“Isn’t here? In the palace? He’s somewhere else then?” Asher prodded.
“No. He isn’t here,” Schafer emphasized.
The despair in Schafer’s eyes was contagious. Asher and Vai glanced at each other, feeling themselves fill with dread.
“Where then?” Asher questioned.
“I don’t know…” Schafer replied.
“SOMEONE KNOWS!” Asher roared, startling everybody in the vicinity.
Everyone looked at him cautiously, except for Schafer, who simply looked at him blankly. “You’re right. There is somebody that knows. Would you like to meet her?”
“What? Who?” Asher asked.
“Khepri Yamamoto. Formerly, Khepri Howell.”
“Wh—what?” Asher questioned, dumbfounded.
“Prescott’s daughter, and Prince Hideki’s wife,” said Schafer.
Asher was completely shocked, as was Vai. They looked at each other, simultaneously pleased and displeased.
“Would you like to speak with her?” Schafer inquired.
“Once the battle is done.”
CH 60 – Alexey XIII
At the crack of dawn, Natalie led Alexey through the side alleys towards the Naturalists’ Guild.
“That building, the large red one, is where you want to go,” said Natalie.
Alexey looked to where she was pointing. The building was large and red, but Alexey deemed those terms to be lame descriptors for what he saw. The building was architecturally unlike anything he had ever seen: indescribable. The early-morning sun glowed off the red surface in such a beautiful way, almost embodying the hopefulness of his future itself. I get inside, and I’m set for life. Natalie and I will have all we need to find our way to something better.
“I shouldn’t be in there long, I don’t think,” said Alexey.
Natalie smiled sweetly. She gave him a warm hug, wrapping her arms around him gently. “Thank you, Alexey.”
“You don’t—uh, well, you’re welcome?”
Natalie giggled, pulling away from the hug. “If I’m not by the exit gate, then I’ll be outside the walls. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to find you.”
“Understood.” Grasping the Artifact inside his pocket, he looked up at the Naturalists’ Guild building. “I better go take care of this.”
Alexey stepped out of the alleyway and walked towards the Guild. The street was sparsely occupied, and almost entirely by Winterguard patrols that paid him little mind. The Guild was walled off, but an open gateway sat in the middle, guarded by no one. Shouldn’t there be somebody guarding it? Alexey thought. He continued to cautiously approach the gate, his head kept on a swivel.
Alexey stopped at the gate and peered inside. A small grassy courtyard paved in stone walkways had a marble statue of a robed man with no face in the center. The plaque simply read: We Are One with Nature. The main lobby was modest but still impressive, with marble-furnished floors and a fountain. Alexey took a moment to admire his surroundings before feeling discomforted by the lack of people.
“H—Hello?” Alexey called. He heard only the echo of his voice.
After he waited a few seconds, a man in a red robe appeared around one of the corners and slowly walked towards him.
“Hello? Are you a Naturalist?” Alexey asked the man as he continued to walk towards him.
“Why yes, I am. Were you expecting something else at the Naturalists’ Guild? What is truly curious, is your presence here… Why are you, someone that is not a Naturalist, here at the Guild?” The man’s voice was strangely stiff yet fluid.
“Uh, well, I was informed that the Guild would value something I have,” Alexey cautiously explained.
The man’s eyes narrowed as he took the last few steps to reach Alexey. “Well we value quite a range of things. But what might you have that falls into that range?”
“Something worth quite a bit of gold,” said Alexey.
“Ah…” The man paused then nodded. “If I had to guess, you have an Artifact, right?”
Alexey’s stance took on a slightly defensive pose. “That’s a very good guess…”
“Indeed. Tell me, what is your name?”
“Uh, A—Alexey,” he stammered.
“I’m Naturalist Sterner. Nice to meet you, Alexey. So, I assume you are carrying a smaller Helion-Class and not a Hadreon-Class, since you have no bag?”
“Um… I just have an Artifact, I don’t know… It fits in my palm?”
“Likely a Helion-Class. Can you show me?” Naturalist Sterner asked.
Alexey backed away nervously, looking at the Naturalist quizzically. “I don’t—”
“I understand that you’d be very protective of such a thing after traveling with it, but you need not worry…” The Naturalist pulled a device out from his pocket that looked exactly like Alexey’s Artifact. “I just need to ensure its authenticity. You’d be surprised how many people try to sell us duds.”
“I don’t have a dud.” Alexey sneered, pulling the Artifact from his pocket and holding it out.
The Naturalist took a couple steps forward and squinted at the Artifact, comparing it to his own. He then looked back up at Alexey, an inquisitive look on his face. “Describe the sensation you feel from its touch.”
“Like it’s scalding hot and frigid cold at the same time,” Alexey answered rapidly.
“Have you deployed it?”
“Yes…” Alexey answered somberly.
“What effect did it have?”
“It…” Alexey stammered, biting his lip. “It turned people into—into something else… Black-eyed statues or…” He put the Artifact back into his pocket. Viktor…
“Curious. Well, it’s an Artifact, no doubt.”
Alexey cleared his throat, snapping back to the present. “H—how much will you offer for it?”
“Oh, you will be paid quite handsomely, I assure you. You’d be a decently wealthy man, and remain as such if you’re smart,” said Sterner.
I’m smart… Alexey thought resentfully. “I’m glad to hear that. So, I’ll give this to you, and you can give me the gold, then?” he asked.
“I’m afraid it’s not that easy. Since you are the one that found it, I presume, it has established a connection with you. We need to use our instruments to sever that connection before we can pay you for it,” Sterner explained.
“Connection?” Alexey asked, puzzled. He remembered how the Artifact seemed to speak to him in some way, offer him guidance in very particular times. How long before he lost all direction, and the Artifact assumed control of him? Perhaps severing such a connection was a good idea.
“I’m sure you have all kinds of questions. There may be some that I’m unable to answer due to oaths I’ve made, but I’ll do my best to satisfy your curiosity. Now, follow me, Alexey.” Sterner turned around and slowly walked towards a hallway at the far end of the main lobby.
The hallways Sterner led Alexey to were furnished with red marble all around, torchlights placed every few yards. The daylight began to fade as they went deeper and deeper into the hallway. They passed several doors, overhearing many muffled conversations.
“Where are the other Naturalists?” Alexey asked.
“Well, most of them here are either asleep in their chambers or up early for study. I happened to be stretching my legs when I heard your voice. Also, many members of the Guild are employed by various nobles throughout the Republic, Union, Kingdom, and two Empires. They offer counsel and advice to their respective employers most of the time, but their services will vary depending on whom they serve,” Sterner explained.
“All nobles require counsel on Artifacts?” Alexey inquired.
Sterner chuckled. “Artifacts are far from the only aspect of Nature that we study, although they are the most interesting.”
“Tell me more about the Artifacts,” said Alexey.
“There are two distinctive classes of Artifacts: Helion-Class, which is the type that you and I have, and Hadreon-Class, which a
re much larger and more volatile. Helion-Class Artifacts always have a protective shell that can disassemble and reassemble itself when necessary, but Hadreon-Class Artifacts need to be properly contained. If a Hadreon-Class Artifact’s influence seeped into the city, there’s no telling what kind of damage it could do.”
“And I thought these small ones were dangerous,” Alexey said fearfully.
“They are, they’re just capable of sealing their influence,” Sterner explained.
“So, where do they come from? Someone had to have made them,” Alexey said.
“You’re right. We don’t know where they came from, but we know without a doubt that they were made countless years ago by, uh, someone else,” Sterner explained.
“Someone else?” Alexey said, exasperated. “Who?”
“Whoever it was that made them has long since perished, from what we can tell. Why? No one knows for certain.”
Sterner continued to lead Alexey down the hall to where they no longer passed doors. The draft around them instantly felt different, and the floor and walls seemed to shift in texture.
“What… is this place?” Alexey questioned, highly confused by his environment.
“You have a very inquisitive and curious mind, Alexey. You’d be a good Naturalist…” said Sterner.
“I don’t think I would be,” Alexey said humbly. I’m still a wanted deserter. “How long will this separation take?”
“It depends on how strong the connection is. I’ve never heard of a separation lasting anything more than ten minutes, and it can be as little as thirty seconds,” Sterner answered.
“Then I’ll get my payment right after?” Alexey prodded.
“Of course. Meet me back here when you’re done.” Sterner reached a lone metallic door at the end of the hall. “When this door is open, you’ll be lowered below ground. The separation will be done there.”
“How will I know how to find it?” Alexey asked.
“You’ll know. You’ll feel an unpleasant sensation during the separation but do your best to endure it.” Sterner placed his eye in front of a panel beside the door. A green light beamed out of the panel, narrowing in on his eye. Turning gears could be heard through the door as it slowly opened.
“That is—” Alexey stammered.
“Step inside and wait. I’ll send you down and you’ll be able to find your way. When you’re done, just step back in and press the button,” said Sterner.
“Okay…”
The door opened fully to reveal a small metallic chamber, large enough to fit a half-dozen people inside. Alexey cautiously stepped forward, walking past Sterner and into the chamber. He turned around, giving the Naturalist an expectant look.
“I’ll see you up here when you’re done,” said Sterner.
Sterner pressed the panel a few more times, then the door slowly closed. When it shut, a deep thud quickly punched through the air, and Alexey felt his balance of weight change immediately. A strange buzzing echoed very mildly as he began descending.
Alexey pulled the Artifact out of his pocket and looked at it. “I’m looking forward to being rid of you. You’ve been nothing but trouble, and I’m done with trouble.” The Artifact mildly pulsed in Alexey’s hand, and he instantly felt powerful sorrow. “No… There’s nothing you can do to keep me. You can’t stop me from moving on with my life. I’ll never forget what you did to Viktor.” The Artifact remained silent.
A high-pitched and short-lived ring briefly emanated from within the chamber as Alexey felt his weight return to normal. The door opened, revealing a dimly lit room like nothing he had ever seen. The floors and walls were darker than the surface of his Artifact, but a warm blue glow emanated from an altar that sat in the center. Alexey’s Artifact instantly began speaking to him, disorienting his mind and body. He felt an overwhelming rush and combination of every negative emotion imaginable, and his body itched viciously all over.
“No! You can’t stop this!” Alexey screamed desperately at the Artifact. He promptly stormed the chamber, sobbing furiously and dreadfully. The closer Alexey got to the blue altar, the worse he felt. I… have to… get there…
Each step brought him greater agony, but each step only made him more certain of what he needed to do. Once he was next to the altar, he held the Artifact out towards it. There was a small chamber atop it, surrounded by a dense wall of blue light. He went against every instinct in his body, genuine or not, and thrust the Artifact in-hand through the light wall.
“Grrrrnggghhhhhh!” Alexey grunted and squealed as he reached peak discomfort. Every horrible memory that plagued his mind flashed rapidly with greater emotional intensity than he had ever experienced. He killed Anton… He killed Viktor… He killed every recruit in the Forest, for better or worse… He would inevitably kill Natalie… She was only using him for the money he would be making: she didn’t care for him. Every instance of gratitude on her part, every instance of genuine interest was all a malicious ruse to take from him everything that he held dear. Alexey squeezed the Artifact with the tightest grip he could muster, thus he felt his skin start to break as his hand felt engulfed in pain.
“NO!” Alexey roared with the ferocity of twenty men. His hand was released from the altar and he stumbled multiple steps away, collapsing on the ground, breathing desperately, rapidly, and heavily.
All the negativity the Artifact had imbued him with disappeared in an instant. As he continued to catch his breath, he continued to regain his clarity of mind. He got up to his feet and gawked at the altar, whose blue glow remained warm and somber. Upon closer inspection, Alexey saw the Artifact housed behind the light wall. He instantly felt absolute relief, stepping towards the side of the room, laughing excitedly. It’s done… I’m free… I’m truly free! With the brightest smile he’d ever had plastered on his face, he paced around the room, crying from happiness. Overwhelmed with relief, he fainted and collapsed onto the ground unconscious.
Alexey woke up some time later, still intoxicated with joy. His high was interrupted by faint chattering from beyond a doorway. He stood up and went over to investigate. The voices got louder and clearer as he drew nearer, and he picked up on the accents: a Midlander and a Winterlander. The Midlander seemed distraught, and the Winterlander was much calmer and reassuring. Alexey peeked around the corner to see the silhouettes of the two men.
“I still don’t know how the Firelord was able to begin his Headland campaign so soon after that fucking sapphire-wearing child decided to be so stupid! Why would any of them think that killing Harvey Miller was a good idea!? Look where that got us!” The Midlander’s voice was deep and furious.
“Calm down, Mister Chairman. Perhaps there’s a Conduit at Steeltower? Perhaps the Emberland informant network is much better than we thought?” The Winterlander’s voice seemed familiar, but Alexey could not place it.
“There can’t be a Conduit at Steeltower, the Network doesn’t show anything of that sort in all of the Emberlands!”
“You’re probably right. But what’s done is done. No need to dwell on the past,” the Winterlander assured.
“What’s done is done!? That all you have to say? I abandoned Habwaken! It’s almost certainly been completely sacked!”
Habwaken? Prescott? Chairman Prescott Howell of the Midlands? Alexey looked at the two figures, feeling himself become overwhelmed with dread. The ruler of the Midlands was in the same general area as him, talking to some Winterlander like a peer? Alexey continued to strain, thinking of who it could be… Then it hit him.
“So, the Emberlanders and Rockmen are sacking your city, and you’re here? You fled down below, took a ride to my territory, expecting favors? What do you think they’ll do when they realize you aren’t there, and that you fled like a coward?” the Arch-Senator seethed.
Volkov is here… Alexey’s heart nearly stopped. The man he was set to pledge his allegiance to… The man who controlled the Winterguard… The man he had deserted from…
“Listen, Arch-Sen
ator! Now that those idiot-asshole Yamamotos are gone, you are the only competent ally I have left…” Howell pleaded.
“You lost your capital, your empire… What do you have to offer me?” Volkov countered.
“I—I—”
“You would have me hide you from the new rulers of your lands. I would be openly declaring war on the entire North if I did that. Harboring one Northerner is enough, but you too? I don’t think so.”
“Mikhail… I—”
Howell’s words turned into desperate gurgles as Volkov’s blade opened his throat.
“Oh shit!” Alexey muttered instinctively.
The Arch-Senator perked up at Alexey, who fled back behind the wall. Howell’s gurgling began to fade, then a thud echoed throughout as his body hit the floor.
“That couldn’t be… Sokolov?” Volkov muttered as he began towards Alexey.
Abjectly terrified, Alexey fled, but Volkov’s monstrous hand grabbed him by the shoulder, catching him in his tracks.
“NO! LET GO OF ME!” Alexey screamed.
Volkov chuckled menacingly. “My sources told me you were somewhere in Zhakagrad. I’m surprised you even got this far…” he taunted.
“You killed him!” Alexey frantically accused, unable to stop picturing Howell’s opened throat.
Volkov’s icy hand gripped Alexey’s throat, squeezing furiously. “You fucking deserter! Coward!”
Alexey’s arms and legs flailed, desperately trying to get Volkov off, but he was too weak. He narrowed in on Volkov’s furious eyes, his vision fading, fading, and fading to black. Natalie…
CH 61 – Viktor VII
Hivemind was no longer a disorganized bloodbath. Black Eyes and the Bargemen had taken to the streets and brought back order to the city without any further bloodshed. Viktor was still completely unable to comprehend how. Black Eyes had seized an Artifact from the Archon’s corpse and managed to use it to influence every Bargeman in the city. Any time Viktor confronted him, there were no answers.
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