[Story] The fisherman's son (based on my Solar campaign)

[Ekorren]

Chapter 24: From one cruel curse to another


Coral Snake ran out from the City of Makers in fear, continued about a hundred yards along the road and fell to his knees. The Miasma itself wouldn't force him away further, but he could feel the presence of another curse. He could feel a great depravity well up from the depths of his soul and he saw the fragment of a memory from the First Age when he teared a Dragon-Blooded servant into pieces – just because he had disobeyed. The curse wrapped around him and filled his heart with thoughts of sadism and cruelty.


He got up on his feet. Next to him stood a disoriented Ledaal Yuko with pale skin and flickering eyes. She looked at Coral with her mouth opened in shock.


“Where … where I am?†she asked.


Coral wrinkled his nose, then snorted and started to follow the road towards the wagon up the pass. Yuko sighed in despair and then grabbed Coral's arm. He glared at her with sharp, dark eyes.


“Don't touch me, you imperialist whore!†he growled.


She instantly let go of his arm and looked at him with bewildered eyes. Her skin blushed and her eyes watered. Coral snorted and walked away. He followed the road until he reached the wagon. He then opened up the cage-door, jumped inside and opened a bottle of rum.


He sat down at the entrance to the cage with his feet hanging outside and drank heavily from the rum. He noticed the grazing bulls in his periphery and he ground his teeth in a sadistic smirk. His fingers were twitching. He had to do something about the tension.


He jumped down from the cage and walked up to the closest one of the bulls. The tame beast seemed to notice his intentions as it recoiled in distress. Coral tried to resist twitching too much with his fingers as he carefully reached for the animal. He grabbed the bull's throat with his right hand and pressed his fingers together. The bull was stronger than he was and it tried to recoil even more, but he was fast and pierced its skin before it had managed to get away. He felt blood run down his wrist and he could feel the smooth surface of the inside of the bull's throat. He made a sly smirk and ripped out the throat, looked at the bloody goo in his hand and threw it to the grass.


The bull staggered from its left to right, choked on blood and tried to shriek. It fell dead to the grass. Coral wiped some of the blood on his clothes and took a sip of the rum.


That feels so much better, he thought.


Still inside the City of Makers, Whispering Rainbow Cypher woke up in the middle of the street. He had bad aches all over his body and he felt like something had mashed together his brain. Something didn't feel right. There was a dark void inside his mind. He knew that something was amiss, but he didn't know what it could be.


He carefully tried to stand up but quickly realized that both his arms and his legs were broken. A quick analysis of his current state made him realize that he could force himself to move despite the fractures if he managed to properly stabilize his dislocated limbs. He forced himself to the side, leaned his weight on top of one shoulder and then pressed it down towards the cobble. He had always preferred to fix dislocated limbs my moving them into position swiftly, but this time that was out of the question.


About ten painful seconds later, he could manage to move his right arm. He sat up, grabbed his left upper-arm and gave it a quick pull to get even that shoulder into position. He then went on to fix his legs.


When he eventually could stand, he started to hobble towards the city's exit. He felt the Unconquered Sun's presence in heaven and immediately understood that he had been out cold for two hours. The Miasma had dug far into his mind already. He knew that he would never truly be himself again. But he wasn't afraid.


Finding this city had been his life's greatest ambition, ever since he was a …


I've never been a child, he thought.


He tried to remember but he couldn't. He remembered vast amounts of information. He remembered more than every book he had ever read. But he couldn't remember a day of his life before his Exaltation. He remembered friends and family, but there was not a memory to recall of what they had done together. There were no experiences other than the information itself.


But I don't forget, he thought. I should be able to remember not only my childhood, but what the weather was on every day of it.


He hobbled out through the open gate and noticed Yuko sitting on the grass next to the road further up the road. He walked up to her, waved and then flinched by her shriek.


“What happened to you ... eh, what was your name again?†she said. “Cypher, right?â€


Cypher noticed his robe was covered in blood and his skin was bruised and blue. But he was more bewildered by the fact that Yuko had forgot his name.


“I was attacked by one of the guardiansâ€, he said. “I'm okay. What about you?â€


“I'm so dizzy.â€


“I'd like to, um, analyze your conditionâ€, he said. “Where's Coral?â€


She pointed to the wagon at the pass. “He's up thereâ€, she muttered. “But he's really angry.â€


“Why's that?â€


“I don't know. He just yelled at me without a reason.â€


Cypher tried to scratch his chin but his broken arm was aching. Instead he decided to carefully lie down on the grass. “Maybe the Miasma has affected you tooâ€, he muttered. “You forgot my name. You wouldn't do that.â€


“Maybeâ€, she said. “It was Cypher right?â€


Cypher leered at Yuko. He looked her up and down and studied her every move. He watched her distressed eyes and paid attention to how she intently watched things around herself. He felt like he was opening a seal to let his Essence flow reach a new perception. He used one of the first Charms he ever learned after his Exaltation – The Flawless Diagnosis Technique.


He could see how her every symptom was connected.


“You have low blood pressure to your brain, Yukoâ€, he said. “It's affecting, um, your memory and cognitive thinking. Try to relax from time to time. Don't study or read without breaks and make sure you do continuous meditation. It might, um, slow down the development of your disease.â€


“Of my disease?â€


“Yes, it's dementia. Permanent. Sorry.â€


Yuko wrinkled her nose and raised her eyebrows. She looked at Cypher without even a hint of trust in her eyes. “How can you know something like that after just a quick look?â€


Cypher tilted his head. “Well, um, you seeâ€, he poked on his nose. “It was with a Charm developed in the High First Age by Twilight Caste Solars who, um, were specialized in advanced medicine. They learned how to channel their Essence to increase their own perception of, well, symptoms and to rapidly increase their cognitive thinking when analyzing potential causes for said symptoms. Doesn't the Dragon-Blooded have similar, though weaker, Charms?â€


“I wouldn't knowâ€, she snorted. “I'm no physician. But I can see that you're walking around with broken bones.â€


“Indeedâ€, he said. “One hundred and twenty four fractures to be precise. But don't worry about me. It would only take me about two days to fully recover. Um, maybe we should go and get Coral to discuss our next move.â€


Yuko found it wisest to drop the subject. She would never understand Cypher or his way of thinking. He was too complex a character for her to comprehend. And she didn't feel very bright at the moment. But it couldn't be dementia. That would ruin her career as a Sorcerer-Engineer.


But it might be ruined already, she thought, remembering the fact that her dragon had been wiped out and she hung around with Anathema. Oh my ... I can never go back to Imperial Island now. I'm an outcast.


“You talk to Coralâ€, she said. “He had a dangerous look in his eyes.â€


Cypher nodded and then started hobbling up the road towards the wagon. He noticed from afar that Coral was a bit further out the meadow at – what looked like – a dead bull. Cypher limped over there, carefully eying the statues along the way, and then greeted Coral Snake who crouched next to the dead bull and skinned it with one of his throwing daggers.


“Oh, are you preparing dinner?†Cypher asked.


Coral raised his eyebrows and gave Cypher a quick look. “Eat it if you wantâ€, he said. “Just remember that I didn't wipe the coral snake venom off my dagger before I started skinning it.â€


“Umâ€, Cypher coughed. “Why?â€


Coral shrugged. “I have no intention of telling you anythingâ€, he said. “Why didn't you tell me this city was cursed when you recruited me?â€


“Well, I—“


“Whatever, I don't care.â€


Cypher scratched his chin while looking at Coral who carefully stood up. It was obvious that he was going to leave the half-skinned bull to rot on the meadow. He would leave so much meat to waste.


“We should discuss our next moveâ€, Cypher said.


Coral didn't reply. He gave Cypher a quick gaze and started walking back to the wagon while wiping the blood off his dagger on his pants.


“Well, you seeâ€, Cypher continued, following Coral to the cage. “I have realized that the central Manse has been rewired to, um, harness power from an Earth Aspect Demesne despite the fact that it was originally constructed to be Celestial. This was probably done sometime during the Shogunate.â€


Coral walked up to the wagon and reached for a bottle of rum inside the cage. He opened it up and took a sip.


“You see, after the Usurpation the city was taken over by a Dragon-Blooded Daimyo who most likely had the Manse being reworkedâ€, Cypher continued. “Don't ask me why?â€


“And you're telling me this why exactly?â€


“Well, you seeâ€, he stuttered. “I just wanted to share my findings.â€


“Well, I don't give a rat's ass about your findingsâ€, he said. “In fact, I despise you for how you act and for who you are. The fact that you sold your services to the Realm is a sin worth killing you for.â€


“It was a cover to get to this cityâ€, Cypher said. “I thought you knew that. But anyway, to get to the point. I wanted to tell you that the source of the Miasma is most likely in the armory underground, um, or through the Manse you walked into in the palace. As soon as I take a look at it, I might know what our next move will be.â€


“Lovelyâ€, Coral said with a smirk. “Then I won't kill you just yet. Go back into the city and fix it.â€


“Um, why would you want to kill me in the first place?†Cypher asked while proudly standing his ground. “I'm the only one who is conversant with First Age technology. Also, I suggest we wait until morning to get some rest.â€


Coral grinned. “Well, that's where you're wrongâ€, he said. “I do want to kill you. But I'm gonna let you go back into that city to remove that curse instead. And you'll do it now, even if I have to drag you over there†He took a few sips of rum.


Cypher scratched his chin while looking at the indifferent Coral Snake with pondering eyes. He knew that something was wrong. The Miasma had given Yuko a mental illness and he had some sort of amnesia. Could it have done something to Coral's empathy? He took a deep breath and activated the Charm he had used to diagnose Yuko and carefully watched Coral. There wasn't a twitch of a muscle he wouldn't perceive if it could be directly connected to an illness or injury.


But despite how carefully he analyzed the man, he couldn't see anything that hinted that he would be mentally or physically sick. His brain was fully functional. There had to be something else causing this shift in personality.


“Um, we wouldn't gain anything by going back inside todayâ€, Cypher said. “We would only exhaust ourselves further.â€


Coral ground his teeth and threw the half-empty bottle of rum at Cypher, aiming for his face. The bottle hit Cypher across the forehead and shattered on a barely visible barrier of Essence. Cypher remained unharmed, but shocked by Coral's lack of temper.


“So I have to drag you after all?†Coral asked while he jumped down from the wagon to walk up to Cypher. His steps showed determination.


Cypher frowned his forehead and took a step back. Coral went up to him, grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm to his back. The broken arm was aching enough as it was and Cypher ground his teeth in agony. He realized that he had to do something to save himself from this man – hopefully without hurting him. He had to render him incapacitated for the rest of the day to see if he would calm down and go back to his former, slightly more compassionate, self.


Cypher reached for Coral with his one free arm and pressed his fingers to the skin on his neck. He let his Essence flow through his fingers and into Coral with a Charm that transformed its energy into the effects similar to very potent opium. Coral felt a strong burst of euphoria go through his body. He muttered quietly to himself and then started to feel dizzy. He let go of Cypher and fell out cold to the ground.


Cypher took a sigh of relief. The effect would only remain for three hours, but he could always give him a refill later. He grabbed Coral's arms and dragged him up to the wagon. He then walked along the road back to Yuko to tend to his own wounds.


The hours passed by slowly. Cypher made sure that Coral remained unconscious until dawn the next morning. Yuko spent a few hours practicing her sorcery. She seemed to have forgotten many of her spells, but after a few hours of reading through her personal spell book, she remembered one of her more useful ones for situations such as these.


After they had put up a camp on the meadow next to the wagon, Yuko performed a spell which Cypher recognized as Food from the Aerial Table. A cascade of pink flakes appeared in the air around her and then descended slowly like flower petals to the ground. Both Cypher and her took the flakes from the ground and ate them. They were nourishing but lacked flavor. It was still a useful spell for desolates places such as this. Most of the food they had found in the broken caravan had been used to feed Glorious Horizon's great appetite. Now there weren't much left.


At dawn the next morning, Coral Snake woke up with a yawn. He stretched his arms, still feeling dizzy from all the opium or whatever it was Cypher had given him. He noticed he was lying on a blanket next to the wagon while Yuko and Cypher were eating breakfast a little further out on the meadow. He looked at himself and noticed the blood on his clothes.


Did I really rip the throat out of a bull yesterday or was it just a bad dream?


“Cypherâ€, he said while slowly standing up.


Cypher turned his head to Coral. Yuko gave Coral a bewildered look. She seemed reluctant to speak.


“Good morning, I guessâ€, Cypher said.


Coral scratched his head.


“Um, about yesterdayâ€, Cypher continued.


“Don't worryâ€, Coral said with a fake smile. “I'm not going to kill you. I wasn't myself yesterday.â€


Cypher looked at Coral for a moment and then showed all of his teeth with a wide grin. He still couldn't remember anything from his childhood, but it didn't bother him at the moment. “Well thenâ€, he said. “Why don't we forget about the past and, um, keep looking forward instead?â€


“I guessâ€, Coral mumbled. He gave Yuko a quick gaze. She noticed it and blushed. “Yuko! Calling you an imperialist whore might have been unnecessary but it doesn't change the fact that I still don't trust you. Or your people.â€


Her face turned more pink and she looked down on the grass. She seemed disappointed by his apology. Was it even an apology?


Coral leered at the two while equipping himself and putting on his buff jacket. He pulled his black mask up over his face and tied his bandana around his forehead. Only his eyes were visible and his long, black hair floated gracefully with the wind. He grabbed a few strings from his bag and tied his hair into three linear knots going from just below his crown to his neck. He missed to tie some hair which created a long fringe parted in the middle.


“Cypher!†he said. “I saw the other Manse yesterday. It's in the basement of the palace. I didn't get a clear picture of the room itself but I saw a skeleton and a hearthstone.â€


“Really?†Cypher said. “Then, um, perhaps there might be two entrances to the armory or, well, the cause of the Miasma isn't actually in the armory itself but just below the palace. Um, I hadn't thought about that possibility but it is plausible that the Solar Prince wanted the greatest defense to be, well, close to home.â€


“I'm ready to get back in. Are you?â€


“Hold that thought for a moment, Coralâ€, Cypher said. “Well, you see, I got quite the headache when encountering a fierce automaton yesterday. Some extra protection could be nice. And, um, I'd also like to try something I've been practicing in secret since you got me those two tomes back in Yuro.â€


Coral shrugged and Yuko gave Cypher a confused look. Cypher got up on his feet and walked further out on the meadow. He stretched his limbs a little, cracked his fingers and his neck, and then started shaping a spell.


“That's Immaculate Sorcery!†Yuko called in surprise. “I didn't know he could do it.â€


Coral watched Cypher with interest. He was standing on the meadow shaping the spell and nothing seemed to happen. Coral got bored after a few minutes but Cypher kept shaping the spell for hours. Yuko watched him intently.


While the two sorcerers were out on the meadow, Coral grabbed some breakfast from the wagon. He barely noticed Glorious Horizon walking up to him from the pass. The Lunar Exalted still wore the same pants as yesterday, but now he had a brown vest to go with it. His tattoos weren't glittering like they did yesterday when he opened the gate, but he seemed happy and relaxed. He waved to Coral.


“Helloâ€, Horizon said, then shrugged a little when he noticed Cypher on the meadow. “What's he doing?â€


“Beats meâ€, Coral said. “So, found any beasts or whatever?â€


Horizon grinned and Coral noticed some dried blood on his teeth. Coral raised his eyebrows.


“How's Chanti?†he continued.


Horizon's grin disappeared and he got a scared look in his eyes. “Scary.†He noticed the bottles of rum in the cage, then grinned once again and grabbed a bottle. He took the cork between his teeth and bit the bottle open, spat out some shards of glass on the ground and then drank gulps of rum.


Coral frowned his face.


“I'm here to help you nowâ€, Horizon said. “Oh, look at that.â€


He pointed to Cypher who had stopped shaping his spell. A small twister of breezing wind took shape before him and transformed into a bear reaching fourteen feet high with soft, red fur and a breath as visible as smoke. It looked around itself with shining, golden eyes, twitched a littwhen it noticed the great walls of Denandsor and sniffed the air around itself. It then looked intently at Cypher.


Cypher spoke to the beast in a language Coral couldn't understand. The beast replied in the same language.


He then turned to the others and said: “This is a haruka. A wind elemental. It will, um, protect us when we go back into the city.â€


Coral and Horizon looked at each other and then at the great beast that had appeared before Cypher on the meadow.


“Well thenâ€, Cypher said. “Shall we?â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 25: The boy from the fishing village IX


The night was chilly and Nexus was covered in thick mist. The lower sections of Nighthammer Pool had been flooded with water. One of those parts were the cobbled square where Viper was supposed to meet with the cutthroats. He found them on top of a tiled roof overlooking the flooded square.


Dagger was sitting on a chimney, playing around with a black dagger, when Viper climbed up to the roof. He was dressed in black and had the black bandana around his forehead. None of the thugs did or said anything to him. They guarded the roof while Dagger was smirking at the newcomer. Dagger was dressed in a black shirt with gray sleeves. He had a pair of smooth black gloves, one of them reinforced with thin metal plates, and baggy pants with bandages around his right knee. The bandages were only for show.


“Viper the Throatslitterâ€, he said. “So you decided to come after all?â€


Viper walked up to the chimney where Dagger sat. “Just give me the assignment already.â€


“Eager to show us what you got, eh? I won't keep you waiting.†Dagger nodded to Viper and tossed his black dagger over to him. Viper caught it in the handle and looked at the sharp, black blade. It was custom made and the weight felt slightly off. The blade was pitch black and the black handle was beautifully carved with the symbol of a snake in purplish blue. Viper looked up at the leader.


“There's a man who's been giving some of my boys some troubleâ€, Dagger said. “He's working night-time shifts here in Nighthammer. Usually keeps an eye out for us and tips off the Iron League. We can't have that.â€


“Where do I find him?â€


“He's about six feet tall. Strong. Twenty-five to thirty years old. Has a tattoo of a gauntlet holding a rose on his left shoulder. Works at the lumber storage two blocks down south from here. I have some guys there who are keeping their eyes on him as we speak. They won't interfere. The kill is for you.â€


“And when I've killed him?â€


“Then you're in. But if you fail ...â€


“I won't.â€


Dagger smirked and nodded to Viper. “Then go do it.â€


Viper answered with a grin and then jumped down from the roof to a bridge going over the flooded lower sections. He put the dagger in his belt and ran quietly towards the lumber storage through crooked alleys and over bridges in wood and stone.


Just before he was about to leave one alley, he heard a sound of chatting and clapping boots. He stopped instantly and waited with his back against the wall. Four men from the Nighthammer Iron League walked by the alley but couldn't see him because of the covering shadows. They casually talked to each other, chuckled to some joke which Viper heard too out of context to understand how it was funny, and then they disappeared.


He continued closer to the docks. Eventually, he came across a wooden sign saying: The Guild's House of Lumber. He climbed up on top of a nearby building, knelt down at the roof edge and watched the House of Lumber's yard over a wooden fence. There were five people out lifting logs and planks from a small boat docked to the yard to the building. Most of them were simply teenagers while one man, clearly the boss, was older and had a tattoo of a gauntlet holding a rose on his shoulder.


Viper rested his chin in the palm of his hand and thought about how to best approach his target. There was a skeleton crew of five people at the yard. He couldn't guess how many were inside the building. Only he with the tattoo was a target. He didn't want to kill any of the others.


When he sat on the roof, watching over the House of Lumber, he noticed a teenager standing at the corner of a house with his arms crossed. The teenager was casually dressed and didn't wear a bandana, but it was certain that he was one of Dagger's scouts. Were they really supposed to watch over the target or were they here to watch over the recruit?


Viper watched the yard carefully. He wondered how he could kill one man without being noticed by the four who were with him. He looked at the boat at the yard's bridge and got an idea. He quietly climbed down from the roof and sneaked up the alley next to the wooden fence. When he came to the bridge going over the small river which the workers used to transport lumber from the docks, he slowly climbed down into the water and carefully swum past the wooden fences up to the bridge with the boat. He was an excellent swimmer. He barely made a sound.


While at the bridge, he took the dagger he had been given and cut the rope to the boat. It slowly danced away along the surface of the river. He dived in under the bridge where he could breath without being seen. Shortly, he heard one of the teenage workers shout: “Look! The boat!â€


“So, go and grab it!†the boss ordered.


The workers seemed reluctant. “But, sirâ€, one of them said. “I've heard about creatures in the rivers. Poisonous snakes and giant lizards.â€


Oh, I'm a poisonous snake all right, Viper thought with a smirk.


The man sighed. “Cowards.†He hurried to the bridge and dived into the river. He started to swim towards the boat, grabbed its rope and slowly dragged it back towards the bridge. Viper was waiting under the bridge with his dagger ready.


As the man approached the bridge, Viper carefully sunk his head under the surface, swum up to the man who was about to tie the boat and, without hesitation, stuck the dagger into his stomach. The man screamed and blood came gushing out his mouth and wound. Viper pulled the blade down along the man's stomach until he noticed intestines gushing out. Slightly disgusted by bathing this close to that gore, he swiftly swum up along the river towards the bridge, climbed up to the alley and hurried back towards the square.


Behind him, he heard the workers on the yard: “Creature! A creature got the boss!â€


When Viper returned to the roof, the group were still there. He noticed the young man from outside the House of Lumber standing on the roof next to Dagger. They all looked at Viper with raised brows.


“I heard you went creative, Viperâ€, Dagger said with a smirk. “Not bad at all. But you messed up.â€


“What do you mean I messed up?†Viper muttered. “I killed the man, didn't I?â€


Dagger pointed to the tiles below Viper's feet. “You left a trail.â€


Viper looked down and noticed water dripping from his clothes. He flinched and raised his brows. He hadn't thought about that. He looked up at Dagger with determined eyes. “So?†he said. “I failed?â€


“I didn't say thatâ€, Dagger said with a smirk. “You're good enough to join. I'm sure most of my boys would have spent plenty of time before coming up with the same solution you did. But what would you have done if one of the other workers went for the boat and not the target himself?â€


“I would have come up with something.â€


“Goodâ€, he said and nodded to the others. “Scatter. Make sure the League won't pick up Viper's trail. I want to talk to him alone.â€


The rest didn't reply but they immediately jumped down the roof and disappeared into the alleys. Dagger nodded to Viper. “Meet me insideâ€, he said and disappeared flexibly into the chimney.


Viper looked around himself. He was all alone. Not even any trails of cutthroats were left. He hurried up to the chimney and looked down. It was pitch-black. He didn't even know what kind of house this was. Did it belong to Dagger or did he go into it anyway?


He shrugged. The chimney was out of the question. He could always lock-pick the window and get in through that way. Lock-picking wasn't a big deal. He had specialized in that when stealing together with Wing as a child.


He went to the edge of the roof, grabbed it with one hand and leaned over to the upper window. It was dark inside. He grabbed a needle from his hair and easily picked the lock to the window, opened it up and sneaked inside. He entered an empty bedroom. Next to the bedroom was a hall leading to a stairway going down to the first floor. At the first floor was a small dining room with an open fireplace.


Dagger was leaning before the fireplace, trying to get a fire going on some dry pieces of wood. Even though he had entered through the chimney, he seemed as clean as he did above. He wasn't covered in soot. When he got some nice flames going, he turned to Viper with a smile.


“This house belonged to one of our old targetsâ€, he said. “My boys and I used to meet on the square outside and the father living here didn't like that very much. We put a new recruit to take care of him. Unfortunately, the recruit got to the wife and kids as well. We didn't like that very much so we had another recruit make him disappear.â€


“I can see you like to toy with people's livesâ€, Viper muttered. He walked up to the dining table and leaned against it, intently watching his new superior.


“And you don't?†Dagger said with a sly smirk. “Why do you want to join us, really?â€


“I told you already. My reasons are my own.â€


Dagger walked up to the dining room where Viper stood, pulled out a chair and sat down. “So it's not because of the four years you were a sex slave in Bastion?â€


Viper gasped and his face turned red. “How did you know about that?†He felt awkward and ashamed. But when he looked at Dagger, he saw no emotion. Just a killer's calm. A professional coldness.


“I have my sourcesâ€, Dagger said. “You're here today because you want revenge. Not on the bastard who kidnapped you – you've killed him already – but on all of the noblemen who bought your services over the years.â€


“Maybe soâ€, Viper muttered. “What about it?â€


“Nothingâ€, Dagger said with a smirk. “I can relate.â€


He removed his gloves and put them on the table. Then he removed his shirt. His body was illuminated by the flames who crunched on the dry wood. Viper saw severe burn scars going from Dagger's neck, all the way down his torso and along his right arm.


“I've been a slave too, Viperâ€, he said. “However, my master was a God-Blooded. The son of a Fire God from the Southern Deserts. He had his way with me in ways you can't imagine. You think these scars are bad?†He pointed to his temple. “Then you have no idea what scars I carry in here.â€


Viper looked at Dagger's scars but didn't reply.


“I got my revengeâ€, he continued. “I killed the fiery bastard. But do you think I can just leave? Then you're wrong. Once you join, you're in for life.â€


Viper ground his teeth. He then took the black dagger from his belt and hammered it in the table. “If it's my life you want, it's yours!†he roared. “I'm cursed already. I have nothing to lose.â€


Dagger looked at Viper from top to bottom. He then took his shirt and put it back on. “I like your determination, boyâ€, he said. “But if you want to achieve your goal, a cutthroat won't do it. Train under me and I'll have you recruited by The Ebon Daggers in no time. I'll vouch for you.â€


Viper nodded. “Yes, sirâ€, he said with a smile.


“Then I'll see you here tomorrow, Viperâ€, Dagger said and turned to the fireplace. “Oh, and say hello to Glittering Wolf for me. She's ho€


Viper snorted. “So you know about her too?â€


“I have my sourcesâ€, he said and then crouched down next to the fire to warm himself.


Viper looked at him for a while and then left the house to go back home to Glittering Wolf and the orphans. He had made it into the cutthroats. Next were The Ebon Daggers.

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 26: Breaking the Miasma


The city's curse felt even more intense on the second day. Perhaps it was because of the fact that Whispering Rainbow Cypher's artifact now had two more minds to sooth – Glorious Horizon's and the red-furred haruka's – or perhaps it was because they now had realized that the curse not only filled them with dread but could drive them insane. It had happened yesterday. Coral Snake had suffered from temporary sadism while Cypher and Yuko had issues with their memories.


And the City of Makers didn't feel as desolated as it had before. Now they knew what the guardians could do. Cypher had experienced it first-hand and was looking both to his left and to his right to make sure that the guardians wouldn't attack him again. His summoned elemental did its task and watched the guardians intently while looking out for its master.


When they once again reached the central Manse, Cypher noticed a dried pool of blood on the ground where he had been knocked out the day before. He tried not to look at it, but he couldn't resist gulping in fear of thinking what the guardians could do to him next. But what if he could rewrite their directives somehow? With these many guardians, they had to be controlled by a central system. Perhaps it was in the armory below.


“Should we, um, separate while in the palace?†Cypher asked. “I mean, some of us can, um, search the rooms for the jade sigil while the rest and I see what we can do about the Miasma in the Manse.â€


“No wayâ€, Coral said with Yuko nodding in agreement. “I'm not separating from you while in this city again.â€


Glorious Horizon didn't say much. The unwelcoming curse made him look distressed, but in fear of seeming weak to the others he raised his chin a little higher than usually and stretched his back a little more proudly. He constantly checked over Coral – probably on orders from Chanti.


Yuko was the one feeling the most uncomfortable. Her eyes were flickering as much as yesterday and she flinched in surprise by the slightest sounds. She didn't try to hide her tension, but she was reluctant to speak because her voice was stuttering and weak.


When they reached the palace, they noticed the doors were still open. Coral had fled quite swiftly the day before. The two guardians still idled before the entrance, silently watching over the order in a desolated city. The group walked up the stairs towards the entrance and discovered that the haruka was too big to get inside with its great height of fourteen feet. It tried to crouch its way through the door, but then stepped back when it realized it couldn't get in.


Cypher said something in Old Realm to the elemental. It looked at him, then sat down on the stairs outside and watched over the two guardians at its side. It didn't look too pleased, but the others could move along. When inside, Yuko and Horizon stopped to watch the impressive display in the ceiling. The painted glass was as cinematic as before, but Coral was too focused on removing the dreadful curse to be able to focus too much on anything else. He nodded to Cypher and pointed to the open door leading downstairs.


“That's where the Manse isâ€, he said.


Cypher nodded and walked towards the stairway. Coral gestured to Yuko and Horizon to tag along. They did so without hesitation. When they caught up to Cypher, they all felt a great intensity in the dreadful curse. They stopped to take a few moments to breath. Cypher had already lit his caste mark. The light illuminated the room downstairs and they noticed a full skeleton leaning to a podium with a floating hearthstone. The skeleton was dressed in red jade. Next to it was another skeleton, though more casually dressed.


The room itself had markings of jade along the floor and walls. It looked like the Five Elemental Dragons, all in respective color of jade, as well as divine symbols and markings in Old Realm. Coral couldn't understand anything, but both Yuko and Cypher read intently.


“Don't step on the floorâ€, Cypher said. “You see, some of the tiles might be trapped.â€


Coral was already half-way into the room when he suddenly stopped to look down below his feet. He hadn't stepped on any of the markings. If they were trapped, he couldn't have set anything off yet.


“I saw similar symbols in the pavilion outsideâ€, Cypher continued. “I didn't have enough time to decipher their meaning out there, but, um, I'm sure it would have helped in here.â€


He looked around himself in the room. Coral and Horizon gave each other bewildered looks.


“If this Manse is somehow connected to the other oneâ€, Cypher said, “then that means the armory is in that direction.†He pointed to the wall on his right-hand side.


“Why is that relevant?†Yuko asked.


“Well, you seeâ€, he said. “As you must all feel, the Miasma is stronger in here than it was outside. But the Miasma is the effect of a highly defensive War Manse. It was common in the First Age to, um, connect a city's armory to its War Manse – if it had any – because of its defensive capabilities. My hypothesis is that the Solar Prince had this Manse built under his palace so that he could access the city's defense without having to leave the palace to get into the armory outside.â€


“So you're saying this could be a secret passage into the armory?â€


“Not necessarilyâ€, he said while poking on his nose. “I'm just suggesting that the room with the Miasma's origin could be between the armory and this room. That way, it can feed on Essence from both Manses.â€


Coral gestured to Horizon with a nod, like if he was saying: “Do you understand what they're talking about?†He replied with a shrug.


Cypher looked at the markings in the room. “I understand that the Elemental Dragons portrayed on the markings refer to the Five Elemental Pillars. Um, the Pillar of Earth is the podium in the middle. We must pass the Pillar of Fire to get to the Pillar of Wood in the east or the Pillar of Water in the west. If the traps are, um, based on the properties of each element, then my initial assumption would be that if we step on the Pillar of Fire, we would burn our feet.â€


“Just hurry up and come up with a solution alreadyâ€, Coral muttered. “I really don't want to be here anymore.â€


“Well, um, I'm tryingâ€, he said. “But I don't know if my hypothesis is correct yet. Assuming a hidden door is within the wall on our right-hand side, then, um, I think we must pass the Pillar of Wood. We could try to jump over the markings of red jade and aim for, well, the green.â€


“And what properties does green jade have, exactly?†Coral asked, twitching a little in his fingers as he said so.


“Well, I can't think of any too destructive ones.â€


“It is quite a leap of faith, Cypherâ€, Yuko muttered.


“Just hurry up and make up your minds alreadyâ€, Coral continued. “Cypher! Since it's your hypothesis, I suggest you take the first step.â€


Horizon sniffed the air. “I don't like this feeling very muchâ€, he said.


“Me neitherâ€, Coral muttered. “And the fact that there are skeletons in the room doesn't help calming me down.â€


“Actuallyâ€, Cypher said. “The skeleton with the red armor matches the, um, descriptions of the Dragon-Blooded Daimyo who took control of the city during the Shogunate. It's plausible that he was the one activating the Miasma. Well, you see, the fact that his remains are in here might prove that there actually is an entrance to the source of the city's curse in this room.â€


“Speaking of that curseâ€, Coral continued. “Are you going to stand there talking or are you going to do something about it?â€


As he said those words, Ledaal Yuko hurried past them and jumped over the red jade and landed on the green. She looked up on the others with a forced smile under red eyes on a pale face. Cypher and Coral looked at her with raised brows. Horizon's gaze was locked in the air and he was chewing on his finger-nails.


Nothing seemed to have been activated in the room. Yuko was still alive. “I don't have anything to live for anywayâ€, she said.


“Well, it seems safeâ€, Cypher said and jumped over. Coral and Horizon jumped shortly after. “Now we need to figure out how to get through this wall.â€


Horizon suddenly got a more focused gaze as he grinned to Cypher. “I can smash it.â€


“Well, I'm not sure smashing it would be a good—“


CRUSH! Before they even had time to react, Horizon's arm was through the wall and pieces of stone had fallen to the floor. His arm looked twice as thick as normally and the tattoos on it glittered faintly.


Cypher recoiled and looked around himself in the room. What trap could have been activated by this brutal entry? Were there any sounds? Any lights? He quickly looked around himself and was surprised by the fact that it seemed as calm as before.


Yuko gasped and Coral chuckled to himself as Horizon teared the wall apart, stone after stone. On the other side of the wall was a dark corridor leading to another room. It was illuminated enough by Cypher's caste mark that they could see the complex panel in the room's center. The dreadful breeze felt warm and filled their minds with thoughts of death and decay. Suddenly, all of them felt like dying would be a better idea than to take even one more step further inside this depraved Manse.


That's why it was only natural that the only one of them who had already lost everything, was the only one brave enough to take the first step inside. Yuko walked into the corridor and Cypher forced himself to follow, despite how obvious it was that it took plenty of willpower to get the courage to go inside. Both Coral and Horizon remained behind. They would gain nothing by going into that room. They didn't have the brains it took to shut off the system anyway.


Coral turned his gaze to the transparent, square stone that glowed with violet light in the middle of the room. Cypher had mentioned something about committing oneself to a Manse. Perhaps he could use the power of the hearthstone if he harmonized his Essence to the Manse's. He looked at the skeletons at the podium and he looked at their ancient artifacts in all kinds of different materials.


Suddenly he felt an overwhelming impulsion to take what he could see. It was a stronger impulse than he had ever felt before. His fingers were twitching He just had to take something. That Daimyo carried some nice bracers in orichalcum. Maybe he could take those? Would the guardians notice?


Who cares? I can probably sneak past them unnoticed.


Without thinking, he grabbed the bracers from the corpse and even managed to get the pair of gloves from the other skeleton. He put them in his item bag hanging from his belt. His mind felt blank and he grabbed the hearthstone from the podium, sat down on the tiles of green jade and tried to meditate by harmonizing his Essence with the stone in his hands. It was difficult to concentrate with the curse still draining his spirit, but there was this void in his mind that ignored the dreadfulness that filled him just so that he could make this entire Manse his own.


Horizon looked at him and scratched his head.


Inside the other room, Cypher and Yuko slowly approached the complex panel in the room's middle. The panel itself looked like a podium in smooth, white stone with three levers looking like crystal orbs. On top of each orb glittered Old Realm symbols for different numbers. From the levers throughout the stone panel stretched a complex network of orichalcum veins, continuing down to the floor and tapping into the Manses themselves. There was a red button next to the levers, glowing strongly with alarming red light.


“Do … do you know how … how it works?†Yuko forced herself to ask. The pressure from the panel was intense and the Miasma's Essence felt depraved and wrong. Cypher's pendant glowed like a miniature sun, but it didn't help soothing the curse enough for them to endure this feeling.


It was now or never.


“Somehow, I ...†Cypher muttered. “Somehow, all of this feel very familiar.â€


He put the palm of his hand on the smooth panel and felt the Manse's heartbeats echoing within. He could feel the powerful sensation of electrical static in the palm of his hand. Just being in here was dangerous, with or without the curse. He intently watched the network of orichalcum veins and recognized some pattern he had seen before.


“This panel has … um, almost a thousand trapsâ€, he said. “There is only one code to kill the system. I'm not sure if I can ...â€


“How do you know that?â€


“I think ...†he muttered before a flash of divine light came before his eyes. He could see himself touching a smooth sphere and make a complex three-dimensional blueprint manifest as a projected picture before his eyes. Around him stood a dozen other men and women, all dressed in fine robes. Some of them had glittering marks on their foreheads, all sharing the same caste as he did. Somehow, he knew that the rest of them were Solar Exalted as well, but didn't show their marks. The pattern on the blueprint in his vision was similar to that on the panel itself. When he came to, it was like ages of knowledge had been suddenly implanted into his mind. “I think I was … I think I was one of those who designed the system. No, the city itself.â€


He touched one of the orbs with his finger-tip and felt how it responded with his touch. He slightly moved his finger-tip down and noticed the number on the orb scroll between numbers. He touched it again and it scrolled even further. He could see the blueprint in his mind. There was a thousand different combination of numbers. There was a thousand different orichalcum connections. All but one was trapped.


He couldn't afford to make a mistake.


Cypher scratched his chin and then moved all of the orbs until three different numbers appeared on the panel. He looked at them for a moment and then tried to force a sigh.


“Yesâ€, he said to himself. “Should be it.â€


He slowly moved his hand to the red button. Yuko coughed to get his attention.


“If this is wrong ... we will die, won't we?†she asked.


“Yesâ€, he said and pressed the button.


A sough went through the room and they could feel the great Essence flicker from the panel. The soughing got more and more intense until it died out with the light from the red button. Suddenly, every single light except from Cypher's caste mark and his glowing artifact disappeared and left the room in darkness. Cypher stood silently and watched the panel for a while. He then looked at Yuko who looked back.


They both took deep sighs of relief and noticed that the intensity of the curse was gone. Cypher had broken the Miasma. The City of Maker's ancient curse was forever gone. Only he who had created the weapon knew about its weak spot. Perhaps it was a destiny he had made for himself in the High First Age. Maybe he knew that he would return one day, and that if the defense would be active, he would have to unlock the city to one day flourish with a new generation of Makers.


When Cypher and Yuko returned to the previous chamber, they noticed Coral sitting on the floor with the hearthstone in a tight grip. He was focusing his Essence to the stone and to the Manse. Horizon nodded to the two sorcerers and scratched his golden locks.


“Uh?†he said. “It doesn't feel weird anymore.â€


“The curse is goneâ€, Cypher said and leered a little at Coral before looking back at Horizon. “Is he really going to do that now? That will, um, take quite a while.â€


Horizon shrugged.


“Oh, right, the sigilâ€, Cypher said and jumped over to the skeleton in the red armor. He looked closely at his belt and bags, then scratched his head and stood up. “Not here.â€


“Sorry for askingâ€, Yuko said. “But what is this sigil you're talking about?â€


Cypher poked on his nose. “It's a keyâ€, he said. “It will unlock the armory. That much I know. It will probably be vital for, um, more of importance in this city. Defensive systems, perhaps. Maybe for the guardians.â€


“So where do we find it?â€


“Don't know. Maybe we should check for an office or a bedroom.†He looked at Horizon who watched all of them with a confused look. “Are you coming, Horizon?â€


“Umâ€, he said and scratched his head while shifting his gaze between Cypher and Coral. “Chanti told me to watch over him.â€


Cypher nodded. “You can, um, meet us in the vestibule later.†He jumped over the red jade markings and hurried up the stairway. Yuko followed him.


What's a vestibule? Horizon thought.


As Cypher passed the stairs and came back into the grand vestibule, he noticed the red haruka crouching outside the door, still intently watching the guardians at its sides. Cypher slapped himself on the forehead, realizing that he had forgot about his summoned elemental and jogged out towards the door. As he crossed the door frame, he heard a mechanical swirl and noticed one of the guardians outside turning its head to look at him. Its glaring eyes had a yellow glow.


The haruka quickly got to its feet and slammed its clawed fist into the guardian's face. Cypher took a few steps back into the vestibule. “Waitâ€, he said to the elemental in Old Realm. “It's not certain that it―â€


The guardian lifted its great goremaul and swung it towards the elemental who successfully dodged and loaded up a new attack. The other guardian reacted to the violence and swung its sword into the back of the elemental. Cypher stepped further into the vestibule.


“What's happening?†Yuko asked from the entrance to the stairway.


Cypher didn't have time to respond before a furry, red head landed just outside the open door. The elemental's golden eyes looked at Cypher and Yuko with an unconscious look before the creature dissipated with a gust of wind. Even the fourteen feet elemental couldn't stand a chance against these guardians.


“Why did the haruka get killed?†she asked.


“It attacked a guardianâ€, Cypher said. “I believe the guardian was going to, um, scan me. But since I haven't stolen anything I should have been okay. The haruka must have, um, thought of it as a threat and, well, attacked.â€


“Is it safe to go outside?â€


“I think so, yesâ€, Cypher said. “But let's go upstairs and, um, see if we can find the sigil first.â€


They passed the stairway towards the second floor and followed the hallway which overlooked the vestibule with a golden railing. There were multiple rooms next to the hallway and another stairway seemed to lead out from the dome into what seemed to be a tower connected to the palace. Cypher opened door after door, finding lecture halls and minor offices. Yuko opened up doors on the other side.


“This seems to, um, have been more than a palaceâ€, Cypher said. “It's a town hall. It, um, probably has some important documentation I should take a look at when I have the time.â€


After they had looked through most of the rooms along the hallways, Cypher came across a big office with a window overlooking the central Manse. The office had a huge desk, a jade armor standing next to a wall, some filled book cases and a couple of ancient paintings of clearly important people. Cypher noticed one painting portraying a Dragon-Blooded in red jade armor. Most likely the Daimyo who's corpse was in the Manse.


Coral Snake slowly stood up in the Manse below. He looked at the violet gem in his hand. “That's interestingâ€, he said. “I understand what this is. What it does.â€


“Huh?†Horizon said. “Oh yeah, the smart ones went upstairs.â€


Coral gave Horizon a quick gaze and then noticed how empty the chamber felt. He suddenly realized that the curse had been gone for quite some time. He had lost track of time committing to he Manse. He could feel its Essence harmonized with his own. It was a refreshing feeling.


He nodded to Horizon. “Let's go thenâ€, he said and put the gem in his item bag together with the other loot he had taken from the corpses. He couldn't help but to smirk. With the curse gone he could take his time to look for more loot in this city. He would become rich. He would become the wealthiest man in Creation.


They left the Manse to meet up with Cypher and Yuko. The curse was gone. What would be their next move?

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 27: Ancient wonders


Coral Snake and Glorious Horizon entered the palace's main office where Whispering Rainbow Cypher and Ledaal Yuko were looking through books and tomes. There were a series of paintings along the walls next to an empty jade armor. A huge desk stood in the middle of the room and behind it was a huge window overlooking the pyramid outside.


There was no curse to torment them anymore. They were the first people who could actually relax in the City of Makers for a very long time.


Coral nodded to Cypher: “Nicely done, Cypher. What's next?â€


“Wellâ€, Cypher said while scratching his chin. “I was certain the jade sigil would, um, be in here, but I guess not.â€


“A jade sigil?†Coral asked. “What color?â€


“We can't be certain but, um, according to the Tome of the Makers, it should be white.â€


Coral gave a sly smirk hidden under his black mask and then unbuttoned his black item bag to dig around in it with his right hand. When he found what he was looking for, he showed it to Cypher. It was a white jade sigil with a beautiful heraldic marking in Old Realm.


“I found it on the corpse downstairsâ€, he said and tossed it over to Cypher.


Cypher intently investigated the sigil with a big grin on his face. Yuko was obsessed with one of the books she had found in the office. In the middle of the desk was another book which was about a foot thick. Next to the book was a pencil set with dried ink, some wax and seals. There were also two wine glasses in orichalcum next to a round bottle of wine.


Coral moved past Yuko and Cypher and sat down on the chair at the desk. He took the bottle of wine, opened the cork and sniffed it. The smell was divine.


“Is wine from the First Age safe to drink?†he asked. “Shouldn't it be … too old?â€


Cypher shrugged. “I don't know but I, um, advice against drinking anything in this city before we know more about it.â€


Coral didn't listen. The smell was so fresh and sweet. He had to take a sip or two. He poured some wine into one of the orichalcum cups, took it in his hand and smelled the wine again. It filled him with euphoria. He placed the glass to his lips and swallowed a sip, then drank the entire glass.


“Oh my Unconquered Lord, the Sun, I just went to Yu-Shan and backâ€, he said and leaned back in the chair, then filled the glass again. “You must try. I swear I can buy a kingdom for one bottle of this.â€


Cypher and Yuko looked at each other. “Maybe laterâ€, Yuko said and kept reading her book.


Horizon had a big grin on his face as he moved through the office up to the desk, took a sip of the wine and grinned even more. “Nice!†he said.


Coral leaned back into the chair and opened up his item bag. He took a heavy orichalcum bracer with the symbol of a hawk. He had found it on the Daimyo's corpse. He looked at it for a moment and let his finger-tips move along the smooth surface. He then tied it to his wrist. He leaned back and committed himself to the artifact. He let his Essence flow through the artifact's magical material until it felt like an extension of himself. The heavy bracer wasn't heavy at all. It felt like a part of his arm. Like if it was supposed to be there.


He looked at the golden bracer, tightened his fist and focused his Essence into the artifact. To his surprise, the hawk symbol begun to move and then climbed out from the bracer and took solid shape. It sat with its sharp talons in a steady grip of the bracer and looked around the office.


On Coral's arm was a bird in golden orichalcum, and it looked at him with sharp eyes. “So you are supposed to be my new master?†it said. “How weak.â€


“What did you just say?†Coral asked the hawk.


“What did you just say?†Cypher asked Coral. “I didn't know you could speak in―â€


“I said you're weakâ€, the hawk said. “I'm sure you'll have me save your sorry little ass all the time.â€


Coral was almost speechless. He had no idea what had just happened. Was he insulted by an artifact?


“What are you?†Coral asked. “You can talk.â€


“Of course I can talkâ€, the hawk muttered. “What do you take me for? Instead of wasting my time, why don't you tell me why you summoned me?â€


“Uh, do you have a name?â€


“I'm your artifact, aren't I? Don't ask me stupid questions.â€


“Uh … I need to clear my head.â€


“I'm sure you do.â€


Coral had the hawk be drawn back into the bracer and the hawk symbol appeared once more. He looked at it for a moment and then looked up at the others. “What did just happen?†he asked.


Cypher poked on his nose. “You spoke in Old Realm, Coral.â€


“I did?†He shook his head. “Anyway, was that an automaton or what?â€


Cypher shrugged. “Difficult to sayâ€, he said. “It seemed to have real emotions, but, um, it could very well have been created to seem that way. I haven't heard about automatons being summoned through artifacts like that, but, well, it could have been called out from Elsewhere to seem like it climbs out from the bracer. I don't know what artifact you have found, Coral, but another possibility is that a living soul was used to forge it in the First Age. It could have been through a deal with a spirit or a ghost. Anyway, I think it's safe to assume that the hawk is, in fact, alive and thinking.â€


“That's amazingâ€, Coral said and leaned back to dig around his bag once more. He took out a set of finger-less gauntlets which he had found on the second corpse. They had a dark alloy in black and blue jade with three depressions on the metal on the back of their hands. He looked at the gauntlets and then nodded to Horizon. “Gauntlets are too bulky to be my thing. Do you want to borrow them?â€


He tossed them over to Horizon who grabbed them and put them on his big hands. “They feel goodâ€, he said. “Thank you.â€


“They are artifactsâ€, Coral said. “If you commit your Essence to them, they will most likely be lighter. I think that's how it works.â€


“That's rightâ€, Cypher said. “But are you sure it's okay? The guardians might―â€


Coral scratched his chin with his right hand. The bracer on his wrist gave a warm glitter as it reflected the sun-light from the window. “I've been thinking about thatâ€, he said. “But since I found the artifacts on the corpses, no one is technically owning them anymore. The guardians might not notice.â€


Cypher scratched his head. “I don't know about that.â€


He put the jade sigil in his belt and then tilted his head to look at the big tome in the middle of the desk. He walked around the desk, nodded to Coral and said: “Could you move aside, please?†Coral didn't respond but stood up from the chair and took a few steps out into the office and looked at the paintings. He drank the rest of the wine from the orichalcum glass and then put it in his bag.


When Cypher sat down in the comfortable chair, he noticed a strange feeling. The chair itself was an artifact. He focused his Essence and suddenly the chair changed its shape into a comfortable divan. He gave it a surprised gaze and then had it change back into the form of a chair.


“I can see how this can be usefulâ€, he said to himself and then investigated the thick book on the desk. It was locked by a cloth-binding which had the same heraldic mark as the white sigil. He took it from his belt and placed the mark against that on the binding. It loosened up and he could open the book.


As he turned the pages, he saw thousands, maybe millions, of names written in beautiful calligraphy. Some were marked with brief details and some were marked as deceased. He knew that it would take lifetimes to look through all of the names. But he realized something interesting. The book was an artifact. Perhaps the names in this book was connected to the administration of the city. Maybe adding names in the book would add citizens to the city.


“I would like to, um, mark all names in this book as deceased and add our's as, well, new citizens of Denandsor.â€


“Citizens?†Coral muttered. “What are you talking about?â€


“Well, you seeâ€, Cypher said. “By becoming citizens, we might get access to parts of the city. Maybe the guardians would accept our presence and, um, even act in our favor.â€


“I can see how that's usefulâ€, Coral said. “But maybe we should go outside and get the rest of our things first. You know that we have a wagon filled with rum out there, right?â€


“I guess we could do that. But, um, I'd also like to see the armory.â€


They grabbed their stuff and was just about to leave the room when Cypher suddenly recoiled. He looked up at one of the paintings next to that of the Daimyo. The picture showed a beautiful young woman.


“What's wrong, Cypher?†Yuko asked.


Coral and Horizon stopped to turn their heads. They gave Cypher bewildered looks.


“I recognize that womanâ€, Cypher said. “It's Shara Ice. You know, the Dragon-Blooded woman who fled the city because of a forbidden romance with the Solar Juliandra. It seems she, um, moved back into the city after the Usurpation. I'm curious to know what happened to her.â€


Coral coughed from the door.


Cypher nodded and then followed the rest outside. Coral stepped carefully outside to the guarding automatons and took a sigh of relief when he noticed they didn't activate to attack him. He took the stairs down to the central square and started jogging down the main row when he heard a sound from behind.


“Coral! Watch out!â€


He turned his head and saw one of the guardians from the palace door reaching for him with its great goremaul. Cypher was holding it back by entangling it with long, clawed fingers of thorny wooden branches. His hands had transformed into wood. The automaton wasn't slowed down too much by Cypher's clinch and managed to swing its goremaul towards Coral. He dodged the attack by jumping backwards into the middle of the street.


Cypher let go of the automaton. “Run!†he shouted and moved quickly down along the street. Yuko and Horizon followed quickly behind.


More guardians stepped out from the street corners and started swinging their weapons towards Coral. He evaded the attacks with slithering, hypnotic movements. It seems the guardians didn't know exactly where to strike to hit the man, but he couldn't keep dodging forever. He moved like a quick cobra along the street, dodged swinging blades and aimed for the exit.


He could see the others running before him. It didn't seem like the guardians were trying to kill them. He was the target here. But Horizon wore artifacts from the city as well. Could this mean that they didn't attack him because of the bracer? It had to be the hearthstone. Or the orichalcum cup. He damned himself for accidentally having put it in his bag. Why had he stolen it when he knew this would happen?


Something is wrong with me, he thought. I can't keep my hands off things.


He could see the gate closing in. There were only a few yards left. Coral didn't notice the guardian stepping out on the road behind him, glaring at him with glowing eyes and then shooting him in the back with a blast of Essence. The blow went right through the buff jacket and into his back. He could feel parts of his spine shatter and he was shot into the air. He flew straight through the gate and crushed into the meadow outside, creating a crater as he landed.


When Cypher, Yuko and Horizon came to the crater, they could see Coral's intestines through the hole in his back. It was a wonder that he was still breathing. The guardians hadn't pursued them outside the city and they went back to their posts.


Cypher spent the rest of the day trying to save Coral's life. After plenty of different diagnoses, medicinal herbs and divine Charms, he managed to stabilize Coral's condition, but without healing his injured spine. He was unconscious and it wasn't certain he would ever be able to move again.


But he healed rapidly. It was like threads of Essence stitched his wounds together.


He opened his eyes at dusk. His body was sore and he could see two familiar faces looking at him. Cypher had a big grin on his face while Chanti Green-Paw had a more grim look.


“We thought we would lose you, Coralâ€, Cypher said. “You're lucky that Chanti's Charms could, um, heal your internal injuries.â€


“Uhâ€, Coral stuttered.


Chanti lifted his head in his hair, slapped him in the face with her other hand and then kissed him on the lips. “Don't be so reckless, my loveâ€, she ordered. “I don't want to wait for your next reincarnation. Even if it will be a wiser one.â€


“I guess you'll have to settle with this one for a little while longer, Chantiâ€, he muttered as he tried to sit up. “And thanks.â€


He reached for his sore back and took a sigh of relief when he realized he only had some mild scars. It was nothing his Body-Mending Meditation couldn't take care of within a day or two. Chanti's healing was amazing.


He looked up at her and noticed she was exhausted. She knelt before him with her moonsilver tattoos glowing on her athletic body. Sweat was dripping from her forehead and she breathed heavily. She seemed to have exhausted her Essence. He couldn't help but to feel guilty.


When she noticed he was looking at her, she quickly got to her feet and tried to hide her exhaust. She frowned her face and glared at him. “Why did you make the guardians attack you anyway?â€


He opened his bag and took out the orichalcum cup. “It's most likely because of thisâ€, he said. “I don't know why but I couldn't help myself. I stole it without even knowing that I did.†He put it back in his bag and took out the glowing hearthstone. “I took this one too.â€


“Then put them backâ€, she muttered.


“How? The guardians will attack me if I set my foot in the city again.â€


“I'm sure you'll figure something outâ€, she said. “This city has been cursed for thousands of years but your comrades unlocked it. You might be dumb but you have clever friends. Use them.â€


She turned around and started walking towards the jungles on the valley's western side.


“Heyâ€, Coral called. “Are you leaving again?â€


She leered back at him. “I'm having one of my tribes settle in the jungle. I'll keep a close eye on you because I don't rule out the fact that you might die again.†She smiled. “But the last time it took more than an automaton to take you from me.â€


He watched her walk into the jungle where he nod a few beastmen waiting for her from behind some trees. The only one's left on the meadow was Cypher, Yuko and him. Horizon seemed to have gone with the Lunars again.


A few birds could be seen in the sky above the City of Makers for the first time in thousands of years.


“Cypherâ€, Coral said. “The Daimyo was the owner of the palace, wasn't he?â€


“Yes. Why do you ask?â€


“There is something I would like to test outâ€, he said with a sly smirk.

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 28: The boy from the fishing village X


Viper returned to the house the following night to meet Dagger. Viper wore the same loose, black clothes as the day before but Dagger was wearing a black training gi. He had already lit a fire in the fireplace and he had placed a series of basic throwing knives on the table. The house was guarded by some cutthroats and they wouldn't be bothered by anyone.


“All right, Viperâ€, Dagger said when Viper entered the room. “From now on, you will call me sifu.â€


Viper nodded. “Yes, sifuâ€, he said and leered at the throwing knives on the table.


“If you want to become an Ebon Dagger, you must learn how to act like oneâ€, Dagger said. “We'll train for six hours a day. For another six hours you'll be working with the boys. Understood?â€


“Yes, sifu.â€


“Goodâ€, Dagger said with a smirk. “As you already know, I'm no cutthroat. I'm a recruiter for Nexus' most powerful assassination guild. During the three years I've been leading the cutthroats in Nighthammer, I've only deemed two worthy of initiation. If you think you have what it takes, you better show obedience and respect. I will train you. I will test you. If you don't have what it takes, I will cast you aside and let the cutthroats kill you. Understood?â€


“Yes, sifu.†Viper couldn't help but to swallow his pride. This was serious business.


Dagger looked at Viper from top to bottom and suddenly smiled. “Well thenâ€, he said. “Are you ready?â€


Viper felt a surge of adrenaline flow through his body. He was spurred to begin. He would show everyone that nothing could stop him from achieving his goal. First the noblemen. Then the Peleps. “Yes, sifu. I'm ready.†He grinned to Dagger who stood before him with his arms crossed.


“Keep grinning, Viper, because soon it will be wiped off for good.†He gazed at his student with a sudden cold in his expression and in his voice. “The Ebon Daggers don't care much for emotion. Love and anger clouds your judgment. You will get an assignment and you will do it without questions. If you're told to kill your loved one, you will obey.â€


Viper's grin disappeared.


“I'm going to teach you a style of martial arts that has been passed down from sifu to student within The Ebon Daggers for generationsâ€, Dagger said. He raised his hands in a defensive guard and had his body flow back into a stance with one smooth motion – head back, body ready to advance or retreat and his hands before him like the heads of cobras. His knees were slightly bent and tilted inwards, protecting his crotch while letting him easily move in any direction. “It's called Snake Style. A style befitting your name. Don't you agree, Viper?â€


Viper looked at Dagger with admiration and respect. This young man was powerful. He could feel it in the atmosphere. He was eager to learn.


“Take up one of those knives and throw it at meâ€, Dagger ordered.


“What?â€


“Just do it.â€


Viper looked at the throwing knives with slight hesitation. He grabbed one of them and then looked at his sifu with eyes questioning his sanity. But Dagger stood calmly in his stance, waiting for Viper to obey.


He raised the throwing knife and then threw it at Dagger who, without moving his feet, caught its blade with two fingers while moving his upper body like that of an angered cobra. Within an instant, the knife was thrown back at Viper. The blade caught him in his shirt's collar and hammered into the wall behind him – Viper stuck with it.


“That's the power of this martial artâ€, Dagger said. “It's focus are speed, balance and precision – attributes important for an assassin.â€


Viper was shocked. He grabbed the knife's handle and pulled it out from the wall. He stared intently at Dagger with the knife in his hand and his mouth open in amazement.


“We'll start with the basicsâ€, Dagger said with a smirk.


The training begun. During the first weeks, Viper was tormented by running and building muscle. He thought he was already in good shape but every second of training was painful. With time, he felt stronger. He felt faster. He spent time learning different katas and practicing his precision by throwing knives and needles. He mastered stealth and larceny, picking locks and brewing poisons. If he didn't obey a command or if he was tired and weak, he got beaten up by his sifu. He learned how to endure pain through fighting and punishments, and he learned how to focus his mind through meditation and yoga.


When he didn't train with Dagger, he hung out with the cutthroats who came to respect him more and more. He got minor assignments and killed off some troublemakers. During the days, he spent time with Glittering Wolf and his family of orphans. There were barely time for sleep. The few hours he could take each night was as painful as the hours awake. He woke up by the slightest sounds, paranoid from the frequent surprise attacks from cutthroats Dagger had sent out to test him.


But he learned fast. He was a natural born assassin.


Many months later, a few weeks after Viper's fifteenth birthday, he came home to see Dagger sitting at a table in front of Glittering Wolf. The two of them were alone in the meeting room. They each had a cup of steaming tea before them. Glittering Wolf was crying and he tried to comfort her by placing his hand on her's. At first, Viper felt a wave of jealousy which later turned into suspicion. He hated to see Glittering Wolf cry. But why was she crying?


“Sifuâ€, Viper said. “What are you doing here?â€


Dagger nodded to Viper. “Hello, Viperâ€, he said. “I just had a little chat with this beautiful Glittering Wolf.â€


“Yeah? And why is that? You know that I don't want you to bother my family.â€


“I invited him, Viperâ€, Glittering Wolf sobbed. “I'm sorry.â€


Viper turned his head and gave his sifu an angry glare. “What exactly did you say to her?â€


Dagger leaned back in his chair and took a deep sigh. “I'm sorry, Viperâ€, he said. “I assumed that she already knew.â€


Viper felt his blood boiling. His face blushed and he glared at Dagger with burning eyes. “That she already knew what?†he asked, but he feared that he already knew the answer.


“I'm sorry, Viperâ€, Glittering Wolf said with her eyes filled with tears. “I had no idea. I'm really sorry.â€


Viper leered at her and then ground his teeth while glaring at Dagger. He tightened his fist and punched his sifu in the face. He clearly saw the punch coming but he didn't try to evade it. He took the blow which overturned his chair and he fell to the floor. He muttered something to himself and carefully stood up, bleeding from his mouth and stroking a swollen cheek.


“Remember what I told you on your first day of training, Viperâ€, Dagger said. “I know you want to kill me and you certainly have the talent for it. But there is one more lesson to be had.â€


Viper remembered. “Love and anger clouds your judgmentâ€. So this was a test too? Dagger had told Glittering Wolf about Viper's deepest secret just to test his temperance. He would never forgive him for that.


But he wouldn't have trained for nothing. He took a deep breath and calmed down, relaxed his fists and then turned to Glittering Wolf. She avoided eye contact and was sobbing quietly. He walked up to her and they embraced each other. Her embrace was tight enough to strangle a yeddim. She wouldn't let him go. She felt too guilty for knowing the secret that had tormented him for so long. She knew what had happened during the four years he was gone. She knew why he was trying so hard to join The Ebon Daggers.


“Can you forgive me, Viper?†she asked. “I love you so much.â€


He relaxed even more in her comforting arms. Maybe it was okay that she knew. Maybe he had nothing to be embarrassed for.


“Of courseâ€, he said.


Dagger walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “I think it's time for you to meet with Dust Spider.â€


“Who's Dust Spider?†Glittering Wolf asked.


Viper gently stroke her cheek with his thumb. “He's the last test. To get initiated into the organization I must have his blessing.†He slowly moved his hand to the back of her head and stroke her soft, black hair. A single tear ran down her left cheek and he kissed the tear gone. “I have to do this, Glitter.â€


She nodded. “I know.â€


He kissed her on the lips. It was their first kiss. It was his first one out of love. His first one without the tainted smell of alcohol and tobacco. It tasted sweet and he liked it.


He let go of Glittering Wolf and stood up. He turned to Dagger who was watching them. Viper knew that love clouds the judgment, but he noticed that Dagger didn't look at him with disrespect. Maybe he had understood that it was Viper's love for his family and his lost siblings that was the key to his strength. He didn't know if it was enough for The Ebon Daggers. But it was enough to take him to Dust Spider.


“Let's goâ€, he said.


Viper nodded.


They left the storage and walked further south-west to a small house in Nighthammer Pool. It was close to an empty dock a few blocks away from the closest industries. Ashes snowed from the sky and a thin layer of gray ash covered the cobbled ground. Dagger knocked on the door with three long knocks and two short ones. A minute or so later, a teenage girl with short hair and a black bandana opened up the door.


“I brought Viperâ€, Dagger said. “Tell Dust Spider.â€


The girl nodded and closed the door. A few minutes later, the door opened once again. The girl nodded to the two of them. “He's waiting.â€


Dagger and Viper entered the house and walked into a small hall with a few young Ebon Daggers on guard. The girl sat down on a chair next to the door and two more was guarding a closed door. They all looked at Viper with unimpressed eyes. They had heard the stories of Dagger's favorite student. But they hadn't seen him in person.


Dagger nodded towards the door. “He's in there. You may go inside.â€


Viper felt the butterflies in his stomach. He looked around himself and then approached the door with slight hesitation. The guards didn't try to stop him but they followed him with their eyes. He reached for the handle, turned it and opened the wooden door.


It was a comfortable room with an open fireplace. An armchair stood before the open fire and the walls were decorated with exotic swords and hatchets. Someone was sitting in the armchair. Viper coun't see the person's face, but he noticed that his right hand was tightly wrapped with bandages. Drops of blood dripped slowly from the bandages – one after another.


“Welcome, Viperâ€, Dust Spider said with the cackling voice of an old man. “I've heard great things about you.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 29: In the Daimyo's shoes


Whispering Rainbow Cypher and Ledaal Yuko gave each other bewildered looks when Coral Snake left them to go further out the meadow. He hadn't told them what he would do but he had told them not to disturb him. “I have been practicing this for a while but I haven't really tested it out for realâ€, he had said. “I want a few minutes of absolute focus.â€


They could see him standing out there on the meadow. His back turned against them and his eyes gazing the high, green grass around himself. At first, nothing seemed to happen. But both Cypher and Yuko could sense flows of Essence and see some disturbances in the air around him, like if the air itself enveloped him like a magical layer. That layer then rippled and its colors seemed to change. Coral's long, raven-black hair turned into fiery yellow and orange. His skin went from darkly brown to blushed olive. He grew a little taller and his shoulders got a little wider.


Cypher and Yuko looked at each other and then frowned their faces when Coral eventually turned around. What they saw was not Coral Snake. They saw a Dragon-Blooded with taints from a fiery Anima. His eyes were slim and slightly oblique and their irises were intensely yellow. He slowly approached the two Sorcerer-Engineers and Cypher could suddenly recognize whom he portrayed.


“You're the Daimyoâ€, he said.


The new Coral Snake showed a sly smirk. He still carried the same clothes as he had before, but his body was completely different. He removed his buff jacket – which was already torn in the back – and dropped his mask and bandana to the grass.


“So?†he said. “How do I look? I tried to copy the man on the painting.â€


“Amazingâ€, Cypher said. “But you, um, still sound like yourself.â€


Coral scratched his chin. “Of courseâ€, he said. “I haven't heard the voice of a man who's been dead for centuries. This isn't a perfect disguise, but it's the best I've got. Do you think it will fool the guardians?â€


Cypher poked on his nose. “Um, I see, so that's what this is about? Well, I'm not sure what kind of method they use for detection. But, um, if they are equipped with Essence lenses, they will know that your, um, Anima varies from the former Daimyo's. As far as the appearance goes, well, they might be fooled. But all guardians are unique. Some might recognize you for who you are. Others might not.â€


Coral grinned. “Well, we'll know when we enter the city.â€


“I'm sorryâ€, Yuko muttered. “I don't get it. What's with the disguise?â€


Cypher turned to her with a smile. “You seeâ€, he said. “Coral has stolen from the former Daimyo. Um, the guardians might not know that the Daimyo is dead. He wasn't marked as such in the tome we found. If he can, well, fool them with this disguise, then he can safely put the loot back where he found it. That should, um, clear him from the guardians' suspicions.â€


Coral reached for something in his bag and then took up the glowing violet hearthstone. He showed it to them. “I have no intention of putting the loot backâ€, he said with a grin. “When I committed myself to the Manse, I understood what this stone is capable of. If you think I'll give it up, you're a fool.â€


Cypher tilted his head and looked at Coral's new self with a confused look. “Then why would you―â€


“I'm the Daimyo now, Cypherâ€, Coral said. “I'm going to store this stone in my Manse until you have managed to deactivate the guardians or whatever you said you were going to do. When the place is clear, the Manse will safely belong to the real me. That is my intention.â€


“Uh?â€


“Don't you want to take the Manse in the pyramid as your own? The one you were so intently investigating yesterday?â€


Cypher scratched his head. “Well, I guess.â€


Coral smiled. “Well thenâ€, he said. “And by the way. Since I'm the Daimyo now, I believe that sigil belongs to me.â€


Cypher hesitated for a second and then tossed over the white jade sigil to Coral who caught it and attached it to his belt.


He nodded. “Shall we go then?â€


The sun had fully set and only the crescent moon illuminated the grassy meadows. Its light reflected on the smooth surfaces of Denandsor's white walls and round lights had automatically lit along its streets. Some of the metallic guardians looked almost ghostly in the moonlight. The three Exalted walked through the main gate. Coral walked first with Cypher and Yuko closely behind. When he passed the two closest guardians, he stopped to see if they would move.


They didn't.


He leered back over his shoulder to give Cypher a satisfied smile. He then kept walking up along the street back towards the central square and to the palace where this issue had all started. He almost felt like the real Daimyo when he walked along the street. The impressive guardians seemed calm and they weren't as scary as before. Just the disappearance of the curse had changed how he perceived this city. He wanted it. All the loot he could find in this city were nothing compared to the city itself.


What if he could become it's real Daimyo? It could be the beginning of creating a nation strong enough to take on the Peleps family. But the Peleps were at the Imperial Island and the shores around it. This was far into the Scavenger Lands, close to Lookshy's domains. With a mighty military force like Lookshy close-by, it was unlikely that he could lead a war against the Peleps from here.


But just the idea of becoming wealthy was tempting enough.


They were surprised to feel small drops of rain falling from the clouds above. The rain was cold and refreshing in an otherwise warm and stuffy environment. A human-sized automaton suddenly stepped out from a shadowed alley. The machine was metallic and reflected some of the moonlight, but the only thing that was glowing on it were its two thin lines for eyes. It looked at Coral who took a sudden step back and put his right hand in his backpack. He could feel his Serpent-Sting Staff inside and was ready to whip it out at any moment. The automaton said something in Old Realm and Coral gave Cypher a quick gaze only to notice that he seemed relieved.


“It's, um, asking if it can be of any serviceâ€, he whispered to Coral.


“Tell it noâ€, Coral whispered back.


Cypher turned to the automaton who still stared intently at Coral. He said something in Old Realm, it turned its head to him and then made a graceful bow before it went back into the alley.


“That was a stewardâ€, Cypher whispered. “They were, um, mass-produced helpers for the people. It's, um, too cheap and common to see through your disguise.â€


“Goodâ€, he said and kept walking.


“Howeverâ€, Cypher continued. “These were all made in the High First Age. Um, the guardians aren't like those stewards and they should be able to see through if someone has copied their leader. But why aren't they? Perhaps … Ah, yes, these are all a newer model. They are stronger and more bulky than those mentioned in Tome of the Makers. The focus must have been elsewhere.â€


“Why don't you study them some other time, Cypher?†Coral said. “Let's focus on getting to the palace.â€


They continued along the road until they reached the central Manse. The trees around the pyramid were almost like a miniature jungle in this faint light. Guardians stood idly by, forever watching over the city. The pavilion at the top of the pyramid seemed to emanate a faint beam of light reaching up towards the sky. It faded away into thin air long before reaching even half of the tallest white tower in the city – the one connected to the palace. The sound of an owl could be heard from the branch of one of the trees at the pyramid. Just the fact that they could hear the sounds of life inside this deserted city was a refreshing feeling. That owl must have traveled here to explore what it previously couldn't.


Coral walked up the stairs towards the open door leading into the mighty palace. The guardians outside were inactive but there were still trails left from the fight between the guardians and the elemental. There were no blood since it had evaporated into air as the haruka had died, but cracks could be seen in the ground.


When Coral passed the entrance and entered the grand vestibule, he took a deep sigh of relief. He had fooled these ancient wonders. He proudly walked up the stairs and turned towards the office. The first thing he did when he entered the office was to turn to the painting and compare his disguise to the man portrayed. It was flawless. The second thing he did was to once more taste that heavenly wine.


He took the orichalcum cup from his bag and put it on the desk. “That's oneâ€, he muttered to himself. He then walked around to the other side of the desk and sat down on the chair. He took the sigil from his belt and looked at it for a moment. He carefully looked at the Old Realm seal. The same seal was on all of the desk's drawers. He placed the sigil against one of the drawers and heard it click. He opened it up and found it was filled with ancient scrolls and papers. They had survived the thousands of years very well. He took some of them out from the drawer and placed them on the desk, then he placed his violet hearthstone inside and locked the drawer. “That's two.â€


Yuko and Cypher came in through the door.


“What's that?†Cypher asked and nodded towards the papers.


“Homeworkâ€, Coral said. “For you.â€


He leaned back into the chair and then shifted back into his real shape. The yellow and orange hair turned black and the blushed olive skin got as darkly brown as it was before. Cypher was looking through the papers but Yuko stood a few steps behind and intently watched Coral's transformation. She seemed fascinated. Impressed. Maybe a little scared.


“Now all I have to do is walk out to the street to see if I'm safeâ€, Coral muttered. There were some hints of anxiety in his voice despite his attempts to sound cool. “Are you coming?â€


“Um, I guess we shouldâ€, Cypher answered and then put the papers he was reading on the desk.


Coral moved past them through the room, out into the corridor and down the stairs into the vestibule. He stopped for a moment before walking through the open door and waited in Cypher and Yuko who came just behind. He stepped through the door, looked up on the guardians and realized that nothing happened.


And yet he had the bracer on his right arm.


He turned to the others and smiled. “That's one problem out of the wayâ€, he said. “Now, do you think you can take care of their directives somehow?â€


Cypher nodded. “I think soâ€, he said. “But I must, um, find the heart of the system first.â€


“The armory?â€


“I believe so.â€


“It's two hours before midnight. Do you want to go now?â€


“Um, I thought you'd never ask.â€


Both of them looked at Yuko. They didn't say anything but was anticipating a reply. She gave them a bewildered look. “What? Yes, sure, let's go.†Why their sudden interest in her say in the matter was a mystery of its own.


Cypher smiled and hurried out through the door, past Coral and towards the pyramid. Instead of going for the stairway leading up its front, he took a left and walked around to its backside. Coral and Yuko followed him. Coral looked carefully around himself but noticed that the guardians didn't care about his presence. He had safely returned what he had stolen.


Before them was a metal door reinforced with all colors of jade. A quick look for whatever locking mechanism there could be made Coral remember the time he had tried his Charm on the door in Yuro. It had activated a trap and let a surge of painful Essence flow through his body. He wasn't quite sure if this door would do the same, but he didn't want to find out. Luckily, he had the jade sigil in his belt.


He took the sigil from his belt, looked at it for a second and then noticed the same Old Realm seal as was on the sigil was also in the middle of the door. He carefully placed the sigil against it. They heard a faint buzzing and then heard clockworks in the process of doing something with the door. It opened up like an iris and disappeared into the frames. Before them was a pitch-black corridor tilted downwards into the pyramid.


They walked inside, lit their caste marks to illuminate the way and heard the buzzing door close behind them. The lights from their caste marks showed two , one going left and another going right. In front of them was a smooth stone wall. They looked at each other and then decided to take the way leading right.


“Be carefulâ€, Cypher said. “There might be, um, dangerous things here.â€


“Wellâ€, Coral muttered. “It is an armory after all.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 30: The armory


They followed the right corridor until they reached a storage room. Racks were filled with weapons and armors. Almost all of them looked like artifacts. There were daiklaves and reinforced buff jackets in jade of all colors. A few orichalcum items, such as a spiked mace of some sorts as well as a helmet with horns, were placed next to a sign which Whispering Rainbow Cypher said meant “private propertyâ€.


Coral Snake licked his lips. There were so many artifacts. He walked up to one of the jade daiklaves and was just about to touch it when Cypher ordered: “Don't touch anything! There, um, might be traps.â€


Coral leered at Cypher. “Traps? This is an armory. Isn't its main purpose to quickly buckle up the boys?†He gave Ledaal Yuko a quick glance. “And the girls. Why would there be traps?â€


“Well, um, because it's located in a highly powerful Manse with a First Age defense systemâ€, Cypher muttered. “And, um, we're not citizens yet because, well, I haven't taken a closer look at that tome in the office yet. For all this city knows, um, we're nothing but intruders.â€


“For all this city knows?â€


“Well, you don't know when it, um, comes to First Age technology.â€


Coral lowered his hand from the daiklave on the wall. He gave Cypher a quick gaze and then walked through the room to an open doorway leading to a neighboring room. He looked inside, then turned his head and smiled to Cypher and Yuko.


“There are some strange stuff in hereâ€, he said and walked inside.


Cypher and Yuko walked up behind him. Yuko kept looking around herself, investigating the items at the walls. “Now I know why Peleps Wakde was so obsessed with finding this placeâ€, she muttered to herself. “There are more artifacts in this room than there are … was in the hands of his entire dragon.â€


Coral's bright caste mark lit up three capsules of some sort standing at the room's edge. The three objects were the only thing in the room. They were made of metals with alloys in orichalcum and jade. One of them seemed to have hints of moonsilver. The capsules themselves seemed to fit a person and there were tubes going from them to panels at their sides.


When Coral approached one of them, he looked inside the window at the front of the capsule. He raised his brows. “Armors?†he said. “But they look more like hollow automatons.â€


Inside the capsule, resting in a violet fluid, was a great armor made of orichalcum. The armor had shoulder pads heavier than even most Exalted would be able to carry and its smooth, stream-lined helmet had three eyes instead of only two. From its back stuck two wing-shaped constructs out but they seemed too small to be able to take it to the air. The elegant armor had inscriptions in Old Realm and its gauntlets alone were far greater than Glorious Horizon's fists.


Cypher walked up behind him and looked in through the window from over his shoulder. “Holy Sunâ€, he said. “I think I know what this is. It's a power armor.â€


“So it is an armor after all?â€


“Yesâ€, Cypher took a step back. “But these aren't meant to, um, be taken out of the capsules.â€


“And why is that?â€


“Well, you seeâ€, Cypher said as he looked through the windows of the two other capsules. The armors were similar but still unique. One were slimmer than the other and one seemed to be made completely in moonsilver. “I believe the capsules are storing the power armors for, um, one-time uses only. When an Exalted warrior puts on an armor like this, he would be strong enough to take on a nation. But, um, once the effect runs out, it would be destroyed forever. Remember what I said about the Miasma before? About the disintegrated sword? Well, you see, these armors are the same. Um, I wonder if the violet liquid is Essence itself transformed into physical form. I would like to study it more but opening the capsule would wreck the suits.â€


Coral was already half-way out of the room. He seemed to be aiming for the room on the other side of the previous one. Yuko stood at the entrance, watching him pass by. Cypher gave the power armors a last quick look and then followed Coral to the other room. Mostly to make sure he didn't touch anything.


But Coral had heard enough. If he couldn't take the power armors out of their storage capsules, then what good would they be to him? When he entered the room on the other side, he met a sight far more fascinating than that. It looked like a toy store. There were strange mechanisms all over the room. Some of them were protected by glowing barriers or strong cages. Coral walked through the room, looking at the strange items around him.


“What are these objects?†he asked.


Cypher's eyes were locked on one item alone. It was a sphere caged inside a protective barrier. He knew that he had never seen that item before but yet the depths of his soul told him that it was dangerous. The sphere itself was made of a material more ebony than black jade. The dark metal gave the illusion of being made of trapped souls. Cypher didn't believe it was an illusion. It was soulsteel. He knew that much. Around the sphere was an outer sphere of smoky quartz. A dozen concentric orichalcum rings were set so that they could rotate freely around the spheres – riveted to them were pegs of starmetal, a material said to be crafted from dead gods.


Below the cage was a sign in Old Realm saying: “Soulbreaker Orbâ€. Cypher shivered by the name.


He took a step back. “A weapon of mass destructionâ€, he said to himself.


Coral flinched and looked at Cypher.


“Don't touch anything in this room, Coral!†Cypher ordered. “It's, um, for the safety of us all. Well, you see, perhaps even for the safety of the land itself.â€


Coral reacted to the serious look in Cypher's eyes. He liked to be the one in control and he had some issues with Cypher's personality and mannerisms. But he knew one thing. He knew that Cypher was powerful. He knew that Cypher knew things about the Exalted and the First Age. Important things. If there were artifacts that could scare even that reckless engineer, then it would be wise to be careful.


He nodded to Cypher and walked back to the door. Before he left he looked through his bags to see if he hadn't accidentally stolen anything. He couldn't control his impulses when it came to shiny objects. He had learned that today already.


“I think ...â€, Yuko muttered as she watched the sphere inside the barrier. “There is a legend passed down from generation to generation in the Realm. Especially among us Sorcerer-Engineers. It has peeked our interest the most. It is said that in a battle between the Sixth and Ninth Imperial Legions and Lookshy's Seventh Legion, a weapon of mass destruction was launched. It wiped out both of the Imperial Legions with a force strong enough to create the shadowland we today call the Mourning Fields. My father told me this story. He referred to the weapon as the Soulbreaker Orb.â€


“I've heard about that tooâ€, Cypher said. “But, um, I didn't know it was caused by a single artifact. I thought that, um, maybe a War Manse had turned the tides of that battle.â€


Coral looked at the two from the entrance. “Heyâ€, he said. “There are more rooms to look through.â€


“Yes, um, of courseâ€, Cypher said and followed Coral to the door.


They walked back out into the corridor and followed it further inside the armory. They had taken a right when they entered the armory, then turned left and seen those rooms at their right-hand side. Now the corridor was turning left again. They were moving in a square. Another entrance was on their right-hand side. Their caste marks illuminated only a few yards before them. The room itself looked deep. Coral walked further inside until he bumped into something made of metal.


“Uhâ€, he said. “A railing?â€


Cypher was looking around himself just inside the entrance. He found a disc on the wall and pressed his palm against it. He let a single mote of Essence flow into the disc. A surge of energy went through the walls towards the roof and then lamp after lamp lit up.


Coral realized that he was standing at a railing on a balcony probably twenty feet up. On the floor below stood inactive automatons. Some of them were big enough to reach almost to the ceiling. The room continued for as long as they could see. There were probably thousands of automatons.


“Wowâ€, he said.


“Reserve guardians perhapsâ€, Cypher said and walked up to the railing. “Or, well, they could be the army itself. That would explain the lack of, um, weapons and armors in this armory. There, um, were no reasons for ordinary citizens to fight. That's why we have only seen artifact weapons for the few Dragon-Blooded servants and the Celestial masters. Yes, that must be it.â€


“Are you saying that these automatons are this city's army?†Coral stuttered. “Then what about the guardians that are roaming the streets?â€


“Well, they are just that. Guardians. These were probably never used. They didn't have to be used. You see, Denandsor was a city created by engineers. Construction was what they were good at. We thrived … I mean, they thrived from it.â€


“Well, you certainly feel at home here, Cypherâ€, Coral said with a grin. “Let's keep looking. We haven't come across a single panel or whatever yet.â€


He walked past Cypher and Yuko towards the entrance again. Cypher gave Yuko a quick gaze and shrugged. She raised her brows. “I think he enjoys this just as much as you doâ€, she said.


Cypher smirked, then hurried up to Coral who had already continued along the corridor. They walked along it for a few dozen yards, then followed as it took a left turn. They understood that they were probably on the left side of where they had come in now. The corridor had been shaped like a square and another entrance appeared on their right-hand side. It led into another deep, dark room.


Cypher noticed a similar disc on the wall next to the entrance. He pressed it and waited as the lamps lit up. There was a long pathway going through the center of an enormous room. But the most impressive things about the room were at the pathway's sides. Hundreds of large, strange constructions were all over the place. Some looked similar to automatons and others had the shapes of giant metal bugs and animals. Others looked like ships, wagons and hawsers.


“Warstridersâ€, Cypher said as he walked along the pathway. “Vehicles. Siege weapons. Oh, My Glorious Sun.â€


Coral walked just behind him. “What are these things? More automatons?â€


“Better. Worse. These are, um, the true tools for war.â€


“I'm understanding more and more why Peleps Wakde wanted this city so muchâ€, Yuko muttered.


“Yes, speaking of Peleps Wakdeâ€, Coral said with a grin as he walked along the pathway, watching the impressive constructions at his sides. “What kind of man is he anyway?â€


“He's a Dragon-Lord of the Peleps familyâ€, Yuko said. “I heard he was bitter because he had served as a Dragon-Lord for nearly twenty years without being promoted to Strategos. He wanted his legion so much he could do anything. At least that's what the rumors said.â€


“He seems greedyâ€, Coral said.


Yuko gave him a quick gaze. “Are you the one to talk?â€


He blushed a little. Touché.


But still. Peleps Wakde had killed his parents. He had kidnapped his siblings. He had taken a dragon of mortal soldiers on a suicide mission far into the Scavenger Lands to find the armory of this city. And it was for a promotion? A Strategos had ten times the forces of a Dragon-Lord. And if he would equip a legion with these artifacts then serious wars would be inevitable. Especially since this land was under Lookshy's influence.


Now he knew. He was glad if it was Cypher who had caused the destruction of the dragon with the phoenix-shaped Manse. And now all these weapons were left for him to take instead. Was he one step closer to taking his revenge on the Peleps?


It took about half an hour before they had passed all of the siege weapons and left the pathway up to a bigger platform. The wall on the room's short side looked like an enormous gate. Before it stood a panel connected to two big circles of metal and stone.


“A panelâ€, Coral said.


Cypher looked intently at the circles. The right one was bigger and looked newer while the left one, though smaller, was more impressive in its design. It was smoother and had symbols in orichalcum and starmetal. Cypher couldn't believe his eyes. He walked up to the panel and noticed three levers. One of them were next to a series of numbers. The numbers seemed to have something to do with the right circle.


Cypher scratched his chin a little and then slowly pulled the lever next to the series of numbers. A buzzing sound could be heard and surges of Essence flowed from the panel to the big circle. The frame lit up and begun to rotate. A swooshing sound echoed through the room and a liquid surface appeared within the circle's frames.


Cypher gasped and immediately turned the lever down. “Like I thoughtâ€, he said. “But I, um, never knew that they actually existed.â€


Both Coral and Yuko gave Cypher confused looks. He turned his head to the other, smaller circle. A flash of light appeared before his eyes and he could see himself, in another body, activate the smaller circle by pulling the left lever. A liquid surface appeared within its frames and he walked up to it. He stepped inside the liquid surface and felt a suction inside his stomach. When he next opened his eyes, he was stared at by a giant lion with golden fur.


Cypher – or the Cypher that was – reached for the lion with a letter in his hand. “Best Celestial Lionâ€, he heard himself say, but with a voice that wasn't his own. It was the voice of his ancient self. “This is an urgent message from Denandsor.â€


“I will pass it onâ€, the lion said with a growling voice which echoed within the depths of his soul.


He suddenly came to, realizing that he was in the present. He looked at the circle and then at Yuko and Coral. He pointed to the smaller of the circles. “That is a gate to Yu-Shanâ€, he said.


Both Coral's and Yuko's jaws dropped. “A gate to … Yu-Shan?†Coral stuttered. “You can't be serious?â€


“Coral is rightâ€, Yuko said. “Surely a gate to the gods' home in heaven can't exist?â€


“It's called a Celestial Gateâ€, Cypher said. “But we, um, can't pass through. The other side of the portal is guarded by Celestial Lions. You see, they would kill anyone who isn't permitted entrance.â€


Coral snorted. “How do you know these stuff anyway?â€


Cypher poked on his nose. “Well, because I lived here in the First Age. Well, um, my former self that is. Don't you have any memories from the First Age, Coral?â€


Coral remembered the vision he had when he saw Chanti Green-Paw for the first time in that cave at the pass. He had seen them standing on the balcony of a great, white tower, looking down over thousands of people. He knew that he had had a previous life from the day he first Exalted. But he hadn't felt anything since he entered Denandsor. He knew that his former self didn't use to live here. He was from somewhere else.


“Well, anywayâ€, Coral said. “If that is a gate to Yu-Shan, then what is the bigger one you somehow activated a moment ago?â€


Cypher scratched his forehead. “Well, you seeâ€, he said. “I didn't really believe it myself, but I, um, had a theory before about the First Age. You know, it was said that, back then, Creation itself was about ten times bigger than it is today. And believe me. According to all of my sources. It is big today. I had this theory that perhaps the people of the High First Age had mastered some kind of, you know, instant transportation. They had impressive flying ships and vehicles, um, and could travel great distances quickly, but with a world as big as it used to be … not even that could have been enough. But I always believed that portals were, well, even a magitechnological impossibility.â€


“So you are saying?â€


“Well, my theory is that this portal is only one of, um, many spread around Creation.†He pointed to the series of numbers on the panel. “This code is, well, actually a destination to another portal. Could be anywhere. Inside a city. On the bottom of the sea. It would be dangerous to walk through without knowing where it leads.â€


He looked around himself in the room and noticed the ramps going from the floor with the siege weapons to the platform they were standing on. “I believe that, um, the Makers used to sell warstriders, automatons and siege weapons to other cities by, well, transporting them through this portal.â€


“Just what is this place anyway?†Coral muttered. “It's like another world. I've lived in Nexus all my life and yet I can't even comprehend what in the Sun's name this city is.â€


“Wellâ€, Cypher said with a sly smirk. “Nexus is said to be quite impressive. Um, I've never been there myself. But I've read that, um, if you want to see something similar to this in Nexus. Then you should look underground.â€


Coral forced a laugh. “Or just go to Firewander District. At least if you want your guts to be turned into snakes and your eyes to crystallize in their sockets.â€


“That's because that district is infested with the Wyld, Coralâ€.


Yuko nodded in agreement.


“Shut up. I knew that.â€


Yuko looked at the panel before him and pulled the middle lever. A buzzing sound was heard coming from the gate in all. It slowly opened up and revealed a long, dark corridor. “It must, um, be through there, well, where they take the vehicles up to the surface.â€


Coral nodded to Cypher. “Any ideas of where the guardians might be controlled?â€


He shook his head. “Not in the slightest. But, um, I believe we are too far in. Must be closer to the entrance.â€


“Then let's go back to the palace. We'll continue the search tomorrow.â€


Cypher closed the gate with the panel. “Yes, um, that might be wise.â€

 

[Heaven's Thunder Hammer]

Wow. Great story. Please keep posting!

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 31: The boy from the fishing village XI


“I've had my eyes on you for a while, Viperâ€, Dust Spider said as he stood up from his armchair. His cackling voice was as charismatic as shattered glass and sounded just as poetic.


The old man was dressed in rags. He was tall and pale with dark eyes and long, gray hair. His skinny body had almost no muscles at all and his cheekbones made his face almost skeletal. He looked like a man who had never wielded a weapon or a tool in his life. Like an ordinary, overly skinny, old man. But there were two things about him that intimidated Viper.


The most noticeable thing were the bloody bandages on his right hand and arm. It could be from a cut wound. And blood was still dripping from it. Viper thought that the man probably needed stitches. The other thing about the man was his cold eyes. He didn't look dangerous but his eyes did. Viper had seen a similar look before. He had seen them in Wing's eyes as he cut the throats of his victims. They were the eyes of a psychopath at the moment of his climax. But on this old man, the eyes were constant.


“I would like to join the Ebon Daggers, Master Dust Spiderâ€, Viper said and avoided eye contact. “Dagger told me that meeting you would be my final test.â€


“Oh, did he?†Dust Spider said while slowly approaching Viper. “What you have done up until now is quite insignificant. I am the one who will put you to the test. My test is the only one that matters.â€


Viper gulped. “Yes. I'm sorry, sir.â€


The old man put his hand on Viper's shoulder. He was about two heads taller than him. Viper knew that he was a little shorter than average but this old man was definitely a little taller than the average as well.


“I think you can do it, Viperâ€, the man said. “You have it in you. Ever since you sliced the throat of Meadow Walker. There is no hesitation in you.â€


Viper looked up on the man and their eyes met. Dust Spider's looked sinister and depraved while Viper's were wide-open in shock. “Meadow Walker? That's the name of my former master. How do you know about him?â€


“I told you I've had my eyes on you for a while, boy. Dagger came to me that very same night, directly after you first visited him, and told me about that 'strange boy with the rich clothes' who claimed to be a murderer.†Dust Spider carefully stroke Viper's chin with his bony fingers. “Do you remember that night? It was the night you first drew blood. How did it feel?â€


At first, Viper didn't understand the question. He thought for a moment and then looked up at the cold eyes who were still intently watching him from two heads above. Dust Spider showed a wide grin with poor, dirty teeth.


“I felt relievedâ€, he said. “But he deserved a far greater punishment than that.â€


“So it was hatred that made you cut his throat?â€


Viper ground his teeth and looked down on the wooden floor. “I know that's not one of the virtues Dagger have taught me.â€


“Are you referring to the Ebon Daggers' rule about not showing emotion?†Dust Spider asked before he ruffled Viper's hair. “Don't take it too seriously. You see, some emotions can be quite useful for the art of murder. I don't blame you. In fact, I commend you.â€


“Thank you, sir.â€


Dust Spider stepped back from Viper and then turned to watch the crunching flames. “You will become a great assassin, Viper. You have spirit. I've been waiting for you to find the courage to grow. Ever since you tipped off the Iron League about your friend almost five years ago. What was his name? Wing, right?â€


Viper felt a cold blade pierce his heart. How can he know about Wing? He dropped his jaw and didn't know what to say. How to react. He could barely move. Who was this Dust Spider anyway?


The old man tilted his head and showed Viper the same wide grin as before.


“You seem shockedâ€, he said. “Don't be. Wing asked me for help that night. He was desperate to succeed on his first assignment. I gave him some tips. Showed him some tricks. But I also kept a close watch over him. And I saw you. I saw you tipping off the Iron League about him. I saw you there on the execution grounds when the Emissary came to finish him off. Oh, he went so artistically.â€


Viper bit his lip for a moment and then showed a grin just as big as Dust Spider's. He took a deep, exerted, almost hissing, breath. “I don't care who you are or how powerful your friends are. If you talk badly about Wing, I will rip your fucking tongue out and stick it up your ass!â€


Dust Spider silenced for a moment. He tilted his head and raised his brows, but his grin wasn't even budged. “Well done, Viperâ€, he said. “That's what I call murderous intent. Okay, enough about Wing. There is another name I want to mention. Tell me if you recognize it. It is Shin Cloud.â€


“One of Meadow Walker's associates. A priest from Great Forks. He liked to take advantage of young boys. You know, in the most despicable ways.â€


“Ah, yes. He still does. And he took advantage of you too, didn't he?â€


Viper didn't respond. He glared at Dust Spider who grinned back at him.


“Tell you what, Viperâ€, the old man cackled. “Speaking of ripping out tongues and all. If you do me one tiny little favor, I will tell you where to find Shin Cloud. You see, he's in Nexus now.â€


Viper remembered Shin Cloud all too well. He remembered how horribly despicable he had been. He carried the true morbidity of a demon under the flesh of a handsome, trustworthy man. He was a well-liked priest in public, but what he did to his associates' young slaves was too horrible for most of them to live with. The only reason Viper had endured was because of his goal. He knew that life would eventually turn in his favor. He had refused to give up hope.


And now he had a chance of killing that man. His eyes got determined and sharp.


“Just tell me what I have to doâ€, he said.


“One of the boys guarding my door is not trustworthyâ€, Dust Spider said. “He talks too much about our business to people who aren't entrusted with our secrets. I want you to go out there and bring me his tongue.â€


“His tongue?â€


“Would that be a problem?â€


Viper shook his head. “No. Just tell me which one it is.â€


“I'll give you one clue. His name is Rak.â€


Viper nodded.


“Before you go, Viper. Is there anything you need to better take care of the problem at hand? You may choose any kind of weapon. Any kind of item. As long as I have it, that is.â€


Viper leered at the door like if he was trying to see the boy on the other side through the solid wood. Outside that door was not only Rak, but one more guard, the door-keeper and Dagger. Dagger would probably not intervene, but he couldn't go out there and kill a man with them watching. And he didn't want to hurt someone else. Maybe he could knock them out without hurting them?


“What about two needles and some paralyzing poison? Then I'll show you exactly how talented I am.â€


“Taking the silent approach, I seeâ€, Dust Spider chuckled and then walked up to a drawer at one of the walls. He opened it up and took out two needles and one vial with a transparent liquid.


That's weird, Viper thought. He had just the items I needed in that drawer of his.


After he received the items, he took a deep breath and then opened the door. One of the needles were hidden between his teeth with its poisonous edge carefully distanced from his tongue. The other needle was hidden between his right hand's middle- and index finger. Dagger had taught him well. With these simple tools he would be creating wonders.


When he came out from the door, he noticed the four Ebon Daggers watching him from the hall. The girl was at the front door with Dagger waiting next to her. Two boys around his own age were standing at each of his sides. Dagger nodded to him with a smile.


Viper turned to one of the boys. “Which one of you is Rak?â€


One of the boys, the tall one with short, red hair who stood at his left side, raised his brows. “That would be me―†He was interrupted by a quick fist grabbing his tongue. At the same moment, Viper's right hand pierced the other boy's neck with his needle. He spat the needle between his teeth into the forehead of the girl in front of him.


He then ripped out Rak's tongue and gave him a quick, but deadly, punch in his throat. The other two guards fell paralyzed to the floor.


Dagger looked surprised.


“Final testâ€, Viper explained and nodded to Dagger before he walked back into Dust Spider's room with Rak's tongue in his hand.


Dust Spider looked at him with the usual wide grin. “Beautifully done, boyâ€, he said. “You're in. You're definitely in.â€


Viper walked up to the old man with determined steps. He raised his hand with the sticky tongue before him. Dust Spider held out the palm of his left hand, the one which wasn't bandaged, and took the tongue from the boy. He dropped it in a metal bowl on the desk next to his armchair.


“Like you said, Master Dust Spiderâ€, Viper said. “I don't hesitate. Now, tell me about Shin Cloud.â€


“You and I are going to have so much funâ€, Dust Spider chuckled. “Are you going to cut his throat like you did Meadow Walker?â€


“That is my intention. I want the other associates to know that I'm the one killing them all. I want them to fear death.â€


Viper could hear Dust Spider's excited breaths. He had never before met someone who loved murder as much as this old man. It was as despicable as the men he was after. But he had already decided that murder would be his tool for getting his revenge. He could use this man to achieve his goal.


“Then you should use thisâ€, Dust Spider said and walked back to the drawer. He opened it up and took out a small razor. It looked just like the one Viper had used to kill Meadow Walker. He gave it to him. “Here. It will give you luck.â€


Viper looked at the razor. It was exactly the same. If he knew that the murder weapon he used to kill his old master was lying on the night-stand in his bedroom, then he would think that this was the same one.


“Shin Cloud is visiting a friend in Bastionâ€, Dust Spider said. “They will be watching a play at Che-Lu's Theatre in Cinnabar tomorrow night. And knowing his tastes, he will most likely be watching the streets for fresh meat afterward. Do you think you can take care of it from this information alone?â€


“Yes, Master Dust Spider. I know I can.â€


Viper bowed before Dust Spider and then walked back out through the door. He met up with Dagger who was crouching before the paralyzed girl at the door.


“I know he's an evil fuck, but to actually ask you to kill fellow Ebon Daggersâ€, Dagger muttered.


Viper walked up towards him. “I guess he wanted quick results.â€


Dagger nodded towards the girl. “Will they be all right?â€


“Yes.â€


“Well, congratulations then, Viperâ€, Dagger said with a smirk. He opened the bag on his belt and took out a black dagger with an engraved snake along its shaft. He tossed it over to Viper. “A present for you. Your very own custom-made ebon dagger.â€


“Thank you, sifuâ€, Viper said with a smile. “Now, do you mind if I go back home to get some rest? Tomorrow will be a great day.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 32: Warmth within a frozen heart


Coral Snake woke up early the following day. He had been sleeping well on the divan in the office while Cypher and Yuko slept on the benches in the corridor outside. Cypher had found an old game called The Game of Life the previous evening and they had played each other for who would get to sleep on the divan. Coral took home the victory with a little something called discrete cheating.


They assumed there was a master bedroom on the same floor, but the hallway leading into it was destroyed and filled with old corpses. It was too much of a bother to clean it up that night. Perhaps they would have time to do it today.


Coral welcomed the new dawn with a sip of the lovely red wine. He then geared up and took a little stroll through the rooms around the vestibule. He had been to the backdoor kitchen before, but today he noticed a strange room inside. It was freezing cold and most likely used to store food such as meat so that it wouldn't be spoiled. It was also a nice place to cool down from the heat outside.


It was still too early to expect Cypher and Yuko to wake up. Coral gave the stairway leading up to the corridor a quick gaze and then decided to take the time cleaning out the hallway into the supposed master bedroom. But when he got to it, he realized it was more work than he had expected.


A chunk of the outer facade was gone and mild breezes soughed through. A tree had grown outside and spread its branches into the room. He did what he could. He started by climbing over some pieces of furniture to get a better look at the room. There was some broken book shelves, an upside down desk and chairs. This was not a hallway. It was an office.


He pushed some of the furniture out through the hole and piled up the dusty skeletons at one of the walls. An hour or two later, it was still a mess. But at least it was possible to walk through.


He dried some sweat off his forehead and then put on his bandana. He walked up to the entrance to the bedroom and looked inside. It was messy in there too, but not as badly as it was here in the office. It had obviously been a big fight out here.


A long dire lance was stuck into the wall inside the bedroom with a female skeleton around it. He knew it was female because of the garments and jewelry she was wearing. Other than the murdered girl, the room was quite nice. It was big and comfortable. Even more so than a luxury suite in the best hotels in Nexus' Bastion District. The stench of death had probably disappeared thousands of years ago when the last of the girl's flesh rotted away. It could probably be cleaned quite swiftly.


Maybe he could sleep in here tonight? He grabbed the lance's handle with both of his hands and felt its great weight. He managed to pull it out from the wall and the skeleton fell to the floor with a rattling thump. He walked back into the office with the lance in his hands and threw it out through the hole in the wall. It was too ungainly to have lying around in here. He then walked back into the bedroom to grab the corpse from the floor.


When he took it in his arms, he couldn't help but to feel a little sympathy for it. The feeling confused him. Why would he feel sympathy for someone he knew nothing about?


“You were the Daimyo's wife, weren't you?†he asked the skeleton – though he spoke more to himself than to the corpse. “I bet you were quite the beauty when you were alive. But look at you now.â€


“Who are you talking to?†It was Cypher's unique voice. “Oh, you've cleaned in here.â€


Coral turned to see a newly awake Cypher scratch the sleep from his eyes. Cypher suddenly flinched when he saw that Coral was holding a skeleton in his hands.


“Who's that?â€


“Why don't you tell me?†Coral muttered. “Good morning, by the way.â€


“Good morning.†Cypher tapped on his nose. “Um, why are you holding a skeleton?â€


Coral walked past him and carefully placed the skeleton on the pile of corpses. “I'm cleaning upâ€, he said. “I believe this was the Daimyo's wife.â€


“Could be. Could be.â€


Cypher took a look around the room. His eyes were carefully investigating the hole in the wall. “Umâ€, he said. Then he said it again. “Um.†Still while looking at the hole. “Someone punched the wall a little too hard.â€


“There was a battle in hereâ€, Coral said while stretching his arms into the air until he felt refreshing crackling. It felt good. Even though he was a Solar Exalted, it had been exhausting to clean up this room.


Cypher nodded. “A battle leading up to, um, the activation of the defense system.â€


“Speaking of defense systemsâ€, Coral said with a smirk. “We should get back into the armory to see if we can find what is controlling the guardians.â€


“Yes, indeedâ€, Cypher said. “But I'm hungry.â€


“There's a bull outside. It's basically food with four legs.â€


“Um, I'm not very good with … gutting animals.â€


Coral sighed. “Very well thenâ€, he muttered. “I'll do it.†Though, disturbing as it might be, he was more used to gutting humans than animals. It came with the profession in a dark past. A past he hated but couldn't give up. Wouldn't let himself give up. And after having done it so many times, a person could get blunted to any kind of gore. Cutting up a bull was child's play.


But things were so simple back then. It was all about achievements. Accept mission. Don't reflect on whom your target was. Achieve. All the innocent people he had killed over the years were necessary sacrifices after all. But he couldn't neglect the fact that sometimes he experienced their deaths again and again in his dreams. Would someone entirely without a heart see his victims in his dreams?


He hoped not. Because that proved that he still had a heart somewhere.


He looked at the pile of corpses. “We should give them a proper memorialâ€, he said.


“Yesâ€, Cypher said with a nod. “With the Miasma gone, um, their ghosts might eventually come. If they still roam the Underworld, that is.â€


Coral walked up to the pile of corpses and took the girl's corpse in his arms. He nodded to Cypher. “Wake up Yuko. Have her help us carry them out to the meadow.â€


He left the palace with the skeleton in his arms. The heat was greater than the days before, but he could see dark clouds spread behind the mountains. The first things he noticed were the sounds of chirping birds and a fly buzzing around his head. More and more life returned to this valley. It was like if the curse had never existed.


Coral left the corpse on the meadow grass and then walked up along the road towards the pass – and towards the cage. He could use the wagon to carry the rest of the skeletons out from the city. But the first thing he did when he came up to it was to take a sip of the rum.


He noticed a small mouse escaping from under the wagon and running through the space between his legs. He gave a sly smirk and then unbuttoned his snake bag.


“Fetchâ€, he said and the coral snake crawled swiftly out from the bag and slithered after the mouse on the ground.


He took another sip of the rum. Then realized that a single bull could probably not carry this big wagon. Why had he killed the other one?


“Coral, my friend!†he heard someone call to him.


When he turned towards the sound, he recoiled in surprise. Glorious Horizon had changed somehow. He was bigger than before. Next to him walked both Omar and Chanti in their human forms. He hadn't seen Omar in his human form before, but he immediately recognized him.


Omar was tall and had brown skin with pale shades, short, black hair and bushy, black beard. He was dressed in his articulated moonsilver plate and wielded his grand daiklave on his back. Coral noticed that he could see the reflection of his lost family in the armor's glimmering moonsilver. It was an illusion created from his dreams. He tried to ignore it.


Chanti was as beautiful as always. Coral looked at her tanned skin and her glittering tattoos and realized how lucky he was. She was dressed in cloth around her waist and chest and had some charms hanging from a belt and a necklace. She had one bag attached to her belt but she wore no artifacts with the exception of the wedding band on her ring-finger.


A sudden memory of Glittering Wolf, his previous love, flashed before his eyes. But this was different. He was connected to Chanti through a deep celestial bond. His destiny was far greater now than what he could have imagined when he lived in Nexus.


“Horizonâ€, Coral called back. “Have you been working out?â€


Horizon grinned and flexed his muscles.


Coral nodded to Chanti. “Helloâ€, he said.


“Helloâ€, she replied. “The tribe is restoring the jungle. It's overgrown and out of balance. We've brought animals here from outside. You should be able to hunt food here shortly.â€


“Thank you.â€


“But it's remarkableâ€, she continued. “There are artifacts buried underground which are stimulating the growth of plant-life. And they still work.â€


They came up to him and he gave her a hug. “You should talk to Cypher about thatâ€, he said. “I'm an illiterate when it comes to artifacts.â€


“You're youngâ€, she said and kissed him.


“I'm curiousâ€, he said and took her hand. “How is it like living for thousands of years?â€


She gave him a surprised look and then smiled. “It's not that bad when you have something to live for. I've been spreading tribes all over the southern jungles to battle the Wyld. And of course I have been waiting for your return.â€


“I must be quite inadequate in my current state.â€


She smiled and kissed him on his cheek. “Yes, you are very young. But you already know that the Solar Exalted are the strongest and the most glorious there are. Your people, together with mine, will bring peace and stability to Creation. And until you're mature enough to change the world for the better, I will be watching your back.â€


“Why is that Twilight carrying corpses from the city?†Omar asked and pointed towards the city.


They could see Whispering Rainbow Cypher clumsily carrying skeletons in his arms and putting them on the meadow outside the city.


“We're moving into the palace at the central Manseâ€, Coral said. “But we had to clean it up first.â€


“I'm curious about that boyâ€, Chanti said and started walking towards Cypher. She still held Coral's hand and he was pulled with her.


When Cypher noticed them coming, he waved with a big, goofy grin. Coral noticed that he looked at Chanti with the utmost admiration and respect. Probably because she was a living record of the High First Age. Coral also noticed that Cypher strained himself trying to avoid looking at her womanly forms. She showed a lot of skin and Coral knew how difficult it was to avoid looking at her body a little too intently. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen after all. Unnaturally beautiful. A human couldn't even imagine such beauty.


“Whispering Rainbow Cypher, right?†Chanti said.


“That is correctâ€, Cypher replied, still with that goofy smile.


Chanti looked at Cypher's spherical artifact. It glimmered under the strong sunlight. “May I take a closer look?†she asked.


Cypher's goofy grin disappeared and he leered at both Chanti and his artifact. He seemed reluctant to letting her borrow it. But he couldn't say no to someone like Chanti. He removed his pendant and gave it too her.


She looked at it for a moment and felt the warm orichalcum with her hands. Then she put it on and Cypher flinched when he realized she was committing her Essence to it. Coral didn't say anything. He had no idea what her purpose was.


“Is Yuko awake?†he asked Cypher.


Cypher nodded, still with his bewildered eyes locked on Chanti as she committed to his artifact. He bit his lip and his eyes trembled a little. Coral noticed that his fingers got shaky and his body shivered.


“Then go to herâ€, Chanti said. “I would like to study this for a while. Don't worry. I'm not going to steal it from you.â€


She walked back up towards the wagon and Coral followed her. Cypher's body trembled and he wanted to say something. Instead he walked back into the city.


Coral and Chanti sat on the wagon for a while. She had committed to the artifact and had its chain around her neck and the sphere in her hand. It glowed with bright light.


“What is that exactly?†Coral asked.


“Umâ€, she said. “I'm not sure but, um, well, you see―â€


“Are you all right?†There was something familiar and disturbing about that speech pattern.


“Wellâ€, she said. “This artifact must, um, somehow affect a person's, you know, psyche.†She quickly removed the pendant from her neck and took a deep breath. The artifact lost its light. “I can't believe he has managed to carry it for so long without becoming in†Her speech was back to normal.


“Sometimes I wonder if he isâ€, Coral said with a smile. “But he's useful. He knows things. I could never have guessed that the thing we found in the armory was an actual portal to Yu-Shan.â€


“What did you just say?†she said, almost shouted. “Are you saying there's a Celestial Gate here? Take me to it at once!â€

 

[wordman]

Every time I see the title of this thread, I think about this.

 

[Heaven's Thunder Hammer]

Every time I see the title of this thread, I think about this.

DUDE WTF!!!

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 33: The central mind unit


Chanti Green-Paw touched the celestial gate with the palm of her hand. She looked at its golden markings and then investigated the rest of the room with her eyes. Cypher stood by the panel before the two portals but nothing had been activated. Coral stood a few steps behind them and waited for Chanti to elaborate why she had forced him to take her here.


“They are just like I remember themâ€, she said.


“Are there more of them?†Coral asked.


“Yes, I have seen a few. Some of them have been destroyed. Others are forgotten.â€


“Have you ever stepped through one?â€


Chanti's eyes met Coral's. “I stay away from Yu-Shan. I have witnessed friends enter only to be slain by the Celestial Lions. Times have changed. There's nothing for us to gain there anymore.â€


Coral nodded. Before him stood a gate to another world. He was curious about it, but he could stay away. He had to. There were more important matters to attend to. They had to find a way to bend the guardians to their will if they would ever hope to control this city.


“Chanti?†Coral asked. “Do you know where in this city we should look for the system that controls the gaurdians?â€


She shrugged. “I'm not an engineer but such a powerful system should be located close to the central of the Manse.â€


“That's, um, what I thought as wellâ€, Cypher muttered while tapping on the spherical artifact Chanti had returned to him – after quite some nagging. “But there is nothing there.â€


She raised her eyebrows and looked at him for a second. She then burst into laughter. “Well of course there isn'tâ€, she said while grinning. “Did you think this would be easy?†She placed her face in her palm and sighed. “It's a miracle you guys are still alive.â€


Both Cypher and Coral couldn't help but to blush.


“You were lucky with the curseâ€, she continued. “But a curse isn't enough to protect a city such as this. Imagine thousands of tripwires all over the streets and floors. You have been lucky enough to not step on any of them yet.†She pointed to Cypher. “In the High First Age, Twilight Solars like yourself could spend countless lifetimes for places like this and even longer to figure out how to defend them against power hungry brethren. You haven't even been here for a week.â€


“What are you saying exactly?†Coral muttered. “That it's impossible?â€


She shook her head. “Not impossible. But you're too careless and too young to truly understand this Manse, let alone this city.â€


There was a moment of silence before Coral nodded to the two of them and said: “Let's go back.â€


They walked back towards the entrance to the bunker while intently looking at everything around them. The corridors were illuminated by Essence lamps and the stones looked smoother and more clear than when they had walked these halls with no more light than what their caste marks could spread. None of them knew what to look for so they looked at everything.


“Um, there should be a marking at leastâ€, Cypher muttered while tapping on his nose. “Something that indicates that, um, there is an entrance somewhere.â€


They were close to the entrance when Chanti suddenly stopped. “Not necessarilyâ€, she said. “It could be hidden in plain sight.â€


Cypher gave her a bewildered look and tapped on his nose.


She nodded towards the wall to her left-hand side. “I saw a flicker in the stoneâ€, she said. “And the light doesn't seem to reflect from it like it does from the other walls.â€


Both Cypher and Coral stopped to look at the wall. Cypher leaned forward and carefully investigated it. “I don't see any differenceâ€, he said.


“Neither do Iâ€, Coral filled in. “But now when I think about it: we walked in a square around this wall the first time we were here. All of the rooms we entered were pointing to the opposing wall. It's located directly underneath the Manse. Of course something is hidden within.â€


Cypher nodded as if to say “naturally†or “I was thinking the same thingâ€. He carefully touched the wall with the palm of his hand. “How should we get in?†he asked more to himself than to the other two.


“We break throughâ€, Coral said with a grin as he drew the Serpent-Sting Staff from his backpack and hit the wall in one swift sweep.


“Wait, you reckless fool!†Chanti roared but it was too late.


The hit didn't seem to have done any damage at all. Coral shrugged and gave Chanti a confused look. He noticed that the iris in her shocked eyes glimmered with swirling Essence. She ground her teeth.


“I used a Charm to improve my eyesightâ€, she said. “The wall is not made of stone at all. It is in fact a barrier and I'm sure you just set off its alarm.â€


Coral flinched. “So what do we do now?â€


“Try the Seal of Authorityâ€, Cypher suggested. His sphere seemed to be giving a faint golden glow.


“The what?â€


“The jade seal!â€


Coral remembered the white jade seal he was carrying in his belt. He quickly loosened it and placed the seal against the wall. A faint glow emanated from the seal and spread throughout the wall. The white stone faded into a membrane of golden orichalcum. Around the place where Coral placed the seal, a glowing corona spread like rings on water and opened up a hole in the membrane.


In the middle of the room reached a thorny crystal pillar from the ceiling to the floor. It looked like a barrier around a small, glowing orb. Cypher approached the pillar like he was hypnotized. Coral gave Chanti a confused look.


“I've never seen anything like itâ€, she said with a shrug.


Cypher intently looked at the pillar from all sides. He quietly investigated and calculated before he dared touching its surface.


“Try the seal againâ€, he said.


Coral walked up to him and placed the seal against the pillar's surface. Nothing seemed to happen.


Cypher scratched his tangled, black hair and made a short snort. “Um, the pillar seems to be some kind of advanced locking-mechanism protecting the, you know, sphere inside. Give me a day or two and I'll have it figured out.â€


A locking-mechanism? Coral thought.


“Can I try?†he asked and, without waiting for permission, carelessly touched its surface.


“I suppose, but what can someone like you―â€


Coral called on his Essence and let it flow through his fingers and through the palms of his hand. As he touched the surface of the pillar, it felt like the Essence was drained from his touch. He remembered the door he found in the basement of the palace in Yuro. His mistake back then was that he wasn't prepared. Now he was. His Essence spread through the pillar and its glow suddenly faded. It opened up and revealed the sphere within.


Cypher looked at him with amazement. “What did you do?†he asked.


Coral grinned with self-confidence. “One of the first Charms I recalled after my awakeningâ€, he answered. “I can open any lock. Even magical ones.â€


“Lock-Opening Touchâ€, Chanti said. “One of your basic Charms, even back then.â€


He smiled proudly and then stepped back to embrace his wife. Cypher's full concentration was now on the sphere before him. It was about as big as his own artifact, but that was how far the similarities went. While his artifact was covered in markings, discs and carvings, this one was completely smooth. It was like a dimmed globe where you could faintly see what hid inside, but not deeper than half an inch or so. What hid inside this orb was an endless network of orichalcum with beams of light pulsing through them.


When Cypher touched the sphere, its surface seemed to recoil. He instantly removed his fingers. “The surface feels like liquidâ€, he said. “Absolutely no friction at all. But, um, the reaction ...â€


He carefully grabbed the sphere with both hands so that it wouldn't slip out of his grip. He looked at it and poked it with the tip of his finger. He could feel a sensation of a ripple wave spreading from the place he touched. The beams of lights increased at that same place. Now when he thought about it, the light pulses had increased rapidly from the moment he touched the sphere.


“It's uncomfortableâ€, he said and smiled to Coral and Chanti. “This thing is alive!â€


“You're making me uncomfortableâ€, Coral said. “What do you mean it's alive?â€


“Wellâ€, he muttered. “Look at it this way. This orichalcum network is like a network of nerves while, um, the beams of light are impulses. Much like you can manipulate nerves with acupuncture needles, you should be able to manipulate this, um, artificial intelligence if you figure out how the network is connected.â€


Coral gave the sphere a skeptic look. “When you say intelligence, do you actually mean intelligence?â€


Cypher nodded and his eyes were widely spread in fascination.


A rumble echoed outside.


“We must get out of here!†Chanti yelled. “The alarm must have triggered the guardians!â€


Coral nodded. “Cypher!†he said and grabbed his friend's shoulder. “Chanti and I will go in advance.†As he spoke, a short white flash went through his mind and he could feel the voice of his divine shard echo the words “obey me!†as Coral said: “You stay here until you have figured out how to subdue the guardians!â€


He could almost feel Essence wrap around the words as they left his mouth and he couldn't help but notice how Cypher's reaction suddenly changed. For the short moment it took Coral to utter that sentence, Cypher's focus was completely on Coral's words. His eyes had a blank look for a moment before he turned to the sphere in his hands.


“Um, very wellâ€, he said. “I'll figure this thing out.†He sat down on the floor with the sphere in his hands and obsessively begun to study it.


Coral was taken aback for a second by the feeling. What did just happen? It felt like he had used some kind of Charm but he wasn't sure what it was. He shrugged it off and followed Chanti out through the entrance, leaving Cypher in the hidden room.


The rumbles continued as Coral used the seal to open up the iris gate. They didn't see anything else than the smooth cobble street and the overgrown gardens around. The rumbling came closer and closer and they could hear that it were footsteps. A fifteen feet tall metal giant's head looked out from the thick corner of branches and roots before them. It's indifferent face seemed to penetrate them with its glowing, artificial eyes. It stepped forward and drew its grand goremaul. Another of the guardians came out from behind it.


“You take the left oneâ€, Chanti said and ran towards one of the guardians.


“Wait!†Coral called. “Did you say 'take'?â€


She leered at him with a sly smirk. “Will that be a problem?†she asked before she vaulted into the air and landed on the guardian's neck. While balancing on his shoulders, she started to weave a spell. Leaves were ripped from their branches and swirled in the air around her. The guardian immediately tried to reach for her, but she flexibly evaded its hand without loosing focus.


“I guess notâ€, Coral muttered as he noticed the other guardian coming at him with its grand goremaul raised over its head.


Coral let his left foot slide back a feet and took the position of an angered serpent; back slightly crouched, head leaned back and his hands in an open guard before him. It was just like his old sifu had taught him – but with one slight difference. As the goremaul descended over his head, a shroud of faint Essence wrapped around his form and he seemed to flicker before the mace hammered a crater into the ground.


Coral stood on the giant's left shoulder and whipped the Serpent-Sting Staff down towards its head. He put much force into the blow, but it still only made an echoing clang. He had underestimated the density of its body.


The guardian tried to grab him with its other hand but he slithered away from its reach. When he next noticed Chanti, he realized she had taken the form of the humanoid fox. She was covered in red fur and she was more muscular than before. As the guardian tried to shake her off, she kept her balance by maneuvering her tail. Her circular caste mark glittered from her forehead and Coral could feel another rumble in the ground – however, this time it wasn't from the guardians.


The branches around them seemed to get a life of their own and they swiftly entangled Chanti's guardian, trying to root it in place. The more the guardian tried to break free, the quicker the branches grew up along its legs and body. With the same cold face as before, it managed a quick swing with its goremaul, aiming for Coral Snake.


Coral wasn't prepared for the blow and he was hit off the other guardian's shoulder and thrown into the air. He landed on the closed iris gate with a loud thump and fell to his knees. He looked up on the guardians with shock in his eyes. Blood ran from his mouth.


The branches spread along the guardian's arm and weapon. As Chanti witnessed Coral get hit, her eyes got mad and she grabbed the guardian's head. The tattoos on her arms and torso glowed as her muscles grew. Cracks were heard from the guardian's neck and she howled as she ripped off its head and tossed it to the ground.


Coral was amazed, but he had no time to idle. The grip of his Serpent-Sting Staff tightened and he quickly got to his feet. He ran towards the guardian that remained and somersaulted between its legs while swiftly hitting both of its ankles. The first blow had enough force in it to crack up the entire ankle, causing the guardian to fall to its knees.


Coral jumped up behind the guardian with a bloody grin on his face and sent his staff down like a projectile, piercing the giant's neck before he landed smoothly on its back.


“Are you okay?†Chanti asked.


Coral knelt on top of the guardian's back and breathed heavily. He nodded.


More rumbles echoed from behind the pyramid and three more guardians appeared.


“Get up!†Chanti ordered. “No time to rest.â€


As he slowly stood up, he could feel that all of his ribs were broken. He probably had some fractures in his arms and legs as well. It would be impossible to fight these many of them.


He nodded to her and they both ran towards the guardians. She seemed calm but he was fully prepared to die. Before they collided with the metal giants, something like a rumbling storm flew past them and crushed into all three guardians at once. They both recoiled in surprise and Coral could swear he heard a hearty chuckle from the dust cloud that occurred from the mysterious collision.


An eight feet tall Lunar Exalted with monster-like muscles, glittering tattoos and the head of a bull appeared within the dust cloud, holding a metal arm as big as himself in his right hand. Below him was a pile of junk.


“Are you playing without me?†he chuckled.


More rumbling echoed through the city square and the Lunar quickly turned its head. Coral and Chanti couldn't see what he was looking at because of the thick bushes and trees. But they noticed that he was grinning.


“Ten more incomingâ€, he said, then looked at Chanti with hopeful eyes. “Can I?â€


“Yesâ€, she said with a nod.


He grinned, exposing all of his bull teeth, and then ran towards the incoming guardians while chuckling to himself. When he went outside line of sight, Coral noticed that his chuckle transformed into a growl and he could hear a cacophony of sounds indicating a battle of monsters.


All he could say was: “Wow.â€


Chanti walked up to Coral and put her hand on his chest. She channeled her Essence and he could feel the fractured ribs heal.


“Let's rest for a whileâ€, she said. “Blackhorn has always wanted to see if the guardians were worthy opponents but I forbid him from picking fights with them. He can take care of them for us.â€


Coral ground his teeth and hissed in pain. His body was still aching, even though he was regenerating. “I had no idea you were this scaryâ€, he said.


She smiled and helped him sit down by the gate. “I can tell that you wouldn't survive a day without us. I think I'll leave Horizon here with you. He can protect you.â€


“Don't underestimate meâ€, he stuttered. “I survived five years on the road and then eight years in Nexus as a mortal human.â€


She stroke his hair while transforming back into her human form. She then kissed him on the cheek. “Nexus, you say?†she said. “Then have you been to Firewander District?â€


“Close enough to see the Wyld infestationâ€, he muttered. “But I wouldn't set my foot there even now when I'm Exalted.â€


“My friends and I have battled the Wyld for centuriesâ€, she said. “We walk into the Wyld and shape its chaos into balance. So I know what I'm talking about when I say you're weak.â€


“Brag onâ€, he muttered, but couldn't help but to smile. “I will be the one protecting you in no time.â€


“I have always been the one to protect you, you reckless foolâ€, she said. “Even when you commanded legions.â€


Coral raised his eyebrows. “Wait? What?â€


She smiled and stroke his cheek. “I have waited for your reincarnation longer than you can imagine, loveâ€, she said. “But don't think I can't wait any longer. If you cause much more trouble than you already have, I might just kill you and hope that your next reincarnation will be wiser.â€


He gulped. Yikes. For some reason, he didn't think she was joking.


“Have you done that before?â€


She stroke his cheek again. “It was thousands of years ago your shard was last reborn.â€


After a short moment of silence, more rumbles were heard from behind the pyramid. Blackhorn was still fighting and it seemed more guardians had joined the battle. How many could have been destroyed by now? A dozen? They sat quietly for a while and listened to the battle. They heard Blackhorn's happy laughter as he crushed the guardians into pieces. The man truly was a monster both in mind and form. They couldn't see him from where they sat, but his enormous shape cast a shadow even here.


Maybe an hour had passed when a small steward automaton walked out from the corner, turned its head and noticed Coral and Chanti. It tilted its head, opened its metal mouth and gave a metallic shriek.


The rumbling steps of guardians approached from the Manse's other side. They heard Blackhorn fighting. Could he make it in time?


They witnessed half a dozen guardians coming at them at full speed and with full force. They drew their weapons. One of them seemed to charge up an Essence canon. Chanti and Coral was quick on their feet but it was unclear if she would have time to even weave a spell to protect them from the incoming force of metal and magic.


Coral noticed that the Essence canon was almost fully charg when a faint buzz were heard echoing from all of the guardians and their glowing eyes faded away. Some tipped over and some seemed to hibernate. Coral was most happy over the fact that the Essence canon faded with the guardian's eyes.


Coral and Chanti could hear a disappointed “aw†coming from Blackhorn. They gave each other confused looks.


“Cypher!†Chanti said. “Whatever Charm you used on him, it must have worked.â€


“Wellâ€, Coral said. “I only gave him some dedication to succeed, I think.â€


That fool, Coral thought. He saved the day once again.

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 34: The boy from the fishing village XII


Cinnabar District was bright and lively even after sunset. The market in Cinnabar was not as big as Market Row in Nexus District, that was for sure, but there were other things that attracted the many people who roamed the streets this beautiful evening. There were open theaters and art galleries as well as late-night restaurants with professional troubadours. This was a cultural district and there were something here for everyone, despite taste.


Viper had been given the direction to a specific building overlooking one of the minor streets. Dagger's guidance had been more like a warning. “Introduce yourself to the leader of the Cinnabar Squadâ€, he had said. “Your deed will be on their grounds. Whatever you do, do not provoke Skin. He would rip yours off.†Skin was the name of the leader of the Cinnabar Squad. Apparently he was a strong man, twenty years of age, and with depraved tastes when it came to art, sex and blood.


The building where the Cinnabar Squad would be had a round balcony overlooking one of the minor streets. The surrounding houses were dark and Viper didn't know if they were homes, shops or simply empty. He guessed on a combination of the three. He heard laughter from the balcony and he could witness smoke. It was a beautiful, calm evening after all. Obviously they would be enjoying it from up there.


He looked at the street around him. Intoxicated men and women hobbled around, holding bottles and chuckled at bad jokes. There were no children here but a few young teenagers. He could see a few lone boys and girls with black bandanas around their foreheads, watching over their superiors on the balcony and taking care of troublemakers in the alley. The alley smelled of curry, opium and oil.


Viper wasn't dressed for assassination this night. He was dressed in fine red silk. He was going to watch a play after all. Glittering Wolf had braided his hair and it was dressed in cheap but pretty pearls. The guards didn't give him much thought. He was dressed like many other in Cinnabar after all. Fashionable, yes, but not too rich.


He noticed one lone guard leaning to a wooden facade. It was a boy, twelve or thirteen years old, with dark skin and blue hair. He had a unique look. Viper guessed that the hair was colored.


He discretely approached the guard but instantly noticed his watchful gaze. Even his eyes were unnaturally blue. The boy was on his toes, waiting intently for Viper to do something stupid, and seemed to finger on the handle of a dagger in his belt. Viper answered with a discrete nod and then slowly took his black bandana from his belt, held it visibly to the guard and then tied it around his forehead.


The guard leaned back to the wall for a moment and scratched his chin. He then let go of his dagger and walked up to Viper, put his hand on his shoulder and leaned in to his ear. “Come with meâ€, he said and walked towards the building.


Viper followed him.


The boy nodded to another guard who stood outside the front door. The guard opened the door and let them in. Viper didn't say anything. He followed the blue-haired boy into the building and up along a dark stairway illuminated by oil lanterns.


“Did you know that Gods of Murder walk in the shadows?†the boy asked.


Viper had waited for that question. He was prepared to answer it exactly like Dagger had instructed him to. “Followed by their tools, the Ebon Daggersâ€, he said.


The boy didn't reply. He opened up a door at the end of the stairs and they were greeted by cheerful laughter and heavy smoke coming from a pipe. Viper recognized the sweet smell. It was not tobacco, that was for sure.


“Wait hereâ€, the boy whispered and walked out onto the balcony. He bowed before someone Viper couldn't see from inside. The only people he could see were a man and a woman, around eighteen years of age, holding hands while drinking and smoking. They both wore black bandanas and had their eye-lines painted black. The man gave Viper a quick gaze but didn't seem to care.


“There's an Ebon Dagger here from another squad, Masterâ€, the blue-haired boy said.


Viper could hear a man sigh. “Bring him out then but let it be quick.â€


The blue-haired boy nodded to Viper to come out. As he stepped out on the balcony, he was surprised by what he saw. These people had more than just an entertaining evening. They had an orgy. The leader, Skin, leaned back in a divan with a pipe between his lips. He was a muscled man with a scar over his lip and even more along his arms and chest. He wore a black vest and wide black pants. Behind him stood a young woman with exposed breasts and massaged his shoulders while a boy a few years younger than him was kneeling before his crotch, pleasuring him with his mouth.


Viper looked away. It brought back unpleasant memories from his enslavement.


“You're fancy for an assassinâ€, Skin laughed mockingly after he had exhaled some smoke.


“I apologize for disturbing you, Master Skin. My name is Viper the Throatslitter and I'm sent here on an assignmentâ€, Viper said. “I'm requesting your permission to perform a murder in Cinnabar District.â€


“What squad are you from, kid?â€


“I'm from the Nighthammer Squad, Master.â€


“And why the hell is a Nighthammer assassin sent into my district for an assignment?â€


“I'm sent here because this is where my target is, Masterâ€, Viper answered, instantly regretting his choice of words. “The target has no reason to come to Nighthammer so I was sent here instead.â€


“Because this is where my target isâ€, Skin repeated with raised brows and cold eyes. He sighed and then pushed the boy away from between his legs with his foot, put his penis back in his pants and gave the boy a kick to the chest. The boy screamed as he fell backwards over the edge and crushed his head to the ground. The young couple who still held hands looked over the edge and laughed.


Viper swallowed his pride but refused to move even an inch. This guy was insanely dangerous.


Skin leaned forward and looked intently into Viper's eyes. “Now can you tell me why this target is yours and not the Cinnabar Squad's?â€


“Wellâ€, Viper said. “He's not an official target, so to speak. The assignment was given to me by Master Dust Spider.â€


Skin leaned back in his divan and gestured to the girl to continue massaging his shoulders. “That complicates thingsâ€, he said. “Very well, the target is yours. Since it's not official business we'll turn the other cheek. Be sure to thank Dust Spider for this.â€


He gestured Viper to leave. As soon as Viper left the balcony, he took a sigh of relief. He walked back down to the street, avoided stepping on the dead boy and disappeared among the crowds of Cinnabar.


Thinking about Skin made him ground his teeth. I refuse to be looked down upon, he thought to himself. I'm going to become the best damn assassin in Nexus and have those insane mother-fuckers bowing before me.


He saw the boy's crushed head in his mind. An innocent boy murdered in cold blood. It wasn't the murder itself that bothered him so deeply. It was the humiliation that boy had to endure. The thought of what the boy had been ordered to do made Viper's skin crawl. He ground his teeth even more.


Skin, he thought. One day I'm coming for you. I'm gonna make you shed that skin of yours like a snake.


As he walked towards Che-Lu's Theater, he took off his bandana and once again hid it under his belt. It was the biggest theater in Cinnabar and it reached over the surrounding buildings like an ancient palace. It's entrance stood behind giant stone pillars at the top of a wide set of stairs. The canals reached almost all the way to the stairs and gondolas carried passengers to a small dock.


There was a crowd outside. Most of them seemed to be fancy people from Bastion or properly dressed-up middle-class men and women. They were the minority in Nexus but they still had the power over the common hoi polloi.


Viper walked up among them and let his flexible hands go to work. Before he had reached the top of the stairs, he both had a ticket to the play as well as a pouch full of silver bits. He waved with his ticket before a guard and was let inside the theater's vestibule. Even more people were inside, mingling with each other while holding cups of wine.


This sure is fancy, he thought to himself while looking around. Finding Shin Cloud in here could be difficult. He walked among the rich folks for about half an hour – he even managed to steal himself a cup of wine – while looking for his target and waiting for the play to begin. He didn't even know what it was about.


He was used to dealing with rich people. He had lived in a mansion after all. But he had done so as a slave and had never actually been to something like a play before.


Viper sat down on a chair next to a table. It didn't take long before a middle-aged woman with a pearl necklace came up to him.


“It's not very common for a young man like yourself to visit Che-Lu'sâ€, she said with a forced sociolect.


Viper had his focus over her shoulder, trying to see either Shin Cloud himself or one of his associates.


“To tell you the truth, ma'amâ€, Viper said, using all the rules he had learned on how to act around rich folks. He decided to add a little bit of charming self-confidence to his speech and gave the woman a wide smile. “I wonder what I'm doing here.â€


“Are you here with a girl?†the woman asked.


“No, ma'amâ€, Viper said with his most charming smile. “I'm not that lucky.â€


The woman gave a hearty chuckle. “Aren't you a cute one?†she said. “You do look a little uncomfortable.†She leaned forward slightly and whispered. “To tell you the truth, so am I. I don't even like plays.â€


“And I have never been to one beforeâ€, Viper said. “I'm here because I recently lost my father. He was a priest and I want to follow in his footsteps. I was hoping to impress one of the priests here and, if I'm lucky, be initiated by one of them.â€


She looked surprised. “I heard that the immaculate high priest Shin Cloud from Great Forks is coming to watch this play. He is supposed to sit on the balcony next to my husband's and mine. Maybe you can join us. I'll ask my husband to introduce you to Shin Cloud during the intermission.â€


“Really? I mean ... I don't want to cause any trouble.â€


This is perfect.


“Not at all, young manâ€, she said with a chuckle. “What's your name?â€


“Sunâ€, he lied and took her hand.


“Sun? How beautiful. My name is Elma. Please, don't bother with any honorifics. I'm a common woman at heart, despite all these pearls.â€


Only minutes later, Viper was introduced to Elma's husband, Claymore. He decided to go for a more respectful approach to him but soon noticed that the old man was as surprised as his wife about his new fortune in the salt business. Some arrogance had already managed to trickle forth, but the man's efforts to make allies among the elite seemed to have affected his attitude towards Viper.


He was more than welcome to join them on their balcony.


It was first when they entered the balcony overlooking the grand stage, when he saw Shin Cloud take seat in the balcony next to his. He was here together with one of his associates. It was a man in his mid twenties with a slim, red moustache and brown eyes. Viper had seen him before but he didn't know his name. He only knew that he was a priest.


The mingling from outside had spread to the seats as more and more people arrived. Claymore leaned over to Viper who sat on his left-hand side. He nodded towards Shin Cloud. “That's high priest Shin Cloudâ€, he said. “And his assistant Marca. I first met them in Great Forks last year when I was there to open up shop. It truly is a marvelous city of magic and divinities.â€


“I've heard that gods walk the streets thereâ€, Viper said.


“It's trueâ€, the old man said with a smile. “But so do they here in Nexus, Sun. You have seen the Emissary, haven't you?â€


Viper remembered when the Emissary executed Wing almost five years ago. “I haveâ€, he said quietly and leaned back in his chair, leering at Shin Cloud as he did so.


The play began and Viper found it incredibly boring, though he pretended not to. He was still unsure how to approach Shin Cloud with these many people around. Claymore and Elma had seen his face too. He had to be careful. He had to remember his training. The two priests seemed to be alone though. If they were going to be looking for boys on the streets after the play, like Dust Spider had told him, they would probably want to do it discretely.


But what if they could get what they wanted here, without having to look at the street? Viper pondered the idea. He was sure that Marca hadn't seen his face before. If he could get to him alone, he could trick him into leading Shin Cloud to a private area. If they both expected a prostitute, they would be sure to come alone.


He had no intention of letting those filthy hands touch him though. He just needed to separate them from the rest of the crowd. But he couldn't afford to show his face to Shin Cloud before they were alone together. He would surely not come if he recognized him.


He turned to Claymore. “I'm sorry to ask this in the last minute, sirâ€, he said. “But I'm a little nervous. The high priest is a high priest after all. Maybe we can just speak to his assistant.â€


Claymore smiled and nodded, then turned to look at the stage.


The show was about an imperialist soldier who grew into a Dragon-Lord. It glorified the Immaculate Teaching and the Imperial Army. The very same army that had murdered Viper's parents and kidnapped his siblings. His thoughts were elsewhere though. He only focused enough on the play to be able to join the conversations during the intermission.


The razor blade was well hidden inside his belt – which was more of a sash – and he could feel its flat surface against his waist. Thinking about its sharp edge soothed his senses. He would perform a murder tonight. But this murder would not be like his usual ones. This would be justice.


The play eventually reached its first intermission. The guests went back into the vestibule to meet with the actors, the director and with the owner Che-Lu himself to discuss the play. Others went to the high-class restrooms on the second floor. The restrooms were fully equipped with indoor water fountains and chamber pots in private booths. When people were done, they emptied the pots in holes in the wall which took it to the sewers in the Undercity as well as the canals. Not only luxury theaters like this had these restrooms, but most of the Bastion mansions as well. Viper was familiar with how the rich folks' shit soiled the poorer parts of Nighthammer with every flooding. But yet he would rather die than live in Bastion again.


Claymore gave Viper a pat on the shoulder and then stood up to leave the balcony. “If it isn't high priest Shin Cloud and Father Marca!†the old man said.


Viper slowly stood up from his seat and walked up to the balcony curtain. He gazed outside but didn't reveal himself. He witnessed Claymore kissing Shin Cloud's hand, being rejected by him but still managed to ensnare Marca. While the high priest continued to the vestibule, Claymore was leading Marca back to the balcony.


“There's someone I'd like you to meet, Fatherâ€, he said.


Viper stepped back out to the balcony, took a deep breath and poured up some wine in his cup. When Claymore pulled the curtain to the side and gestured towards Viper, he answered with a graceful bow.


“My apologies, Father Marcaâ€, Viper said. “My name is Sun and I was wondering if I could speak with you about joining the temple?â€


“Sun here is the son of an immaculate priestâ€, Claymore said.


Marca gave Claymore and unwilling look. “Can we do this later? I should be going to Master Shin Cloud.â€


Good, Viper thought. He doesn't know who I am.


“I'm sorryâ€, he said and quickly took Marca's hand. He looked up in the priest's eyes. “You have time for one confession, don't you, Father?â€


Marca was just about to remove his hand and hit the boy, but instead relaxed in his grip. Viper shivered a little by disgust when he noticed the man's eyes intently looking in his. At least it was proof enough that he shared his master's tastes. It would be safe to proceed.


“I assume I have time for a confession after allâ€, Marca said. “It is my duty as a priest to lead this boy to a straight path towards righteousness.â€


Claymore smiled. “I'll leave you alone thenâ€, he said. “Much gratitude, Father Marca.â€


Marca bowed gracefully to Claymore and gestured to Viper to sit down. He sat down on the chair next to him.


“What's bothering you, young man?â€


“I was lying about my intentions, Fatherâ€, Viper said. “The truth is that I was sent here by a friend of Master Shin Cloud's.â€


“Really?†Marca said and raised his eyebrows. “Who might that be?â€


“He ordered me not to tell anyone but Master Shin Cloud himself. I come bearing a gift.â€


“You have seen me together with the high priest, haven't you, boy? If you give me the gift, I will happily pass it on to the high priest for you.â€


“Well, you see, Fatherâ€, Viper continued. He looked around himself to see that they were alone and then whispered: “My master has sent me … as the gift.â€


Marca leaned back and quietly looked at Viper.


“He was hoping that Master Shin Cloud would come visiting him in Bastionâ€, Viper continued.


“Remove your sleeves, boyâ€, the priest ordered.


Viper looked confused.


“Your arms. Show them to me!†He grabbed Viper's arms and pulled up his sleeves. “You wear no brand. So you are not a slave then?â€


“My master doesn't want to brand me, Fatherâ€, Viper said. “He says it would be a sin to brand a pure body.â€


That part was true. It was something Meadow Walker had told him almost five years ago.


Marca seemed to believe him. He looked at Viper from top to bottom and then exposed all of his teeth with a big smile. “Master Shin Cloud will be pleasedâ€, he said. “There is no way he will be able to wait until the play is over after he has seen you.â€


“He doesn't have to wait, Fatherâ€, Viper said. “The restrooms should be empty after the intermission is over and everyone is seated.â€


“Good thinking, boyâ€, Marca said with the same big smile. “I'll be sure to pass it on. I just need a good look at you.†He grabbed Viper's head and looked into his hair. “No lice. That's a good sign. And your teeth seem white and straight. Strong body as well. How old are you?â€


“I'm fifteen, Father.â€


“Fifteen? I would have guessed thirteen. Very well, I'm sure he'll be pleased nonetheless. Be in the restroom ten minutes after the intermission is over.†He stood up and walked towards the curtain. “And remember, boy. Even an obedient slave may one day be reborn with the Dragons' blood. Just follow your master's commands and follow them obediently.â€


He smiled and left.


When Viper was alone on the balcony, he could no longer keep the laughter in. Be reborn with the Dragons' blood, you say? he thought. I would rather be reborn as a cursed Anathema, the very demons they despise.


The bell rang as the intermission reached its end. People walked back to their seats and Viper greeted Claymore and Elma.


“Did it go well?†Claymore asked.


“I think so, yesâ€, Viper said. “We only talked though. But Father Marca seemed to have known my father so he seemed willing to invite me to the temple.â€


“Really? Congratulations, Sun!†He turned to Elma. “Could you call in for more wine, darling? We need to celebrate this.â€


“No, let me do it, sirâ€, Viper said and walked into the corridor to find a steward. As soon as he got a carafe, he took two leaves of some sort from a pouch on his belt, rubbed them to pieces with his fingers and dropped them in the wine.


Sorry, but I just can't have you come looking for me, he thought before he returned to the balcony just in time for the play's second act to begin.


He filled their cups and put the carafe down on the little round table they had next to their chairs.


“Aren't you having any, Sun?†Claymore asked.


“Ohâ€, Viper said, pretending to be taken by surprise. “My cup's already full. I better empty it before I drink any more.â€


They toasted and drank. Then Viper leaned back in his chair, waiting for them to doze off. They would most likely miss the rest of the play and their memories of the evening might be a little foggy when they would wake up. Hopefully, they wouldn't get a too clear picture in their heads about his face or how he was dressed.


Too bad though. He liked them.


They fell asleep within minutes and Viper watched the play until it was time for him to get to work. He had kept his eyes on the neighboring balcony so he knew when the priests had left for the restroom. Though he watched the corridor carefully before he went towards the restroom.


He noticed Marca standing guard outside the room. He nodded when he saw Viper. “Just go inside and do what he asks of you. I'll make sure no one disturbs you.â€


Viper nodded and was let into the restroom. He didn't see anyone in there. Was this a trap?


“What's your name, boy?†a man asked from inside one of the booths.


Viper recognized the voice immediately. It was Shin Cloud. He slowly walked up to one of the water fountains and turned to look at himself in the mirror. “Whatever you want, masterâ€, he said, while looking into his own determined, cold, dark eyes.


Viper slowly took off his shirt while he heard the man chuckle from the booth. The man opened up the door and saw Viper's bare back.


“Are you undressing this quickly, boy?†he asked. “That eager, are you?â€


“It would be bad to soil my clothes, masterâ€, Viper replied with a sly smirk.


The man chuckled again. “Indeed it wouldâ€, he said. “Turn around.â€


Viper slowly turned around and their faces met. He walked up towards him while slowly reaching for the razor inside his sash.


“Wait a minute?†Shin Cloud said. “Aren't you?â€


Viper rushed forward and placed his palm before the man's mouth. He quickly grabbed his razor and made one quick cut across the man's throat. The man tried to scream and cough but Viper pressed his hand hard against the man's mouth.


“You tortured me for one week inside that dungeon of yoursâ€, Viper hissed. “Now demons will torture you for eternity.â€


He watched as the man's life faded from his eyes. It was an ecstatic feeling. He leaned out from the booth and gazed towards the door. Marca stood outside. Maybeit was time to invite him to their party.


Viper walked up to the water fountain and washed away the blood from his hands and torso. He then slowly approached the door, opened it slightly and whispered to Marca outside: “The master fell asleep from exhaustion. Could you help me carry him to his seat?â€


Marca sighed and then walked into the restroom. Viper closed the door behind them, turned towards him and grinned. He raised his bloody razor.


Shortly thereafter, a young man stepped happily outside Che-Lu's Theater and disappeared into the night. It was his first time in a theater. He had enjoyed it immensely.

 

[Heaven's Thunder Hammer]

MOAR!

 

[Ekorren]

MOAR!

Eventually. I got Starcraft II and now I can't do anything else. ^^

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 35: Manovan of the Sea


“Snap out of it already!†Coral said and snapped his fingers before Cypher's eyes.


The young Twilight had his full focus on the central mind unit which floated in the air before him, surrounded by swirling streams of Essence. The orichalcum synapses were sparkling from all the impulses caused by Cypher's Anima.


“You have subdued the guardians alreadyâ€, Coral continued. “It was all I asked you to do.â€


Cypher looked at Coral with tired, red eyes but with determination to keep going for days.


“Umâ€, he said. “If you give me a few days, I will have installed new directives.â€


“You can do that tomorrowâ€, Coral said and grabbed the sphere from Cypher to place it within the pillar in the middle of the room. “We need your help if we are to safely explore the city.â€


Chanti stood next to the entrance with her arms crossed. “You'll have to do that alone, the three of youâ€, she said. “I have some matters to attend to at the country border and I'll be taking Glorious Horizon with me. I'll bring him back here tomorrow or the day after.â€


“What kind of matters?†Coral asked while helping Cypher up on his feet.


“Concerning the eastern Wyld infestationâ€, she said with a snort. “Melekin's military is laughable at best. If the capital city fails against the chaos – and they eventually will – I will place some of my tribes in the jungles there to keep it from approaching this valley.â€


“Still concerned about me, are you?â€


“Hah! Don't get your hopes up, my loveâ€, she said with a smirk. “Battling the Wyld is the reason my friends and I are here to begin with.â€


He nodded and then placed his hand on Cypher's shoulder. “Well thenâ€, he said. “Let's see what kind of treasures we can find here now when the guardians are subdued.â€


Cypher tapped on his nose. “Well, all of them aren'tâ€, he said. “I think that only the older guardians, um, the slimmer models, were controlled by the sphere. They are still the majority of the guardians but not, um, all of them.â€


“So the bulky ones are still hostile to us?â€


“I don't know about hostile, but they are still active. I assume that most of the bulky models have other directives than the older ones. Most of those I have deactivated are those idling outside buildings. Most of the, um, bulky ones are, well, patrolling and keeping order.â€


“Let's leave them be for now thenâ€, Coral muttered.


The three of them left the armory together. Dark clouds had now spread all over the surrounding mountains and some of them rained over the meadows outside the city. There would still be an hour or two before the rain reached the city border.


Cypher gasped when he saw the pile of destroyed automatons outside the Manse. Blackhorn was sitting on top of the pile with his chin resting in the palm of his hand. He still had the shape of a humanoid bull. Blood were dripping from his fur but he didn't look severely wounded.


“Now I'm bored againâ€, he muttered to himself.


Chanti waved to him. “We're going east now before the rain slows us down. Get Omar and Horizon and meet me at the northern gate.â€


Blackhorn nodded and jumped off the pile of metal. He started running down the road towards the gate. Chanti reached over to Coral, kissed him on the cheek and stroke his hair with her hand. She then transformed into an owl and flew away.


Coral could swear that he had seen that owl before.


He nodded to Cypher. “Where's Yuko?â€


“Still piling up corpses outside the city, I suppose.â€


“Let's join her and burn the corpsesâ€, Coral said. “Then we'll take a look through the city.â€


They met up with Ledaal Yuko outside the gate. She was sitting before the pile of skeletons, surrounded by tiny petals that had rained down on the grass around her. She was chewing on one of them and greeted both of them with an angry glare.


“Where were you two? And what was that ruckus about?â€


Coral let the cloth around his neck mask his face like he used to. “Never mind thatâ€, he said and nodded to the skeletons. “Let's get a fire going before the rain comes.â€


“They won't burn in timeâ€, she replied with a sly snort, clearly irritated that he had ignored her question. “The rain is here in an hour or two.â€


“Then let them burn for an hour or twoâ€, he muttered. “Or ignore them. It's not like they stink or anything.â€


“I, um, don't really like discussions about how long it takes for a, um, corpse to burnâ€, Cypher filled in. “But in the state those skeletons are in, I would, um, assume that they burn almost instantly. Well, my point is that it would be more troublesome to, you know, lit them after they are moist from rain.â€


Coral hid a victorious grin under his mask. He had grown up fearing the Dragon-Blooded and it felt good knowing that he could actually intimidate one of them. He couldn't say he hated Yuko, but he surely didn't trust her. Only once had he met a respectable Dragon-Blooded and the fact that Yuko had been employed by the Peleps was the worst sin of all.


Yuko seemed paler and weaker than before. Maybe she had finally realized that she was far away from home, trapped in the wilderness and surrounded by Anathema. Coral would accept her as nothing else than as a servant and he knew that she was still too naive to degrade herself to such a position. Maybe time would change that. It's not like she was in a position to argue.


They burned the corpses and Cypher said some prayer to show respect to the dead. Neither Yuko nor Coral said anything. Why they would need to show respect to that ancient pile of bones was foreign to Coral. If he remembered correctly, those skeletons had once been the Dragon-Blooded who had overrun the Solar Exalted in the first place. At least he assumed that they were.


A dark pillar of smoke stretched up towards the sky as the crunching flames devoured the dry bones. The sun was covered by the approaching clouds and a cold darkness shaded the humid valley.


Once they had start walking back into the city, Coral looked at Cypher with a tilted head. “What next?â€


“Um, I was thinking Factory-Cathedrals but maybe it's best to start out with the tome.â€


“What tome?â€


“Well, you know, the one with the record over all the citizens.â€


“Are you going to write us in?â€


“Yes, I thought that would, um, be a safe bet to assume the city won't see us as invaders.â€


The three of them walked back into the city and followed the main row towards the city hall. Once inside the office, Coral took the still glowing hearthstone from the drawer and put it in his item bag. He drank a sip of wine and noticed that Yuko looked at the bottle with thirst in her eyes. He smirked to himself, knowing that she would not dare asking for a taste and that he wouldn't offer.


Cypher sat down on the chair before the big tome. He touched its binding and felt the old, but strong, paper pages between his finger tips. When he turned a page it gave a crisping sound and he seemed to relax. Suddenly, the book seemed to get a life of its own and flipped through the pages with great speed only to open up after a few thousand pages towards the end.


Both Coral and Yuko recoiled as it happened.


“Don't worryâ€, Cypher said and reached for a quill. Ink seemed to drip from it even though time would normally have dried it out. However, there were nothing normal in this city. “I, um, wanted to find the daimyo and the tome found him for me.â€


One name seemed to glitter on the page but Coral couldn't read the writing it was written in. Cypher moved the quill towards the name and wrote a symbol in Old Realm next to it. The symbol suddenly glittered like the name next to it before the text faded to look like ordinary black ink. He wrote the same mark next to more names on the same page.


“What are you doing?†Coral asked.


“I'm marking them as deceasedâ€, he said. “To let the, um, city know that they are dead.†He leaned back and looked at the big book. “But there must be some better way to mark all these names. It would, um, take lifetimes to do it by hand.†He looked intently at the book and then placed his hand on its frame and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them next, all the names on page after page seemed to get that mark next to their names before eventually fading away completely.


Cypher looked at an empty page and then wrote his own name on it. He looked up at Yuko and Coral with a proud smile. He made a short cough. “Um, do you want to be citizens of this city?â€


“I have nowhere else to goâ€, Yuko said. “Write me in.â€


Cypher wrote Ledaal Yuko on the page. He had used Forest-Tongue for his own name and High Realm for Yuko's. He then looked up at Coral who scratched his head.


“My name, you said?â€


Cypher nodded. “Should I write Coral Snake?â€


“Well ...†Coral Snake wasn't Coral Snake's real name after all. He had made it up on the spot because Cypher had asked him that time in Yuro. “You can write Vip—“ He remembered that Viper wasn't his real name either. Did it have to be his real name? Did he remember it? Yes, he remembered it as clearly as he remembered his fher's severed head sinking in the sea.


Maybe this was the beginning of a new chapter of his life. Maybe this city was the tool he needed to take revenge upon the Peleps. He wanted them to fear his real name. Not some alias he had made up to get by.


“Write Manovan of the Seaâ€, he said. “That is my real name.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 36: The screaming box


Manovan and Yuko had found themselves in the backdoor kitchen while Cypher was attending to some “business†outside. The young Solar sat on a marble counter of sorts with his legs crossed and his coral snake twined around his arm, releasing a dose of venom into one of his vials. He wore his black clothes and his mask like usually but had his bandana as a hair band instead of around his forehead. He seemed relaxed and stroke his snake gently along its back.


Yuko sat on a chair a few feet away. She was dressed in the same purple robe as she had had since they left the phoenix and Manovan tried to ignore the fact that it smelled. She looked at him as he filled his vial.


“So your name is Manovan of the Sea?†she forced herself to ask.


He leered at her a little, corked the vial and attached it to his poison bag. “It is nowâ€, he answered and looked at the snake as it slithered along his arm and up around his neck.


“Why didn't you use it before?†she asked. “Why did you use a fake name?â€


“And why didn't I tell you that I was a Solar Exalted, Yuko?†he said as he sat up on the counter and turned his body towards her. He sat with his legs in the lotus position and cracked his head from side to side. His snake crawled down into his snake bag. He gave Yuko a sharp gaze. “Or Anathema, as your people so politely calls us.â€


“Point takenâ€, she muttered. “But why didn't you tell us after we got to the cave? Or found the city?â€


He gazed at her shortly and sighed.


“Cypher believes you're just a thief but you're an assassin, aren't you?†she continued.


He rolled his eyes. “What gave it away? The snake venom or the weapons?â€


“The attitudeâ€, she said. “You have cold eyes.â€


Yuko barely had time to react before Manovan had jumped down from the counter and grabbed her collar. He intently stared into her eyes and barely noticed himself activating his caste mark. “You have no idea what cold means, Ledaalâ€, he growled. He stared into gray eyes that were more surprised than afraid. “Tell me of what use you are to us now. I have never seen you fight and your knowledge can't compare to Cypher's. Are you anything more than a burden?â€


She gulped and didn't seem sure how to react.


“Tell me!†Manovan roared.


“Why do you hate the Dragon-Blooded so much?†she asked.


He sighed and released her from his grip. His caste mark faded away and he turned to leave.


Cypher was standing inside the pavilion atop the manse and held its hearthstone in his hand. Rumbling could be heard from the thunderclouds that covered the city and rain fell heavily from the sky. Luckily, the pavilion's roof shielded him from getting wet. Even though it was afternoon, the clouds shaded the city like in late evening. Cypher's caste mark glowed as he committed himself to the manse. He thought that maybe if he took this manse as his own, he could understand it better.


He leered at the Factory-Cathedral District in the distance, eager to investigate it firsthand. He couldn't even imagine what kind of wonders he could create using those cathedrals. But the thought of crafting made him wonder if everything was all right with Elisa and the shop back in Yuro. Should he travel back somehow and ask her to marry him? They could live together here in Denandsor.


Cypher strained himself not to lose focus on the manse. He could feel its Essence harmonize with his own. It was a powerful manse. More powerful than he would have guessed. How long had he been standing here? A couple of hours? It felt like forever.


He could feel the round, brown stone's power as he committed himself to its manse. It felt like when using this stone, he could face the chaotic Wyld itself. He only needed some artifact through which he could harness it.


He was just about to put the stone in his pocket when he felt the burn of a thousand needles on his right shoulder. He ground his teeth and fell to his knees with his hand covering his aching shoulder. He carefully lifted his sleeve and noticed a black tribal marking like a tattoo on his shoulder. He didn't know whether it was a curse or a blessing.


Manovan was looking out through the hole in the wall where he had found the many corpses this morning. He was listening to the rattling rain while looking at the impressive towers disappearing into a foggy sky. Breezes carried his black hair in the wind and the distant thunders felt refreshing. It reminded him of the many storms he used to look at from his window in Sakana Village. It felt like such a long time ago.


A man had once told him that he had an important destiny. Though he so often dreamed of how his life would be if that dreadful day fourteen years ago had never happened. He wondered if his siblings were alive somewhere in Creation. He wondered if they thought about him like he thought about them.


He wondered how they would react if they knew what he had become.


I'm a demigod now, he thought to himself. I can't let human emotions overcome.


He looked at the towers in the distance. If he was a demigod, then why did he let this petty rain keep him from exploring the city? He jumped out through the hole in the wall and landed smoothly on the cobble street below. He accepted the burden of the heavy rain and ran along the streets towards the tall towers. He had no idea why he had chosen to go to them. It felt like it was his destiny.


Cypher's eyes were burning from bright, white light. He tried to cover them but could not. He tried to scream but the screams he heard didn't sound like his own. It sounded like the screams of a hundred mortals – men, women and children fearing for their lives. Once the light faded away, Cypher witnessed two men and two women standing in a circular room high up in one of the tall towers. He witnessed himself holding a small box before the other three. From the box came an echoing scream.


A tall and strong man were standing proudly before him, dressed in plates of orichalcum marked with the Dawn Caste's symbol; rays around a circle, symbolizing the glowing sun. He was leaning on a grand orichalcum daiklave socketed with three glowing hearthstones. A fourth hearthstone glowed from a pendant around his neck. He had sharp, brown eyes and curly raven-black hair.


Next to him stood a woman dressed in thick leather reinforced with chainmail in moonsilver. She had tattoos all over her body and reminded of Chanti Green-Paw, but had darker skin, green eyes and short, black hair. Peacock feathers were attached to her armor and sheeted on her caped back were two moonsilver slashing swords. She stood close to the Dawn and Cypher assumed that they were mates.


The third woman couldn't be seen and Cypher couldn't get a grasp of what she was. He could feel her presence there but his memory of her seemed muted.


“Where is it this time?†the Dawn asked.


Cypher could hear himself talk, but with another man's voice. “South-east. Two days by foot. Will you travel by means of your own or shall I weave a spell of instant transportation?â€


“Save your Essence, my friendâ€, the Lunar said. “We'll fly.â€


“When do you estimate the attack?†the Dawn continued. “And how great is the threat?â€


“I could feel the presence of a demon of the second circle commanding a legion of erymanthoiâ€, Cypher's former self said.


The Dawn smirked and gave his mate a quick gaze. “We can take care of that alone, can't we?â€


She nodded back to him with a grin.


“And when is the attack?†the Dawn asked Cypher's former self.


“Tomorrow at noon.â€


“So soon? Are you sure about this?â€


The other strange woman uttered a few words which were somewhat clouded in Cypher's mind. He thought that he could make out the sentence: “The fate cube doesn't lie.â€


When he came to, he was kneeling in the pavilion atop the manse, breathing heavily while holding the aching mark on his shoulder. Yuko leaned over him with shocked eyes. She was shaking his body.


“Are you okay, Cypher? I heard you screaming.â€


“Um, yesâ€, he stuttered. He looked towards the district with all the towers. “Let's go. There's something I'd like to find out.â€


They hurried through the streets of Denandsor. Water drenched them not only from the heavy rain but also from the puddles on the ground which splashed on them with every step they took. Cypher was aiming for the tower he had seen in his vision and Yuko followed him, though confused.


“Where are we going exactly?†she asked.


“To thereâ€, Cypher said and pointed to one of the towers.


She looked up on the tall white tower and then looked back down on Cypher's neck as he ran before her. “And why are we going there?â€


“It, um, came to me in a visionâ€, he said. “I can't really explain how but I'm very familiar with that tower. Or, um, I was familiar with it once.â€


She didn't reply. Instead she gave the dark clouds a quick glance and snorted. She called on her Essence and let her Anima shroud her like twisting breezes. She almost instantly caught up with Cypher and her glowing, blue eyes met with his. He noticed that the rain seemed to be caught in her Anima and neither he nor her got wet.


He exposed all of his teeth with a goofy grin.


Manovan stood inside the bottom floor of one of the white towers. It looked like a vestibule or meeting room of sorts. There were chairs and sofas, untouched in centuries but barely dusty at all. A hibernating automaton stood at a wall with a broom in its hand and next to it was a metallic window with a pitch-black crystal screen.


Other than that, there was nothing too special in this room. Common book cases with common books and scrolls. An open door leading into a room reminding him of the restrooms in Bastion. Spherical lamps in the ceiling. However, this was only the first floor of a tower and there seemed to be no way to get to the upper floors.


He shrugged and walked back outside into the rain. Maybe I was wrong, he thought. He had assumed that these towers were the homes of the Exalted and he had expected to find countless invaluable artifacts. It was very disappointing.


“Coral!†Cypher's voice could be heard from the street. Manovan noticed Cypher and a glowing Yuko running towards him. “Didn't expect to see you here.â€


“Ditoâ€, Manovan said with a shrug. “There's nothing inside other than what's to be expected in a common vestibule. For the most part.â€


Once Cypher and Yuko had arrived, her Anima seemed to fade down. Her eyes were still glowing blue but her body didn't emanate as strong light as it did before. Manovan could feel cold breezes on his skin and he shivered a little. She was a true Dragon-Blooded with a strong Air Aspect. He realized that much. Maybe she had far more talent than she showed.


“Is this the tower you're looking for, Cypher?†Yuko asked.


Manovan didn't know what she was referring to, but he was intrigued to what could have peeked Cypher's curiosity.


“I think soâ€, he said. “It feels like the one.â€


“I've been into several of them now and they all look pretty much the same. Some messier than others. Are they homes to the Exalted?†Manovan tapped on his nose a little, but stopped as soon as he realized that was Cypher's mannerism and he did not want to pick that up.


“Yes and noâ€, Cypher replied. He pointed to some of the towers surrounding them in the district. “There are too many towers compared to the limited number of Dragon-Blooded that could have lived here at one time. Most Exalted lived in manses as well and these towers are, for the most part, um, powered by a manse that should be in the district's center. The handful of Solars that actually lived here, um, probably lived inside the city manses. I believe these towers housed important mortals as well as worked as offices for some of the city's architects.â€


“Which means?â€


“It means that these towers could hold very, um, important information about life in the First Age as well as life during the Shogunate.â€


Manovan sighed. He had hoped for something shiny but it seemed to be more books and papers. How dull.


“Don't look so disappointed, Coralâ€, Cypher said with a smile. “We still haven't seen the Temple District, the Factory-Cathedral District, the Market District and the one district I haven't identified yet that is just north of this one. We, um, also have the district with the Makers' graves south of here. I call it the Cemetery Park. Um, I wonder if I lie there somewhere.†Cypher tapped on his nose and seemed to daze away into thought.


“I supposeâ€, Manovan muttered. He looked around himself. “There's just so much to take in.â€


“Cypher!†Yuko said to interrupt his thoughts. She seemed irritated by the rain and her dark-brown hair lied wet against her forehead. However, the rain didn't seem as heavy as just moments ago. Cypher flinched and looked at her with raised brows. “Weren't you looking for something?â€


“Well, yesâ€, he said and pushed himself past Manovan and into the tower. The other two followed him inside.


While Cypher and Yuko took a look around the room, Manovan leaned back against one of the walls. Cypher seemed fixated by the black screen at one of the walls and read the markings on its metallic frame.


He tapped on his nose. “I AMâ€, he read out loud. “Dunno what that means.†He poked on the machine. “Broken.â€


“Look at thisâ€, Yuko said and waved for Cypher to come. She was standing in the middle of the room and was looking at a dimmed plate on the floor. It reminded Manovan of the circular plates they had encountered in the phoenix-shaped manse.


Cypher hurried over to her, kneeled down before the plate and then nodded to Manovan. “Come over here, Coralâ€, he said. “We're going up.â€


Manovan shrugged and walked up to him. Cypher placed his hands on both Yuko's and Manovan's shoulders and then focused his Essence. Manovan could experience a deep suction in his stomach and he barely had time to blink before he stood in another room with his gaze locked out through a portal with a view from where he could see the entire city.


The portal led out to a big balcony overlooking the rest of the city. The balcony had no railing and Manovan was careful not to walk out too close. The rain could have made the stone floor slippery after all. He looked out over the city and noticed some streams of sunlight piercing the dark clouds that were slowly thinning out. The rain wasn't very heavy anymore and he hadn't heard thunders for quite some time. He felt almost like in trance when he watched the beautiful city like taken from a dream. He noticed that it was perfectly symmetrical, not only with its circular wall but with every road and every district. He could see the dome-shaped factory-cathedrals down south and the overgrown burial grounds with the oddly shaped structures that were the tombs. He noticed that the Temple District had some fascinating structures with high pyramid- and sphere-shaped roofs covering many pillars and stairs. He could see the thick jungles surrounding the city and the high mountains surrounding the valley. It was no wonder that this city had been so mysterious and well hidden.


“Is this it?†Yuko asked Cypher back in the room.


“Yesâ€, Cypher said. “It looks just like in my vision.â€


Manovan turned around to see Cypher and Yuko looking at some podium inside the room. On top of the podium was a fist-sized box that glimmered with different colors from what looked like different magical materials.


“What is it?†Yuko asked.


“It's a fate cubeâ€, Cypher answered.


“A what?â€


“I don't knowâ€, he said. “But that's, um, what it's called.â€


Their conversation peeked Manovan's interest and he walked back into the room. Cypher slowly reached for the fate cube and took it from the podium. Manovan and Yuko intently looked at him as he committed his Essence to the cube. As soon as it glowed up from being charged with Essence, an echoing scream filled the room. Both Yuko and Manovan covered their ears but Cypher seemed unaffected. He helit in his hand and had his eyes closed. When he opened them up, he said: “There will be an attack on a village, um, tomorrow.â€


“Huh?†Manovan looked confused. “What are you talking about?â€


“I somehow felt itâ€, Cypher said. “A village in rather close proximity to the city. It will be attacked. Tomorrow.â€


“And?â€


“We're going to save the villagers. Of course.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 37: The boy from the fishing village XIII


Viper woke up next to Glittering Wolf on the morning following the night of the murder. For the first time in a very long time he felt relaxed. He hadn't had any nightmares. Shin Cloud and Marca had died by his razor blade tonight and he felt closer to his goal. Well, his initial goal at least. He was still far from taking on a Dragon-Blooded, that was for sure. But that was also why he embraced the art of assassination. Not even one who is exalted by the Elemental Dragons should be able to see a masterful assassin coming. At least that's what he hoped.


He looked at Glittering Wolf as she slept. Her black hair was spread in tangles over the pillow and her brown skin was blushed by the humid air. The two metal piercings in her bottom lip glimmered like small drops of liquid mercury under the comforting morning sun that stretched its rays inside through the open window.


They used to sleep together, but sleeping was all they did. Viper felt uncomfortable when Glittering Wolf tried to be more intimate with him. He liked kisses but he didn't want certain places to be touched. He wasn't ready for that yet. But he enjoyed her arm around his body when they slept. And her breath against his neck was soothing.


He sat up carefully not to wake her, but it didn't help. She gave a short snore before she opened her eyes and stretched her arms. “Mornin'â€, she said with a smile. She placed her hand on Viper's naked back and gently stroke it up and down. He sat still and focused his mind on the touch.


It's quite nice, he thought. He smiled back to her.


“Sorry for waking you upâ€, he said. “It's still early.â€


“When did you get home?†she asked while scratching the sleep from her eyes. She yawned. “I didn't hear you tonight.â€


“An hour or two past midnight. Don't worry. I got plenty of sleep.†He smiled to her.


“I was worried.â€


“I know.â€


She sat up next to him on the bed. He was leaning over the edge and had his back against her, but his head was tilted so their eyes met. He noticed the falling sheet exposing her breasts and he shyly looked away. She giggled and jokingly pushed him on the shoulder. He smiled and answered with a light push of his own.


“May I hug you?†she asked. “I'll be careful.â€


He couldn't help but to smile. He knew how that question sounded. He was a little embarrassed. He had no problems with human contact the many times he had been beaten up in training, but something like an intimate hug could hurt him when he wasn't prepared for it. He had been hugged by both Glittering Wolf and his friends many times already. But those had been friendly hugs for the most part. The dangerous ones were the ones of intimate nature. The ones only Glittering Wolf was allowed to give him.


“Of courseâ€, he said. “I want you to.â€


She carefully leaned forward and embraced him with her arms. He held his breath when she placed her cheek on his shoulder and when he could feel her naked breasts touch his skin. When he knew that she wouldn't make any sudden movements, he breathed out and relaxed.


“I'm sorryâ€, he said. “For being the way I am.â€


She raised her head and looked into his eyes. He felt that his were round and bewildered but her were determined and sharp. “Don't apologize!†she said. “Never apologize for that!â€


“I knowâ€, he muttered. “But it's so embarrassing.â€


“You have nothing to be embarrassed for.â€


“I know that too.â€


“Come hereâ€, she said and carefully pulled him towards her while she leaned back into the bed. He followed her and lied down next to her. His arms around her and her arms around him. He rested his cheek on her shoulder and watched her breasts as they moved up and down with her breathing chest. She smelled like sweet cinnamon. “Can't we just lie down for the rest of the day?â€


“I'd like toâ€, he said. “But you know that I can't. I haven't reported in to Master Dust Spider yet. That is one man I don't want to have on my wrong side.â€


“I'm scared of losing you, Viper.â€


He sighed and then kissed her on the shoulder. “It's your birthday tomorrow.â€


She looked up on the roof and stroke his hair with her one hand, holding him with the other.


“Starting now, I'll be making some decent moneyâ€, he continued. “I'll stay home tomorrow. We'll go to Market Row or Cinnabar or wherever you want to go.â€


She smiled. “I'd like that.â€


They kissed.


“Let's go downstairs for some breakfast.â€


Viper walked up to a closet and took out his black training gi. He put it on, then took his black bandana from his night-stand and tied it around his right ankle. He tied a pouch around his sash and placed the murder weapon from tonight inside. He then took his custom-made black ebon dagger with an engraved snake in bluish purple and placed it tightly under the bandana on his ankle before covering it with his pants. Glittering Wolf walked up to a closet of her own to put on some clothes.


Viper walked up to the mirror next to the closet and started removing the stone pearls from his braids. He then released his plaits and tied it with three linear knots. He took a sip of water from a ceramic vase and then turned to watch Glittering Wolf finish.


She was dressed in a white shirt and a black linen skirt. She smiled to him and they walked downstairs together.


One they had prepared some bread and tea for breakfast they sat down at the table in the living room. It didn't take long before they heard quick steps in the stairway and Lotus came running with a heavy book in her arms.


“I finished it!†she almost yelled with excitement. “I read all of it!â€


Glittering Wolf put her finger before her lips and made a hushing sound. “People are still sleepingâ€, she whispered.


“Sorryâ€, Lotus said and blushed.


“So you can read, Little Lotus?†Viper said with a grin.


“Of course I can, meanie!†she roared before blushing once again when she remembered that she had raised her voice. “You just lost some points, big brother.â€


He smirked and drank some tea.


Glittering Wolf gestured for Lotus to come and she sat in her big sister's lap. She was eight years old now but still liked the comfort of Glittering Wolf's lap. Viper couldn't blame her. “How's your writing going?†Glittering Wolf asked.


“Good.â€


“Have you told your big brother what you want to be when you grow up?â€


Lotus looked at Viper with a smile. “A scholar!†she said.


“Ohâ€, Viper said and raised his brows. “Well, you are the smartest one in the house. That's for sure.â€


She grinned proudly.


“Do you know what I want to be when I grow up?†Viper asked.


She shook her head.


“A king!†he said and flexed his muscles.


All three of them laughed. “Who's going to be your queen?†Lotus asked with round, hopeful eyes.


Viper placed his hand on his chin and pretended to be thinking. “You know what? I'm gonna let you and Glitter battle it out in my arena. The winner gets to be queen and the loser gets to clean the floors.â€


“Mehâ€, Lotus said. “Then Glitter and I are both queens and you clean the floors.â€


“That's rightâ€, Glittering Wolf agreed.


Glittering Wolf went to make some breakfast for Lotus and the three of them ate together before Viper went to work. Lotus had no idea what he was working with. She was too young to comprehend the circumstances anyway. The only orphans in the house who knew were Glittering Wolf and Farim. Farim tried to be supportive but even he was worried about losing Viper. Neither he nor Glittering Wolf were afraid of The Ebon Daggers themselves. They were afraid of what could happen to Viper if he was caught by the Nighthammer Iron League or another organization dedicated to keeping order. Wing's execution had gotten to both of them.


However, Viper needed to redeem himself for the part he played in Wing's death.


Viper walked out on the streets of Nighthammer District and started walking south-west towards Nighthammer Pool. It was a beautiful but humid morning with a clear sky. He passed by elders who relaxed on their porches or balconies and children who played on the streets. Once he got closer to the docks, he passed workers and tradesmen as well as some Iron League guards on patrol. A few guards looked at him suspiciously since he was dressed in a black gi, but there were plenty of dojos down at the docks. Seeing someone in training garments wasn't uncommon.


He had been stopped from time to time during his training to explain which dojo he was registered at. Of course The Ebon Daggers had all registered with fake names on several legal snake style dojos they were sponsoring themselves. The Iron League suspected this, but they couldn't prove which ones were the assassins out of the many innocent martial art students. It was rumored that they didn't even try to do something against the assassination guild even if they could. Though murder was prohibited, The Ebon Daggers got many assignments from important members of Nexus' society and they had the resources to sponsor even the Iron League themselves with weapon and training if they so wanted. The Iron League worked more against the cutthroats and didn't know that recruiters from The Ebon Daggers – such as Viper's sifu Dagger – were infiltrating the cutthroats to find young blood.


Viper had overheard some of Dagger's friends within The Ebon Daggers mentioning a rumor that even the Emissary himself and the Council of Entities were approving of their existence within the city as long as they didn't target the wrong people. With fear of the Emissary, many Ebon Daggers declined requests to target people of note. However, some foolish individuals accepted such requests as a sign of rebellion against the government or simply to test their own skills. Few of them survived such attempts. Those who did often got the role of district leader.


Not much was known about the district leaders. Viper didn't even know the name of the leader of the Nighthammer Squad. He had been told that Dust Spider was not the leader. He was more of an advisor to the leader and to some assassins he deemed worthy. Apparently the other districts had advisors of their own. While the leaders were legendary, the advisors were frightening. Viper had been told that he could always decline a mission when it came from the leader. But everyone who had declined or even failed missions from Dust Spider had been murdered or gone missing.


When he walked into the house where he had first met Dust Spider he was greeted by a number of cheers. About a dozen Ebon Daggers were there and they all looked at Viper with hints of respect. “The Throatslitter is what they are calling youâ€, Dagger called from a room across the hallway. “Just like you wanted.â€


Viper looked confused. “So you've heard?â€


“The word is on the street alreadyâ€, Dagger said with a grin. “Two priests murdered in Che-Lu's Theater during a play. Even the Cinnabar Squad is impressed with you. Especially after Skin heard that it was your first kill as an Ebon Dagger.â€


Viper blushed a little. “Well, it wasn't official after all.â€


“That doesn't matterâ€, Dagger filled in. “It was professional and it showed guts. I might even be promoted on your expense now since it was I who recruited you.â€


“It was nothingâ€, Viper said with a smirk.


He was interrupted by Dust Spider who walked out into the hallway to greet him. Everyone there silenced and moved aside in respect for the old man. Viper took the razor blade from his pouch and showed it to Dust Spider.


“Keep itâ€, Dust Spider said. “You'll use it again soon enough.â€


“Yes, Master Dust Spider.â€


“Two wonderful kills, boyâ€, he cackled. “You might rival your leader soon enough.â€


“I'd like to see that happenâ€, a soft but determined female voice said from the door behind him.


Viper turned around and noticed a tall, athletic woman with blushed olive-pale skin and hair colored red and yellow like flames. She was dressed in a black hakama, a tight black linen shirt and had black bands wrapped around her arms. On one shoulder was a metal pad that was strapped around her torso with a leather harness. Three throwing knives were attached to the harness. She covered her lower face with a black mask and her eyes were unnaturally bright yellow. Viper had most of his focus on the amulet of red jade with a bright yellow gem she had around her neck. It looked like the type of artifacts the Dragon-Blooded used. Another remarkable item was the seven-sectioned staff with golden alloys which she had tightly strapped in a holster on her belt.


“Dawnâ€, Dust Spider said with a grin. “Welcome.â€


Dagger leaned in close to Viper and whispered: “It's Master Dawn. Th leader.â€


Viper wasn't listening. He was paralyzed by the sheer pressure of her presence. The atmosphere itself felt like it was burning against his skin. He couldn't move. He was working under a Dragon-Blooded. He felt sweat ran down his forehead and he recoiled when Dawn's eyes met his. They seemed to give a faint glow.


She really was Dragon-Blooded. What was he going to do?

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 38: Soaring through the sky


“Why should we care about some random village?†Manovan asked. He looked Cypher up and down with his arms crossed. “We're standing in the world's greatest treasure and you want us to pick up and leave to save some strangers?â€


“I'm sorry, Cypher, but I agree with Manovanâ€, Yuko filled in. “We should avoid unnecessary risks. We don't know anything about the village, why it will be attacked and what it will be attacked by.â€


“Irrelevantâ€, Cypher said. Manovan raised his brows in surprise of Cypher's sudden determination. “Innocent lives are at stake. This fate cube was constructed for a reason. I, um, believe that reason was for us Exalted to protect our mortals from harm.â€


“Our mortals?†Manovan asked.


“Yes, from the former Solars' perspective. They, um, had to keep the people in their domains safe. We should live up to that if we are to ever call ourselves Exalted.â€


“And what about the city?â€


“Well, um, the city should still be here when we return.â€


Manovan took a deep breath. An image appeared within his mind. He could see himself as a child, letting the flames of his burning home embrace the corpses of his parents. What if someone with the powers of a god would have stepped in to save him from a life of torment? What if he could prevent this torment from strangling the humanity from another child's heart, like his torment did to him. “Very well then, Cypherâ€, he muttered. “But I'm not leaving without something shiny.†He walked past Cypher and Yuko and looked through the shelves and drawers at the walls. He dug past some worthless items; cups, scrolls, quills and figurines. Everything were probably of value but not much were of interest at the moment.


He noticed a golden globe resting on a shelf and he looked at it for a moment before tossing it over to Cypher. “Something for you to figure out.†He then kept digging through the items before he locked his eyes on something that was attached to a rack on a wall. It looked like a harness of sorts. He immediately knew that it was an artifact after noticing traces of blue jade and other magical materials glimmering in the faint sun rays that had managed to penetrate the still thick clouds.


Behind him, Cypher channeled Essence into the orb and it revealed a projected image of Creation. All of it. “Wowâ€, he said. “I have never seen a map of the world before. So big.â€


With the harness embraced in his arms, Manovan turned to find out what Cypher was mumbling about. Cypher crouched down and placed the orb on the floor. It projected all four corners of Creation from its center, like an ethereal plate hovering above the glimmering globe. In it's center was the high Imperial Mountain and under it the Imperial Island.


“The world cannot be this bigâ€, Cypher said to himself. He placed the tip of his finger on the hologram and noticed it reacting to his touch. It zoomed in on the area he had touched and showed it with more detail. When he slid his finger, the map focused on the areas where he let his finger go. When he zoomed back out to show Creation in its entirety, the Imperial Island was like a small bean in the middle of a plate of food. “I understand nowâ€, Cypher continued. “Look at this map. This was, um, how big Creation used to be.â€


“Used to be?†Manovan asked.


“Yes, before the Wyld spread its chaos across the world.†He zoomed in on the areas around the great sea surrounding the Realm. “When it reached these borders, the Scarlet Empress fought back the Wyld with, well, the greatest weapons known to Creation.†He gave Yuko a short gaze. “War manses. Their effects were like an explosion with a shock-wave thrusting the chaos back to the borders of today.†He zoomed out even further, but about one-tenth of the original map. “I would assume it is about this size. Probably less.â€


“Wowâ€, Manovan said. “So Chanti and the Lunars are trying to fight back the Wyld even further? The more they fight, the world will grow?â€


“The Scarlet Empressâ€, Yuko said quietly, almost whispering. Manovan could tell that she still held respect for the woman. “As you might have heard already, she has left the throne. When I was joining Peleps Wakde's dragon, my father sent me an infallible messenger, telling me about the news. He told me that the Empress was gone. Temporarily, I hoped, and sent him a reply asking him about it. The answer never came. But later I heard from Peleps Chino that the Empress had mysteriously disappeared.â€


“One less imperialistâ€, Manovan said with a smirk. “Sounds great to me.â€


Yuko gave him an angry glare. He shrugged.


“The Empress was the pillar that held the Realm together. Her rule united the dynastic families and it held the Wyld at bay. Despite your personal grudges against the Realm, it has protected Creation from falling into chaos for countless generations. With that pillar gone, the Wyld isn't needed to spread chaos within the government.â€


Cypher made a short cough. “Yuko, do you think the Realm's politics are what, um, had Peleps Wakde gather his dragon in the Threshold and search for, well, this city?†Manovan noticed that Cypher had found this city on his artifact map and was looking at the valley and the areas surrounding it.


“I think he did it to strengthen his position within his familyâ€, she said. “But it could also be to strengthen his family's position within the Realm.â€


“Found it!†Cypher called out, interrupting their current conversation and surprising them with his high pitch. “Look! I felt with the fate cube that the village should be, um, somewhere around this area.†He was pointing to an area south-east of the valley.


“How far?†Manovan asked.


“Two days by foot.â€


“But the attack is tomorrow.â€


“I said by foot.â€


Cypher let the map disappear and he placed the orb in his bag. When he stood up, he noticed the harness Manovan was holding. He tapped on his nose. Manovan tried to put it on outside his clothes, but he wasn't sure how. It was loose in the front and tight in the back.


“Um, you have it on backwards, Coralâ€, Cypher said. He nodded to Yuko. “Let's go to the meadows. I need, well, I need your help with something. How's your Essence?â€


Manovan took off the harness and tried to put it back on correctly. It felt much better when it wasn't on backwards. He covered it with his backpack holstering his Serpent-Sting Staff.


“What do you mean?†Yuko asked.


“Well, um, I need your help with—“


A mechanical pitch was heard and then the faint buzz of materializing Essence. Something crashed into one of the book cases at the wall and a cacophony of clinking and clunking echoed through the room as a variety of items fell from the shelves to the floor. “Holy Sunâ€, Manovan said and looked over his shoulders. From the harness on his back had two wings in blue jade and some foreign material spread ten feet to each side. And between each finger of the metal frame materialized Essence into what looked like a blue liquid membrane.


Both Cypher and Yuko took a step back.


“They are wingsâ€, Manovan said and couldn't help but to smile under his black mask.


“Um, Coralâ€, Cypher said and tapped his nose. “Yuko and I will be going to the meadows outside. Are you coming with us?â€


“Yeah, sureâ€, he said. “I just … Can I fly with this thing?â€


“I think so.â€


Manovan retracted his wings and walked out to the balcony. The rain was much lighter than before and more of the sun had penetrated the dark clouds. As he looked down from the edge and noticed how small the world was downstairs, he gulped and felt his heart beat faster. It was an old artifact. Maybe it didn't work.


He used his Essence to summon his wings once again. When he saw the graceful wings spread on his right and left-hand side, he felt a surge of confidence. He wanted to soar through the sky like a bird. He jumped off.


Cypher took Yuko's wrist and walked up to the disc at which they had traveled upstairs. He placed his palm against it and they appeared on the bottom floor. Both of them hurried outside and looked up into the sky. Manovan soared like a bird above their heads, circling the tower as he descended from it. The faint thunders were distant and the rain was light. Manovan seemed to navigate almost flawlessly through the air, descending quickly only to tilt his body backwards and gain altitude once again. He had sometimes dreamed about flying as a child but he never thought it to be possible. Now it was. Even though he was only gliding through the air with this artifact, it made him feel like a child once again. When he felt the wind against his skin, he couldn't help but to laugh.


The two sorcerer-engineers gazed at him coming down and clumsily landing on the street they were at. He retracted his wings and smiled widely under his mask. “Can I go again?†he asked.


“We're kind of in a hurryâ€, Cypher said and tapped his nose.


He sighed. “Very well.†They all started walking back towards the main row. “How are we going to get there in time, anyway?â€


“We're going to flyâ€, Cypher said. “With elementals.â€


“So that's what you meantâ€, Yuko said. “Yes, I only used up some Essence for Food of the Aerial Table this morning. I can summon and command a haruka to carry me, but I won't be able to weave a spell to summon dinner. You don't know Food of the Aerial Table, do you, Cypher?â€


He shook his head. “I'll summon elementals for, um, both Coral and myself.†He turned to Manovan. “Can you look for some dinner while we, well, do the summonings?â€


“I supposeâ€, he mumbled. “You mean from here in the city?â€


“I'd rather have something fresh than something potentially lethalâ€, Yuko muttered.


“Well, I didn't ask you, did I?†Manovan replied with a snort. “You either eat what I get or you starve to death. It's your decision.â€


She snorted.


They parted once they got back to the palace and gathered their gear. Manovan took the opportunity to drink a sip of the wonderful red wine and he packed down a bottle of rum he had originally transported with the wagon from the day they found Glorious Horizon in a cage. Cypher and Yuko went out to the meadows to start the summonings while Manovan stayed behind to gather water from the many fresh-water streams and ponds in the city. He had never before tasted water as clear and fresh as this. He filled three empty rum bottles with water before he decided to try his luck outside and jogged out along the main row. Around him idled deactivated guardians and he felt safer than before. He could sometimes see active, bulkier models patrolling around, but they weren't of the type that scanned for theft. He assumed that they were designed to keep order and protect the citizens. Though deserted, it sometimes felt like the city was still heavily populated.


He noticed the two sorcerer-engineers shape their summoning spells out on the meadows. The flow of Essence around their bodies moved the high grass like breezes from a storm. Manovan dropped off the bags of water he was carrying on the road and then walked towards the western jungle. Chanti had told him that the animal life was slowly stabilizing and that her tribes of beastmen were taking care of the western jungle. He wondered if they had forgiven him for killing a few of them in the cave at the pass a few days ago.


He passed a few high trees and entered the jungle. He walked carefully. Dangerous plants and creatures could be here and he didn't want to be bitten by something poisonous. He could still faintly see Yuko and Cypher behind himself.


Manovan stopped when he heard some rattling leaves before himself. He could see a hairy figure crouch down behind a thick root and intently look at him. He saw two glimmering eyes surrounded by red and white fur. The beastman had traits similar to a dog or a fox; it was clearly one of Chanti's.


Manovan showed that his hands were empty and took a few slow steps forward towards the beastman. It flinched and then jumped up on top of the root and held a sharp bone-spear with its edge towards him. He stopped.


The beastman was a strong and agile woman. She was a scout.


“My name is Manovan of the Seaâ€, Manovan said. He didn't take his eyes off the beastman. “I'm Chanti Green-Paw's husband.â€


The creature got a bewildered look but didn't remove her spear. She raised her clawed hand and pointed to her forehead. “Show circleâ€, she said in poor Forest-Tongue.


Manovan stood proudly with stretched back and activated his caste mark. The beastman seemed to relax and lowered her spear. It looked like she made a crooked smile.


“I'm here for two reasonsâ€, Manovan said. “First of all, I want to greet you and thank you for taking care of the jungles. Chanti told me that your tribe is stabilizing the animal life here in the valley. I appreciate that. My friends and myself might move into the city and we want to be friends with you.â€


The beastman scratched her furry chin. “Yesâ€, she said. “Friends with you. Not friends with humans.â€


“That's okay. But if humans move into the city I'd like you to refrain from eating them. I'll make sure they stay away from this jungle though.â€


The beastman once again scratched her chin. She tilted her head and looked at Manovan. His caste mark still glittered on his forehead.


“My second reason for coming here is to ask you for some helpâ€, he said. “We'll be gone for a few days and I'm looking for some food.â€


He could once again notice the crooked smile on the beastman's furry face before she hopped down on the other side of the root. Manovan frowned his forehead and scratched his temple. Only a second or two later, the scout jumped back up on top of the root. This time, she held some kind of dead, headless monkey in a string. She reached forward with the animal in her hand.


“Um, thank youâ€, Manovan said and grabbed the string that was attached to the monkey. He quickly took a step back when he noticed blood dripping from the animal to his shoes. “I appreciate this.â€


“Good bye, Manovan of Seaâ€, the beastman said with her poor Forest-Tongue and then nodded for Manovan to turn back.


He made a short bow and then walked back out to the meadow where he gutted and cooked the monkey in time for Cypher and Yuko to complete the bindings.


After Yuko had bound a blue-furred haruka and given it its command, she joined Manovan for a quiet and awkward dinner. Cypher took twice Yuko's time since he summoned two elementals – two green-furred ones – and then dried the sweat from his forehead when he was done. The rain seemed to stop in time with Cypher finishing his summonings and the setting sun could bee seen through the thinning clouds.


The three haruka stood fourteen feet tall and one of them, a green one, gave Cypher a hug with its giant, furry arms.


Both Manovan's and Yuko's jaws dropped.


The elemental put Cypher on its shoulder and then hobbled up to the other green one and pushed him on the shoulder. It giggled and pushed him back. The blue one placed its palm over its face and sighed. The green ones constantly spoke in Old Realm with each other and with Cypher.


“I've never seen a haruka with a personality like that beforeâ€, Yuko said with a frowned face.


Manovan stood up and stomped out the small fireplace he had used to cook the meat. He noticed that Cypher pointed to him and one of the haruka nodded approvingly. The one who didn't already carry Cypher hobbled up to Manovan and crouched down before him. It leaned forward and Manovan leaned back, trying to avoid breathing in the elemental's clearly visible, smoke-like breath.


“Hello, little oneâ€, the elemental said in fluent Forest-Tongue. “So you're the one who'll mount my back this fine evening?â€


“Uhâ€, Manovan stuttered. “I guess so.â€


It gave a sly smirk and then grabbed Manovan and placed him on its back. Confused and slightly intimidated, he grabbed hold of its fur before the bear-like beast took it to the air with one giant leap. It laughed mockingly at Manovan's poor attempts to keep still on its back and somehow, Manovan couldn't help but wonder whether or not these elementals enjoyed being needed by the Solar Exalted. He could see over his shoulder how Yuko mounted her blue haruka and he noticed that it neither speak nor seemed even the slightest amused.


“Hey, little oneâ€, the haruka said as they ascended higher and higher in the air. Manovan enjoyed the view of the beautiful City of Makers from the sky. “Do you like to smoke?â€


“Uhâ€, Manovan stuttered again. “I guess so.â€


The haruka moved its hand over its shoulder and showed its giant paw to Manovan. The wind was strong this high up in the air and the wind emanating from the elemental itself only strengthened the breezes in his face. He could hardly see the haruka's paw without having to constantly blink. Though he could see some Essence appear in the paw and materialize into what looked like three glimmering blue liquid drops.


“Nymph tearsâ€, the elemental said. “They are very potent. Take them.â€


“Why do you want me to have them?â€


The elemental gave a hearty chuckle. “Because I have never been summoned by a Solar Exalted beforeâ€, he said. “It's an honor.â€


Manovan took the three nymph tears and put them in his item bag. “Thank youâ€, he said.


“Just don't give them to a mortal. They are a bit … too potent.â€


“I understandâ€, he said and tightened his grip of the elemental's fur.


The winds were really chilly this far up in the sky. The three of them ascended the glimmering peaks and he could see a world spread out around himself. He saw endless jungles and distant mountains. The sun was setting in the west and he felt like he could almost touch the stars above his head. He felt like a god, looking down on Creation from high above. He enjoyed flying. But he wanted to do it himself. He had the Essence glider.


He crouched on the haruka's back and let go of its fur. “Be carefulâ€, it said but he didn't listen.


“I want to try something outâ€, Manovan said and then jumped off the haruka's back and dived a few dozen feet through the sky. He barely heard Yuko's shriek as she saw him fall. All he could think about what the pleasure of feeling the wind against himself. He noticed how the haruka was quickly diving down to save him, but stopped when he summoned his wings, tilted his back backwards and ascended into the sky, past the amused elemental.


He was flying on his own now. What a feeling.


The haruka was circling around him and it loked impatient. Manovan noticed how Yuko and Cypher quickly passed him by. He realized he couldn't control his speed. All he could do was glide. He was high above ground and the jungle trees below seemed like nothing more than grass stalks. The haruka blew some wind in his back to give him some extra speed but then got too impatient and grabbed him in its hands and placed him on his back again.


“Sorry about thatâ€, Manovan said and retracted his wings.


They soared through the sky while the sun disappeared and the moon covered the world below with its silver light.

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 39: Heroes


They flew for hours. The evening became night and the night welcomed the Unconquered Sun who walked his way across heaven. It hadn't been easy to rest on the back of a haruka at mountain-height in the sky. Manovan had spent the darkest hours of the night in amazement. Even though he had not been able to see the ground through the night's black cloak, he had witnessed Luna's silver glow reflect its light on the glimmering peaks. He had seen fires and lights from distant towns and villages. It had looked like glowing stars both above and below. Sometimes, he didn't know what was up and what was down. The sights had truly been divine.


When the sun's beams trickled forth through the night and lit up the grassy meadows and the high jungle crowns, the three Exalted could witness smoke coming from a village below.


“It has begun!†Cypher called from his elemental. “Take us down, please! I hope we're not too late.â€


They descended to a meadow just north of the village. The closer they got, the more clearly they could see the burning homes and the fleeing villagers. Cypher started running towards the village as soon as he had landed. Manovan noticed Cypher's hands reshaping themselves into sharp wooden claws.


If what's attacking the village won't scare the villagers enough, those claws sure will, Manovan thought before he drew two throwing knives and ran after Cypher.


Yuko jogged after them while opening a tome she had had hanging in a chain from her belt. The three haruka transformed into small tornadoes which slowly faded away.


They could hear the screams of the villagers clearer and clearer as they approached. Manovan swiftly moved past Cypher, him being more agile and dressed more properly for battle. It was a small village and he quickly moved past some fleeing villagers. One of the villagers, a young woman, almost fell backwards noticing the young Exalted running towards the square.


“Don't be afraidâ€, Manovan said to the woman. “We're here to help you. What's happening here?â€


The woman's bottom lip shivered and tears ran from her brown eyes. “He is dead!†she screamed. “My husband is dead! The village is—â€


She was interrupted by an echoing roar. A man shouted in panic as he moved backwards over the square followed by a man – or something – on horse-back. The villager tried to fend off the intruder with a poorly crafted sword but it was obvious to Manovan that the man wasn't trained in combat. He had probably found the sword and used it for the first time in his life.


Manovan recoiled when he saw the man on horse-back. It wasn't a man as much as it was somewhat of a hybrid between animal, plant and human. It was dressed in furs and cloths common to the barbarian tribes of the eastern jungles. However, this … monster couldn't be human. It had four eyes instead of two, sharp tusks stuck out from its mouth and it had decorated its body through scarification and tribal tattoos. Moss were growing in its hair and on its shoulders. Manovan had never seen anything this ugly.


He took a step back. Houses burned like bonfires around him and the sound of the crunching flames were drowned in screams of agony, sorrow and fear. The attackers roared and laughed as they rode and ran through the streets of the village, cutting people down with swords, piercing them with spears and crushing them with hammers.


Manovan ground his teeth and then threw his knife towards the monster on the horse, hitting it in its forehead. It fell dead to the ground without a sound and its horse ran off uncontrolled. The man with the sword looked over his shoulder and saw Manovan walk up to the body to retrieve his knife. He mumbled a thank you drowned in fear and gratitude and then ran out to the meadows together with other fleeing villagers.


Cypher came up to Manovan and flinched when he saw the dead thing on the ground. The fires from the houses had spread and started to roast the corpses on the ground. The smell of burning meat was carried by the wind.


“Disgusting, isn't it?†Manovan said and nodded to the corpse. “What is it?â€


“It's a Wyld barbarian.†Cypher was looking over his shoulders, afraid of being attacked.


“Listen, Cypherâ€, Manovan said. “You're no fighter. Neither is Yuko. I don't know much about magic and stuff but I assume spells are big and destructive. That Peleps sorcerer-guy from the dragon cast one on me once. Cracked plenty of ribs.â€


“Um, what are you saying?â€


“I saw some burning barns in the outskirts of the village. Why don't you and Yuko protect the villagers in the meadows at those barns? Make sure the people are calm and cast whatever you can cast on those barbarians when they come at you. I take care of things here in the village.â€


Cypher nodded and ran back out to the meadows. Manovan thought he imagined a moment of profound silence when he was left alone, even though the screams from the slaughter still echoed through the village. He took a deep breath and listened. He tried not only to listen with his ears but with his soul.


Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. It was his own heart, beating slower and slower the more he focused. The burning homes and the dead women and children around the square reminded him too much of that dreadful day when he was five years old. But now he had the strength to fight back.


He heard someone move behind the house next to him. Another Wyld barbarian sneaked towards him from behind. He could hear two more slowly approaching him from the front. He couldn't see them but he felt their presence. He heard their every move. They had seen him easily kill the one on horse-back. He assumed that they were surprised by the fact that someone had actually successfully fought back in this defenseless village.


He drew two more throwing knives from his holsters. He could feel his Essence flowing through his body and soul, sharpening his poisonous weapons with glimmering energy. Using his Essence to empower his attacks was child's play. Using it to achieve perfection was part of his routine.


With a few fluid movements, he threw two knives to his front. He jumped up into the air to gain momentum which he used to throw another knife towards the target hiding at his right-hand side before he turned his body mid-air to finally throw at the one behind.


When he landed on the ground, the four Wyld barbarians landed with him. Each with a knife to its head. From his own head glittered his circular caste mark. The circle symbolized the night – the time of day where the Unconquered Sun couldn't reach the world with its light and the Night Caste Exalted had to spread its light in its stead. He could see the mark's glittering light in his periphery.


With his senses perfectly sharpened, he looked for more barbarians to kill while picking up the throwing knives from the ones he had just murdered.


He heard some screams and hurried further along the road. There were a few buildings there still not touched by the fire. A young girl was crouching next to her parents who lied in pieces on the street. She was screaming while holding tight grips of her dead mother's dress. The girl's own dress was soiled with blood.


A dozen Wyld barbarians approached her. Four of them on horse-back drew rusty blades and one of them aimed to cut at the girl. Manovan gave them a grim look and threw the four knives in his hands at them simultaneously. The four of them fell from their horses and wouldn't stand up again.


He drew his two remaining throwing knives as he dashed towards the eight remaining barbarians. He made one throw and then another one. One of the knives buried its blade in one barbarian's chest while the other knife, charged with Essence, pierced another barbarian's skull and continued out on the other side. His glittering caste mark now glowed brightly.


Being out of knives, Manovan drew his Serpent-Sting Staff from his backpack. He swung the seven sections around his body as he leaped over the little girl into the crowd of monstrous barbarians. He took the stance of an angered cobra, head back and knees bent. Just like his old sifu Dagger had once taught him. Though now the form was perfected as he covered himself in a shroud of glowing Essence. He thrust his staff forward like the bite of a serpent, pulled it back to give it momentum around his back and then thrust it towards a second target.


They tried to hit him but he slithered away from their attacks. He swung the Serpent-String Staff like a whip at the targets in front of him, forcing them to move back and be reluctant to approach him to attack. He turned to the girl behind him, but all she would see was a man glowing in gold and white. “Run!†he called, but she was paralyzed by the sight.


One of the Wyld barbarians had the courage to rush towards him with its rusty sword. He could barely see the cut coming in his periphery before he felt an ache over his left cheek. Blood ran down his cheek and neck and he could taste its iron-taste in his mouth. His black mask was cut open and fell from his injured face.


Manovan gave the attacker an angry glare with his glowing eyes. Essence started to already stitch his wound together when he grabbed hold of two of the staff's sections and placed another section over the attacker's neck, locked it in position as he rolled over the barbarian and tossed it over his back towards the remaining targets. He spat some blood to the ground and then ran up to two of his opponents with one section of the staff in each hand. He thrust the pointy edges into his opponents' stomachs, slithered between them like a snake and then hit a third barbarian in the face with his elbow. His bodily glow had now burst out into a burning, celestial bonfire of Essence in white and gold and his facial features muted by the thick, cloaking shroud.


One barbarian remained before him and it seemed to have lost all of its morale. The tattooed and scarred monstrosity with sharp horns and hair of grass stepped back from Manovan, one step at the time. Its frightened eyes were round like globes.


Manovan whipped some blood off his staff before he folded it and sheathed it in his backpack while walking towards the remaining barbarian with determined steps. He reached for the being's neck, grabbed it and lifted.


“You think I'm scary now?†he said with a grin, but his victim couldn't even see a face.


He channeled some more Essence so that he could reach the final stage of his aura. The brilliant bonfire that covered his body shot beams into the air as he grinned at his opponent. The beams twisted and twirled around themselves before taking the form of an eight-headed snake, reaching higher than the jungle trees. This eight-headed hydra of pure golden Essence bore its fangs to every Wyld barbarian that could witness it.


The one in Manovan's grip shook from fear as it witnessed the great totem of the Solar Exalted's celestial shard. Manovan pressed his fingers together and crushed the barbarian's throat before dropping its dead body to the ground. The eight-headed snake that was emanating from his soul shard was hissing from high up in the sky, slithering in circles around the area where he stood and scared the barbarians to flee the village.


He turned to the scared little girl who looked up at him with big eyes filled with tears. She was probably too young to comprehend it, but she was looking directly at the stuff of legend. She couldn't be much older than five or six years but she would remember this sight forever.


“Run to the villagers at the barnsâ€, Manovan said to her and pointed in the general direction.


Her grip of her mother's dress tightened. “Bu-but mommy and daddy?â€


“They died to protect you. They would want you to be safe. Go to the barns.â€


Her bottom lip shivered and she let go of her mother's dress. Manovan followed her with his eyes as she hurried along the street towards the meadows from which he had come. When she was outside his line of sight, he took her parents' corpses from the ground and tossed them into the fires. He could hear that the Wyld barbarians were gone. He could focus on cleaning up this mess while Cypher and Yuko gathered the villagers somewhere safe.


This village was tainted by death. The best thing would probably be to let the fires spread to the remaining houses and burn everything – and every corpse – to ashes.


He sighed deeply. So many lost lives. So many broken bonds.


Manovan took one of the nymph tears from his bag and placed it in a leaf he found on the ground. When he rolled the leaf around the tear, it's surface popped and a thick liquid spread through the roll. He walked up to the closest fire and lit it up, inhaled and exhaled. He could see the world shift around him and different realities intertwine. He could see the spirits of the world mourn the deaths of the villagers in a hazy dimension of a world sharing space with the one he called his own.


He could be hallucinating it all.


Whispering Rainbow Cypher had turned back to keep the villagers safe after Manovan had told him to. He nodded to Ledaal Yuko who had been in his rear. Though unable to comprehend why, he noticed that many of the villagers screamed and fled as soon as they saw him. Yuko, on the other hand, was far less frightening to them. She had neither showed her Anima nor any spells.


“People!†Cypher shouted. “Gather at the barns!â€


No one listened to him. As soon as he opened his mouth, villagers screamed, cried and fled. There were probably a dozen of them running along the street he was at and more were already on the meadows outside.


“It's your claws!†Yuko called to him.


Cypher looked down and noticed his wooden claws. He suddenly realized why he looked menacing to the villagers. The barbarians' Wyld taints looked similar to how his spell had shaped his hands.


A Wyld barbarian came running out from the corner of a house and Cypher was quick to thrust his claws into the barbarian's face, knocking it to the ground and cracking its skull. A few villagers noticed that he had killed an attacker and didn't panic as much as before – though they were still clearly afraid of him.


He had read some books about human psychology. He understood that it wasn't easy interacting with people in a state of panic. What he could do was to try to reduce that state of panic and have the people calm down. The best way to do that was probably to keep fighting barbarians and prove to them that they could feel safe in his presence.


Yuko grabbed the arm of an old man with a bleeding leg and helped him to safety at the barns.


“Cypher!†she called. “Let me help the people. You make sure those … things don't come close to the survivors.â€


He nodded and then attacked another Wyld barbarian that was chasing some villagers down the street. He hit at him with his claws, missed the first and second time but hit the third. Manovan had told him that he was no fighter but he begged to differ. He had killed two barbarians already. He could do this.


While Cypher was holding the barbarians at bay, Yuko led the men uphill and gestured to some villagers to gather at the barns. The man was gazing at her clothes and at the spell book hanging from her belt.


“Thank you for helping usâ€, he said. “But who are you?â€


“We're friendsâ€, she said.


“Your accent. Your skin color. Your clothes.†The man tried to force a smile. “You're a Dynast, aren't you?â€


“Honestlyâ€, she said. “I'm not sure who I am anymore.â€


“Are you Dragon-Blooded?â€


She gave him a short gaze, surprised that the old man was so upfront with her.


“I'm grateful someone like you has come to save us.â€


“Don't mention itâ€, she said. “But save your thanks for Cypher. It was his idea to come here.â€


“Cypher? Is that the boy with the claws?â€


She nodded.


“Is he Dragon-Blooded too?â€


Yuko wasn't sure how to respond to that. Cypher was an Anathema in the eyes of the Immaculate Order. Even though that philosophy wasn't very spread out in these regions of the Scavenger Lands, she wasn't sure if it would be wise of her to be honest with people about Cypher and Manovan? “He's something elseâ€, she said. “But save your questions for later. We must make sure everyone is safe. Cypher and Manovan are holding off the attackers at the village but they may come from another direction. Stay with me until my friends return.â€


“Yes, you're rightâ€, the man said. “What's your name? I am Lucas.â€


“Ledaal Yuko.â€


“Thank you, Ledaal Yuko. I speak for the entire village when I say that. We're in your debt.â€


“Like I said: save your thanks for Cypher.â€


More and more people gathered at the barns. They were waiting intently and watching their burnings homes. Many of them were crying. Others tried to be strong and supportive. Cypher was fighting some Wyld barbarians close to the village and, to the villagers amazement, his body glowed like the sun.


Suddenly, beams of light shot up through the air and an enormous eight-headed snake in white and golden light appeared from the center of the village. The glowing beast hissed with its many tongues and its eyes glowed like burning stars. The remaining Wyld barbarians pointed to the being and yelled before they fled the village into the jungles.


Yuko's jaw dropped and she placed her palm before her mouth. She had witnessed a Solar Exalted's Anima banner only once and that was when Peleps Meego was battling it out with that pathfinder Crystal Bow. Crystal Bow's totem had been a gracious bird. She had to admit, this eight-headed snake seemed more menacing with its many mouths and sharp eyes.


“What in the gods' name is that?†Lucas stuttered with a voice drowned in the fear of the other villagers.


“That … that is Manovan of the Seaâ€, Yuko said. Her eyes was locked at the great totem of the Solar Exalted. Even the gwing Cypher stepped back to watch the celestial display. He was himself far from reaching that stage of his own Anima. He had only used up the Essence he needed to battle the barbarians with his wooden claws.


“I can't believe itâ€, Lucas said. “Gods have come to our rescue.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 40: The boy from the fishing village XIV


Viper suddenly felt claustrophobic. He couldn't breath. Many eyes were on him, but the sharpest ones were Dawn's. His leader. A Dragon-Blooded. Was she going to kill him? Did he have to kill her? Could he do it? What would happen if he tried and failed?


He turned to Dagger. “I should go to the dojo and get some training.â€


“You're not going anywhereâ€, Dawn said. “I have an assignment for you. For you too, Dagger. Come with me.â€


She walked passed Viper and Dagger in the hallway and continued through a side-door leading to the cellar stairway. Viper felt some of her hair touch his cheek when she walked by. It felt like they were on fire and he had to massage his aching skin.


Dagger walked after Dawn to the stairs, then turned only to notice Viper standing quietly in the hallway. “Are you coming?†he asked.


Snap out of it, Viper, he thought to himself. He nodded to Dagger and followed them downstairs. It was a dark stairway illuminated by some candles on the walls. Their flickering lights gave the cellar a gloomy atmosphere. Downstairs were chemical tables, lockers and cages with mostly snakes, frogs and insects.


“For how long have you been training him now?†Dawn asked while she walked into the cellar. The three of them were there alone. She sat down on a chair next to a table with chemical equipment and leaned back. She took an empty vial from the table and opened it up. Suddenly, a coral snake came crawling up along her arm towards the vial where it released a dose of venom. Viper took a step back to avoid the snake.


“Should be about eight months or soâ€, Dagger said.


“Not even a year then?â€


“He's a quick learner. He managed to pick up the basics for snake style almost as quickly as Lucid Dreamer. But he had earlier experiences with martial arts. Viper had not.â€


Viper hadn't heard of this Lucid Dreamer before. He knew that Dagger had recruited two more assassins during his time as a recruiter. Maybe Lucid Dreamer was one of them. He looked at the Dragon-Blooded. She didn't look at him. She didn't seem to think much of him. The only Dragon-Blooded he had seen before had murdered his family. Could this one be different? He calmed his fists.


“Who is Lucid Dreamer?†he asked. He noticed that his voice wasn't as stuttering as he had imagined it would be. He didn't want to seem like a coward.


“He's a recruit I found two years agoâ€, Dagger explained. “Most recruits take about one to two years to get the strength and confidence needed to handle snake style in action. You did it in about five months. Lucid Dreamer in four. One year later, he was promoted leader of the Nexus Squad.â€


“Is he that strong?â€


Dawn couldn't help but to chuckle. Viper couldn't see her mouth because of her black mask but he noticed on her eyes that she was smirking. “I like this one, Daggerâ€, she said. “So innocent and cute.â€


Dagger gave a sly smirk.


“What? What did I say?†Viper scratched his head.


“Wellâ€, Dagger said. “The leader of the Sentinel Hill Squad completed his initial training in only one month. His mother is supposedly a spirit so that makes him God-Blooded.â€


“And it took me one day to become leader of this squadâ€, Dawn said proudly as she leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs. “Ten days later, I had that training in the bag too.â€


“Not that you needed itâ€, Dagger said with a smirk.


“Well, I wanted to see what the fuss was about.â€


Viper didn't know how to respond. He suddenly felt very weak again. This woman could do in ten days what took him several months. And she was already their leader when she initiated her training. That was surreal.


“Viper, there's a reason the Nighthammer Squad is the biggest squad in Nexus. While all the other squads have only one district, we're in charge of both Nighthammer Pool and Nighthammer District. It's all because of Master Dawn. She is a Child of Hesiesh, the Elemental Dragon of Fire. Us humans are merely insects compared to her strength.â€


“Enough about thatâ€, she said. “How's his precision?â€


“I would say better than the average Ebon Dagger, Master Dawn. He can even use his weaker hand with decent precision.â€


“Poison brewing?â€


“He's getting there.â€


“Social training?â€


“He knows how to deal with the upper class better than most of us. He could be an asset to the Bastion Squad. I suggest we make a deal with Master Mist to lend him as a consult.â€


She leaned back again and rested her chin in her hand. She gave Viper a short gaze. He was standing idly behind Dagger. He had tightened his fists again and he felt tremblings throughout his body. All he could think about was what Dagger had said about Dawn's strength. How could he get revenge on the Peleps if he was merely an insect?


“He might not be ready for that yet. The boy is trembling in my presence.â€


“Viper?†Dagger asked and looked him up and down. “You seem off today.â€


“Uhâ€, he said and tightened his fists. “I can't be an insect.â€


He felt Dagger's hand on his shoulder. “What are you talking about?â€


He shook off Dagger's hand. “I must be stronger than her!†He drew the dagger from his ankle with one quick motion. Dagger took a surprised step back and went for his own weapon. Dawn tilted her head and looked at Viper who rushed towards her with his dagger in his hand, dedicating to cutting her down.


She raised her hand and grabbed his wrist, still while leaning back calmly in the chair. “This boy is unstable, Daggerâ€, she said. “Get rid of him.â€


“Uh.†Dagger wasn't sure how to react. “Viper, what the hell are you doing? He's never done something like this before, Master Dawn.â€


“She's a fucking Dynast!†Viper roared and tried to punch her with his other hand, but it was blocked as easily as his first attack. “I have to kill her!†He tried to pull himself loose but her grip was tight and it felt like he was stuck in a burning stove. He screamed.


She let go off his unarmed hand and grabbed his throat, got up from her chair and almost flew with him through the room until he crushed with his back into the opposing wall. She pressed him towards it and leaned in to his ear. “You must have realized by now that you are in fact an insect to me, boyâ€, she whispered. “But I'm merciful and I will let you explain your actions to me.â€


“Master Dawn?†Dagger said. He still held his dagger in a firm grip.


Viper ground his teeth to endure the pain of feeling her burning-hot skin against his. He was absolutely terrified. He tried to say something and she softened her grip around his neck.


“Dynasts killed my parents! They weren't provoked! No one fought back! But they burned my village! Took my siblings!†Viper felt tears run down his eyes. “I was only five. I had to bury my parents and I was only five!â€


He noticed Dawn raising her eye brows. She looked over her shoulder and nodded to Dagger who was looking both confused and surprised. “Leave usâ€, she ordered him.


He seemed a bit reluctant at first but then hurried up the stairs and closed the door behind him.


Dawn let go of Viper's neck and he fell to the floor. “Damn itâ€, he muttered and hit the back of his head against the wall. He did it again. “I'm pathetic!â€


She knelt down before him and placed her hand on his knee. “Who did this to your village?â€


He did all he could to avoid eye contact. He tried to cover his tear-filled cheeks with his hand. He dried them and his eyes got irritated and swollen. He hadn't cried since that night he met Glittering Wolf after escaping from Bastion. He felt so pathetic. Tear-Eyed Viper. That was his name.


“Peleps Wakde.â€


“Peleps Wakde?†she said. She stood up, grabbed his wrist and helped him to his feet. “I've heard of his name but that's about all I know. Viper, I am Dragon-Blooded. But I am not a Dynast.â€


He gave her a confused look.


“I left the Realm ten years ago. I'm an outcast. What they would do to me if they found me is ten times worse what happened to your parents.â€


Viper dried the tears from his eyes. “You left the Realm? Why?â€


“I have my reasonâ€, she said and placed her hand on his shoulder. He wasn't afraid of her anymore. Her overpowering presence suddenly felt warming and comforting. Could there actually be a Dragon-Blooded that wasn't bad? “I was born into the Cathak family but I threw that name away when I became an outcast. My current name – Dawn – symbolizes hope. A new beginning.†She placed her hand on the seven-sectioned staff in the holster on her side. “I carry this Serpent-Sting Staff as a symbol of my hatred for the Realm. It has alloys in orichalcum, an ancient material forbidden since the Shogunate. This material is a symbol of one of the ancient Anathema.†Their eyes met. “I want to kill Dynasts with this weapon to show them that there is still something out there that can threaten the Realm.â€


Viper looked at the golden weapon, he looked at her and then he looked at the floor. “How do I kill a Dragon-Blooded?†he asked. “How can I kill someone like Peleps Wakde?â€


He could see that she smiled with her eyes and she walked back towards the stairway. “There are two ways for insects to kill youâ€, she said. “They can either be very poisonous or they can come in swarms. Take tomorrow off, Viper. Come back the day after for your first assignment.â€


She walked up the stairs. He stood still in the cellar for a moment to breath. There was much to take in. He had learned two important lessons. The first lesson was that he needed to control his impulses. The second lesson was that there were Dragon-Blooded out there who chose to walk different paths to that of the Realm. At least there was one. He suddenly felt very glad that his leader was Dawn.


But the first thing he had to do was to apologize to Dagger for his behavior.

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 41: City of Dreams


Chanti Green-Paw looked up on the rising sun. She just felt something strong from her wedding band. It had made a spark of Essence and had her experience the feeling of a comforting Anima in its highest stage. Her husband had just reached that stage. But why?


She nodded to Glorious Horizon who sat in a pile of blood with chunks of raw meat in his hands. Blood were dripping from his mouth and he looked satisfied. “Are you done, child?â€


He nodded with a grin.


Around them stood not just Omar and Blackhorn, but about a hundred beastmen with different traits from cat and dog. They were bathing in blood and meat. Some of them fed on the remaining corpses. Omar was leaning over his moonsilver daiklave and scratched his black fur with one hand. He didn't look very amused by their situation.


“This was just the first wave, Chantiâ€, he muttered. “The Wyld barbarians are fleeing from something. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?â€


“Fair Folkâ€, she said.


He nodded.


“I think Manovan and the others have encountered the Wyld barbarians as well. The tribes have gotten too far into Melekin.†Chanti took a deep sigh and then patted Horizon on the head. He gave her a goofy grin with blood-stained teeth. Her tattoos begun to glow and she transformed from her human form to her angry beast form. Her red and white hair floated gracefully in the wind. “Horizon and I will stay for the next wave before we return to the City of Makers. I'll leave my tribes here with you and Blackhorn.â€


“Do you want us to advance towards the raksha?â€


“Noâ€, she said. “Let them consume the capital city. It will buy you enough time to put up iron traps to keep them from the valley. My tribes will keep their eyes on the raksha's movements.â€


“Understoodâ€, Omar said and pulled his daiklave from the bloody ground.


Manovan of the Sea was tossing corpses into fires. All the time while being followed and looked at by the weirdest creatures. Some of them were shaped abnormally while others were transparent and ghostly. He thought he could see the spirits of the smallest teapots cry as their little sanctums ignited in the burning houses. It was difficult handling the corpses with these weird visions, since some of the corpses seemed to still consist of small wisps of living essence. Whatever the nymph tear had done, it was freaking him out.


When he had gotten rid of the worst-looking corpses and made sure that no Wyld barbarians remained in the village, he walked out to the meadows and to the others. His totemic aura had faded and only a glittering caste mark remained. What he encountered at the meadows confused him more than the spirits that surrounded him. He was met by a cheering crowd. There had to be about a hundred survivors.


Ledaal Yuko was taking care of some of the most severely wounded and Whispering Rainbow Cypher tried to gather the people. “Umâ€, he said loudly and coughed. “We are here because, um ...â€


Manovan placed his hand on his shoulder. “Not much of a public speaker, are you?†He stepped out before Cypher and looked over the crowd. They all looked at him with big, round eyes of amazement and wonder. They had witnessed a miracle today. Three strangers had saved them from a band of monsters that not only a village of people could fight against. But these … divinities had saved them in minutes.


“My name is Manovan of the Sea and this is Whispering Rainbow Cypherâ€, he said. “We are Exalted with the celestial powers of the Unconquered Sun.†He pointed to Yuko. “She is Yuko, our comrade. It was fate that led us to your aid. We answered to your prayers and followed your screams for help.†He let his caste mark glow more brightly to add to the emotional effect. “When I look at you who survived, I see brave hearts and eyes full of hope. I see men, women and children with dreams that reach far beyond the borders of this village. A home is not a village but a place in your heart. A place of comfort. My friends and I have traveled far but we have finally found a home of our own.†He pointed towards the Glimmering Peaks to the north-west. “We cleansed the Cursed City within that valley and unlocked a City of Dreams. Your village may have burned today but we can offer you a new life – a new home – in that city.â€


“Did you lift the curse of the Empty City?†an old man gasped.


Manovan nodded with a self-confident smile. “Indeed, we did. We opened up a safe haven for everyone who needs one. It's a city of great wonders where everything is poetry and dreams can become reality. We have restored life to the valley and to the areas surrounding it. Even your jungles here will flourish in no time.â€


The people were looking at each other. Most of them were speechless.


“If you want to come with us is up to youâ€, Manovan continued. “But know that you are welcome to help us build a sanctuary within that valley where everyone can live a life of wealth and happiness.†He paused for a moment to breath some air. He could still feel the smell of burned meat in the air. “But wealth and happiness doesn't come cheap. We will need your help to make that city into the haven it can be. You will be the first mortals in centuries to walk into that city and what you will witness is that of legend. It will be up to you – the people – to make that city flourish with new life. Follow us and reach your dreams or remain here and rebuild your village, knowing that the Wyld barbarians may one day return. The choice is yours to make.â€


He let his caste mark fade away and he looked quietly out over the crowd. The people were looking at each other and they were looking at him. They were fully enchanted by his words, by his glorious appearance and by his celestial prowess.


“Wasn't that a bit, um, too much?†Whispering Rainbow Cypher whispered.


Manovan looked at him with a smirk. “I don't know what you're talking about. It was all true, wasn't it?â€


Cypher tapped on his nose. “Well, I suppose so, but ...â€


“Are you saying I should have held the speech without, you know, divine intervention?â€


Cypher raised his brows. Manovan smirked to him and stepped into the crowd. He had indeed used a Charm to merge Essence with his words. It was not like he manipulated anyone after all. Maybe he had just helped with their sense of wonder. But under these circumstances, would he really have needed to? He did it only to ensure himself that he could not fail to earn their trust and to make them listen to him with unbreakable focus. And of course, he did it because he could.


An old man with an injured leg – the same one who had asked him a question earlier – came up to Manovan and bowed as gracefully as he could despite his injuries. “Honored Manovan of the Seaâ€, he said. “All of us have decided to follow you to the City of Dreams. But the villagers need some time to gather what they can from the ruins and say farewell to their friends and family who died in the attack.â€


“Fair enoughâ€, Manovan said. “And who are you?â€


“My name is Lucas of Harps, honored … Excuse me, but how do you want to be addressed?â€


“My role is to be the mayor of the City of Dreams.†He turned to Cypher and Yuko. “Unless someone objects.â€


Cypher looked confused. “Um, well, it was I who—“


“Your social skills are limited, Master Cypher – Call him Master Cypher, Lucas – and I'm sure you'll want to spend more time running your factory-cathedrals or whatever than you want to spend signing papers and having political discussions.â€


Cypher shrugged. “Well, I suppose ...â€


Manovan smirked.


“I have been schooled in politics since birthâ€, Yuko filled in.


“Well, we're not interested in any Realm politics here, dear Yukoâ€, Manovan said. “Also, Cypher told me about your condition.â€


“My condition?â€


“Yes, your … mental condition.â€


She blushed and ground her teeth. Manovan turned to Lucas with a smile. “Call her Master Yuko.â€


“I understand, Mayor Manovanâ€, Lucas said with a bow. “Sadly, our chief died in the attack. The political decisions were done by Rubia, Harm, Gorg and myself. Rubia, however, fell to a monster's sword. I have been studying old scriptures coming from the Empty City myself. I've never been inside the valley because of the curse, but I have, like my father before me, dedicated my life to studying the histories and myths about the place. I am intrigued and very much honored to be able to study it first-hand.â€


“Then you can honor yourself with a position in the city council, Lucasâ€, Manovan said. “If you have direct questions about the city, you should speak with Cypher. I'm not very … conversant with that history myself.â€


“I will do that. Thank you, Mayor Manovan.â€


Manovan nodded and smiled. Being respected and addressed with a formal title felt good. He had expected more objections from Cypher and Yuko when taking the role of mayor, but he supposed that he was the only one who could actually do the job. He didn't have much political experience but he surely had social skills. He could always let a council make the decisions while he was the face and the man in charge. He gave Yuko a quick gaze and noticed that she did her best to ignore him. Referring to her dementia had been necessary after all. He thought that she could possibly have been even more offended if he had told her that he didn't want a Dragon-Blooded to hold a position higher than his own – and that she ought to know her position as a servant.


Yes, that wouldn't have been popular.


The trip home was longer then expected. The group of about a hundred people were only as strong as its weakest link – and there were many who were slowed and tired by their injuries. Manovan could feel that people were hopeful despite the traumatic event. His speech had motivated them and he was almost worshiped as a god, despite the fact that it was Yuko who had treated their injuries and Cypher who had taken the three of them there to save the villagers in the first place. Manovan enjoyed the situation. Not only because these people followed him, but because he had gotten the entire City of Makers – though now the City of Dreams – as his loot. He knew that following Cypher here was his destiny. He had realized it already in Yuro.


Lucas asked him many questions during the journey home.


“How long have you been in the city?â€


“About a week.â€


“How did you break the curse?â€


“Ask Cypher.â€


“Who is the god of the city?â€


“Don't know … or, well, we haven't offered it to anyone yet.â€


Even though Manovan couldn't answer most of the man's questions, he realized some important topics he had to take care of when coming back to the city.


First of all, he had to get together with the council to come up with a decree on how to run the city. According to Lucas, the best way to manage a city with a high population was through the use of guilds. He suggested that they should speak with people in neighboring villages and let them know about the city's existence. By attracting more people to join in founding the city, they could let different spokesmen of various guilds together form a council with the required skills to discuss and decide everything needed to run a city. He also suggested that they should have early discussions about how to handle the city's economics and relations with other towns and villages in Melekin. It could be wise to send an ambassador over to the capital city to let the king know about the new city.


They talked about much and Manovan mostly nodded and agreed. He realized that he didn't have much to say when it came to politics. He could only trust the old man's experience in running his village. Manovan may have been the man in charge but Lucas was the one with the initiatives. He couldn't help but to enjoy the company of the old man.


“You ought to know something of importance since you will be given a role of note within the city, Lucasâ€, Manovan said at one point. “All of the city's scriptures are in Old Realm so you might have to work with Cypher and Yuko if you need to—“


“I both speak and write Old Realm, Mayor Manovanâ€, Lucas said with a proud smile. “In this country, there are many ancient texts originating from the Cursed City. I have studied such texts since I was a child. I learned the language through those records.â€


“Well thenâ€, Manovan said and raised his brows. “Maybe you can teach me Old Realm at some point. I have been relying too much on Cypher lately.â€


“It would be an honor, mayor.â€


Chanti Green-Paw could see the charred ruins of a burned village from the sky. She had given Glorious Horizon a bird-like form through the use of one of her Charms and he was flying quite sloppily. It was too soon for him to take a flight form for himself. He had to master both stages of his totemic form first. He was a fast learner – all Exalted were – but he didn't have much wits and most of her wisdom went into one ear only to exit through the other.


But he had developed. He would soon be ready to protect her husband when she would be battling the Wyld.


They circled the ruins for a while and she could clearly see traces of Wyld barbarians as well as faint traces of the three Exalted who had saved the villagers. She could sense that they had wasted too much Essence in one spot. Hopefully, they hadn't gotten the wrong kinds of attention. With her millenniums of experience, she knew there were more than enough reasons to be careful with one's actions – especially for someone newly Exalted. Sometimes it was better to leave mortal settlements to the hands of fate instead of taking every opportunity for divine intervention.


Manovan had been sloppy. She could see the movements of at least a dozen Wyld barbarians in the jungles around the meadows. Her eyes were far sharper than an eagle's. Nothing could hide from her. She did a mental sigh before she made a screech which almost had the sky tremble around her. Birds started screeching from the jungle crowns before they attacked the Wyld barbarians to pick them to pieces.


She knew it wouldn't be the last time she would have to clean up those children's mess.


She and Horizon continued to fly towards the Glimmering Peaks. Eventually, they could see the surviving villagers slowly marching through the jungles. Chanti saw Manovan walking in the lead, talking to some mortal men and women. Cypher and that Dragon-Blooded woman were there as well. The fact that they obviously had showed their abilities to those humans troubled her, but at least they were safe.


It was up to them to make their own decisions and learn from their own mistakes. She wouldn't interfere unless she had to.


They continued towards the valley and reached it three days before the marching crowd. Chanti took Horizon to the western jungles to train him in the sacred hunts together with her tribes. She felt the western jungle was her domain in the valley. She had no connection to the City of Makers. She had never even been to the city during the First Age. She didn't want to accidentally set off a trap by spending time in there without company.


It was better to let that boy Cypher spend some more time in there since he seemed to have some connection to the city through his shard.


The crowd's reactions were loud and many when they came through the pass and could witness the amazing city in the utopian valley. The perfectly symmetrical city with its great towers looked almost surreal and the many statues overlooking the cobble street passing through the meadows looked like something from poetry. People expressed their awe for what they witnessed. They couldn't imagine that something like this had been hidden inside this valley all their lives. Were they actually going to live in that city? The thought was almost impossible to process.


“Is it like you imagined it to be, Lucas?†Manovan asked when they were overlooking the city in the distance.


“It's … so much moreâ€, he stuttered.


Manovan smiled. “Keep in mind when we enter the city that we haven't explored everything there yet. Let your people know that they should be careful entering random buildings and they should absolutely not steal anything. Cypher have deactivated the guardians but some might still react.â€


“What are the guardians exactly? I have read that word in many of the old texts but I never found the definition.â€


“I think you ought to see for yourself. Some things simply can't be explained with words.†Manovan scratched his head. “Try not to intimidate them though. They do look a little scary. You might need to warn your people that they should refrain from acting out when seeing them. They will be all over the place. But don't worry. They aren't that bad as long as you follow their rules.â€


“And what are their rules?â€


“Good question.â€


Lucas gave Manovan a bewildered look.


“Oh, I almost forgotâ€, Manovan said and looked at Lucas with a grin. “The western jungles are restricted. If you decide to send out some hunters or chop down some trees, it would be wise to go to the eastern jungles. If you want to live, that is.â€


Lucas flinched and raised his gray brows. “What is in the western jungles?â€


“A few tribes of beastmenâ€, Manovan said and scratched his nose.


“Beastmen!?†Lucas yelled, but suddenly calmed himself when he noticed that he had attracted the attention of others. “Did you say beastmen?â€


“Their influence is important to bring balance back to the valley. There haven't been any animals in these areas because of the curse and the lack of animals has affected the plant life. We gave the western jungles to the beastmen to have them import animals needed to restore balance and make the jungles flourish.â€


“But they raid villages and eat humans!â€


“So I've heard. But I've ordered these tribes not to. They are good to us if we are good to them. And you are good to them by staying away from the western jungles. If you, for some reason, would need something from that side of the valley, I am the one to come to. Not Cypher. Not Yuko. Only I am allowed entrance to those jungles. I and a few selected individuals such as Glorious Horizon and Chanti Green-Paw. Understood?â€


“Chanti Green-Pawâ€, the man mumbled. “The name sounds familiar. Isn't she the bestial queen from the myths? The one with legions of feral creatures who consume entire nations?â€


“It sure sounds like herâ€, Manovan said with a hearty chuckle. “But she is also my wife.â€


Lucas entire body twitched and he looked at Manovan with eyes that didn't know if they should express fear or wonder. Something they diess was confusion.


Manovan placed his hand on the man's shoulder. “Are you getting cold feet, Lucas?†he asked. “They say there is a spark of truth to every myth. However, a spark is far from the full truth. She may be a bestial queen – I can give you that – but she wouldn't eat your people. At least not today.â€


“I believe you, Mayor Manovanâ€, Lucas said with a light stutter. “And I trust you with my life.â€


Manovan smiled. “That is all I ask of youâ€, he said. “Let us continue walking. Your people may rest when we get to the city.â€

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 42: The God of the City


The crowd followed Manovan into the City of Dreams. They expressed their amazement, their wonder and their fascination for everything around them with wows, round eyes, dropped jaws and extensive body language. Many of them had never left the region surrounding their village before and even though there were many myths about what was hidden within the Cursed Valley, they could never in their wildest dreams imagine something like this.


Some people shrieked when they encountered a walking automaton steward and some children broke out into big grins of wonder when one of the slimmer types of the armed guardians turned its head towards them. Lucas was ecstatic. “So these are the guardians?†he said, more to himself than to Manovan. “How is something like this possible? It must be magic. Yes, it must be magic.â€


Suddenly the crowd came to a halt when Manovan spotted Chanti Green-Paw resting on top of the foot of a tall, hibernating guardian with both her legs and her arms crossed. She was dressed in a short leather skirt with colorful bird-feathers and fringes of horse-hair and she covered her bosom with a matching top. Next to her lied a bag she used to carry in her belt. Her long, red hair was straight with the exception of her one, silver-white lock hanging from her fringe. She looked at Manovan with her intense nut-brown eyes.


Manovan walked up to her. The crowd idled a few yards behind him. “Hello, Chantiâ€, he said. “I assume you need an explanation for this.â€


“Not reallyâ€, she replied with a snort. “You saved them from pillaging Wyld barbarians. As long as you know how to handle the situation from here on.â€


Lucas dared taking a step towards them and he greeted Chanti with a bow. “You must be Chanti Green-Pawâ€, he said. “We are eternally grateful to your husband for saving us and giving us a new home here in the City of Dreams.â€


She didn't even acknowledge him. Her eyes were still focused on Manovan and she tilted her head. “Can I speak to you privately?†she asked.


“Of course.†He turned to Lucas and whispered in his ear. “Don't worry about it. You did good. Tell Yuko to lead you towards the central square. She'll get you settled in somewhere.â€


“Thank you, Mayor Manovanâ€, he whispered back. “She is not like I pictured her. The myths mentioned a bestial queen but she has beauty I didn't know existed in this world or beyond.â€


Manovan smiled and placed his hand on his shoulder as a simple gesture of acknowledgment. He then turned to Chanti, took her hand and helped her to her feet. They stepped aside as the crowd continued along the main row without them.


“A bestial queen?†Chanti asked and raised her eyebrows.


“You have good ears.â€


“You have no ideaâ€, she said with a smirk.


Manovan tapped on his nose. “Lucas is a good guy. I will need his competence if I'm going to turn this into a living city.â€


“So that's what you're up to?†she muttered and gave him a kiss on the lips. “I'm not judging you. But are you sure you want to do that with this city?â€


“What do you mean?â€


She shrugged. “As far as I know, this city is the only city in Creation which is in a state almost as good as it was during the First Age. When word gets out that the curse has been lifted, explorers and scavengers will be the least of your problems. Expect someone powerful to come and claim it from you.â€


“I haven't really thought about thatâ€, he said. “But I feel very safe with you here.â€


“Flatteringâ€, she said and rolled her eyes. “Listen carefully, my love. My circle is here because the Wyld is strong in Melekin. The Wyld barbarians you encountered is a result of that. I am here to make sure the Wyld doesn't spread any further. When it's safe for my tribes to live in these jungles, I will move on to the next place.â€


“When is that?â€


“Soon.â€


“That's unfortunateâ€, Manovan said. “I have decided to take this valley as my own.â€


“We all have our paths to takeâ€, Chanti said and stroke him gently over the cheek. “Stay here and manage your people. It might help you mature. My tribes will protect the valley until you can protect it yourself.â€


He couldn't help but to smile. “You remind me of someone, Chantiâ€, he said. “Someone I loved in my mortal life. You try to push me into the world while at the same time holding me close and protected. Just like she did.â€


“That's because you're an infantâ€, she said with a smirk.


Manovan wasn't sure what to say. He could clearly feel his celestial bond with Chanti. But there were still feelings for Glittering Wolf in his heart. It would take him more than a human lifetime to shake those away. He just knew it.


Chanti embraced him in her arms and he felt her breath in his ear. “And that's why you need to grow upâ€, she whispered. “I'm not telling you to forget your humanity but to reach out for your divinity. You have no idea how strong you once were. How strong all of the Solars were. Even gods trembled in your presence.â€


He smiled. “I'd like to experience that.â€


They kissed.


“Speaking of godsâ€, Manovan said and reached for something in his bag. He took out his hearthstone and showed it to Chanti. “Do you know what this is?â€


“Don't be a foolâ€, she said and leaned back against the facade to the building they were standing next to. She moved her silver fringe from her face with the palm of her hand. “I have a few of them myself.â€


“Wellâ€, Manovan said and scratched his head. “When I committed myself to the manse, I realized what the power of this stone is. If I would use an artifact to harness the power of this stone, I could talk to demons, elementals and even to gods as if they were equal to or even subservient to me.â€


“So?â€


“I was talking to Lucas about offering this city to a god. According to Cypher, not even spirits could handle the miasma so there should be an open spot. I want to pray to one and offer it this city as its sanctum.â€


“But?â€


“But I don't really know how.â€


She smiled and then reached for something in her own bag. She held up a glittering necklace in moonsilver with an empty hearthstone socket. She placed it around his neck and he begun to commit his Essence to it. “Go to Mother Chak-Nah, the chieftain of my Silver-Tail Fox Tribeâ€, she said. “She will help you commune with someone celestial. Don't give the city to a terrestrial god. Their weak Essence can't handle a city of this magnitude. Especially not if it is to tap into the manses.â€


“Thank you, Chantiâ€, Manovan said. When the necklace was harmonized with his Essence, he placed his hearthstone in its socket and watched it shape itself to fit the stone. Even though he couldn't physically feel the difference, he could feel it spiritually. The stone was like a small beacon of power harmonized with his Essence. The artifact he wielded it with was the connection between the stone and his soul. He felt ready to make a deal with a god. He wasn't nervous at all.


“One thing thoughâ€, Chanti said before she let Manovan leave. “When you are talking to a celestial god. Don't insult it. Your Essence is still too weak and your presence could be an insult in itself. Let Mother Chak-Nah initiate the conversation.â€


“But she's a beastmanâ€, Manovan muttered. “She should have an Essence far weaker than my own.â€


“She is my childâ€, Chanti said. “And she will connect with a god who has my trust. Wait for her to introduce you if you want the god to listen. That stone of yours – the Jewel of the Celestial Mandarin – is about irrelevant in the eyes of a celestial god.â€


Manovan gulped. “Thank you for the boost in confidenceâ€, he said and turned to leave. Before he left, he turned and gave her a big smile. “You're staying for the night, right?â€


At first she raised one of her eyebrows and frowned her forehead, but then she smirked. “We'll see.â€


He was pleased with that answer.


“Um, what are we supposed to do with all these people?†Cypher whispered to Yuko. They had all gathered at the central square between the pyramid manse and the palace. All the time, something new amazed the people. The idling guardians were one thing the children never got tired of and the walking stewards managed to scare someone new every time they showed up.


“We should find them somewhere to stayâ€, Yuko replied. “There are thousands of empty houses in this city.â€


“Well, some of them could be trapped or, um, have dangerous devices.â€


“Are you saying we should let them stay in the palace?â€


“Um, I doubt Coral would like that.†Cypher tapped on his nose. “We could go to the north-eastern district. I, um, am sure it's the living district. Every district in this city seems to, you know, have a function connected to a manse. The area around this square and along the road, um, to the northern and southern gates are connected to the central manses here. I believe the features and functions of the buildings here are directly connected to those sources of power.â€


“Cypherâ€, Yuko said and rolled her eyes.


“And, um, the tower district we were at a few days ago were most likely, um, connected to a district manse that would help with academical research and, you know, working flight docks. The factory-cathedrals and the temples should both, um, work in the same way.â€


“Cypher.â€


“Which means that there should be a district left, um, for, you know, living, breathing mortals who needed—“


“Cypher!â€


“Um, yes?â€


“Go to the factory-cathedralsâ€, Yuko ordered with slim, tired eyes. “You're getting weird and overly talkative again. You should let me take care of the people and go study an ancient tome or build something. I can see your body shaking like an addict's.â€


“Can I really?â€


She nodded.


He showed a goofy grin and then danced away towards the Factory-Cathedral District. Left were Yuko with a hundred villagers. Next to her stood Lucas of Harps and scratched his forehead while looking at Cypher hopping away in joy. Lucas was pretty much the spokesperson for the villagers who had chosen to be subjected to the exalts still. Gorg and Harm had had lengthy conversations with both Manovan and Yuko during the journey, but they had done so more out of obligation than of their own free will. They had tried to have conversations with Cypher, but even the easiest of topics turned too complicated for them to comprehend.


“I mean no offense but Master Cypher is a peculiar manâ€, Lucas said to Yuko and nodded in the direction Cypher was going. “What's his story?â€


“I don't knowâ€, she replied shortly. “There's always something new and weird about that boy. The only thing I know is that his mind works in mysterious ways.†And that he has either great guts or is totally clueless, she added in her thoughts, thinking about how he successfully deceived the sorcerer-engineers for almost two weeks during the dragon's march.


Lucas smiled. “What is yours?â€


“Story, you mean?â€


He nodded.


She pondered the question for a moment. Her story was that of failure. First in the eyes of her father and second in the eyes of the Ledaal family. If not in the eyes of the entire Realm, considering her new partnership with anathema. She was expected to be gone for a few years together with Peleps Wakde's dragon. The dragon that had been killed during the time she was locked in time within that strange phoenix statue. And considering what the stars showed these days, she had probably been declared dead since some time now.


Or no, that couldn't be the case. Knowing her family, they had eyes and ears everywhere. Even, somehow, in times that had yet to come. They knew that she was alive. At least some of them should know about it. The question was whether or not they cared.


“I'm sorry, Lucasâ€, she said. “My story is not much for the ear.â€


“I understand if you don't want to share with someone of my statusâ€, he said. “It was rude of me to ask.â€


She gave him a quick look and contemplated whether or not she should say: “yes, it was indeed rudeâ€, but she decided not to. Instead, she turned to the crowd. “Follow me, everyone. I'll find you someplace to settle in.â€


Whispering Rainbow Cypher stood before a great arch with a sign saying: FACTORY-CATHEDRALS in Old Realm. At each side of the arch stood a twenty foot guardian of the slimmer models but with far greater weaponry and armory than the bulkier ones. They were active, as indicated by the white glow coming from their eye sockets. They looked like animated armors in green jade with joints in orichalcum and starmetal. It must have taken at least four talents of jade to have enough material for each of the two guardians. In addition to their intimidating appearance, they had Twilight Caste markings engraved on their foreheads.


Cypher looked at them for a moment before he took a deep breath and then walked between them to get through the arch. He didn't get far before two grand goremauls blocked his path and he noticed four glowing eyes intently watching him.


He took a step back. “What, um, are your directives?†he stuttered in Old Realm.


“Restrict entrance to factory-cathedralsâ€, they said, both at the same time, with deep mechanical voices.


“Who is allowed entrance?â€


“Factory-cathedrals are restricted to anyone but … sorcerer-engineers … engineers … engineering disciples.â€


Cypher tapped on his nose. “I'm a sorcerer-engineer.â€


They were quiet for a moment before they both said: “Name: Whispering Rainbow Cypher. Not registered as sorcerer-engineer in records. Not permitted entrance.â€


“Are there any exceptions?â€


“Temporary entrance is permitted through Seal of Authority … To Twilight Caste … To No Moon Caste … To …†The guardians were quiet for a second. “Last entry is missing from record.â€


Cypher tapped on his nose again and then lit up the caste mark on his forehead.


“Caste confirmedâ€, the guardians said. “Entrance permitted.†They removed the goremauls from blocking the entrance and he walked through.


As soon as he passed through the arch he was met by a desolate area of stone, metal and various crystals. He was surrounded by high, flat facades of towers – though not as high as those in in the tower district or the one connected to the palace – and giant domes. He could spot at least three different levels of roads and bridges and he was on the bottom one, shaded by the bridges above. This area was about completely free from plant-life and the only leaves he could see were the ones on the ground that had been carried by the wind. A few dim lights emanated from crystal spheres and pipes to lit up the shaded lower level. The stone and metal streets of the lowest level were flat and wide and he assumed that it was to be able to use vehicles to travel with materials to the factory-cathedrals and to transport constructions from them.


He could see the top of a giant dome further inside the district. It's sheer size and location made him assume it was the district's central manse. It was probably from there every factory-cathedral got its power. It's great walls seemed to have warm, red lights and Cypher could almost feel a warm pressure emanating from the dome, almost like that from a great forge. Was the manse of the fire aspect? He could only assume.


The district was great and he felt embraced by a feeling of pride and honor for knowing that he was the first person to step into Creation's greatest place for construction and design since the Dragon-Blooded ruled this city during the Shogunate. It was finally time to put the factory-cathedrals back in the hands of a Twilight Solar – just like the original intention with them was. Getting them up and running would be difficult and it would take time. But he was Exalted. He had plenty of time. And the thought of what he could accomplish with these was astonishing. Maybe he could one day rival the great Kal Bax himself.


Yes, Coral could handle the politics. This was where Cypher belonged.


Manovan of the Sea was just about to enter the western jungles when he spotted Glorious Horizon walking towards him with his naked upper body soiled in the blood of various creatures. The blood-drenched man was, despite his goofy smile, someone Manovan was happy that he knew. If he had seen this man, who had almost five feet between both shoulders and was drenched with blood, without knowing him … well, let's just say that being a Solar Exalted wouldn't have prevented him from having chills down his spine. What he saw was a beast. A man that could snap the neck of a bull … with one hand. Thank the Unconquered Sun – and thank Luna, he assumed – that Horizon was a good guy.


“Wowâ€, Manovan said and frowned his face. “You seem to have had a lot of fun.â€


Horizon grinned and Manovan could see chunks of raw meat stuck between his teeth. So Lunars didn't cook their meat? Or was this just Horizon's habit? Whatever it was, it was disgusting.


“Helloâ€, Horizon said and a drop of blood ran down his chin. He licked it up and swallowed.


“How was … the training with Chanti?â€


“Tough!†he said and walked up to Manovan who had to tilt his head backwards until it hurt to be able to look the man in his eyes when they stood next to each other. “She is a stubborn woman. Don't make her angry. She would eat you.â€


Manovan broke out a grin. “Thanks for the tip.â€


“Seriouslyâ€, Horizon said and his eyes were dead serious. “She would eat you.â€


Manovan gulped a little. “I'm sure she would.â€


“She would turn into something with big teeth and she would bite right through your chest and swallow you whole. She would swallow you whole! And you would sit in there in her stomach and think: 'Hey! I shouldn't have made her angry!' But it would be too late by then.â€


Manovan patted him on the shoulder but he had lost his grin. “Wellâ€, he said and almost stuttered on his words. “I wouldn't be able to sit in her stomach if she bites through my chest.â€


Horizon gave him a confused look and scratched his head.


“Listen, friendâ€, Manovan said. “I'm going to Mother Chak-Na to perform a prayer. Do you know her?â€


He nodded.


“Good. Maybe you can lead me to her camp?†He was interrupted for a second by a black bull who was grazing the grass next to him. It was the one remaining bull from their first trip to this valley. Manovan smiled. “I heard some gods accept blood sacrifices.â€


“I'm not going to be the blood sacrifice, am I?†Horizon asked and scratched his head.


“Of course not. But maybe you can help me get this bull to the Silver-Tail Fox Tribe's camp?†He nodded to Horizon. “You should be able to drag it through the jungle with those muscle mountains of yours, shouldn't you?†Manovan was wondering exactly how strong a Lunar could be and Glorious Horizon seemed bigger every time he saw him. He was interested to see if he could do something humanly impossible like dragging a heavy bull through thick jungle terrain.


“Okayâ€, Horizon said and walked up to the bull and gave it a slap on the head. The slap itself didn't look hard but it sure sounded like it was. The bull fell dead to the grass and Horizon easily picked it up and held it over his shoulder.


Manovan wasn't sure what expression to show. He had not expected this much. This … man killed a strong bull with an open-handed slap and then carried it on his shoulder. And he wasn't even sweating. He was smiling. Manovan knew that Horizon could easily kill him with that sloppy slap if he wanted to.


I suppose Chanti isn't the only Lunar I don't want to make angry, he thought.


They walked through the jungles for quite some time before Manovan could see the first traces of beastmen camps. A few beastmen scouts with silver-tailed fox traits stepped aside from their path to let them pass. Even if they didn't know Manovan by his appearance, they respected Horizon enough to carefully be out of his way. They passed some totems and weak wooden structures outside an underground cave. Dead animals, herbs and fruit hanged on strings around the primitive camp. In the middle of the camp was a quiet bonfire.


“Horizon, childâ€, a woman's voice said in Forest-Tongue. “Are you back so soon?â€


Manovan noticed the one who spoke was an old beastman with silver-tail fox traits. It confused him that her voice had sounded so human. She was dressed similar to the old beastman they had encountered in the cave before they first met Chanti and her friends. She was dressed in skin and had a wooden staff with markings Manovan couldn't read.


The bestial woman finally noticed Manovan behind Horizon's massive body. “A human? No, you are the one Great Mother Chanti told me about.†She walked up to Manovan and sniffed the air before him. He was about two heads taller than her. He noticed that she was blind on both eyes.


“My name is Manovan of the Seaâ€, he said and embraced her furry hand with his. It felt weird that a hand with such sharp claws could hold such a gentle grip. He noticed that the woman was weak and her body fragile. “You must be Mother Chak-Na.â€


“You have a good scent, young Solarâ€, the beastman said with a crooked smile. “If I could see, I'm sure I would see a strong, manly face with beautiful skin. I have dreamed about meeting the Great Mother's soulmate. I'm sure you are her perfect match.â€


“Then you would be the first to call my face manly, Mother Chak-Naâ€, Manovan said with a smile. “I was gifted with a man's body but with a woman's face.â€


“It pleases me that you call it a gift.â€


“It has helped me in times of need.â€


A loud thump was heard next to them where Horizon dropped the bull and stretched his arms and shoulders. Mother Chak-Na turned to him with a confused expression. “Horizon, childâ€, she said. “Did you bring food with you?â€


“Blood sacrifice!†he said with a grin.


“Blood sacrifice?†she asked and turned her blind eyes back to Manovan. “Tell me why you have come, young Solar.â€


“I need your help finding a celestial god to take my city as its sanctum. Do this for me and I will be in your depth.â€


It looked like the beastman looked around herself even though her eyes couldn't see. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. “Of course we will help you with your prayer, young Solarâ€, she said. “But we don't want anything in return. You are our Great Mother's soulmate. We do everything you ask of us. Even if it costs us our lives.†She turned to Horizon. “But Horizon, young child. A blood sacrifice requires a living animal. Yours is already dead.â€


Horizon scratched his head. “Uh, well, I brought food then.â€


She smiled and turned back to Manovan. “A ceremony like this is a long process. Do you have something of value that can be offered during the ritual to help gaining the god's attention?â€


“Something of value?†He dug through his bags and found the jade mina he had gotten from Cypher back in Yuro. “What about this?â€


Mother Chak-Na placed her hand on the mina and closed her blind eyes. “It has value, that is for sureâ€, she said. “If the gods will accept it, I do not know. Place it in the bonfire.â€


Manovan walked up to the calm bonfire and dropped the mina onto the wood. He stepped back and watched Mother Chak-Na initiate the ceremony. They lit up the bonfire and hundreds of beastmen danced around it to the sounds of drums and hymns in a language Manovan had never heard. More valuables were offered in the bonfire as the ceremony progressed and Manovan understood that everything were of great value. There were items and artifacts ancient to these jungles that were tossed into the flames.


Hours passed and the sun was setting in the far west. Many invaluable objects had been offered in the great bonfire but the beastmen seemed happy to offer them to the gods. When Manovan was starting to feel a little dry-eyed from the long ceremony, Mother Chak-Na nodded to him.


“Now for the last offeringâ€, she said and handed Manovan a sharp dagger. “Give some of your celestial blood to the flames.â€


He looked at the dagger and he looked at his hand. He then walked up to the bonfire and cut the palm of his hand with the sharp blade. He held it before the flames and pressed as much blood as he could from his hand. He then stepped back and stopped the blood-flow with his sheer willpower alone.


Mother Chak-Na stepped before the bonfire. She spoke loudly and in Forest-Tongue. “Halar, the Quill of Truth. Maroo, the Voice of the Trees. Shalrina, the Daimyo of Faces. I call the three of you in the name of Chanti Green-Paw, Lunar Exalted of the No Moon Caste and in the name of her soulmate, Manovan of the Sea, Solar Exalted of the Night Caste.â€


As she uttered those words, the yellow flames turned blue and the atmosphere suddenly felt more humid. The leaves in the jungle trees rattled in a wind that couldn't be felt on the skin. She nodded to Manovan as a gesture for him to continue.


“Great Godsâ€, he said and could feel his purple hearthstone lit up even brighter. It raised his confidence a little. “My name is Manovan of the Sea and I am a Solar Exalted of the Night Caste. I am here to make an offer of great value.â€


“And what can a newly born Solar have to offer?†a deep and echoing voice asked from the blue flames. Manovan thought he could see the figure of a bearded old man dressed in a beautiful robe within the flames. “Oh, I had hoped to see Chanti's pretty face. Where is she?â€


“She is watching us from the sky, Halarâ€, another voice said from the flames. Even though this voice was easy to understand, it sounded like breezes through leaves and creaking trunks. “She obviously doesn't want to talk with us.â€


“Oh? And why can that be?â€


“Most likely because of her boon to meâ€, a female voice said from the flames. “Can you hurry up and give us the offer, Nightbringer? I have a shop waiting.â€


“Great Godsâ€, Manovan continued. Their great pressure gave him some stomach ache but he could pull through. His hearthstone would help him. “I have a city without a god. A city greater than what any terrestrial's limited Essence can handle. You may know this city as Denandsor, or the City of Makers. My friends and I have lifted the curse and we wonder if a god such as three of you would be interested in having it as its sanctum.â€


“The City of Makers, you say?†Halar, the Quill of Truth, said. “That is indeed something. Ah, I can imagine a new age of great research and design.â€


“Was that all this was about?†Shalrina, the Daimyo of Faces, asked with a forced chuckle. “I understand its value but I have no interest in it.â€


“Are you sure about that, Shalrina?†Halar asked honestly, like his name. “Are you truly satisfied with your tiny sanctum in Nexus?â€


“I am, yesâ€, she said. “Nightbringer, I decline your offer but be sure to remind Chanti about our boon.â€


Her presence faded.


“I too decline your offer, Manovan of the Seaâ€, Maroo, the Voice of the Trees, said with his whispering, creaking voice. “My sanctums are the trees and the wind carried through their leaves.â€


“I would lie if I told you I wasn't interestedâ€, Halar said when the second god's presence had faded away. “But lying goes against my nature. It was a long time ago I spoke with a Solar Exalted and I am enjoying this conversation, despite your celestial youth. The balls in Yu-Shan are rarely entertaining in this age of sorrows.†The god took a moment of silence and all that was heard were the sound that had returned to the wind and the crunching flames that still consumed the offerings they had given to these gods. “But I must let you know, as it is my nature to not leave useful information unsaid, that there is a restless god in Yu-Shan who was once very much familiar with the City of Makers.â€


“Who is that god?â€


“Her name is Hera, the Will of Fireâ€, the god said. “I will pass the offerings and the Essence given to me over to her in order to help you get her attention. But remember that she has no connection to your mate and she has been restless for centuries. I can not guarantee a pleasant conversation. Farewell.â€


“Farewell and thank you, Halar, the Quill of Truthâ€, Manovan said as he felt the last remaining presence fade away. He looked at the blue flames and took a deep breath, preparing himself to speak to a new god. “Great Hera, the Will of Fire. My name is Manovan of the Sea and I am a Solar Exalted of the Night Caste. I am praying to you to let you know that the curse on Denandsor has been lifted and I would like you to take it as your sanctum.â€


A strong breeze swept in through the trees and killed the blue flames. Manovan could feel a presence similar to that of the previous gods, but it was far stronger and he could barely breath. He felt his heart beat faster in his chest. Hght he could see a pair of eyes within the smoke that remained from the bonfire.


“What are the conditions?†a strong, female voice asked.


Manovan gulped. The mere pitch of the god's voice felt like it could shatter his will like glass. “The entire city will be your sanctum and you may tap into all of its manses as you wish. There will also be a temple in your name within the city's Temple District where priests will give daily offerings.â€


The eyes became clearer within the smoke and it felt like they could see right through him. “And what do you want in return?â€


“In return I want you to protect the cityâ€, Manovan said. “Even if it's only by giving the people some traces of your celestial nature – willpower, valor and morale.â€


The eyes looked at him for a moment. They were sharp and didn't blink. “I accept your offer.â€


The strong presence faded away and Manovan took a deep breath. He had probably never taken such a deep sigh of relief before in his life. This had been intense. He was so thankful that he had the hearthstone, even if it had only helped by a little.

 

[Ekorren]

Chapter 43: The boy from the fishing village XV


Viper knelt down next to a water barrel outside the hideout. His stomach was aching and he was throwing up his breakfast on the street. It wasn't aching because of a stomach bug. It was aching because of shame. He had shamed himself and he had shamed his sifu. And he had done so on his very first day as an Ebon Dagger. Master Dawn had forgiven him for his attempt to murder her, but he couldn't shake off the suspicious looks he had gotten from the other assassins when he had left the cellar and gone upstairs. They didn't know what the deal was but they had heard the ruckus downstairs and seen a shaken up Dagger come up with trembling lips. Dagger had given him the coldest look and he had been too ashamed for his actions to dare apologizing to him.


He had walked outside and now he was throwing up. He didn't even hear the footsteps behind him.


“Viper!†It was Dagger's voice.


Viper looked up on Dagger with dry, red eyes and traces of puke on his chin and cheeks. The first thing he saw was the punch hitting him in the face. He lost his balance and fell to the ground. Blood ran from his nose. He didn't dry it off. He looked at Dagger who glared at him with eyes full of anger and shame.


“You have shamed me before the leader, Viper!†he said and walked up to Dagger who still lied with his back to the ground. Dagger stepped over him with one foot on each side of his body. He crouched down and grabbed his jacket with one hand while he tightened the other into a fist. “I can't believe she forgave you that easily. She ordered me not to pursue you but I'm going to break that order.â€


He punched him again and Viper hit the back of his head to the ground. He felt a surge of pain go through his skull and the blood that had been running from his nose now started flowing. His eyes got teary. Not because he couldn't endure the pain but out of reflex.


“I ought to kill you, Viper.†Dagger tightened another fist and was just about to punch when he noticed Viper slowly and shakily raising his hand in a protective gesture. Viper felt weak and defenseless. He was too shaken up to fight back. Dagger sighed. “I can't believe it. You tried to kill the leader but then when you got back up from the cellar, she looked at you like you were her favorite. I mean, what the fuck, Viper?†He lowered his fist and grabbed Viper's jacket with both hands. He shook him up and down. “Why didn't you tell me, Viper!? I thought your time in Bastion was your share of trauma! Why didn't you tell me about your village!?â€


Viper's skull was aching with intense pain and Dagger shaking him intensified the pain with a heavy pressure to his nose. In addition to that, he could barely breath with Dagger crouching over his body. He coughed up some blood and Dagger stopped shaking him. Instead he stepped back, grabbed Viper's arm and pulled him up. Viper felt dizzy with blood still running from his nose. He tried to dry it off with the gi jacket but it didn't stop the flow. He leaned back and sighed. The blood was warm but felt cold with the even warmer air.


“I have left my past behindâ€, he said.


“Apparently notâ€, Dagger muttered and knelt down before Viper. He took off his bandana and tied it around Viper's head to stop the flow from his nose.


Viper looked at the scar on Dagger's forehead. “Scarsâ€, he mumbled, but wasn't sure how to continue the sentence.


“We all have our share of scars, Viperâ€, Dagger muttered. “I too lost my parents when I was just a boy. What makes us strong is how we move on. How we handle ourselves afterward.â€


Viper tilted his head and looked at his sifu.


“But you just broke one important rule of being an Ebon Daggerâ€, Dagger continued. “That is self-control. Scars are only markings to remind you of your past. They don't open up. Your past isn't a scar. It's a bleeding wound. You are still weak.â€


Viper sighed. He knew that Dagger was right. He couldn't lose control again. “I'm sorryâ€, he said.


“Sorry won't cut itâ€, Dagger said shortly with eyes sharp and face stern. “You'll have to make up for it. Starting now. You and I are going to train today. And then you're going to succeed on your first mission on the day after tomorrow.â€


Viper nodded.


“If anything like today happens again, you will be the one with a slit throat. Do you understand?â€


He nodded again.


“Goodâ€, Dagger said with a smirk. “Now, get up.â€


They spent the rest of the day training snake style katas and practicing meditation in one of the dojos. Students came and students left. Most of them were random boys and girls who had no idea what kinds of students were mixed in with them. This was all the illusion of a normal dojo. When the assassins and the Ebon Dagger apprentices had their real training, they did so either in closed rooms or when the dojo were closed for the night. Viper and Dagger trained openly for most of the day. He had to take it easy anyway because of the injuries to his face.


Once the night's darkness cloaked Nexus' streets, Viper and Dagger sat on the dojo's roof eating rice-balls and looking out over the dark alleys of Nighthammer. There were sounds coming from the docks where dockworkers loaded and unloaded supplies to and from ships and worked on repairing flooded areas. A buzzing sound came from above their heads where they could witness an impressive flying vehicle coming from Sentinel Hill, probably after having picked up some important ambassador from Lookshy. The first time Viper had seen those flying vehicles, he hadn't believed his eyes. He couldn't say that he was used to them now either, after having seen at least a dozen of them. The fact that humans could fly amazed him. He wondered how Nexus looked from high above.


Viper had spent most of the day having Dawn in his mind. If Viper of today could talk to Viper of yesterday, they would be arguing over whether or not someone like Dawn could be trusted. She was Dragon-Blooded but there were more to her than that. He understood that being Dragon-Blooded wasn't the issue. The issue were the dynasts of the Peleps family and those loyal to them. If he followed Dawn obediently, then maybe she could help him achieve his goal.


“Daggerâ€, Viper said. “How did Dawn become the leader of the Nighthammer Squad?â€


Dagger gave him a quick look and smiled. “It was amazingâ€, he said. “She just walked into the hideout and demanded to speak with our leader. None of us had ever seen her before. We tried to fight her but she defeated us all without even injuring us. She used the Dragons' powers – created flames from thin air and moved faster than humanly possible. I've never seen anything like it.†He couldn't hold back a short chuckle. “When she had managed to draw out the leader, she spoke to him before all of us. She told him that she was going to prove herself to them all. Her abilities had already proved to me that she was beyond human, but she wanted to prove herself further. To make us trust her.â€


“What did she do?â€


“There were about a dozen imperial ships docked here at the Pool that day. Merchants, diplomats and soldiers from the Realm. Even a handful of Dragon-Blooded, pimped out in all colors jade. She killed them all and burned the ships.â€


Viper's jaw dropped. “You're kidding!? She took out a dozen imperial ships by herself?â€


“Within minutes.â€


“That really is … beyond human.â€


Dagger smiled. “Later that night, our leader stepped down. He called her master and bowed before her. It was really something.â€


Viper couldn't believe it. Dawn had burned down a dozen imperial ships and even killed a handful of Dragon-Blooded. She was not only a fearsome assassin but truly an enemy of the Realm. His respect for her grew and grew. He wanted to serve her. He had to learn from her. He wanted to become like her.


“Tell me, Viperâ€, Dagger said. “What do you remember about your family?â€


Viper leered at Dagger, surprised by the question, but Dagger still looked out over the alleys. Gray ashes begun to slowly fall from the sky and cover the street like a thin layer of dust. “Wellâ€, he said. “I remember the incident like it was yesterday. But the rest is vague. I was young.â€


Dagger didn't say anything.


“There's one thing I can see thoughâ€, Viper continued. “I can see my brother and my sister on the swing-sets. They are smiling and waving to me. I can see my father coming home from a fishing trip, being greeted by a hug from my mother. They are all smiling.†Viper couldn't resist smiling himself. “But I don't think it's a genuine memory. I think I have created it.â€


“Hold onto itâ€, Dagger muttered. “I don't have memories like that because my family never smiled. Only once did I see my mother smile. She hid me under the bed to protect me from my father. My father stabbed her with his sword and then let himself fall on its edge. I was hiding under the bed, biting my own arm not to scream. The last thing my mother did before she died was looking at me with a smile. I couldn't understand why.â€


Viper looked at Dagger and didn't know what to say. He searched for the proper response in his mind but couldn't find any. It was Dagger who broke the silence.


“But now I understandâ€, he said. “Her smile was supposed to tell me something. She was supposed to tell me to continue living. And here I am, risking my life every day as an Ebon Dagger. Taking others' who probably don't deserve it.â€


“So why do you do it?†Viper asked.


“My target is my own fear. But fear isn't easy to kill. I joined to constantly surpass myself. To perfect myself.†He finished his rice-ball and leaned back on the roof, looking up on the stars above. “Showing the tough guy act is part of the job. Acting is easy. When I was younger, killing was easy too. But since I begun training you – take this neither as an insult or a compliment – I have started to question whether or not this is the right path for me. I often feel this pain in my stomach whenever I kill someone.â€


Viper leaned back too and looked at the stars above. It was said that every star represented a god. “So what are you going to do about it?†As he said those words he could see a lonely star fall from its place in heaven. A god had died.


“I'm going to keep doing my jobâ€, Dagger said. “I'm an Ebon Dagger. There is no way out.â€


“But if you talk to Master Dawn, I'm sure she'll let you be a full-time instructor and recruiter instead of having to do assignments.â€


“Noâ€, he said. “That would make me look weak to the others. And Dust Spider already knows. He's giving me even more assignments to punish me for it. And sometimes he requires the most despicable of deeds.â€


“What do you mean?â€


“Wellâ€, Dagger said with a slight stutter. “He's a psychopath. He wants brutal, gruesome kills. Or creative, as he calls them.â€


Viper had realized the first time he met Dust Spider that he was a psychopath. He was not just the sadistic kind but the one that seemed to draw true pleasure from the act of ending life itself, like murder itself was the meaning of his existence. And yet he couldn't feel any kind of regret or even hesitation for murder, even when the victim would be innocent and be suffering greatly.


“Then stop accepting missions from himâ€, Viper tried to explain. “Don't let him lure you in.â€


“You know already … If you don't do what Dust Spider tells you to – exactly like he tells you to – you will most likely end up dead. I have seen it before. Fine assassins gone missing or ending up dead. I'm sure it's another Ebon Dagger who kills them on orders from Dust Spider. They are too scared to decline him so they kill their own comrades without hesitation.†Dagger sighed. “Like you did with Rak.â€


Viper hadn't really been thinking about the time when he killed Rak the other day. It was first now he realized that he had done it so easily. The boy had been an Ebon Dagger and Dust Spider had asked for his tongue. Why did he rip out his tongue? What would that prove? It didn't really felt like he was himself at the time. Like he had gotten an impulse to kill after his discussion with Dust Spider. Like the mere request itself had gotten him longing for murder.


“It was my final testâ€, Viper muttered. “I had to do it to join.â€


Dagger didn't say anything. He rested his head on the palms of his hands.


“Why don't you move in with me and the orphans?†Viper asked. “We got plenty of room. Milo, our oldest, found a job at a farmstead outside the city and the kids would like someone to fill his spot.â€


“I have a houseâ€, Dagger said.


“Where you live alone, yes.†Viper sat up and looked at Dagger who tried to avoid eye contact. “If you move in with me, you would have a family. Try it at least.â€


“Maybe. No promises.â€


Viper smiled. “Goodâ€, he said. “But tomorrow you'll join Glittering Wolf and myself for a trip to Cinnabar. It's her birthday.â€


“I can'tâ€, Dagger mumbled. “And it's not because she's totally hot and would dump you for me if I came along. It's because I have an assignment. This time from the leader.â€


“What kind of assignment?â€


“Can't really tell … but it involves infiltrating the Iron League.â€


“Seriously? That's quite hardcore. Who's the target?â€


“Not target. Targets. Five of them. All officers.†Dagger sat up again and stretched his arms and legs. He let his legs hang over the roof edge.


“Who'd call for such an assignment?†Viper asked. “And the Iron League too. Must be some rich slave merchant or something trying to get a market going despite the law against slavery. Are you sure it's smart to accept?â€


Dagger sighed. “Damn it, Viper! You know I can't tell you. But no … it's a valid assignment. This is a long-runner though. I'll tell you more about it when you grow in rank.â€


“So all I have to do is grow then?†Viper asked with a smirk.


Viper woke up early the following morning after having gone to bed late because of the long fight he had with Glittering Wolf about his damaged nose. He knew that she was worried about him, but the nose would heal in no time. It wasn't broken. He woke up just after the markets had opened for the day and small beams of light illuminated the small bedroom. He didn't want to wake her up. She would sleep for at least two or three more hours.


Viper couldn't help but to look at her when she slept. She was so beautiful. And now she was eighteen years old. He suddenly felt very young. There were two months to go before he turned sixteen. He knew that his relationship with Glittering Wolf was special but he couldn't help but to think about what if she actually dumped him for Dagger. He was one year older than her and he could beat Viper to a pulp if he wanted to. He had done so yesterday.


What if she saw Viper as a little brother more than a lover? He had never slept with her after all and she knew that she might have to wait years before he could actually do it. He was too … messed up. He could, for her sake, let her go out with other guys. But it would hurt him if she did.


He shook off the thought. It was time to prepare for her birthday. It was time to use his Ebon Dagger skills for other means than assassination. He would need absolute stealth. This was training!


He slowly and carefully sneaked out from the bedroom where he was met by two big, round, hopeful, brown eyes staring at him with sheer joy and anticipation. “Good morning, big brother!†Lotus said, loudly and happily, and in Viper's mind it sounded like a cacophony of clinking metal pots accompanying an earthquake and erupting volcano. So much for stealth.


He quickly covered her mouth with the palm of his hand and whispered: “Don't wake her, little loudmouth.â€


She nodded quietly and he removed his hand. She had a big grin on her face.


“I'm giving you a top secret mission, Lotusâ€, Viper said with a smile. “Can you do that?â€


She nodded.


“Wake up your brothers and sisters – quietly – and gather them in the living room.â€


She showed the biggest grin and then ran clumsily away through the corridors. Viper went downstairs and started to clean the room and the kitchen while he waited for the others. Within ten minutes, everyone but Glittering Wolf were there.


There were Mint, a fifteen year old girl who had lived with them for the last year. She had been orphaned since three years back and was still stealing food and money from time to time. She had long, dark-brown hair and green eyes. She looked more tired than most this morning since she was one of those who were out late during the nights and usually slept into late afternoon. Apparently she had been prostituting herself to older guys for drugs in the years before she joined the family. The first months had been tough, but nowadays she seemed very thankful to Glittering Wolf for giving her this home. She was still taking drugs from time to time, but she didn't seem to use any extreme methods to attaining them anymore.


One of the older guys who were there was Rume. He was one year older than Glittering Wolf and had been living with them for three years. He had always been a good guy who had never been in a fight and never stolen anything. He was working in the shop Vinegar Well up the street but chose to stay here with the family even though he could afford a cheap place to live. His biggest enjoyment in life seemed to be taking care of the kids, teaching them morale values and how to read and write.


Farim was there, obviously. He was one year older than Viper and was one of those who had been living there the longest. He joined Viper, Glittering Wolf and Wing shortly after they came to Nexus. He was a good guy who took care of his siblings and who liked to help at home. But he had his bad habits too. He tended to pickpocket and steal at the markets and bet money on street fights. At least he brought in some good amounts of silver bits.


Most of the older teens had been leaving the home as soon as they found jobs and a few had even left to try their luck away from Nexus. Most people moved in, stayed shortly and then left. There were only a few who were loyal and looked at the family as a real family. One of those were Saya, a thirteen year old girl who had a big crush on Rume. She followed him around all the time and even came down to Vinegar Well when he was working there. He enjoyed it to some extent but it got annoying the older she got. Farim used to joke about it, saying it was puberty. They had all seen it before with new girls chasing the older guys. Boys were more shy about what they felt about the girls in the house. One boy, High Leaf, had declared his love for Mint a few months ago and she replied by slapping him in the face and kicking him in the balls. Nowadays, he stayed away from her as much as he could, even though she had tried to apologize more than once.


Viper had never been followed by any girls other than little Lotus. But she was young and followed him around more out of admiration than out of love. He used to be away most of the days, either training with Dagger or having done dirty deeds with the cutthroats. Because he mostly came home only to sleep, few of the newer kids knew him very well. They still respected him because he was Glittering Wolf's boyfriend and they saw him as the mysterious leader whom they respected but knew little about. He enjoyed it to some extent.


Apart from the teens, there were five kids about Lotus' age and younger. They all came from damaged families or from suffering some traumatic event. But still they played together and showed this happy exterior Viper could only dream about. Maybe it was this new sense of comfort they had with this family that helped them cope with their losses? Chin and Chan were two eight year old twins who had been living with them for three months now. They dreamed about becoming pirates, but Viper doubted they knew what pirates really did. Bealin was a five year old who had been left on their doorstep last year by her sick mother. Everyone called her Bean and she was auiet little girl. Then there were Max and Violet, the siblings. They used to play with Lotus and were almost as smart as her.


Now when Viper was looking at all of his siblings, he realized how much he cared for them. The fact that they were everything to Glittering Wolf meant that they were everything to him as well.


“Listen up, everyoneâ€, Viper said before the crowd of orphans. “Today is Glittering Wolf's birthday and we are going to make her the biggest cake this house has ever seen. Understood?â€