When Argrave and Anneliese emerged from the Alchemist's fortress of obsidian, their party stepped forward eagerly to receive them. They had all seen the strange chimera named Pawn imitating Argrave, and now concern drove them in greeting. Their eagerness was abated by the looming giant that followed them. As the Alchemist exited, the vast black doors closed shut, pulled closed by an unseen force.đłrđeđđbđđŒveđ.cođș
When finally the two groups met, Argrave looked between everyone awkwardly. He patted the side of his legs and declared, "We've come to an accommodation."
"And what is the cost?" Castro questioned, supporting Ingo on his right. The blue-haired man stared up at Argrave from his stupor, appearing able to think clearer than most times at present.
Argrave looked down to the old tower master. âI think youâll be rather pleased. The Alchemist has agreed to extract Ingoâs blessing, asking for nothing more than the privilege of performing process itself and the waste from its results.â He glanced back at the giant behind, its pale hands held neatly before it. âYouâll need to ask more specific details from him.â
âNoâŠ!â Ingo said, attempting to shout but lacking the strength. He pushed off from Castro and lurched forward. Castro tried to stop him, but managed only to make Ingo kneel instead of faceplant. âI told you that my eyes are needed. Take them as you claimed eyes here before, and evolve once again,â he pleaded. âYouâll die. Weâll all die.â
âBeing able to use your body until its death is not a satisfying enough trade when the blessing might be mine,â the Alchemist said. âI have plans for it.â
âIngo, whatâŠ?â Castro looked bewildered, eyes darting from all who had spoken.
âIngo wanted me to offer his life to the Alchemist so that I might get his blessing for myselfâwell, an improved version, at least.â Argrave knelt down before the collapsed Ingo. âBut you heard the Alchemist. He doesnât need or want your life for this. And the fact that you didnât know that, Ingo, shows the limit of your ability. If the god who gave it to you cannot end the cycle of judgment, what hope have I? No⊠I have another route. My own. The only one that suits me.â
âBut the shadow⊠the shadow grows so tall. And youâve burned alone so long,â Ingo said, eyes bloodshot.
âThis is no way forward.â Argrave rose to his feet. âI never thought this would be easy. But historically, Iâve never really fought someone on an equal level to me, so Iâm well used to tall shadows and things beyond my ken. Let me worry about Mozzahr, and banish these ideas about sacrifice.â He looked at Castro. âThe Alchemist will cure your apprentice, and heâll live. Rest assured.â
Castro looked like many thingsâindignant he was lied to, grateful Argrave had refused Ingo, and confused about the future. But the man was a leader through and through, and so nodded, accepting the situation calmly and choosing the best option. Argrave glanced back, nodding at the titan whoâd become his ally.
The Alchemist looked down on Castro as though the S-rank spellcaster was as insignificant as an ant and said, âBring him. Do not speak or act against me. I have promised no harm will come to Argraveâs allies, so long as they do not push their boundary.â
Argrave grabbed Castroâs shoulder. âListen to him. No matter what, donât act rashly.â
Castro looked at Argraveâs hand, then back at the Alchemist. âYou seem to forget that I am well-versed in knowing when I am outmatched. I was not always the tower masterâIâve avoided stepping on toes for a long, long period of my life.â The tower master left questions that undoubtedly burned in his mind unspoken, and instead merely asked, âYouâll be waiting here?â
âNot if all goes my way.â Argrave shook his head. âIâll be returning to Vasquer. The Alchemist will bring you back.â
âWhat will you be doing?â Castro questioned, puzzled.
Argrave spared a glance toward Orion. âFamily matters.â
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Argrave and Anneliese stood shoulder to shoulder, watching as the Alchemist led Castro into the obsidian abode. The stage was amply set. All that remained relied on the Alchemistâs ability. Gaining Ingoâs blessing was not something that suited himâErlebnisâ alone was more than he needed at this stage. When the doors shut behind them, Argrave shifted his feet nervously and looked to his brother.
âHave you something to ask?â Orion pressed, eager and ready to serve.
Good lord, thought Argrave as he looked upon his golden-armored brother, who served as his royal guard. The idea of mentioning what he was about to mention to Orion, of all people, was an idea that never would have crossed his mind at almost any point. But Orion had changed significantlyâhis anger was curbed, his zeal was diminishedâor redirected, at least, to Vasquer as a wholeâand he was altogether calmer. And so Argrave dared.
âElenore told me that it was you that buried Felipe after he died,â Argrave began hesitantly, stepping closer.
Orion stayed silent for a long moment, and then reached for his helmet. He took it off, struggling briefly to disentangle his long braid of black hair and bushy black beard. When it was off, he held it in the crook of his arm and stared down with his gray eyes firm as stone.
âYes. Allowing me to bury Felipe was one of the concessions that cooled things between Elenore and I.â He looked off to the side. âEven though you hate him⊠and Elenore, far more justly so⊠he is still my father. He deserved a burial, not to rot in some mass grave, and so I gave him one.â
Argrave asked hopefully, âWas it in the family mausoleum?â
ââŠno,â Orion answered after hesitating a heartbeat. âElenore would not allow that.â He lowered his head in resignation. âInduen was interred there, but not Felipe. Nor Levin, for that matter. I buried them together, at a spot intimately familiar to the family. Back when⊠back when things were not broken.â He fixed Argrave with his steady gaze. âBut why do you speak of burials? What happened in there? Is all okay?â
Argrave sighed and looked around, trying to conjure words. He dared to say plainly and straightly, âI need to exhume Felipe.â
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Elenore caressed her forehead, feeling a rising headache. She looked at the messenger that had come in, and then said bitterly, âSend her in.â
With the order given, Elenore leaned back into the wooden chair. The Margrave of Parbon seemed to frown at the use of comfortable furniture, and after riding a beast like a wyvern her body protested at sitting like this for so long. Eventually, the doors parted, and Melanie entered.
Elenore took on her strict affect and began, âYou were instructed toââ
âMozzahr wants to parley with Argrave,â Melanie said at once. âI thought this was pretty important news that youâd like to learn now, rather than later. There are⊠there are messages strewn throughout the whole of that city, just waiting, like little beacons calling out to us. I never saw hide nor hair of the Ebon Cult, but it felt like I was being watched the whole damned way.â She shook her hands off as if dispelling some sort of foulness.
Elenore leaned back in the chair, somewhat surprised. Then, she leaned forward and demanded urgently, âTell me what you saw.â
âLike I told youâmessages,â she explained, then laid out a paper. âHere.â
Elenore seized the paper and read through it urgently. It was little beyond what Melanie had disclosed; it did not announce who Mozzahr was, or what he wanted, merely that he hoped to meet Argrave on neutral ground and discuss the futures of their two nations.
âAnd before you askâyeah, weâve been doing the other things,â Melanie continued, scratching near a scar on her face. âGot some of those dwarven thingamajigs. Plundered enough warehouses that it felt unfair. Built little safehouses, just where Argrave marked. Map worked out splendidly, by the by. And thatâs just the problem.â Melanie walked a little closer. âFelt like it was too easy. We fought monsters, true enoughâspiders big enough that they had eyes that dwarfed my head, and all the like. They were hard to kill. But the Ebon Cult gave no signs of life, almost like it didnât exist. No signs⊠save those damnable messages, plastered about like advertisements.â
Elenoreâs eyes squirmed as she thought furiously, and then as rationality set in she slowly set down the paper. âWho else knows of this?â
Melanie pointed a firm finger. âI thought you might want to keep this quiet, so I tried to quarantine it. An impossible task given these things are everywhere, but Iâve restricted it to the Stonepetal Sentinels alone, plus the men you sent with us to scout with druidic magic,â she explained. âEerie place. That city, that place⊠ominously beautiful, with that blue lightshow dancing above the marble. Then these messages everywhere, like itâs all some sort of tribute to Argrave. The manâs done a lot and so has quite a few devotees, but Iâm thinking he wonât be overfond of knowing heâs got fan mail plastered all over the underground.â
Elenore rose to her feet, wincing with soreness. âYou⊠did well, bringing this to me,â she praised, whatever lecture sheâd prepared dead in the water.
âDo you want me to keep on as I have been, head back in?â Melanie asked seriously.
Elenore looked out the windows of the Lionsun Castle, peering out at the Burnt Desert beyond the rock valley. Finally she said, âYes. That plan canât change. It doesnât make sense to stop gaining a foothold underground.â
âAlright. Figured as much,â Melanie nodded. âHope I was of help.â
âYou were,â Elenore nodded.
âIf thatâs the case⊠can I ask what you intend to do?â
Elenore walked back to the letter, reading it once more as she thought. She slowly crumpled it in her hand.
âIt seems there have been more layers added to this game,â Elenore managed only, without a true answer for Melanieâs question.