After two years apart, it was no surprise that the young adventurers wanted to hear what the Hero and her companions had been up to. But the more experienced warriors knew to stay on task. Unrelated stories could be shared at a later time. The information they had now was pertinent. Only a few words had been said before Albert and Makani understood why. They listened intently as Aisha explained the party’s encounter at Shusyoun. Each memory of the previous months sent chills down their spine. Makani’s experience hearing dire news helped him keep a calm face but the distinct concern in his eyes was evident. There was no reason for Albert to put on airs. Or rather, he couldn’t. The horrific news of fallen villages and monstrous creatures left his mouth agape. While both boys were uneasy, they didn’t waver. Each piece of information was met with a nod or clarifying question. It was clear Freckle made the right call in trusting them. Experience would come with time but they were well along their way.
“Do you still have Judgement?” Makani asked.
Aisha retrieved the tattered book from a pocket hidden beneath her armor. It wasn’t magical by any means. The tome had crumbled and was now a quarter of its original size. Placing it on the table caused more ruined pages to turn to dust. Makani lightly placed a hand on it and sighed. The moment he moved his hand away the remnants disintegrated.
“Though the Artifacts are powerful, they are still magic items. The correct means can easily destroy them,” he groaned.
“No wonder there’s only a few left,” Albert agreed.
“Is there any way we can contact Freckle?” Kargon asked. “She has to know something about what’s really going on with the Artifacts by now.”
A slow rhythmic nod came from a silent Makani. The revelations were still processing while he continued to try and converse with the group. He rose from the table and went to a bag leaning against the wall. From within came random pieces of metal and rope along with a small conical piece of glass. As Makani sat down, Albert started to put the pieces together. Bent hollow tubes screwed together into a circle with small holes all over it. Thin ropes tied through each opening and created a web. A metallic cup was placed in the middle followed by an intricate stone retrieved from Makani’s pocket. Finally, he screwed the glass cone on top of the cup and encased the stone.
Albert stepped back to give some space to his friend. The prince put out his hand and air started to flow through the hollowed base of the device. Dull humming emanated from the various openings as the stone lit up. For a few moments, nothing else happened. Suddenly, the light contacted the glass and created a dull glow around the machine.
“Commander Freckle, speaking,” a voice said through the wind.
“Makani Dicoris and Albert Greycastle, reporting,” Makani replied.
“I take it you finally met the contacts.”
“It would’ve been helpful to know who to look for.”
Freckle chuckled, “What’s the fun in that?”
“Is this really the time for fun?” Aisha interjected.
“Of course, even a little bit eases the mind. Anyway, it’s been a while since I saw you all. Did you learn anything?”
Before anyone could explain, Makani blurted out, “Why weren’t the Artifacts destroyed?”
“Patience, Makani.” Freckle sighed. “I’m still unaware of the reason why the Artifacts weren’t destroyed. Obviously if one group made them, another should have equal power to destroy them. Should have been possible in the last few centuries if not at the time of creation. However, I’m unsurprised that humanoids kept some intact out of fear. It was foolish but that’s how we operate.”
The way she spoke was even. The nonchalance of their previous encounter faded when stating facts for the guild. Not a single word held emotion.
Kargon grunted, “Did you learn anything? Please tell me Judgement’s the only destroyed Artifact.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not,” Freckle answered. “I was hoping to reach you all before it came to this but many of Artifacts… are gone. Reports have come in from around the world that they were sealed then destroyed. Members of Barbatos gave their lives just for them to find a broken tool at the end of a labyrinth.”
A somber tension fell over the room as the group shared an uneasy silence. If not for the raw power the Hero’s party possessed, Freckle would have died. Unplanned alliances and engagements would continue to fail. Even if one ended in success, it wasn’t worth the sacrifices. It didn’t matter how many agents were in Barbatos. The upcoming battle needed each and every one of them. Death was inevitable but an untimely one was avoidable.
Vofric was the first to break the silence. “Have you any notion of where we can find the remaining Artifacts?”
“Artifact. Singular,” Freckle replied. “I’m sure you can guess which based on Elmud’s admittance. The Ring of Planes may be able to be destroyed, I truly have no idea.”
“Whether it can or not doesn’t matter. We have to stop the demon king from getting it,” Aisha said. “Please tell me you have some idea of where it is.”
“In that regard we have… let’s say good news and bad news. The good news is that we have information on where the ring may be located.”
“Bad news is multiple locations, isn’t it?” Aisha replied immediately. “Whatever mistake the Arcanum Order made with leaving Artifacts intact, they had to have known not to leave them in easy to find places. They probably took extra precautions with how strong the Ring of Planes is.”
Freckle let out a soft laugh. Information about the chosen one could only explain so much. Details were always skewed based on people’s beliefs. Drawing a sword could even be seen as a stroke of pure luck. But the mental and physical capabilities Aisha had shown repeatedly impressed the Barbatos captain.
“That’s right; Zeld’s Shell and Natharia. In order to avoid any more unnecessary losses our members are gathering to tackle both possible locations. We’re prioritizing Zeld’s Shell however. There is a small army of demons attacking it with a shapeshifter commanding them.”
“Silver eyed?” Sariel asked.
“Actually, yes. How did you know?” Freckle replied.
“He ranks similarly to Elmud. It is understandable that they have equal responsibilities.”
Something about the plan bothered Kargon. The names were familiar but he couldn’t exactly place them. Squinted eyes looked into empty space trying to search for an answer. He turned to Aisha who wore a similar expression. Maybe it was the shared thought process or past experience that reminded both of where the information came from.
“The legendary turtle Zeld housed Natharia on his back. When he passed, the city was left abandoned and drifting around the world.” Kargon said. “You don’t know where it is, do you?”
“Worse. We know exactly where it is,” Freckle answered. “Within the month it will be near the shores by the demon king’s castle. While some agents are keeping an eye on the area, we’re not in a place to enter the city.”
Aisha groaned. “That’s why Barbatos forces are gathering near Zeld’s Shell. It’s a vault made from his hide on the mainland. Even if there’s no ring there, it might have information we need to retrieve the ring.”
She hated working on assumptions but there were no other viable options. All they could hope for was that the demon king failed to reach Natharia. Or that the city didn’t get close to him. Or that the ring wasn’t actually there. It was also possible he simply didn’t know how close the drifting city was. Maybe he was still toying with innocent villages around Ionzel. Aisha hated that she hoped that was the case. It was exactly why assumptions and uneducated guesses bothered her so much.
“Zeld’s age eclipsed that of the Artifacts,” Vofric said inquisitively. “Additionally, he only passed away two centuries ago. The news was devastating.”
“What’s that have to do with anything?” Kargon asked.
“It bothers me. You see, my statement isn’t necessarily correct either. Based on what we know, some Artifacts actually eclipse Zeld’s age. They were seemingly created at random.”
“Not at random but not at the same time either,” Freckle interrupted. “Some Artifacts were old and powerful magical tools that were reclassified due to their strength. Their power left a mark on the Great War and resulted in a change to their history.”
Aisha was pulled from her reverie and stared at the floating disk in front of her. She’d almost forgotten Makani and Albert were there as the young men awkwardly watched the conversation unfolding. Lightbringer leaned on the table next to its wielder. Its power was still beyond comprehension for anyone who didn’t wield it. Yet a teenager was able to grasp it after a few minutes. By now he was likely a master of the weapon.
“Which Artifacts were reclassified?” Aisha asked.
Freckle hesitated. It was the first unintended sound she let out since the group had met her.
“You’re hiding something, Freckle,” Aisha insisted. “The trust we have hinges on the fact that you know things about the Artifacts that we don’t.”
Freckle stammered. “I know, it’s just-”
“Just nothing!” Aisha slammed her fist on the table and yelled “I’m on a quest to defeat the demon king! The extra bullshit of the Artifacts is a problem. What is the point in hiding more information from me?”
Seething rage was evident on her face. But her friends agreed that it was unfair to keep her and the rest of them in the dark. Kargon softly placed a hand on his beloved’s shoulder. She looked at him doing her best to hide the stress and worry weighing on her. There was no way as it only grew the closer they got to their goal.
“Freckle,” the monk said. “I’m sure you have your reasons to hesitate but understand that the person who leads your agents into battle can’t go in blindly. We want to work with you without doubts in our minds. I’m sure someone who works in information can understand that.”
There was a short pause before Freckle replied.
“It’s not confirmed but I’ve always believed a rumor passed down through generations of information brokers. During the Great War, a group of powerful adventurers trekked into the demonic realms and retrieved a sword.” she let out a staggered breath. “Only the tiefling in their group could use it. He got help from blacksmiths around the world in improving it. By the time he died, it was completely unrecognizable to the blade he uncovered. It was passed on to a commander of the tiefling army and dubbed Great Sunderer. No one knows what it was called before that.”
As the silence once again grew, Kargon pushed for the captain to speak further. Freckle cleared her throat and continued.
“Aisha briefly mentioned doing research in the Library Raebkayd. Do you recall what Kharim’s nemesis’ weapon is?”
A fearful breath escaped Makani’s lips. Aisha’s eyes went wide as she quickly turned to Kargon who threw his head back and stared at the ceiling. Even Sariel couldn’t hide the disgust of such an idea on her face. Vofric’s frustration was equally high but he kept enough composure to speak.
“You’re saying humanity uncovered the demon king’s blade, improved it, refused to destroy it and now he wields it against them.”
“It’s just a rumor,” Freckle protested meekly. Even she didn’t believe her words.
Vofric shook his head. “No. You speak with a confidence only carried by those sure of their words. I know not how to confirm your words, but I believe them. However unfortunate that may be.”
“At every turn he gets a leg up even though all he’s done is sleep for one thousand years,” Albert spat. “It can’t ever just be easy, can it?”
“I learned long ago that those of us bound by destiny do not have the luxury to complain about difficulties on our path,” Makani sighed. “I’m sure you agree, Aisha.”
The Hero nodded. “Unfortunately.”
While everyone else was reeling from the revelation, Kargon was focused on the sword hanging off Aisha’s hip. There were few records about Valefor after it had been crafted. Nevertheless, there were some and Kargon dutifully caught the information when in Dawncaster. It seemed unimportant then but he’d never let a piece of information slip through his grasp. Not when it was related to Aisha at least.
“We’ll be okay,” he said calmly. “Kharim kept improving Valefor during his journey. And I know some of the swordmasters helped Aisha refine it. Mark my words. If not for being stuck in a slab of rock, it would’ve been an Artifact too.” The group turned to him but Kargon only stared back at his oldest friend. “I don’t know about destruction but with Valefor and your lightning I’m sure you can beat Great Sunderer. Regardless of who’s wielding it.”
“I have to,” Aisha stated. A soft smile stretched across her face. “I’ve known my quest would be different from Kharim’s since Mount Ikrali. This might be unexpected but it’s par for the course.” She turned back to the floating disk and spoke sternly. “Freckle, I know where Zeld’s Shell is but I doubt you want us rushing in. Where’s the base camp?”
After two years apart, it was no surprise that the young adventurers wanted to hear what the Hero and her companions had been up to. But the more experienced warriors knew to stay on task. Unrelated stories could be shared at a later time. The information they had now was pertinent. Only a few words had been said before Albert and Makani understood why. They listened intently as Aisha explained the party’s encounter at Shusyoun. Each memory of the previous months sent chills down their spine. Makani’s experience hearing dire news helped him keep a calm face but the distinct concern in his eyes was evident. There was no reason for Albert to put on airs. Or rather, he couldn’t. The horrific news of fallen villages and monstrous creatures left his mouth agape. While both boys were uneasy, they didn’t waver. Each piece of information was met with a nod or clarifying question. It was clear Freckle made the right call in trusting them. Experience would come with time but they were well along their way.
“Do you still have Judgement?” Makani asked.
Aisha retrieved the tattered book from a pocket hidden beneath her armor. It wasn’t magical by any means. The tome had crumbled and was now a quarter of its original size. Placing it on the table caused more ruined pages to turn to dust. Makani lightly placed a hand on it and sighed. The moment he moved his hand away the remnants disintegrated.
“Though the Artifacts are powerful, they are still magic items. The correct means can easily destroy them,” he groaned.
“No wonder there’s only a few left,” Albert agreed.
“Is there any way we can contact Freckle?” Kargon asked. “She has to know something about what’s really going on with the Artifacts by now.”
A slow rhythmic nod came from a silent Makani. The revelations were still processing while he continued to try and converse with the group. He rose from the table and went to a bag leaning against the wall. From within came random pieces of metal and rope along with a small conical piece of glass. As Makani sat down, Albert started to put the pieces together. Bent hollow tubes screwed together into a circle with small holes all over it. Thin ropes tied through each opening and created a web. A metallic cup was placed in the middle followed by an intricate stone retrieved from Makani’s pocket. Finally, he screwed the glass cone on top of the cup and encased the stone.
Albert stepped back to give some space to his friend. The prince put out his hand and air started to flow through the hollowed base of the device. Dull humming emanated from the various openings as the stone lit up. For a few moments, nothing else happened. Suddenly, the light contacted the glass and created a dull glow around the machine.
“Commander Freckle, speaking,” a voice said through the wind.
“Makani Dicoris and Albert Greycastle, reporting,” Makani replied.
“I take it you finally met the contacts.”
“It would’ve been helpful to know who to look for.”
Freckle chuckled, “What’s the fun in that?”
“Is this really the time for fun?” Aisha interjected.
“Of course, even a little bit eases the mind. Anyway, it’s been a while since I saw you all. Did you learn anything?”
Before anyone could explain, Makani blurted out, “Why weren’t the Artifacts destroyed?”
“Patience, Makani.” Freckle sighed. “I’m still unaware of the reason why the Artifacts weren’t destroyed. Obviously if one group made them, another should have equal power to destroy them. Should have been possible in the last few centuries if not at the time of creation. However, I’m unsurprised that humanoids kept some intact out of fear. It was foolish but that’s how we operate.”
The way she spoke was even. The nonchalance of their previous encounter faded when stating facts for the guild. Not a single word held emotion.
Kargon grunted, “Did you learn anything? Please tell me Judgement’s the only destroyed Artifact.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not,” Freckle answered. “I was hoping to reach you all before it came to this but many of Artifacts… are gone. Reports have come in from around the world that they were sealed then destroyed. Members of Barbatos gave their lives just for them to find a broken tool at the end of a labyrinth.”
A somber tension fell over the room as the group shared an uneasy silence. If not for the raw power the Hero’s party possessed, Freckle would have died. Unplanned alliances and engagements would continue to fail. Even if one ended in success, it wasn’t worth the sacrifices. It didn’t matter how many agents were in Barbatos. The upcoming battle needed each and every one of them. Death was inevitable but an untimely one was avoidable.
Vofric was the first to break the silence. “Have you any notion of where we can find the remaining Artifacts?”
“Artifact. Singular,” Freckle replied. “I’m sure you can guess which based on Elmud’s admittance. The Ring of Planes may be able to be destroyed, I truly have no idea.”
“Whether it can or not doesn’t matter. We have to stop the demon king from getting it,” Aisha said. “Please tell me you have some idea of where it is.”
“In that regard we have… let’s say good news and bad news. The good news is that we have information on where the ring may be located.”
“Bad news is multiple locations, isn’t it?” Aisha replied immediately. “Whatever mistake the Arcanum Order made with leaving Artifacts intact, they had to have known not to leave them in easy to find places. They probably took extra precautions with how strong the Ring of Planes is.”
Freckle let out a soft laugh. Information about the chosen one could only explain so much. Details were always skewed based on people’s beliefs. Drawing a sword could even be seen as a stroke of pure luck. But the mental and physical capabilities Aisha had shown repeatedly impressed the Barbatos captain.
“That’s right; Zeld’s Shell and Natharia. In order to avoid any more unnecessary losses our members are gathering to tackle both possible locations. We’re prioritizing Zeld’s Shell however. There is a small army of demons attacking it with a shapeshifter commanding them.”
“Silver eyed?” Sariel asked.
“Actually, yes. How did you know?” Freckle replied.
“He ranks similarly to Elmud. It is understandable that they have equal responsibilities.”
Something about the plan bothered Kargon. The names were familiar but he couldn’t exactly place them. Squinted eyes looked into empty space trying to search for an answer. He turned to Aisha who wore a similar expression. Maybe it was the shared thought process or past experience that reminded both of where the information came from.
“The legendary turtle Zeld housed Natharia on his back. When he passed, the city was left abandoned and drifting around the world.” Kargon said. “You don’t know where it is, do you?”
“Worse. We know exactly where it is,” Freckle answered. “Within the month it will be near the shores by the demon king’s castle. While some agents are keeping an eye on the area, we’re not in a place to enter the city.”
Aisha groaned. “That’s why Barbatos forces are gathering near Zeld’s Shell. It’s a vault made from his hide on the mainland. Even if there’s no ring there, it might have information we need to retrieve the ring.”
She hated working on assumptions but there were no other viable options. All they could hope for was that the demon king failed to reach Natharia. Or that the city didn’t get close to him. Or that the ring wasn’t actually there. It was also possible he simply didn’t know how close the drifting city was. Maybe he was still toying with innocent villages around Ionzel. Aisha hated that she hoped that was the case. It was exactly why assumptions and uneducated guesses bothered her so much.
“Zeld’s age eclipsed that of the Artifacts,” Vofric said inquisitively. “Additionally, he only passed away two centuries ago. The news was devastating.”
“What’s that have to do with anything?” Kargon asked.
“It bothers me. You see, my statement isn’t necessarily correct either. Based on what we know, some Artifacts actually eclipse Zeld’s age. They were seemingly created at random.”
“Not at random but not at the same time either,” Freckle interrupted. “Some Artifacts were old and powerful magical tools that were reclassified due to their strength. Their power left a mark on the Great War and resulted in a change to their history.”
Aisha was pulled from her reverie and stared at the floating disk in front of her. She’d almost forgotten Makani and Albert were there as the young men awkwardly watched the conversation unfolding. Lightbringer leaned on the table next to its wielder. Its power was still beyond comprehension for anyone who didn’t wield it. Yet a teenager was able to grasp it after a few minutes. By now he was likely a master of the weapon.
“Which Artifacts were reclassified?” Aisha asked.
Freckle hesitated. It was the first unintended sound she let out since the group had met her.
“You’re hiding something, Freckle,” Aisha insisted. “The trust we have hinges on the fact that you know things about the Artifacts that we don’t.”
Freckle stammered. “I know, it’s just-”
“Just nothing!” Aisha slammed her fist on the table and yelled “I’m on a quest to defeat the demon king! The extra bullshit of the Artifacts is a problem. What is the point in hiding more information from me?”
Seething rage was evident on her face. But her friends agreed that it was unfair to keep her and the rest of them in the dark. Kargon softly placed a hand on his beloved’s shoulder. She looked at him doing her best to hide the stress and worry weighing on her. There was no way as it only grew the closer they got to their goal.
“Freckle,” the monk said. “I’m sure you have your reasons to hesitate but understand that the person who leads your agents into battle can’t go in blindly. We want to work with you without doubts in our minds. I’m sure someone who works in information can understand that.”
There was a short pause before Freckle replied.
“It’s not confirmed but I’ve always believed a rumor passed down through generations of information brokers. During the Great War, a group of powerful adventurers trekked into the demonic realms and retrieved a sword.” she let out a staggered breath. “Only the tiefling in their group could use it. He got help from blacksmiths around the world in improving it. By the time he died, it was completely unrecognizable to the blade he uncovered. It was passed on to a commander of the tiefling army and dubbed Great Sunderer. No one knows what it was called before that.”
As the silence once again grew, Kargon pushed for the captain to speak further. Freckle cleared her throat and continued.
“Aisha briefly mentioned doing research in the Library Raebkayd. Do you recall what Kharim’s nemesis’ weapon is?”
A fearful breath escaped Makani’s lips. Aisha’s eyes went wide as she quickly turned to Kargon who threw his head back and stared at the ceiling. Even Sariel couldn’t hide the disgust of such an idea on her face. Vofric’s frustration was equally high but he kept enough composure to speak.
“You’re saying humanity uncovered the demon king’s blade, improved it, refused to destroy it and now he wields it against them.”
“It’s just a rumor,” Freckle protested meekly. Even she didn’t believe her words.
Vofric shook his head. “No. You speak with a confidence only carried by those sure of their words. I know not how to confirm your words, but I believe them. However unfortunate that may be.”
“At every turn he gets a leg up even though all he’s done is sleep for one thousand years,” Albert spat. “It can’t ever just be easy, can it?”
“I learned long ago that those of us bound by destiny do not have the luxury to complain about difficulties on our path,” Makani sighed. “I’m sure you agree, Aisha.”
The Hero nodded. “Unfortunately.”
While everyone else was reeling from the revelation, Kargon was focused on the sword hanging off Aisha’s hip. There were few records about Valefor after it had been crafted. Nevertheless, there were some and Kargon dutifully caught the information when in Dawncaster. It seemed unimportant then but he’d never let a piece of information slip through his grasp. Not when it was related to Aisha at least.
“We’ll be okay,” he said calmly. “Kharim kept improving Valefor during his journey. And I know some of the swordmasters helped Aisha refine it. Mark my words. If not for being stuck in a slab of rock, it would’ve been an Artifact too.” The group turned to him but Kargon only stared back at his oldest friend. “I don’t know about destruction but with Valefor and your lightning I’m sure you can beat Great Sunderer. Regardless of who’s wielding it.”
“I have to,” Aisha stated. A soft smile stretched across her face. “I’ve known my quest would be different from Kharim’s since Mount Ikrali. This might be unexpected but it’s par for the course.” She turned back to the floating disk and spoke sternly. “Freckle, I know where Zeld’s Shell is but I doubt you want us rushing in. Where’s the base camp?”
