The Way of the Clan 6: World of Valdira

by Dem Mikhaylov

  “A player on the Guild of Architects panel? What did he do for that honor, sell his soul?

  “Maybe he did,” shrugged Brave. “But probably, he earned it. He’s an alchemic legend! I have a pamphlet about him, I can lend it to you, if you want.”

  “I don’t really feel like reading. But I get the gist,” I nodded, looking at the ingredients, which were now enveloped in white and blue smoke, and quickly turning into gleaming ice cubes. Freezing items saved them from damage. But I had also noticed something else— Brave had changed quite a bit since our last meeting. He became more serious. The charm in his face remained, but his eyes had lost their absolute serenity. “Listen, how have you been anyway? Did something happen?”

  “An adventure happened to me,” the Alchemist laughed, returning the frozen bag to me “The search for a skeleton lily sometimes leads to very exciting and dangerous adventures.”

  “Did you find the lily? Or just the adventure for now?”

  “Found it! But that’s where it all started… ugh… if not for a group walking past me at that moment, who knows what could have happened.”

  “I see.”

  “And by the way, it was a hell of a party! A dwarf, a master card and a bard! A gnome with a wild boar! The dwarf with an eagle! Can you imagine? And it began so interestingly… I reached out my hand, and…”

  “Brave,” I interrupted, getting up from the bench heavily. “Buddy, why don’t you tell me tomorrow? Over a mug of dark beer. I’ve been in the game so long— decay will start soon.”

  “Got it. Wait a few minutes though, I’ll double pack everything in ice for you. Or it’ll go bad, after all!”

  “Here,” I dumped out the bag. “Take it. A couple of guys will be here in a few. Well, you know them— Doc and Bom.”

  “Uh-huh. The doctor and the half orc with a calculator instead of a brain. I remember.”

  “Wonderful. They also have bags of stuff. Feel free to add the preservation of their goods onto my bill. If Bom tries to make you sell your own mother… I don’t know. Hang in there.”

  “Thanks for the advice. And for your generosity.”

  “Sure. See you,” I smiled, and walked towards a dark blue four story building with semicircular balconies. The inscription read “The Stone Shelter.” In a couple of minutes, I arrived. I was right— Decay was really starting, and the colors had begun to fade.

  A cold wave passed through my ribs.

  Well, that’s to be expected.

  The girl on duty in the hotel had a very kind smile. First she said hello, and then, after peering into my face, her voice contained a tone of concern:

  “Good lord, are you tired. A little rest wouldn’t hurt.”

  Interesting… I was walking straight, my legs weren’t dragging, I hadn’t stumbled. How did she decide I needed a vacation? A guess? I do not know… and right now, I don’t care.

  I smiled and thanked her with a nod, and went up the oak stairs, clutching to the large carved railings. I found my door without a problem, turned the knob, and stepped inside.

  And stopped short, as though I had bumped into an invisible wall. My hand reflexively grabbed the collar of the wolf and pulled him to my side and Tyrant retreated reluctantly.

  A hum, a crackle, a wave of pearly light.

  Fuck!

  The Ancient Guard was hovering in my private room! The star is big, it hardly fits, the beams trapped between the floor and ceiling.

  What the hell is going on?!

  I wanted to think but gray was overcoming me, and the desire to sleep.

  The guard turned down to the floor, laying himself flat, and a ray of light briefly lit a tiny object on the floor.

  The buzz intensified and beams blinked frantically, and then the guard stood back upright and jerked in my direction. The bright light aimed at the wall and the door, where I was standing. The wall shimmered, and a couple of dozen bricks budged and turned sideways, freeing up space for an exit.

  The giant star guard passed close by to me— I could smell the scent of ozone, and the hair on my head began to stir with electric charge.

  The guest disappeared around the corner of the corridor. Slowly, the red bricks returned to their position. I walked quietly into my room.

  Tyrant followed me, growling and baring his fangs. He was angry— someone had broken into his lair.

  Taking a few steps forward, I bent down to one knee and looked at the object the guard had been studying.

  On the floor lay a completely unremarkable rink.

  Carved ivory, covered with strange characters of unintelligible script. Above it was an inscription I could barely make out, weary as I was: “Symbol of the Clan of Dead Sands.”

  “What the hell is going on here?” I choked. “What the devil, what the hell, what in the bloody hell is going on?!”

  “Dad…” A sleepy and joyful voice resounded in my head. “You’re back, daddy…”

  “I am, I am,” I muttered soothingly. “You go on back to sleep.”

  “I do not want to sleep, dad,” came the response. “I’ve slept.”

  “I’ve slept…” Said a voice outside of my head, emanating from the far corner of the private room. There was the large, opaque pearl ball. The cradle of the future goddess swayed slightly, and I heard a ringing crystal pitch. “I’ve slept… and now I want to play…”

  “Play,” I swallowed hard, picking up the bone ring and putting it on the ring finger of my left hand. “Let’s play tomorrow. Tomorrow for sure, okay?”

  “Tomorrow…” The answer came after a fairly long pause. “Play tomorrow…”

  The pearl moved again and then it stopped.

  And a knock on the door made me jump as though I had been stung by a scorpion.

  “Who’s there?” I said harshly, cautiously approaching the door.

  I hope it isn’t the guardian of the ancients. And not an Immortal either.

  “I’m sorry to trouble you, good sit. It’s a message from the honorable keeper of the animal stalls. He is glad that you have completed your journey successfully. And hopes that tomorrow you can pay a visit to his modest shop. End of message. Will there be an answer, good sir?”

  “Yes,” I said, opening the door with a smile and handing a gold coin to the girl. “Say that I will surely be stopping by his wonderful shop. Keep the change, ma’am.”

  “Thank you for your generosity, sir,” said she, with another radiant smile— and then, the girl was gone.

  “The hell am I supposed to do now, huh?” I asked grimly, turning to the muzzle of the wolf, who had poked his head out of the doorway.

  “Wuf?” Tyrant said, watching the girl walk away.

  “Not with her,” I muttered. “I have no time for women… I am now a single father. And I haven’t chosen a school for her yet. And the Silver Legend, and the shop with the mysterious owner. Oh! And also the mad god in Tantarial, locked away in hell! What am I supposed to do? Hm?”

  “Urf!”

  “Forget about it? What a piece of advice, friend… but, maybe you’re right…”

  “Urf!”

  “And don’t remind me about Lizanna! If Kira overhears, then it’s the end of me! Go to sleep, anyway!”

  “R-r-r!”

  “You don’t want to? Then let’s go to the roof and howl at the moon together, how about that…”

  To look at the equipment right away? No…

  Immediately after I get back. And now I must exit, exit as soon as possible. I feel awful. Everything is fading before my eyes.

  Part Two

  Rush!

  One straw left for later may return as a blow of timber.

  (Ros’ dream after experiencing decay)

  Chapter Five

  Where to Go, What to Do…

  A Conversation With Trouble

  In the apartment we had rented, until recently, there was a white wall. One on which you wanted, more than anything, to hang a couple of pictures. Peaceful scenery, landscapes and
still life.

  When I climbed out of the game cocoon, I did a few stretches, allowing the muscles to recover. Then I checked on Trouble’s cocoon and enjoyed her peaceful expression through the translucent cover. It looked a little— god forbid— like a crystal coffin containing a sleeping beauty. Only she wouldn’t wake with the kiss of a prince— because so help me god if I let some prince waltz in here and try to kiss my girlfriend. I would shove his crown up his… oh, my fatigue was sure doing wonders.

  But even my kiss wouldn’t wake her, unless I kissed her and pressed the emergency exit button at the same time… but somehow, I was certain that Kira would not be pleased with that.

  So I didn’t bother Kira. In Valdira, she had perhaps already died and made her way to the mainland— or perhaps, she was still watching the battle between the Sleepless and the giant. I wouldn’t refuse to witness this, either— but I would prefer being a normal viewer, watching it on the couch with a bucket of popcorn, and not as a war reporter in the midst of the fighting. Closing the door to her room, I got into the hall, and remembered with some difficulty the placement of the shower in our new apartment. I stood under the hot water jets for ten minutes, two more minutes under ice cold water, and then for five more under the hot water. The tried and true method didn’t disappoint. I returned to the room refreshed, shaved, with brushed teeth, fresh boxers and a T shirt. And why was I so clean and dressed up?

  Just for kicks.

  My girl would crawl out of the cocoon any minute now, sweaty and exhausted, and I would jump up and help her out, all fresh, smelling of toothpaste and cologne, offering her a cup of Turkish coffee. No, that would be too much. In any case, she would get angry and run to the bath in the midst of my laughter.

  Heh… the Outland has made me rather… Outlandish…?

  As I formulated my cunning prank, my hands found a jar of chilled tomato soup. I also found a thick black market. And I walked to the spotless wall.

  Pleasantly sipping the salty liquid, which reminded me of chilled blood, I stood there for a moment, gathering my thoughts. Then I began to sculpt my masterpiece…

  Not a sculpture, no.

  Among Neanderthals, I would have probably been a Michelangelo…

  I would have even received an approving club to the head— so that I could not ruin any more cave walls.

  On the wall, one after the other, appeared words and characters.

  Why did I suddenly start writing on the walls? It’s simple— I had had enough. I had gone off of the deep end, perhaps. I stood there in the real world, sipping tomato soup, scribbling with my marker— and in the world of Valdira there is a goddess awakening, there are ships being lowered into the water. They are awaiting the Navigator. It is an offer I cannot refuse.

  Besides, there were things that were truly haunting me. Things that I needed to get right. Even the Immortals cannot breach the privacy of the private rooms! Even if any being can, they never do so without permission— and anyone who does is quickly punished for such high handedness. And some stupid star was able to get in, and not only that— it also casually shuffled around the bricks in my wall!

  So that was the first thing I wrote down. I wrote in a column all things which, in my opinion, had something in common.

  The group contained a lot of items.

  Clan of the Dead Sands

  Alishana.

  The ring.

  The ancient guardian.

  The Black Baroness.

  I wrote this, but could not figure out any connection for the life of me.

  Even if I tried to think hard… well…

  The Baroness took full training from the mysterious and aggressive clan of the Dead Sands, which in turn gave rise to Alishana, who had the same skill set as the Black Baroness and who gave me the ring before parting. The ancient guard was so interested in the ring, that he broke into my private room to study it. But he didn’t take it! Just looked, illuminating it with his mysterious ray of magic, and then pushed past me and disappeared.

  In short?

  The Baroness— the Clan of the Dead Sands— Alishana— Ring— Guard.

  And I, myself?

  I flashed throughout these series of phenomena sparingly.

  Oh, such words… by the way, at the moment, I was trying to channel the wisdom of my bald headed, tattered-eared friend. But I don’t have such gifts…

  And what was I supposed to do with the groups of words and arrows on the wall?

  A solution?

  But how?...

  At the bottom of the column, I drew a thick black line, like a denominator, and added underneath it:

  Talk to Alishana.

  Give information to Orbit and talk to Alishana.

  Pay a visit to the desert inhabitants.

  Talk to the Baroness.

  What else? Not much, in this column.

  Near to the first column, I detailed a different scenario:

  Navigator.

  Zar’graad.

  Ancient.

  Guard.

  Meaning…

  The Navigator is able to “open” the way towards a lost continent, where once lived a race of the Ancients, served by the indestructible guardians.

  Another interesting and rather frightening version of the main narrative. But it was quite significant. Why did the guard break into my room and check out the ring? Because, perhaps, he was looking at all the objects, and I had just happened to catch him at the last object. That’s all. And I began to put extra variables into the equation by mistake.

  Solution to this puzzle?

  Hm…

  I have no idea. Unless:

  I wrote in caps: talk to Orbit???

  What’s next?

  Silver Legend.

  First location: The Lake Naykal. Giant pike monster, living somewhere in the dark depths.

  Method of obtaining: catch, kill, retrieve legendary item.

  Second location: dense forest, with ogres.

  Method of obtaining: kill all of the ogres, spit on their graves, take legendary item.

  Very funny. I’m obviously not much of an analyst… I can see only unresolved problems.

  How can I catch a giant pike fish? Only if I boil or drain the lake… and I myself cannot do this. Enlist the Sleepless Clan? To be honest… I don’t want to. I’ve been working too closely with them lately. Enough.

  And if this is true, if I do not want to negotiate with a clan, then I have to make a very simple and expensive step: I need to hire a specialized unit. Pro players of this sort are walking legends. It is said that they will take on any job— but the cost of this is hard to imagine. They are the coolest veterans, the most elite fighters. They are respected, even by the local kings and gods. And most important for a unit such as this is reputation.

  But is it worth it? Those guys can get insanely expensive…

  How much real money does one of the legendary gloves cost?

  After today’s raid in the Outland, I had secured enough. But was the glove worth such a sum? Wasn’t it time to stop? Was it really necessary to find the entire legendary set before departure to the promised land?

  Having finished the remains of the soup, I crumpled the can and threw it into the bucket. I opened another and went back to the wall with a heavy sigh, intending to cross out the words “Silver Legend,” but my hand just froze, not wanting to do it…

  I’m just like a child! Damn it!

  Interrupted, I moved my hand slightly over and wrote the word “Daughter.”

  Daughter.

  Time.

  Temple.

  A simple and easy chain. We only need to decide which temple she goes to.

  Dark or light. Definitely light, I thought— writing the word next to the arrow pointing out from the word “temple.”

  “Ros…” I heard a quiet voice, and two thin arms embraced me. Kira buried her face in my back.

  “I would like to wake up with you and not alone,” she said irritably.

 
“In the cocoon?” I snorted. “Right… like canned sardines…”

  “Give the soup…”

  “Go wash up.”

  “I’ll drink it on my way to the bath. The road is lo-o-ong,” sighed Trouble the miracle, and, taking my can, made her way to the bath. “Your tea kettle is boiling. And don’t erase what’s on the wall. I’m int-tere-s-t-ed…”

  “Did you kill the giant? Or not? And how are the Sleepless doing?”

  “They killed the Baron. Malice got hit too. And Baroness…”

  The door to the bathroom shut and Kira went in for a bath.

  “Did she live then, or die?!” I couldn’t resist.

  “…Dark blue… Mud…” Came fragments of a voice from the pouring water. “Orbit cried…”

  “The road is long, she says. As though we live in a palace,” I muttered, taking another can of soup. Well, I guess there were benefits to surviving on canned foods, after all— it certainly helped when one had no time nor energy to cook. Though, of course, it didn’t work wonders for our stomachs. And of course, when Kira’s family Cerberus found out that I wasn’t putting my best efforts forward in terms of cooking, it would be very bad for my health…

  “I’ll make a nice vegetable minestrone,” I made a decision. “Simple and delicious. Hm… and meanwhile…”

  “Meanwhile” lasted for ten more minutes and did not yield any results. I just stared at the groups of words and, sighing heavily, scratched my head.

  And then I spat on everything and, with two short strokes, crossed out the Silver Legends group. I crossed out everything but the first line— “Lake Naykal.”

  I also added on the meeting with the pet store owner.

  I decided to stop thinking about it for now and tend to the soup.

  I was now in the Lake District in Valdira, in the city of Lucerne Hill, ten or fifteen minutes of travel away from the animal shop. If the local old man wanted to talk to me right away… so be it. Locals are often capricious. They can quickly change their minds. So I would visit the shop first thing tomorrow, receive praise for Tyrant, and tour the lake of Naykal afterwards. I will chat with the fisherwomen and fishermen, inspect the waters. Or perhaps the other way around! First I will tour Naykal, then visit the shop— perhaps I can have a leg up on the shopkeeper. Maybe I will find out some secrets by depriving the old man of his trump card— and thus, I will have an advantage by going to the lake first. The old man seemed far too interested in my wolf statue…