have made you Barbatos field agents with so little information. You lack nuance.”
Albert and Makani perked up and looked at each other than Sariel. Words muttered by the prince on his frustrated walk back had clued in the dragon. Months had gone by since Freckle instructed them to await important guests. With the young men’s differing upbringings, they were unsure who to consider important. Only the calm elf’s striking tone brought back their senses and allowed them to consider the people both revered. People who didn’t need almost a minute to realize what Sariel’s words meant. Freckle had put the group on a crash course with old friends.
It didn’t take long for Freckle to leave with Spike. The realization that Aeraza and his comrades already outpaced Barbatos enraged her. But exhaustion and a life threatening battle weighed on her. Rest was necessary before whatever next step she took. Thus the young woman and her familiar returned to the nearest village as the Hero’s party pushed onward. The most she could do was point them in the direction of their destination. Much like the experienced Barbatos member, Aisha was uncomfortable with her enemies’ lead on the Artifacts. Either the guild had less information or they lied. Neither was good but the former was preferable. The best way to test it was to visit Deriich like Freckle suggested.
With the location of the destroyed cave marked on their map, it was easy for Sariel to deduce the time needed for them to reach the town. Unfortunately, it would take about a week to arrive. They had already spent months not going where they were suggested to. The thought occurred to Aisha that the contact may no longer be there. Even if Freckle agreed that it was the right place to go. Her communication means had been too unreliable to go off of. The best option was to focus on getting to Deriich quickly.
“You cannot be suggesting that we ignore the plights of innocents that we pass,” Vofric said cautiously.
“Of course not. But we can’t have another Foxhill,” Aisha explained.
“We have to rest on our own and ignore anything unrelated to the Artifacts,” Kargon added.
“Exactly. He’s too ahead of us. We can't let ourselves be distracted.”
Sariel grunted. “Worse yet is that we do not know the discrepancy in our knowledge.”
A perpetual air of uneasiness weighed on the party as they traveled. Thankfully, it was one of few hindrances in their way. Being a month into summer meant there was no snow left in the lower parts of the world. Fruits were sprinkled in the trees and animals roamed as freely as possible with the current circumstances. The lack of supplies didn’t prove an issue with the ability to hunt easily. And with Sariel’s mastery over nature, there was no longer a need for carrying tents. The lighter load was an unexpected yet appreciated result of the group’s training.
Battles against minor demons weren’t worth considering. A few coordinated attacks wiped them out in seconds. Casualties were difficult to avoid in places where the party arrived after monsters appeared. Though villagers always felt at ease the moment the Hero’s party arrived. Some had heard of them specifically appearing to defend Ionzel’s smaller settlements. They provided what aid they could before sending them on their way. Timing never allowed the party to rest at a comfortable inn on their journey but they’d accepted it wouldn’t happen again for a long time. Stress and pain on their shoulders wouldn’t dissipate from one night of pseudo restful sleep.
There was little ease for any adventurer currently traveling around Vethyea. Greenhorns were met with insurmountable odds. Experienced travelers had to contend with the weight of a horrifying future. Worse yet for all of them was the fact they would always be second to the Hero and her companions. Though many didn’t complain about such a reality. It was obvious that whatever a normal warrior felt was significantly worse for someone facing it on the frontline. Knowledge of what and why everything was happening was less helpful than anyone assumed. It only cast a shadow of fear based strictly within the reality that Aeraza would always be ahead of humanity. The day Aisha faced him, it would be from an unenviable starting point.
Kargon couldn’t shake the flood of anxiety that washed over him whenever these thoughts arose. Voicing them was pointless. Not because he didn’t trust the others but because they knew. And reiterating it would only make Aisha’s stress worse as she focused on a plan. The battle on the horizon was fast approaching and she needed to know every possible contingency when facing her eternal enemy.
Maybe it was the thought of him that made her hesitate as the group got within sight of Deriich. The small town was reminiscent of Neves with a guard tower at one side and townhall nearby. People roamed the streets without a care in the world. But none crossed the gate facing the Hero’s party. Some walked nearby and looked towards the wooden observation tower outside before moving on. From afar no one could be seen inside. The party knew better than to trust the naked eye. Almost collectively they turned to Sariel for more information.
Squinted eyes looked towards the hut atop stilts covered in shadow. A figure crouched in the corner watched the land outside Deriich. A soft smile passed over the elf’s face as the watcher’s features became more clear.
“Let us continue forward. We are not what he seeks,” she said.
“How do you know?” Kargon asked. Even while challenging Sariel, he still followed her lead with the others.
“Give it a moment. You will understand shortly.”
As the group got closer, the covered figure slowly rose. His form was a dark silhouette due to the sun beating down on his back. Even without clear features the watcher appeared nonthreatening. With a tilted head he focused on the approaching party. A few steps brought him closer to the edge of the tower.
“Uncle Vof!” Albert yelled happily.
Dusty blonde hair hung down to his upper cheeks. Lean muscle was packed onto his oncethin form. The old gray metal plating on his armor was replaced with identical silver ones. The Dicoris family crest was engraved on the chestplate. Telltale signs of childhood had faded over the two years he had last encountered the Hero’s party. Stubble riddled his chin and gave him a faint shadow. Many years would need to pass before he could hope to match his uncle.
The young man climbed down from the tower and quickly hugged Vofric before shaking hands with everyone else. Avant received a well deserved head ruffle.
“What are you doing here, Albert?” Aisha asked.
“It’s a long story. Probably shouldn’t spout off about it here. The guards will be back on duty soon so we can go talk,” he replied.
“You’re covering for them?” Kargon asked.
“Something like that, yeah.”
As they stepped into the town, a group of guards greeted Albert and returned to their positions. It would be hard to describe the town as bustling. Many people had relocated after the appearance of the demon king’s castle. The deeper one went into Ionzel, the closer it became. It was many hundreds of miles away from Deriich. However, the cliff it stood atop could be seen from here. Even its vague shape felt threatening. It was no surprise that townsfolk fled at the sight. Those who remained looked unphased by both the castle and the adventurer’s presence.
“Some see this as the norm. Others have given up,” Albert said when he noticed Kargon’s wandering eyes.
“This isn’t like anything they’ve seen before,” he replied. “Not unless someone here is over a millennia old.”
Albert chuckled softly. “Yeah. It’s weird that the ones who’ve given up have a more logical response to what’s going on.”
He led the group past the central inn and into an alleyway. Weaving through the buildings wasn’t difficult with the spacing but it was odd that Albert was staying off the beaten path. The establishment they arrived at wasn’t decrepit but it was far less pleasing to the eye than the ones on the main road. The inside was acceptable but once again, Albert led the group away from the obvious stairs. He passed by the front desk, nodded to the clerk, and stepped into the backroom. Inside was a door to a hidden room with a simple bedroom layout. A circular table sat at one side with a couple chairs. Albert dragged in a few more so everyone had room to sit before doing so himself.
“Okay, what do you want to know?” he asked.
Aisha stared at the younger man and contemplated the only question she had asked. Based on the gauntlets hanging on his hips and the keen eye used to survey the land, many things had happened since they last met. Whatever he was searching for outside Deriich was rooted in the experiences that transpired over the last two years.
“What’s happened since we left Dawncaster?” she answered.
“That’s… oh boy.” Albert exasperated. “Remember how Makani said he’d be an adventurer to learn about the world? Well, he needed training. Some more combat but mainly learning about how to handle situations we’d face while on the road. So Victor trained both of us for a year. Give or take. In order to avoid people revering the prince too much, his father teleported us to Shusyoun and we’ve been helping folks around here. When the castle showed up, we started focusing on smaller villages and towns that didn’t couldn’t easily defend themselves.”
“Is that what you’re doing here?” Aisha asked.
Albert looked around the room and hesitated. After more experience he’d be able to study people’s faces without giving away what he was doing. The party looked to Vofric as his god-son contemplated his next words carefully. The dwarf kept a calm face and looked at the young man’s eyes. Trust and doubt were evident on his face. Something weighed on him but Vofric refused to speak. This was a battle that was bound to happen for any adventurer. Better for it to occur in the safety of a small inn with friends than an unknown place. The violence of Balur weighed heavily on the soldiers of the Hero’s party.
“Kinda,” Albert muttered as he lost his battle to doubt. “Makani can probably explain better. He’s a lot smarter about this diplomatic stuff.”
The room grew quiet with his response. It was only a few seconds but he couldn’t handle what he perceived as scrutinizing eyes.
“What are you doing here?” he blurted out.
Sariel seemed to perk up at the question. Only Kargon noticed the small twitches at the end of her ears.
“Looking for someone,” Kargon said. “An ally we got separated from said we could find them here.”
Albert smiled softly. “You guys make friends wherever you go. I hope we can do the same once things cool down after all this is over.”
“Don’t focus on an unsure future, Albert.” someone said as the door to the room opened. Prince Makani stepped through and greeted everyone. “Aisha has grown far stronger than us. But she already carries much on her shoulders regarding the upcoming battle. Let us not increase its weight. The future may be enjoyed once we reach it.”
The prince had grown taller and developed much more muscle. His sharpened jaw and longer hair were reminiscent of his father. Confident and clear eyes reminded the party of the queen. Strapped tightly to his back was a staff wrapped in white. Everyone in the room recognized the shape to be Lightbringer.
“They just let you leave the city with an Artifact?” Aisha asked.
“There were few options of what to do against the odds we face. Leaving Lightbringer in a vault helped no one.”
Makani was obviously right but what the party immediately understood was how his words matched Elmud’s accusations. Artifacts were left intact for defensive purposes. Though there was never a guarantee someone like Aeraza couldn’t get their hands on the tools. Aisha pushed the thought aside to gain a brief moment of rest. She shared a look with Kargon and he knew to take over as the party’s speaker.
“Albert implied you’re doing something more than protecting Deriich. Is there some way we can help?” he asked.
“I’m unsure. We crossed paths with someone early into our journey. Constant contact has been kept and they told us to remain here to receive someone. That was months ago and they left no information regarding who we await,” Makani explained.
Sariel shook her head and scoffed. “Freckle should not have made you Barbatos field agents with so little information. You lack nuance.”
Albert and Makani perked up and looked at each other than Sariel. Words muttered by the prince on his frustrated walk back had clued in the dragon. Months had gone by since Freckle instructed them to await important guests. With the young men’s differing upbringings, they were unsure who to consider important. Only the calm elf’s striking tone brought back their senses and allowed them to consider the people both revered. People who didn’t need almost a minute to realize what Sariel’s words meant. Freckle had put the group on a crash course with old friends.
