The woman pursed her lips as she took a step towards one of the weapon racks. Slowly and methodically she ran a finely manicured nail down the edge a sharp spear tip, then shot Renji a wicked smile. “Please old man, you know exactly why I’m here. My master, Lord Zion had graciously contracted some work out to your disgusting little shop.”
“I am well aware, Lady Myra,” Renji reasoned. “An order of twenty crystal-tipped spears. But according to your master my deadline isn’t until next week.”
Myra scoffed. “You were given a request from one of the most powerful men in Atherune. One would assume that I’d find you hard at work to complete such a task. But no, I walk in to see your spending your time teaching some mongrel off the street some new tricks!”
“What the hell did you say?” Roy growled, fists clenched at his side and weakened spirit aura channeling through his arms.
Renji quickly shuffled in front of Roy and put his hands up defensively. “Apologies, Lady Myra. I only thought him a potential patron. On my honor, I will-“
“Potential patron?” Myra snapped, her tone now venomous. “You thought to make a quick coin while the headmaster awaits his order? Have you no respect?”
“Please, Lady Myra...” Renji said, bowing his head slightly. “I don’t want any trouble.”
Myra let out a snide chuckle. “You have brought that upon yourself. Now, let us teach you a lesson on what happens when you don’t take the Headmaster’s requests seriously.”
Myra uncoiled one of the vines on her forearm and snapped it forward, looking to lash the old man for his supposed insolence. The vine made a cracking sound as it tore open flesh like a whip, though it wasn’t Renji’s flesh that was struck. Standing guard for the old man was Roy Skyworth, forearm raised and rage in his eyes.
“Arrogant dog!” Myra growled, recoiling the vine and lashing out with a second strike.
Roy read her movements perfectly. With the dexterity of a seasoned fighter, he stepped in close, dodging the brunt of the blow before grabbing onto her wrist. With his free hand, he summoned what remained of his spirit aura and created an aura bullet that he held just below her chin.
“Didn’t anyone teach you to respect your elders?” Roy asked, exuding a little arrogance of his own. If the woman tried anything, he was going to send her through the roof with his aura bullet.
At least, that’s what he had thought.
Myra’s lips curled into a wry grin, then she struck out. In the span of a second, her second vine uncoiled and wrapped around Roy’s ankles. With a swift and forceful yank, she pulled the void adept’s feet out from under him, forcing his back to slam into the floor and his aura bullet to fly into the ceiling.
Myra didn’t waste a single movement, planting a knee into Roy’s sternum and using her original vine to entangle his wrists. Then she pulled the vine on his ankles free and methodically wrapped it around his neck.
“You’ll find that respecting your superiors is far more important than respecting your elders, mongrel,” Myra spat, squeezing her vine whip so tightly that Roy couldn’t breathe. He wanted to fight back so badly, to put this vile, arrogant woman in her place. But, after hours of channeling, spiritcrafting, and a final aura bullet, he had nothing left. His spirit aura was drained leaving him just an empty shell that couldn’t even defend itself... and that stung worse than the whip.
Myra continued to tug at her vine, drawing Roy dangerously close to unconsciousness. “You outrealmer dogs really need to learn your place, like the old man here.”
“Please!” Renji pleaded, noticing Roy’s face had turned a dark shade of crimson. “Release him... release him and I’ll complete your master’s order free of charge!”
Suddenly the vine around Roy’s neck went slack and the blackness at the edge of his vision began to fade. He coughed for several seconds as his lungs sucked in oh so precious air.
“Fair enough,” Myra said, her grin growing even wider than before. “But your deadline still stands... and don’t think I won’t be checking up on you.”
“Yes, Lady Myra,” Renji replied, bowing low.
Surprisingly, the woman reciprocated with the slightest of bows, then she paused and drove her boot into Roy’s exposed stomach. Blood and spittle sprayed from his mouth as he gripped his abdomen in pain.
Myra gave Roy’s writhing body a nod then began heading towards the door. “Good day,” she uttered, slamming the door shut on her way out. And then, there was silence.
It took Roy a few moments to gather himself off the floor, and another few to temper his anger after being humiliated by Myra. In fact, if it wasn’t for Renji’s steady hand resting on his shoulder than he likely would’ve charged after the woman and gotten himself killed (again).
“What the hell was that about?” Roy finally asked as he paced about the room. His lack of power in this realm was beginning to become utterly infuriating. Hell, he hadn’t even had the opportunity to execute his new technique!
Renji sighed. “It’s the way of the realm, Roy. In every territory, there’s someone stronger looking to take what little you have for themselves. In Atherune, it’s the Headmaster and the other lesser lords. They’ve developed their own little system to control us, to keep us under their thumb. First, they starve us out by purchasing their goods only from the largest and most well-known smiths, people who they have strong relationships with and are likely close to lordship themselves. They direct others to buy from them as well, even use a little coercion when needed to make sure the right people are making money. Then, when we’re hungry and desperate, they contract impossible amounts of work out to small shops like my own for as little money as possible. If we want to eat, then we accept their contract or face getting blacklisted, and yet we still get bullied! And that Roy, is how they own us.”
“What about the Jade guard?” Roy stammered.
Renji sighed. “The jade storm guild that runs the guard is under the thumb of the academy… just like everything else.”
Feelings of shame began to swell in the pit of Roy’s stomach as he realized the severity of what he’d done. His actions, no, his mere presence had cost Renji any potential profits he had coming. He could’ve very well just put the man out on the street!
“I-I’m sorry,” Roy muttered, his voice catching as he gazed upon the old spiritcrafter’s sad, weathered expression. “Please, if there’s anything I can do-“
“Just go,” Renji muttered as he went to gather his tools. “I know you didn’t mean it, but... but I can’t risk her finding you here again. They’ll blacklist me for good and... and I need to eat, Roy. Now go.”
“But-“
“Go,” Renji ordered once more, his voice stern.
Anger swelled in Roy’s heart once more, anger towards his situation, towards Myra and the academy, towards the whole damn realm... but mostly towards himself. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll go... but I’ll be back. And when I come back, I’m bringing you enough money to get out of this god damned place,” there was a conviction in Roy’s voice, a sense of purpose that he’d not felt since being an officer. He hadn’t known this old man long, but he was determined to repay some of the kindness he’d been shown in this screwed up place.
As Roy made his way towards the exit, Renji paused his work and gave him a pained bow. “Farewell, Roy.”
Roy stopped at the door and bowed low and graciously, then exited into the streets of Atherune. As he stepped out, he reached for his taser and held it in his hand, his gaze resting on the item’s fresh rune. They never had finished upgrading it...
With remorse, Roy tucked the item back into his pocket and disappeared into the busy street.
****
Roy made a quiet return to the house that evening as the others were finishing preparations for the dive. After first light he and the others would be heading into the dungeon, an experience that had the potential to change his life, to change all of their lives.
Still, Roy couldn’t take his mind off wh
at had transpired that day, of the indignity he’d suffered at the hands of that damned earth adept. And still, his mind drifted further, to the look of fear in the boy’s eyes as he faced the butcher’s blade, to the feeling of dread he felt when he’d been surrounded by the darkbeasts... and to the feeling of despair he’d felt when he found out his wife and daughter were lost to him forever...
As the tempest of feelings grew inside of him, Roy rose to his feet and screamed into the night sky. It was primal scream so loud and visceral that he felt like he could shatter the stars themselves.
A few grumbles could be heard in the distance, but mostly what followed after was silence, a serene type of silence that brought back a bit of calmness into the adept’s soul. Carefully, he lowered himself into the grass and peered up into the speckled sheet of darkness. Today was his last day of weakness, his last day of bending to the will of others. He and the Sky Wolves were going to conquer the dungeon, and when he emerged, he was going to grab this realm by the neck and make it his.
Hours later, Roy drifted off in the comfort of his cot, but not before he settled one last piece of unfinished business. Resting by his head was an object barely noticeable, a small speck of violet not barely the size of a pebble... Roy’s first completed spirit stone.
Chapter 15
Into the Darkness
Dawn, Athreune City main gate
The worldstar began its ascent into the morning sky, showering Eon with its rays and forcing the veil into full retreat. Much of the realm had yet to stir, still slumbering behind the safety of fortified city walls. That is, except for the crew of the Sky Wolves.
Leila led the way, leading the other four through the city’s main gates with a long, silver spear resting on her shoulder. Closely behind followed Quinn with a large, leather sack strapped to his back and Kimoura carrying nothing but the wraps on her hands and feet. Remley and Roy took up the rear, Roy with his brown and blue adept attire, and Remley with his red coat and wide-brimmed hat. On Rem’s hip, he now sported a long, curved blade tucked safely away in a scabbard that was black as ink.
As they passed through the city gates, Roy couldn’t help but gaze up at the large statues on either side of the wall. Had... had they moved since the last time he passed through the gate?
“They are marvelous, aren’t they?” Remley said, noticing Roy stare at the giant stone warriors. “Though I wouldn’t want to get on their bad side.”
“Wait,” Roy said, a bit shocked. “They do move?”
Remley nodded. “How do you think they keep the veil from creeping into the city? Those massive golems were constructed through the combined efforts of the jade several elders and guild leaders. Coupled with a number of powerful seals, they manage to keep Atherune rather safe.”
Roy imagined one of the giant stone golems reaching down and flattening him with its massive hand. What the hell kind of threats required a defense system like that? He thought on it for a second longer then turned to follow the others.... Maybe he didn’t want to know just yet.
****
Roy followed the others for what seemed like hours, traveling into the farthest depths of the surrounding forest. The crew followed the path of the river, nearly passing by the exact spot where Roy had appeared in this world. Oddly, not a single shred of evidence from his first fight with the darkbeasts remained.
The tree line grew dense as the crew progressed further with massive charcoal-colored trunks and reddish leaves that nearly blocked out the daylight. A strange-looking beast would approach the group every now and again, but a quick show of force from Leila proved to be more than enough to stop any advances from the creatures. Luckily the forest was home to beasts of mostly first or second rank. That is, at least while the worldstar was out and the veil was lifted.
With a bit more traveling, Roy and the others reached a point of descent in the river where its dark waters cascaded in the form of an eerie yet beautiful waterfall. Leila walked to the edge of the rocky shelf with Quinn at her side and peered over the rather steep edge.
“We’re here,” she said, pulling a long, sturdy rope out of Quinn’s satchel.
Roy peered over the edge and bit back a queasy feeling building in his stomach. He was never one to be afraid of heights but it sure was a long way down….
“So, what’s so important about these relics?” he asked, trying to get his mind on something else.
Leila grunted as she secured the rope around a jagged piece of rock. “Relics contain old magic, the kinda stuff the gods used to dabble in when they walked the realm.”
“And you… sell them?”
“Mostly,” she replied. “Some sell them, some use them, and others break them down for their components. Break down a strong enough relic and you can absorb its power into your own spirit. That’s how you acquire a divine power.”
Roy nodded, soaking up as much information as he could. “Then that’s how you got your divine power?”
Leila immediately narrowed her eyes and stood straight up. “How do you know I have a divine power?”
Roy stiffened. He’d hadn’t told any of them about his spirit scan, his little cheat tool. Hell, he hadn’t even told any of them he’d chosen a specialization in the waning hours of the night previous. But no matter. As soon as they were done with their dungeon delve, he would lay out his spirit scan in detail. If this was anything like one of his operations on the force, then there was no need to create any extra distractions until it was over.
“Well I just assumed with you being the leader of the Sky Wolves and all,” he said nonchalantly.
“My divine power was an accident,” she growled, placing a hand over her strapped arm. A sudden moment of tense silence fell over the group before Leila went back to work securing her rope. Roy took that time to give her a quick partial scan.
//////////
Leila
Divine Power: Dark Passenger
/////////
He hadn’t really thought about it the first time he scanned her, but dark passenger did seem rather... ominous. If it was as bad as she made it seem then hopefully, she wouldn’t have to put it to use during their dungeon delve.
After another moment or so, Leila finished tying her rope and tossed the end over the edge of the rocky platform. The rope swayed in the wind, dangling just feet from the descending current of the waterfall.
“Alright men, if Remley’s intel is correct than the entrance to the dungeon should lie just behind the midway point of the waterfall. I’ll head in first. Follow my lead and regroup at the entrance.” With that, Leila channeled her aura and leaped from the rocky edge.
Wind swirled around the woman in the shape of a globe as she glided through the air. After falling nearly fifty feet she latched onto the rope and swung herself into the waterfall, water cascading off of her wind aura as she disappeared into the wall of water. She took the end of the rope with her, likely securing it to something unseen behind the fall.
“Well, here we go!” Remley said with a grin before latching onto the rope himself and sliding down into the falls. Quinn and Kimoura followed suit until only Roy was left, standing alone on the rocky ledge. With a deep breath, he grabbed the rope and leaped.
Wind rushed at the void adept’s face and the rope burned at his hands as he plummeted through the air. Quickly, he reinforced his palms with his spirit aura and latched onto the cord with all his might. His body jerked as the direction of the rope took him directly into the falls, flinging him through the rushing wall of water and depositing him into a secret entrance that sat in the rocks.
Roy landed with a thud, his body slamming into the rocky floor as the other four watched in amusement.
“Smooth,” Leila said as she gave her head a shake. Kimoura, on the other hand, leaned over and hoisted him back to his feet.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get it,” she said as she gave the man a warm smile. The woman always seemed so positive and full of hope. If anything, it was a bit uplifting.
The main corridor of the dungeon was like a large, oval-shaped tunnel carved directly out of stone. Much of the entrance was damp and full of a thick mist, though that was likely because it was hidden directly behind a waterfall. However, as the group ventured further the misty air was quickly replaced with a deathly chill.
“Are all dungeons normally this cold?” Roy asked as he channeled his spirit aura through his limbs to fight off the biting chill.
“Not typically, no,” Remley replied candidly. “This cold is being spread unnaturally, likely from some sort of item or creature.”
“Lovely,” Leila added, pushing away the chilled air with a gust from her wind aura before shooting Rem a piercing glare. She clearly did not enjoy the cold.
As they walked, Roy examined the strange-looking foliage creeping its way through the cracks in the stone walls, thin grayish vines with tiny curved thorns potruding from the sides.
//////////
Item discovered: Blade root
This item is typically used as a component in blade-crafting and other related potions. It can only be found underground
//////////
Curious, Roy removed a long vine from the wall, coiled it tightly as to not get poked, and shoved the item into his pocket. Perhaps he could find a use for it later.
“Interesting place, isn’t it Roy boy?” Remley asked, noticing the man’s genuine curiosity.
Roy nodded. “How the hell did you find this place again? I mean, it was hidden underground beneath a damn waterfall.”
Remley let out a chuckle as Quinn turned to answer. “It was thanks to your boy Remley’s unrelenting charm. You see, there’s this guild called the godsayers and they have the ability to see visions, the kinds that unmask secrets hidden on Eon. The Godsayers aren’t much for fighting, so when they come across the secret the location of a dungeon, they’ll sell it for profit. Remley happened to know one such emissary with a secret to sell. But rather than pay her in coin, he used his charm to tap into her… carnal desires.”
Edge of Eons: A Cultivation Novel (The Adept Archives: Book 1) Page 13
