by Erik Weir
Victor sighed. He knew Vala was a goddess and he was just her loyal servant. As long as he did his job, he would be in her graces. Inner nature spoke of loyalty and faith, but deep down, Victor wondered what would happen next? Once she returned, would a goddess need a mortal man beyond protecting and spreading her word? With the crusade over, would he just be another cog in a celestial wheel?
Shyryth stopped at the entrance to the black tower and turned around to face her companions. “I have some preparations to make before we begin tomorrow morning. Rooms will be ready for each of you, but for now we have some time to kill.”
Victor nodded. “I think I’ll have a drink at the tavern.”
Night looked over and gave the Blade a small smile. “I can join you?”
Victor returned her smile. “Please do.”
Shyryth gave them a small head nod and headed inside. The young man and elf turned and walked back down Main Street until they reached the tavern. Stepping insides, the place was nearly empty expect for a few older men in the corner, playing cards, drinking and talking.
Victor and Night moved to the bar and sat down on tall stools. The Champion loved the old west aesthetic. The bartender came over and even had a handlebar mustache.
“What can I get for you?”
“Two whiskeys,” Night said and put down a few pieces of gold.
The bartender nodded and stepped to the wall of liquors.
“Thanks, I seem to have lost my wallet,” Victor grinned.
Night bowed her head as two small glasses of whiskey were placed before them. Lifting each glass up, they downed the amber liquid before putting it down on the counter. The bartender filled them once again as Night gave Victor a warm gaze.
“This is a small payment for all you have done for myself and my sister,” Night smiled shyly.
“Thank you, but I’m not looking for any payment. You both needed help and I was happy we could help.”
“Vala has such a love for you and I can see why. To be so positive to an indifferent universe, it has become such a rare commodity.”
Victor lifted up his glass and sipped his drink. “Night, you don’t have to sing any praises. We can let our hair down and enjoy each other’s company.”
The elf held her glass, swirling the drink within. “I’m not sure how to behave out in the open. The shadow in my heart made it difficult for social interactions. Dawn would not let me leave our temporary homes; in case I was not myself.”
“Do you feel more like yourself?”
The elf nodded. “I do. The shadow is sick and weak, thanks to the treatments. Soon it will either die or leave. Considering how attached it had become, I think it will die soon.”
Victor lifted his glass, “To ending the nightmares.”
Night lifted her glass, “To ending the nightmares.”
The pair took long gulps until the glasses were empty and placed on the counter. The bartender poured again as the two fell into small talk.
***
Victor wasn’t sure when the alcohol hit him, but it hit him hard and fast. The elf in the dark blue robe giggled to his antics and stories. The tavern filled up a little bit at a time as the sun sank lower in the sky. Victor found himself grinning while Night continued to touch his leg after he said something funny. The swirls of haze floated on and before Victor knew it, he and Night had stumbled out into the dusty street.
The sun had just set, the sky blazing with yellows and pinks before the shroud of night consumed the heavens. The air grew cooler but Victor felt warm, the liquor doing its masterful work. Night was close, her arm entwined around his. The pair walked slowly, the tall black tower standing at the end of the dirt road.
You know, we are in Eddor. Have you tried maxing out your sphere of influence here?
Victor stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening. “Damn it, I nearly forgot.”
Night stopped and gave the Blade a bewildered gaze. Victor pulled away and concentrated through the drunken haze. Stats pulled up and populated the edge of his vision as he activated the Sphere of Mind. Spending four Divine Orbs, a surge of power energized his body.
You gained Enchant Armor!
You gained Portal Weaver!
The alerts scrolled across his vision before Victor distributed the four points to his Wisdom stat. Seeing as how he now had all six powers for the Wisdom Sphere, he knew he had to increase it so he could wield the powers effectively. Seeing the Portal Weaver ability, a drunken smile crept into his cheeks.
“It seems you’re not the only one who can open portals.”
Night smiled. “Can you show me?”
Victor gave a sloppy nod as he spent a point of Wisdom and activated the ability. A black and purple portal appeared before him, swirling in the night air. Without thinking, he stepped right up to it and inside. Darkness flowed over his gaze, unsure what to expect until another portal appeared. Taking a few steps, he saw the dark desert spread out before him and when his boot stepped through the portal, it touched nothing but air.
The Blade’s eyes widened as he fell forward and crashed onto the sandy ground. Sand bloomed in his face and particles flew into his nose and mouth. Coughing, he turned over and stared up at the star filled sky. A figure ran over and fell to her knees at his side. Night looked down on the champion with wide eyes. Above her head, the portal was ten feet off the ground and collapsing in on itself.
“I seem to have miscalculated,” Victor chuckled.
Night’s expression softened. “Portal Weaving isn’t as simple as stepping through a door. You have to focus on the destination and maintaining the portal before your forced out of it. I thought since you gained the power, you would have known the answers. For the rest of us, it takes a long time to master such abilities.”
Victor stayed on his back, turning his attention to the beautiful elf. “I have to learn through trial and error. It’s not pretty sometimes.”
Night leaned down closer, eyes filled with warm understanding. Victor kept his attention on her, seeing the look he knew too well. Nature was taking its course and he wasn’t about to fight it. With the piece of Vala inside her, it required release and the gravity of wanting touched both of their hearts.
“Always on your back I see,” said a voice from the darkness.
Night’s back straitened but it was Victor who became a blur. Points of influence slammed into his strength and speed while his gun blade slid into his hand. A Constitution point charged the gun blade as the Champion whirled around and aimed, finger over the trigger.
A man stepped from the inky darkness, hands up to his chest. A small braid hung from his right temple as the man stepped closer. Leather armor covered his body, but even in the dark of night, Victor could see black runes along the dark brown leather. A book hung at his hip, chained to his belt.
Victor lowered the gun blade as he remembered Nephy’s Champion, “Nebb? What are you doing here?”
Nebb let his hands fall to his sides as he smiled. “To see you of course. My goddess thought it would be prudent if I aided you while you are here in Eddor.”
Night slowly stood up next to Victor. Vala’s Champion didn’t call back his gun blade as he eyed Nebb.
“Well thanks for stopping by, but I think we’re okay,” Victor said with a not so warm edge.
Nebb parted his lips to speak when a small band of energy swirled above Victor’s shoulder. The Blade glanced over to it when the light flashed, a sealed letter appeared hovering in the air. Without thinking, Victor grabbed it from the air and turned it over in his hand. The name “Nephy” was printed on it.
Victor let out a sigh before the gun blade slipped back into his wrist. Stepping over to the other Champion, the Blade extended his hand and the letter to Nebb.
“It would seem Nephy is invited to Vala’s resurrection,” Victor said with a confused edge.
Nebb nodded before he bowed and took the invite with both hands. “She will be honored to attend.”
Victor ba
cked up, a sliver of suspicion still in his gaze. “Did you know about the invite?”
Nebb stood up and placed the invite in his breast pocket of his armor. “I did not. I’m here to accompany and assist you as you travel further into the East.”
“We didn’t ask…” Victor began before he was cut off.
“My goddess felt your presence here in Eddor. She insisted I aid you on your journey.”
Victor shook his head. “Who says we’re on a journey? We’re just here hanging out and you appeared out of nowhere.”
Nebb didn’t hide his smirk. “I see you think me a fool. The pantheon cannot stop talking about Vala’s resurrection. It’s filtering down to all their Champions. As Nephy said before, she feels terrible that she did not interfere when Vala was slain. She wished to make amends and sent me to aid and teach you.”
Victor lifted a brow, “Aid and teach me?”
Nebb crossed his arms. “Your sword technique needs work. Nephy showed me your fighting style and it looks like a butcher on a pig farm. Your hand to hand is much better, but if you want to be a true warrior, you need to adopt grace and finesse.”
“No thanks…” Victor said when Nebb held out his hand and energy spiraled into it.
Arcane words touched the air before a blade of blue and white energy formed into a glowing sword. Nephy’s Champion gave Victor a wicked smirk before he launched at the Blade. Victor brought up his gun blade for a parry when Nebb’s sword was an inch from striking it. Body turning, the blade flashed before the flat side of it hit the side of Victor’s knee.
Victor crumbled down to one knee as pain flared. A hand touched his back and another arcane whisper caused the air to vibrate. Victor pulled away, rolled and was back to his feet, gun blade out. The Blade noticed the drunken haze had completely vanished and he felt like his sober self again.
Nebb moved with liquid ease, rotating his shoulders. “No need to take advantage of your inebriation. It should be as close to fair as possible.”
Night stepped back, energy pouring into her hands as she locked her gaze on Nebb.
The Champion looked to the elf and smiled. “I will not harm either of you. I just want to show why you need me.”
“Night, stand back. I need to show him we don’t need him,” Victor said as the gun blade slid into his wrist and the iron sword slid out.
Victor knew he could wipe the floor with Nebb if he used his abilities, but clearly the other Champion wanted to show just how skilled he was. Victor knew he wasn’t a swordsman, but since he arrived in the realms, he had used a sword enough to get the gist of how to fight with it.
This isn’t like fighting war wolves.
Nebb eyed Victor as his feet moved with careful precision. “How about a wager? If I beat you in fair combat, I accompany you on your journey. If you win, I will return to Nephy and tell her you don’t need any assistance.”
“I’m not sure I can agree to that,” Victor said as he circled around while facing Nebb.
“Nephy only wishes to aid,” Nebb reaffirmed.
“That’s nice and all, but we can’t risk it.”
Nebb slowed his movements, sword to the side. “Nephy can feel you in her realm. No matter where you go, she and I will find you. I would much rather be at your side then waste precious moments trying to reach you.”
“What part of no don’t you understand,” Victor said harshly when Nebb flashed at him.
Time slowed down as blades clashed. Mystical sparks flew as Nebb threw his shoulders into the attack before relenting and spinning away. Victor charged, iron sword swinging at the spinning champion. Strength and speed increased, Victor burst forward, sword up and slashing downward. Nebb stopped spinning, parrying the incoming blade and stepping in closer.
Victor’s eyes rolled into his head as Nebb’s elbow blurred upwards, connecting with the Blade’s chin. Victor stumbled back and brought his sword up just in time to parry Nebb’s sword. The swordsman yawned as he lazily brought his sword down and across to Victor’s parries. Sparks flew as Victor tried to keep up. Speed and strength were just enough to keep Nebb at bay, but clearly the other Champion wasn’t even trying.
“Just as you have done, I have increased my strength and speed as well. I admire that you haven’t fallen into any temptation to use more of your power. You are a Champion of honor.”
Victor growled as he came at Nebb like a hurricane. Night could barely keep up as Victor’s sword slashed and clashed while Nebb put his left arm behind his back and fended off each incoming strike. Sparks lit up the area as the two moved, one with power and the other with grace.
“Sword fighting, much like any true artform, has rules and moves you must follow in order to win,” Nebb spoke like an instructor.
Victor continued to attack, his sword clashing against Nebb’s blade. “You mean it's not just about sticking the pointy end into the other guy?”
Nebb brushed away sword attacks without breaking a sweat, “That is the basic tenet. I’m glad you get the idea on a fundamental level.”
Victor continued to pour on the attacks when his boot flashed forward. Nebb’s body twisted away as the boot heel came close to his leg, Victor stepping in and driving his attacks. Nebb parried the incoming blows while his leg lifted up and blocked Victor’s foot. Swords and legs turned into a disjointed dance before Victor brought his blade and foot up at the same time.
A simple thought to overwhelm the swordsman filled Victor’s mind as his body obeyed. Nebb took a step back, parrying Victor’s sword but not stopping his boot. The Blade kept a serious look as his boot slammed into Nebb’s thigh, forcing it out from under him. Nebb’s body twisted as his leg shot straight out behind him while his left leg kept him up. Victor was about to capitalize on the attack when Nebb’s sword spun like a sideways tornado. In a blink, energy slammed into Victor’s sword and whipped it from his hand.
The sword flew and Victor could not tear his gaze away from his weapon. Nebb launched off the ground, spun and slashed his blade across Victor’s thigh. The Blade grunted as he stumbled back, pain flaring. Looking down, wetness appeared along the cut, but that was all he could see before a shoulder slammed into his chest.
Vala’s Champion stumbled back a few steps and his eyes went wide, the tip of Nebb’s sword an inch into his shoulder. The shock of the attack caused Victor to jump back, blood coloring the tip of the mystical sword. Hand up, the iron blade flew through the air and into Victor’s waiting hand. Nebb was on him and Victor managed to parry the attack. Nebb smiled before he stepped back, his mystical blade fading away.
“Well done, but clearly, I…” Nebb stopped short as a hand was by his head, a ball of fire glowing.
Night was standing next to Nephy’s Champion, her arm extended and a fireball hovering an inch from her hand and several inches from Nebb’s head. Victor looked to the elf, her face a mask of determined power.
Nebb raised his hands. “I mean no harm,” the Champion said before he whispered a few calm arcane words.
Flowers bloomed around Victor, petals opening and bits of white energy floating upwards. Night moved an inch closer, but Nebb simply smiled. The points of energy fluttered until they sank into Victor’s small wounds. The cuts sealed closed and vitality filled the champion.
Victor relaxed his stance, iron sword sinking back into his wrist. “Night, it’s okay.”
The elf kept her hard gaze before the spell fizzled and the fireball winked out of sight.
Nebb bowed. “Truly a worthy experience. I look forward to travelling together and showing you some of my fighting techniques.”
Victor shook his head. “Nebb, I’m sure you and your goddess mean well, but you still can’t join us. We will not risk anything that may interfere with Vala’s resurrection.”
Nebb stood up with a sheepish smile. “When the time is right, you will understand.”
Victor and Night watched as Nebb leapt into the air, flashed into a bat and flew off into the inky darkness of the desert.
Night made her way to Victor’s side, fingers touching the hole at his shoulder but feeling the smooth, healed skin underneath. “Are you well?”
Victor nodded. “Physically I feel better then fine.” The Blade looked to the dark desert, “I just think more Champions are going to come out of the woodwork the closer we are to bringing Vala back.”
“I have faith,” Night smiled.
Victor looked to her and returned her smile with his own. “Me too. Let’s get to Shyryth and tell her what happened.”
Three
Victor and Night stepped into the tower, the door closing behind them and locking into place on its own. A sense of homey comfort washed over the Champion and acolyte. The outside tower was made of stone and mortar but the inside was cozy main room with several comfortable chairs and a fireplace. Shelves lined the walls while a fire crackled. A stone staircase wrapped along the side of the room to an upper floor.
Victor breathed it in. This place was Astor’s home. Like after images of a long-lost ghost, Victor could see Astor sitting in the chairs by the fireplace, drinking whiskey and silently contemplating the universe. The shelves held rows of books and it just now occurred to Victor that Astor was an avid reader. A glint of metal caught his eye and he saw a small statue of Vala on a higher shelf with her arms out.
“I’m up here,” Shyryth called down from the second floor.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Victor told Night before moving toward the stairs.
The elf looked to him as he climbed each step until he reached the second floor. Once Victor was gone from sight, she moved to the bookshelves, gaze drinking in the many titles.
On the second floor, the stairs continued to the third floor, but before him was a wall and a thick door. Victor was about to knock when he saw the door was already ajar. Pushing against it, he stepped into the room.
Shyryth stood with her back to him, scaled hands working with a strange machine. Turning her head sideways, the Blade noticed she was wearing thick goggles as the machine vibrated before her. Shyryth took hold of a lever and pulled it down. The black and gray machine pulsed before it clanked. Pushing back the lever, a slot opened up and six glowing bullets shined in the dim torchlight.
