Noah awoke the next morning to find Shannon clinging to him tightly. After everything that had happened during Knight’s Day, her shaken heart drove her to seek Noah and Valia’s comfort. They spent the night immersed in passion, helping alleviate her anxiety. Rather than getting up, Noah stayed there for a few minutes, holding her close and stroking her hair, with his gentle affection causing her to stir like a flower opening its petals to the rising sun.
“My Lord,” she murmured, doing everything she could to get even closer to him.
“Good morning,” he whispered, kissing her.
“Well, don’t the two of you look adorable?” said Valia, entering the bedroom, as naked as when she went to sleep. She climbed back into bed, but instead of lying beside Noah with him in the middle as they usually slept, he curled up against Shannon, sandwiching her between them. “How’d you sleep?” she asked as her hand slid under the covers and caressed Shannon’s soft skin.
Shannon hummed from Valia’s touch. “Wonderfully.”
“You sure seem to be in good spirits now,” said Noah, his hand slipping between her legs.
Shannon began to pant as their gentle caressing became more daring, with the sensual flames of the previous evening once again coming alight. As Noah and Valia’s lips found her supple breasts, she began to whimper happily while their fingers entered her and fought for space in her pussy. Her hand grasped Noah’s member, solid with morning rigidity and waiting for her to fulfill her duties. She got on his lap, his cock entering her and finding the reservoir of seed he had deposited the previous night. Having just woken up, she wasn’t quite ready to start bouncing, so she took it slow and gentle while watching her Lord and Lady share a passionate kiss to welcome the morning.
They had just gotten started when there was a knock on the front door.
“Who in the world could that be?” Valia asked, annoyed.
“That’s not the knock of someone coming to make an arrest. Maybe if we just don’t answer, they’ll leave,” replied Noah. However, the knocking continued and refused to be ignored. Noah grudgingly got out of bed and put on a robe, making sure his erection wasn’t pointing out. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“My Lord, let me,” said Shannon.
“No, you stay there. I’ll finish you off in just a minute.” He went downstairs and answered the door, finding a royal messenger there.
“Sir Noah, your presence is requested at the palace by Sir Berholm and Sir Tarnas.” He handed Noah a notice of summoning, and Noah skimmed it. It didn’t say he was in trouble, only that he was needed.
“Very well, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Noah shut the door before the messenger could say anything more and then promptly returned upstairs, where Valia and Shannon were waiting for him. After a thoroughly lustful cavalcade, Noah, Valia, and Shannon got dressed, had a quick bite to eat, and made their way to the palace, where they met Berholm and Tarnas in the War Room.
“Multiple assassination attempts were made on Prince Seraph last night,” said Berholm.
“Assassination? Did you apprehend the culprits?” Valia asked.
“Most of them were drunk. One of them was a mage, barely able to stand, launching fireballs at the prince’s window and calling him a beastman lover,” said Tarnas.
“That is neither surprising nor dire, so why call us?” Noah asked.
“Because that is merely a fraction of the people with a bone to pick with the prince. Fortunately, you managed to prevent a riot during his speech, but after you left, plenty of angry people were still directing their wrath at Seraph and even tried to attack him. Sir Tarnas and I have decided that he is not safe in Colbrand.”
“Is he really in that much danger? Don’t you have guards for that kind of thing?” Shannon asked. Berholm and Tarnas both glanced at her but said nothing. Though she wasn’t invited to this meeting, it was too late to object.
“It’s not the public you’re afraid of; it’s Ziradith, isn’t it?” Noah surmised.
“Correct,” said Tarnas. “Though he has regained a small amount of his original power, Seraph’s still at the level of an average paladin. He also has no militaristic or domestic achievements, a tainted record on top of being humiliated in the arena, and his speech last night angered a lot of people. At the moment, Seraph is more of a liability than an asset, both for our side and Ziradith’s. We can’t hope to put him on the throne, not as long as Galvin is alive, and Ziradith knows this, but he also remains a potential threat to her, and a source of criticism from the public. He’s a weapon she can’t use but can be used against her, meaning if she has any sense, she’ll try to get rid of him, perhaps turn him into an example or a martyr for her cause.”
Noah rubbed his chin in thought. “Regardless of the demerits, he’s too important of a piece in this game to risk losing. I told Ziradith I’d give her a chance to prove her quality to rule, but that’s only until she screws up. We’ll have to hold off on removing her and Galvin until we can turn Seraph into a worthy candidate, someone the people will back. There is only one way to do it.”
“Find a way to return his powers,” said Valia.
“I’ve been trying to do that for a year. The embers remain, but the fire refuses to burn,” Tarnas growled.
“Maybe you need a different approach,” said Noah.
“Is Galvin still not awake?” asked Valia.
“No, which is another problem we have to worry about,” said Berholm. “It should be possible for Seraph to use the Wassengel manacle if the need arises, but considering Ziradith’s threat, I’m hesitant to remove it from Galvin’s arm. Noah, what did you do to him?”
“I inflicted pain that wouldn’t leave a mark, but it was no different from what I did to the guards in front of him, so unless they’re comatose like he is, the problem resides elsewhere, likely due to Ziradith’s mind control, or perhaps its absence. However, the fact that Galvin is indisposed may be a stroke of luck, at least regarding Seraph. Ziradith said she could control the Wassengel, either through Galvin or by using his blood as a catalyst, but there is no way to know how well she can do it, if she was even telling the truth. If the Wassengel can’t be activated under present circumstances, then Seraph is our one remaining hope for using it, to us and Ziradith. She likely won’t make a move against him, at least until Galvin is awake.”
“And until then?” Shannon asked.
“I’ll look for possible solutions to restoring Seraph’s power. I have a couple of ideas, though that’s all they are. Let’s meet again, once I have something substantial.”
“Agreed,” said Berholm.
Noah, Valia, and Shannon then departed from the palace. As they left, Noah received wary and fearful glances from everyone he passed, and looks of shock that he hadn’t been arrested. Bronze and silver-ranked knights, those who had scoffed at the rumors and reputation following him, now stood at attention as he walked. Those who had faced down the basilisk would never forget the pain that Noah inflicted on them, and the fact that Noah could use that technique whenever he wished made them rightfully afraid.
“To think, I now have to undo what I did at the last Knight’s Day. What a pain,” Noah said as they stepped outside.
“Let that be a lesson to you, then. The next time you decide to punish someone and think you’re going easy on them, you aren’t,” Valia chided.
“Yes, dear, whatever you say.”
“What should we do?” Shannon asked.
“What if we were to take Seraph to Sylphtoria? Maybe the light of the star you made could return his powers,” Valia offered.
“That star simply reflects and augments the holy energy of the Nadoku’s prayers, elven energy. Besides, it would take months to get there and back. If he was an elf, I would say it’s a good idea, but I don’t know if it could restore him. If the title of Light’s Emissary is befitting, then we need something more… divine, something more closely related to Lumendori. However, that gets me thinking. Perhaps the church might know of such a source of divine light, something that can reignite the flame. Let’s speak with my contact in the church. Maybe she knows something.”
“Your contact is a woman?” Valia asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s someone you know, and I haven’t slept with her if that’s what you’re wondering. After our last meeting, I can’t imagine she’d be too eager to test the legend, so to speak.”
Valia giggled. “The legend?”
Noah smiled and shrugged. “Hey, I got a reputation. Ask the people who live on our street; you’re a part of it.”
Valia averted her gaze, just as her neighbors often did when she passed by, all with red cheeks and hushed whispering.
Shannon clung to Noah’s arm. “I love being part of your reputation,” she said sweetly.
“Well, I certainly hope so, or I’m not doing my job.”
The trio then set off towards the center of town with Noah in the lead. In his hand, he held a compass he made, but the needle didn’t point north. It was actually pointing to a corresponding gem that he had stuck on Bojena’s clothes when she attacked him. It was a prototype he hoped to someday use to find Valon or the Profane base, but magical tracking got exponentially more difficult as the distance increased. He theorized that mana in the environment caused interference, requiring more powerful materials and craftsmanship. The gem he had given Bella was the same kind, and would hopefully be able to transmit her location once she found the base and he improved the compass.
They eventually arrived at a tea house, where Bojena was drinking at a table outside. Summer was fully upon the city, but she remained hooded and cloaked to hide her identity. Bojena was shocked when Noah, Valia, and Shannon sat across from her.
“How did you find me?” she cursed.
“You act like I’m some bounty hunter out to collect your head, or a stalker that’s madly in love with you. I’m here to talk business.” He raised his hand, calling over a servant girl, and ordered a cup of tea.
“It’s good to see you, Bojena,” said Valia.
“You as well. I was disheartened when you left us to pursue your brother, but I understand. After all, I, too, have obligations higher than that of the knighthood.”
“Still, it breaks my heart that you ended up at war with the Knight’s Sheath, trying to kill Alexis and Sophia. I knew you were a devoted member of the church, but I never imagined you’d commit such crimes in its name.”
“Do not ask me to apologize for doing what I believe is right. The will of the gods is my conscience, and I still believe that Cyrilo’s book program will do more harm than good.”
“We’re not here to talk about faith,” said Noah. “You told me before that your superiors wanted Galvin out of the way and Seraph put on the throne. I want to help.”
“You do?”
“Yes, but something needs to be done about his current condition. At the moment, Seraph is despised and mocked by most of the city. Our only way to remedy that and get him some support is to return his powers as Light’s Emissary. I’m hoping that somewhere deep in the church’s archives, there is a secret that may help us.”
Bojena was silent for several moments. “I may know of something that might help, but like you said, it’s a secret I’m sworn to maintain. I shouldn’t even be talking about it, especially to someone like you.”
“Someone like me? Then would you tell someone like Adwith Tarnas and Marcus Berholm?”
“So that they can arrest me the moment they see my face? Not likely.”
“What if I could ensure that wouldn’t happen?”
“And how can you do that?”
“Valia and I are gold-rank knights, and contrary to how various officials might feel, that entitles us to a certain level of authority that you once possessed. Besides, so long as you agree to help restore Seraph and defeat the Profane, I’m sure they’ll agree that locking you in the dungeon would be a waste of your skills and talent.”
Bojena mulled it over. “I’ll have to confirm with my superiors. Assuming they agree and allow me to divulge confidential knowledge, then I will help you. I should have a response by tomorrow.”
“Excellent. I expect to hear from you soon.”
Bojena left some money on the table for her tea and departed, leaving Noah, Valia, and Shannon.
“What now?” Valia asked.
“Even if she refuses to divulge, I can simply use truth serum to get her to reveal what she knows. That said, we shouldn’t assume that she’ll bring the answers to our prayers. We should keep looking for solutions. I suggest splitting up. The two of you go to the academy and see if Elyot might have any ideas or can suggest some books from the library. I’ll go to the Knight’s Sheath. Cyrilo’s book collection is the second largest source of knowledge in the city, and hopefully, there will be something we can use.
“Lewis should be busy with classes, but perhaps he’d be willing to take a break to help us on official business,” said Valia.
The group split up, with Noah journeying to the Knight’s Sheath. He arrived to find that business was still halted, but different activity was happening inside.
“Noah, hello,” Sophia said with a tired smile, relieved to see him.
“How are things here?” he asked.
“We’re about to go bury Melinda. Would you care to join?”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I can’t say I knew her very well, and after all the funerals I’ve been to in my life, I’ve become a bit picky about which ones I attend.”
“I understand. Besides, you already did enough for her yesterday. I heard about what happened during Seraph’s speech. Thank you for everything you said about the citizens of Welindar.”
“You didn’t know them.”
“No, but I’m always grateful to those who stand up and tell the truth, who shed light on that which the masses choose not to see. The people of Welindar were never properly mourned. They have no graves, no markers, no kind words spoken by loved ones in their memory. Their lives were taken from them even before they died, and they were cursed and condemned after their deaths for being turned into monsters.
But what you did for them, what you said about them, I hope it brought them comfort. I hope they can rest in peace, knowing that their story was told, that they were vindicated by the man who fought to protect them.” Sophia paused, unsure, before throwing herself forward and hugging Noah tightly. “Thank you for coming back. Thank you for not forgetting them, or us.”
“I could never…” Noah trailed off. He wanted to say he could never forget her, but the fact remained that he knew he could, just as he had forgotten so many other people who were important to him, including the woman Sophia reminded him of. “I don’t ever want to forget you,” he said, returning the embrace.
As much as Sophia wanted to hold and be held by Noah until the end of time, she reluctantly let go, afraid of what her racing heart would compel her to do. “I… should go find Alexis,” she said, her face downcast, not wanting him to see the infatuated red of her cheeks.
As she departed, Cyrilo arrived. “Are you coming to the funeral?”
“Actually, I’m looking for information and was hoping to peruse your library.”
“Everything I have is at your disposal. Help yourself. Just please look after the place while we’re gone.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. And thank you for everything else.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Sophia already did all that.”
“Well, now I am. You know, I so often forget that I’m a member of the beastman race. I’m one of the few who can use elemental magic, even though it’s only runecraft. For so long, I only saw shamanism as a way to circumvent my curse, whether I was in full cat form or this state. I remember when you talked about your past bodies and said that it was never a matter of pride or identity for you, and that’s how I felt. But now, seeing how things are changing, seeing how… my people… are at risk in this country, it’s given me a new sense of perspective. You helped me find that perspective, just like when your lecture motivated me to start the Age of Knowledge. Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Unfortunately, it’s also given me pause for concern… and guilt. Most of my girls didn’t know they had the affinity until I tested them. They could have gone their whole lives free of this drama, but I saw it as a way to make money and draw in customers. Though they can hide their beastman traits whenever they want to, they can’t unmake what they are. They will never be safe in a world run by the people like what we saw yesterday, and that is my burden to bear, for putting them at risk. Until now, beastmen were simply looked down on because of religious reasons and centuries of fighting over land, but this deep hatred I’m seeing in this city, it’s different, and it scares me.”
“It should. A long time ago, I was in the country of Trent while trying to find a thief who had stolen fissile materials from a government facility and was linked to various terrorist organizations who he was likely… forget it; none of that matters. Anyway, it was a poor, dusty nation in the midst of an ethnic cleansing. If you don’t know, ethnic cleansing is the mass expulsion or killing of members of an unwanted ethnic or religious group in a society.
One day, I’m walking down the street and see a child running with a bundle in his arms, being chased by some angry men. I assume he’s a street orphan who got caught stealing and was about to get the shit kicked out of him. For a moment, I thought he would escape them. He was fast, and the street was crowded. Then he tripped, and the men caught up with him. I expected some punches and kicks, but nope, they all drew machetes and just hacked the kid to pieces right there in the middle of the street. He had just enough time to scream once before his voice cut out. He wasn’t a thief; he was just a child born to the wrong family and chased by men born to the right ones.
Then they seized the bundle he was holding, which turned out to be a baby, perhaps a younger sibling the boy was trying to save. It was crying like you’d expect, until one of the men grabbed it by the ankle and beat its head against the side of a building like he was hammering a nail. The whole time this was happening, no one in the street bothered to intervene. No one even gave a second glance. The men who butchered this child were completely stoic the entire time, like they were cutting up meat for dinner, except they just left him there for the buzzards to feed on. I don’t want that kind of thing to happen here.
I wish I could tell you I was shocked by what I saw, but it was nothing new, not to me, not to that country, not to mankind. Amazing, isn’t it? The horrors that people can unleash upon each other, the depths of their depravity, all of their own free will, without some outside force like the Profane guiding them. Like I said, I wish I could tell you I was shocked. I wish there was still some horror, some evil, some atrocity that I could say I haven’t witnessed, that I haven’t experienced, that I could refuse to believe is possible. But… there’s nothing, nothing left.”
After Noah spoke with Cyrilo, she and everyone else at the Knight’s Sheath departed to hold Melinda’s funeral. All alone in the brothel, Noah poured himself a drink and went to work combing through the library. Suffice it to say that Cyrilo’s collection was quite impressive. She hadn’t just copied the books with alchemy; she’d had them first rewritten and edited with fresh parchment and binding, using beautiful calligraphy. Such fine work didn’t come cheap, but with alchemy diamonds, price wasn’t an issue. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find what he was looking for. These lands were steeped in myth and legend, but none could restore Seraph’s power.
He was still reading by the time everyone returned, at which point the Knight’s Sheath was open to customers. Curiously, all the men and women who spotted him made a point to approach. “Sir Noah,” they’d say with a reverent bow of their heads. It seemed all of his actions from the previous day had granted him some added prestige and respect. Eventually, Foley and Roc made appearances.
“Oi, Noah,” the dwarf grunted.
“Hey, what’s new with you two?” he asked.
“We’re each heading home. Well, tomorrow.”
“I guess I can’t convince you to stay and help fight the Profane?”
“No, but I’m convinced of their danger. I’m returning to the Ashok Mountains to warn all the tribes about them. We won’t be caught unprepared.”
“Well, I suppose that’s still some good news.”
“We wanted to stick around another night and enjoy a few more drinks,” said Foley.
“I was also hoping to spar with you again,” Roc added.
“Sure, sounds like fun.”
They weren’t the only people leaving. Other warriors like Saimallah were turning down the offer of knighthood and returning home. It was unfortunate, but hopefully, they’d keep fighting the good fight against the Profane in their territories. The trio stepped out behind the Knight’s Sheath just like before. This time, a few more people had gathered to watch.
“Did anyone give you trouble today?” Noah asked as he and Roc stretched.
“Some dirty looks, but that’s it. After all, I did show the entire city what happens to those who pick a fight with me.”
“You mean those who pick a fight with you, aside from me.”
Roc gave a dry chuckle. “For now. This time, I’m not holding back,” he said, extending his wings and donning his talons. “Come at me.”
“Famous last words.”
Noah approached Roc, who immediately became tense. The way Noah walked and faced him left no openings. He didn’t favor any particular side, put nothing forward and left nothing behind. No matter which way Roc attacked, he might as well have been trying to find a weak spot on a steel sphere. Finally, Noah stood before Roc and threw his fist forward. Given the distance between them, Roc knew it was a feint, and just as he expected, Noah’s fist stopped several inches in front of his face, clear to everyone.
For the tiniest fraction of a second, Roc felt secure in his assessment, and was about to circumvent Noah’s extended arm for a counter, but he was struck by an invisible punch that hit him square in the face, delivered with enough force to knock him onto his back. Since Roc was using his magic, it was only fair that Noah use his own. To Roc and everyone watching, it was like he had punched the air so hard that he created a wind blast similar to Reiss.
“You may be worthy of silver-rank, but don’t forget that I’m gold.”
“Fuck,” Roc groaned, holding his busted nose.
“Yeah, once a nose breaks, sparring is done.”
“No, no, I’m all right. Just give me a second.” He tried not to tear up as he worked his nose back into place. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hit me there again.”
“Fine, I’ll hold back even more.”
Roc took a deep breath and then launched himself with his wings towards Noah, trying to deliver a roundhouse kick. Using the second knuckle of his middle finger, Noah jabbed a nerve cluster in Roc’s leg, sending a muscle spasm through his body. Noah zoomed forward, punching Roc in the stomach, then bending his arm and nailing him square in the chest with his elbow. Before Roc could respond, Noah turned and slammed him in the chin with his other elbow, sending his brain rattling in his skull, then jumped into the air and brought down his leg onto Roc’s shoulder, delivering enough force to leave his whole right side numb. Roc was laid out, barely conscious, to everyone’s shock. He was the unofficial tournament champion, and to be demolished like that without landing a single blow was a sight to behold.
“You still alive?” Noah asked.
“Whoever came up with that broken nose rule was very wise. I should’ve listened.”
Noah pulled him to his feet. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink, and Sophia can patch you up.” He then turned to the dwarf nearby. “What about you, Foley? You interested in a little one-on-one?”
“Of course, but of a different kind.”
Eventually, Valia and Shannon arrived at the Knight’s Sheath, finding Noah sitting at a table in the middle of the room, facing Foley, each holding a glass with a bottle of ambrosia between them. From how they slouched in their chairs, it was clear those glasses had been filled and emptied many times. The two were surrounded by customers, all gambling on who would be the last man retaining verticality.
“Sweet merciful God, how are you still…” Foley paused to empty his glass, then grimaced. “How are you still alive?”
Noah lacked the dexterity, so Alexis poured for him. He downed it in a quick gulp, but his blinking and facial twitches made it clear that the alcohol was getting to him. “Foley, my friend, I have a LOT of experience in this kind of c-c-competition. You’re not winning this.”
“I’m fucking dwarf!”
“Dwarves ain’t shit.”
Alexis filled Foley’s glass, he stared it down, and then drank it with a groan. “This isn’t as fun as I thought it would be. It was fun at first, back I thought you’d give me a mod-moderate challenge, but then you just had to be a stubborn son of a bitch.”
Valia approached with a small smile. “Please tell me this isn’t how you’ve been spending your time while we’ve been busy.”
“I’ll have you know…” Noah stopped to steady himself, “that I scoured Cyrilo’s library and f-found n-n-nothing. This is me… unwinding, and bidding farewell to a friend.” Noah downed his glass. Quite frankly, it was a miracle he was still conscious. Like he told Foley, he had a lot of practice with this game, but his body didn’t. He was pushing through with sheer willpower, relying on his vast experience with intoxication to see through the haze and remain upright.
“Should we stop this?” Shannon asked.
“Part of me wants to, but I’ve never seen Noah this drunk before. It’s kind of interesting.”
Foley raised his glass, barely able to keep his hand steady and spilling a fair amount, before it finally slipped from his fingers. He fell back onto the floor and groaned. “Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, forgive me! I’ve brought shame to our family!” Then he passed out. Noah emptied his glass one final time, and the Knight’s Sheath erupted into cheers.
“Noah, are you ok?” Valia asked, rubbing his back.
He gave her a drunk smile. “This is nothing. You should have seen me on St. Patrick’s Day when I had that funnel in my ass.”
“I don’t know what that means, and I’m not sure I want to. Come on, let’s get you home.”
----------
Noah woke up the following morning, more hungover than he had been in a hundred years. After vomiting into the garden, he sent Shannon to the market to pick up some hangover cures. She returned with the goods, as well as an envelope.
“I found this on the front step,” she said softly, out of consideration. It was marked with the church’s seal. Noah opened it, wincing at every sound the paper made.
“It’s a request for a meet. The three of us, plus Tarnas, Berholm, and Seraph, at the Rodham Cathedral at noon. A similar request was sent to the palace.”
“It seems Bojena came through for us,” said Valia.
“Let’s just hope our conversation doesn’t get too loud.”
After mixing up a cure for his headache and nausea and mixing it with a greasy breakfast and some morphine, Noah set off for the cathedral with Valia and Shannon. His hat was pulled low to keep as much light as possible out of his eyes. They arrived to find it empty of parishioners, or even the local priest, but Tarnas, Berholm, and Seraph were present. Upon seeing Noah, Seraph began to panic.
“What is this? What’s going on?!” he cried in terror.
“Seraph, I had a lot to drink yesterday, and I’d appreciate it if you could lower your voice.” Seraph wisely obeyed. “Has he been told?” Noah then asked Berholm.
“Yes, he knows the situation with Galvin and Ziradith.”
“So what are we doing here? Who summoned us?” Tarnas asked.
“I did,” said Bojena, making her arrival.
“Lady Lang— no, you don’t deserve that honorific. You’re just a criminal now,” Berholm grumbled.
“I am a servant of the gods. No other title matters to me. Besides, I stood by your side against the fiend army, didn’t I?”
“And then disappeared in the commotion caused by the Wassengel.”
“The gods have plans for me beyond simply sitting in a dungeon. Now, I summoned you here because I have information vital to the survival of this country. Do you want to hear it or not?”
Tarnas and Berholm exchanged a glance. “Go on,” said the wary dwarf.
Bojena turned to Seraph. “According to secret texts kept in the church’s archives, there may be a way to restore your powers, Your Highness.”
Seraph’s eyes widened. “You mean it? I can really return to being Light’s Emissary?”
“There is only a possibility, not a guarantee. However, before I reveal it, I require a royal pardon in exchange. The Wandering Spirit already promised me protection and my freedom if I came forward, and I need to know you will honor it.”
Berholm and Tarnas shot Noah a dirty look. “Hey, I’m gold-rank too, remember?” he chided before turning to Bojena. “However, the deal is only in place if your information pans out, and you help us fight the Profane. You lie to us, flee the war, or otherwise welch on your obligations, and I will rain the wrath of God down upon you. Now get on with it.”
Bojena took a deep breath. “Lumestada, otherwise known as God’s Hand, is a source of divine light from the Age of Enochians. It is said to bless those who are worthy and smite those who are unworthy, unleashing the power of Lumendori in all its beauty and horror. The church has concealed the truth of Lumestada for one single reason: it is a power that must never be exploited, and never allowed to fall into the wrong hands, for any force that wields the power of the divine is unstoppable.”
“And your superiors believe that this can restore Seraph’s powers?” Noah asked.
“If it can’t, they know of nothing else that will, and if such a thing as miracles exist, then let us pray Lumestada will give us one.”
“I think it’s worth the risk,” said Tarnas. “Let’s try it. Where is Lumestada?”
“My superiors have conferred its exact location to me and only me. This way, I can’t be disposed of once I tell you. It is near the town of Rorik, but that is all I will say. Even if you found it, you still couldn’t access it without my knowledge. I will take Seraph to find Lumestada.”
“After everything you’ve done, you expect us to trust you with the prince?” Berholm growled.
“Remember, she’s a devoted follower of the church,” said Noah. “Nobody wants his powers restored and Seraph put on the throne more than them. Her reasoning may differ from yours, but you both share the same goal. I will go also. Lumestada may have more to offer than simply restoring Seraph. I can think of no better weapon against the Profane than divine light, and it may help me with my curse. Besides, after everything I did the other day, it might be best if I make myself scarce for a little bit.”
Hearing Noah say that he would accompany him to find Lumestada, Seraph collapsed as if the bones in his legs had vanished and scrambled back in terror. “No! No! No! No!”
Berholm was likewise against it. “Never in a million years would I let—”
“Agreed.” Tarnas’s response cut off Berholm and shocked everyone. Until now, he’d tried to keep Noah and Seraph as far apart as possible, but suddenly approving of this left Berholm spinning.
“Adwith, what are you saying?!” he gawked.
“He’s kept his word and done nothing to Seraph, even with all that happened yesterday. I would go, but I’m needed here to protect the city from another Profane attack. Noah, you said you’re only my enemy if I decide you are, and that I should decide better. I’ve decided to give you a chance to prove you’re really on our side. Help Seraph regain his powers, and you will earn my trust. Fail to do so, and nothing in the world will stop me from killing you.”
“No, no! You can’t make me! I’m not going anywhere with him! Not after what he did to me!” Seraph sobbed.
“Enough of your blubbering,” said Tarnas, grabbing Seraph by the collar and lifting him to his feet. “You were punished for your crimes, and though I disagree with Noah’s methods, you deserved to be held accountable by someone who wouldn’t go easy on you. You know it just as well as I do. You needed to be broken down to nothing, and I’ve done the best I can over the past year to rebuild you into a proper man, but it wasn’t enough. I saw it in your fights during the tournament, how you struggled every moment because of your doubts and hesitation. What I had hoped was humility, to be aware of your limitations and your enemy’s strength, was really just useless fear and self-pity weighing you down.
Your final lesson is to face your fear, to face the man that broke you. He was there when you lost your powers; it’s only fitting that he be there when you get them back. If you want to repent for everything you’ve done in your life and be worthy of the title of Light’s Emissary, then you must strive towards that which you most desperately want to run from. To get your powers back, you must earn them, and this is how.” Tarnas then turned to Noah. “Do I have your word that you’re hiding no ulterior motives or harmful intentions towards Seraph?”
“I could swear while on truth serum if that would put you at ease. Seraph learned his lesson and suffered for what he did, so I’m satisfied. I hold no grudges or malice towards him. Now, I want to make him a warrior who can truly save this kingdom and defeat the Profane. You have my word on that.”
Berholm seemed unconvinced. “Still, entrusting the protection of the Crown Prince to these two… I’m not sure this a good idea.”
“I’ll be traveling with them,” said Valia. “Three gold-rank knights will be more than enough protection, not to mention Shannon. I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“Are you sure about this?” Noah asked. “After what happened the last time you used magic….”
“Seraph isn’t the only one seeking restoration. I need this. I feel like if I stay cooped up in my house any longer, I’ll just get weaker instead of stronger. I want to get back on the road, to feel my blood rushing, to feel my life in my hands again. I’ll just abstain from using magic.” Valia then turned to Bojena. “How long should it take us to reach Lumestada?”
“The church’s best estimate is twenty days on horseback.”
“I’ll need to make some preparations, but we can set off first thing tomorrow morning,” said Noah.
“Agreed. We need to prepare on our end, too,” said Tarnas.
Thus, the group split up and left the cathedral, planning to meet the following morning. Noah spent the rest of the day preparing for the journey, first turning his attention to the tralt jewels removed from the chandelier. With Shannon’s help, he sealed them in diamond, then used a magic etching tool of his own design to inscribe the runes onto the diamond’s surface and fill them with the same transparent ink he used for the Star of Sylphtoria. He only had enough time to make a few, but Lumestada was within Uther’s territory, so there was little to no risk of Profane attack. Once completed, he set them on the roof within parabolic mirrors like eggs in bird nests, letting them absorb the summer sun. How much energy they could retain and how long they could hold it was up for debate, but that could be determined later.
That night, the trio visited the Knight’s Sheath to enjoy some music, though Noah abstained from drinking. He also had something to discuss with Cyrilo.
“My, my, you haven’t forgotten how much I love jewels,” said Cyrilo, examining the large harkonen gem Noah placed on her desk.
“Yep, you have the heart of a dwarf. I’d like you to hold onto this for me as part of an experiment. This gem is paired with its other half, and I want to see what the range is between them for transferring magic. With this, I may be able to remain in contact while I’m on my journey, as well as stay up to date on what’s going on in Colbrand. Even if the connection is lost after a certain distance, I can just tinker with it when I return to boost its range.”
“So, you’re going on a journey with Seraph? I imagine things will be tense.”
“Tense, but necessary. Personally, I think it will be interesting, maybe even entertaining, just so long as he doesn’t freeze up when we need him to do something.”
“Speaking of tense, we haven’t had any trouble today, but there is still a lot of resentment in the air. Hopefully, we won’t suffer more violence, and if we do, well, Daniel will have to get better at ducking.”
“Fortunately, Galvin is still unconscious, so without his voice guiding their thoughts, the belligerent masses may leave you alone.”
“Oh, what a mess. I miss the days when the biggest thing we had to worry about around here was crotch lice. Now we have angry mobs to deal with, and the threat of civil war and Profane annihilation.”
“‘May you live through interesting times,’ a curse better than any other.”
“Tell me, Noah, what are your predictions for the future? Tell me what you see in your crystal ball.”
Noah chuckled. “A big bloody mess.”
The next day, Noah, Valia, and Shannon met with Seraph and Bojena at the castle stables, and Tarnas and Berholm met to see them off. No one else knew of their departure, at least for now. The moment Seraph saw Noah approach, he averted his eyes and tried to focus on his work, unable to keep from trembling in fear.
“Are you set for your journey?” Berholm asked.
“Yes, we have everything we need. All that’s left is our guide and our royal cargo,” said Valia.
“It’s been a long time since I traveled the open road,” said Bojena, adjusting the straps of her saddle. “Part of me is looking forward to it.”
“I am as well,” said Shannon as Noah adjusted her saddle. She then lowered her voice. “You know, there is no need for Lady Valia to have a horse. You both could ride on my back… at the same time,” she hinted, with her ears and tail noticeably twitching.
“If there is an emergency, it may come to that,” said Valia. “However, it would be best to have every means of transportation available to us.” She then reached out and cupped Shannon’s cheeks with a smile. “Besides, something tells me you want us to do more than simply “ride” on your back, you little pervert.”
Shannon blushed. “You and Lord Noah made me this way.”
“He does have that effect on people, doesn’t he?”
“Keep in mind that Shannon here is from the Petosic horse tribe, so while we’re traveling, be kind and respectful to your mount,” said Noah. Bojena looked like she wanted to mutter something under her breath, but she knew better than to say anything in front of Noah. “That goes for you as well, Seraph.”
Hearing his name called, Seraph flinched. “I will,” he said with the quietest voice he could muster.
“Be safe on your journey,” said Tarnas. “Good luck and Godspeed.”
The group mounted up and departed from the castle, but took the back way, avoiding the main streets and unwanted attention. Still, they received curious glances from the citizens they passed. To see the Wandering Spirit riding on a centaur’s back was one thing, but with Prince Seraph, of all people in tow, was quite the sight. They picked up speed once they left the city, but let Shannon set the pace for her sake and the horses’. They passed by the Wassengel crater, slowly turning into a lake. Shannon’s heart still hung heavy with the thought of all her fellow beastmen who had died on this spot, but she was silent, and after that, there was nothing ahead of them but the countryside.
They galloped through the morning hours, stopping at midday to eat and rest. Very little was said during that intermission, with Seraph doing everything he could to keep his fear in check. They continued riding through the afternoon, making good time and traveling well. That night, they set up camp. Noah placed wards of protection to alert them to monsters and assailants in the night. He bagged a wild boar, and Shannon prepared a stew, using her mastery of seasonings. The five travelers ate in silence around the campfire. Seraph sat across from Noah, doing everything he could not to be noticed.
“So, are you going to be dead silent this entire trip?” Noah asked, causing Seraph to shiver in fear, feeling like a rabbit with its neck pinned under a wolf’s paw. Valia, Shannon, and Bojena said nothing, not wanting to interrupt what was about to happen. Seraph didn’t respond. “Normally, I’d welcome the silence and good behavior from a traveling companion, but this journey will be a drag if you keep flinching like a battered wife. If you have something to say, come out and say it. You want to curse me, question me, rebuke me, apologize to me? Whatever words you’re chewing on, just spit them out.”
Seraph hesitated, looking less like he was chewing on his words and more like he was choking on them. Finally, he worked up the courage to open his mouth. “T-t-that day… w-why d-d-didn’t you just k-kill me?”
“Because death would be too lenient of a punishment for what you, your brother, and your friends did to me. Death is a sweet release, an escape from everything that torments you, an escape from all pain, all memories, all regrets, all fears, all futures. If I can’t experience it, why should you be allowed to?”
Seraph bowed his head, fearful he had angered Noah and was about to receive further punishment, but no punches came, no savage beating. When he looked up, Noah stared at him, waiting for him to continue speaking.
“I… I don’t understand what you’re saying. Galvin’s sins are mine to bear; I know that since I did nothing to stop him. The lives he took, the damage he caused, I have to live with it as if I did it all myself, but the things you said before, that I stole your hope, I don’t know what you mean.”
“So no one told you, huh? Bojena, I take it you’re curious as well. Then I’ll explain. For thousands of years, I’ve been caught in a cycle of death and rebirth, living and dying in countless different realities and timelines. Every life I live is a fresh barrage of struggles, a new group of friends and family I have to bury, another cascade of tumultuous history that I have to endure, and all of it is utterly pointless. This world is no different. It’s just one of an infinite series of identical worlds where everything that can happen does happen.
There are infinite versions of this world where life never sprouted, the Profane never attacked, Uther was never founded, you were never born, and so on. There are infinite versions of you with powers, without powers, with different memories, experiences, upbringings, and so on. Imagine a billion copies of you that have failed where you succeeded, succeeded where you failed, lived out your dreams and dreams that would never interest you, and have committed the most heinous crimes and the most extraordinary acts of salvation. Knowing all that, does it really matter what happens to you or this world?
There are endless versions of this world where you stop the Profane and versions where the Profane devour everything, so does it matter what you do in this one? Does it matter what you fight for? How hard you struggle? What you endure and accomplish? It doesn’t. Everything you do is pointless in the grand scheme of things. You have no impact, no influence, no significance, but you care because this is the only world you’ve ever known, the only life you have. You’re unable to comprehend your own irrelevance and the meaninglessness of everything around you. That is the bliss of ignorance, a luxury that I do not have.
I am forced to live, to endure, to experience, with my every accomplishment and endeavor amounting to little more than building a daily sandcastle in the path of the coming tide. What I have is a curse, and I was hoping to use Cyrilo’s research to break it and finally achieve death. But your brother and friends took that away from me, and you let them. You forced me to continue existing, to continue remembering everything that’s happened to me.
A long time ago, on another world, I was traveling through the Deep South and got seized by a crazed religious cult. They took me into the swamps and crucified me, driving nails through my wrists and ankles, and then leaving me to die. But to make matters worse, they secured my head and limbs so I couldn’t move an inch, then put a light over my head and left it on the whole time.
Drawn by the light and the smell of my blood and breath, the mosquitos swarmed me without reprieve. I couldn’t escape them, swat them, or even wiggle to try and shake them off. I had to hang there with nails through my wrists and ankles, struggling to breathe, and feeling the mosquitos pierce my skin with their little needle tongues and drain my blood. Between the infected bites, the sunburns, and the humidity, my flesh rotted long before I died, and the smell made me puke. I had no water, nothing to eat, and I stayed nailed to that cross for three days and nights, caught in utter agony before finally dying.”
As he spoke, he changed his face to the visage of his tragic end. His flesh, burned, infected, and gangrenous, left everyone gasping in horror, no longer able to look at their food.
“But do you know what really stuck with me from that experience? What I’ve carried with me since then? It was the sound, the sound of all of those mosquitos. Imagine hearing a whole swarm of those bloodthirsty fuckers buzzing in your ears and being unable to do anything. Can you picture it? That high-pitched *zzzzzzz* persisting for three straight days as they look for a fresh place to bite you, and not having the freedom to escape or swat them?
For several lifetimes after that, I had a deep fear of mosquitos, and every time I heard one buzzing in my ear, I’d get flashbacks to that cross. It wasn’t even the first or last time I was crucified. For over a thousand years, I’ve had that shit swirling around in my head, those memories boiling behind my eyes while I lie in bed, unable to sleep. Now, because of you four little shits, I have to carry those memories even longer, and that was just one lifetime. I have the pain and trauma of well over a hundred lifetimes corroding my soul like salt on steel, and I have to continue carrying them because of you.
I want this life to be my final one, for this world to be my final home. If I don’t break my curse before I die here, I’ll just be reborn on another world and continue living. Maybe I’ll be born with a degenerative illness that will leave me in agony again. Maybe I’ll be born to another world gripped by war, and watch one family member after another get slaughtered in front of me. Maybe I’ll once more be born to a group of people that’s routinely used as a scapegoat, target practice, and currency.
Why didn’t I kill you and your friends? Why did I paralyze Heinrich Schtern? Why did I get Mark Saveat addicted to drugs and then sell him to a slave brothel? Why did I blind and castrate Galvin after humiliating him and his mother? Why did I pummel you to the point of suicide, only to let you survive? It’s because existence is suffering, and if that’s true for me, then I was going to make it true for you. Now, do you understand?”
The camp was silent, no one daring to say a word. The only sound was Shannon’s sniffling and gasping as she wiped away her tears. Valia likewise had wet eyes, while Bojena’s were dry but broad, and she stared into the campfire with a stony look.
“I’m sorry,” Seraph said, his hands clenched and trembling, unable to look Noah in the eye. “I’m so, so sorry for everything we did. You were right; you were right about everything you said about me, about us.”
“Now you understand the weight of your crime against me, Seraph. I accept your apology, and you are forgiven. You need not fear me anymore. The second reason why I didn’t kill you is simple: you’re a young man, still learning. You were poisoned by your brother, but there was still hope for you. Of the four of you, I thought you had the best chance of turning things around, of getting on the right path and redeeming yourself, of becoming a force for good. I broke you down to nothing so that you could be rebuilt into a proper man, so you could reach your full potential.”
“All my life, my power was the one thing people respected about me. The church, the nobles, the royal court, the public—they all saw a mighty paladin, and that’s all they cared about, because otherwise… I was just a bastard. To them, I was a prince in name only. Everyone in the palace believed that Adwith Tarnas was my father, even the king. Galvin and I disproved it using the Wassengel manacle, and confirmed my royal blood. I suppose I should have been happy to finally have the truth, to finally know for sure, but all I could think of was all the years we lost.
The previous king, my true father, always kept me at arms’ length because of the rumor, believing me to be the son of his disloyal wife and a superior man. He resented me, and I resented him. We were driven apart by a lie we both believed, despite Tarnas telling us over and over again that it wasn’t so. All those years we spent in stony silence, seeing each other as nothing but strangers, years we’ll never get back, and for what? My… my father is dead. He died without knowing the truth. He died believing I wasn’t his son. I can’t fix it, I can’t make things right, I can’t say goodbye. My mother died in childbirth, and my father despised me. I’ve gone my whole life without ever being hugged by my parents, without being told that they loved me, and now I never will.
My mother was gone, my father had his back to me, and Lupin was always busy, so all I really had was Galvin. He’s a monster, I know that now, but he accepted me. Thinking back, he probably just liked having me around as muscle, like a big dog on a leash. He just wanted to use me like everyone else, but at least when I was with him, I felt like I wasn’t alone.
During my training with Tarnas, I had a lot of time to think about Galvin and me, about the things we did. I realize now that so many of my crimes were done with him whispering in my ear. That doesn’t excuse what I did, I’m still responsible for everyone I’ve hurt, but at least I can tell myself that that vileness didn’t originate from me. When I came back and saw him again, he seemed so different. I thought he really had turned over a new leaf, that he had become a decent man, that maybe it was possible for us both to be decent men, even after everything we did. Then I found out about Ziradith.
The whole time Galvin and I spoke, she was controlling him, saying the things I wanted to hear, just the way Galvin would. His politeness, his kindness, his change of heart—it was all just a lie she had made him perform. If he really had changed, if he really had grown and learned from his mistakes, she wouldn’t have had to control him like that, but the fact she did meant that he was still the same selfish, cruel monster he was before. Ziradith’s controlling him just like he controlled me, except she’s trying to make him into something good, and he wanted to make me into something evil.
If we do get back my powers and return to overthrow Galvin and Ziradith, I won’t get in the way, no matter what you do to him. If you want to execute him, go ahead. But please, just let me talk to him one more time, when he’s not being controlled. I need to know if, under all that evil and malice, there is at least one tiny shred of good. I need to know if he ever truly loved me as a brother, or if I was simply his useful puppet. After that, I’ll be the man you want me to be, the king that the people need me to be. I’m going to save everyone and make up for all my crimes, even if it kills me. I may have failed to live as a decent man, but I will die as one.”
“I believe you, and I know you’ll go far. I have faith in you, Seraph.”
Hearing those words from Noah, Seraph felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The group finished eating and retired to their bedrolls, and for the first time in a year, Seraph slept soundly through the night.
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