Luke took hold of the ledger; his hands trembled in anticipation.
Sitting with his legs crisscrossed, he breathed in the evergreen-scented air suffused by the trees around the meadow. The grass was thankfully dry, and Timber sat suspiciously close to him. Iona closed her eyes, but by the aura coming off her, she still paid full attention to him.
Trying to push back the red cloud of anger from rough treatment for ‘daring’ to read the package about his father early, he flipped the title page back.
The Fasa House of Commerce has sourced the following information at the request of Aspirant Luke, a valued customer and a person to which a caravan of ours owed a great debt.
What follows has been verified to our best possible standards, but we cannot guarantee it to be accurate. Events may be chronologically incorrect or half-truths. Considering Aspirant Luke’s familial relation at the time of this report, we offer our condolences to him.
Luke took a bated breath, and the sounds of the meadow faded into the background. He could feel his mouth go dry.
Paul Wallace was confirmed to spawn at the Ducal Capital of our great nation, Aelon. With him came dozens of others that day to the city and thousands across the Duchy. As is the case with most farworlders, the majority were found to be dead within their first year. Especially those with a combat disposition, otherwise called a ‘class.’ It should be to Aspirant Luke’s great relief that the Fasa House of Commerce believes Paul Wallace is all but confirmed to be alive.
“All but confirmed to be alive? What is there to doubt?” Luke gulped, keeping his eyes from quaking.
Paul Wallace was gifted the rarest variant of alchemist, the elixirist class. In particular, he was found to have an excellent talent for blood elixirs. Using his business acumen, the intrepid man managed to have most of the lower and middle-quality herbs and materials used for elixirs funneled to him by Aelon’s hunters. He displayed incredible focus, long-term planning, and relationship-building in a short period. With this funnel of materials and an unrivaled mix of dedication and talent, Paul Wallace soon became relatively known in the city for his elixirs and their effectiveness, reaching the peak of tier 1 in near-record time for alchemists.
Luke laughed, “That’s Dad, alright, always good at anything he bothers to try at. He became an elixirist? Wonder what’s the difference between those and potions…”
Iona opened an eye and revealed a sad look before subtly closing it once more. Waiting.
The Reaver read on. He rocked back and forth slightly, and vigor entered him.
With the urging of hunter groups worried about his meteoric rise without any reliable protection, Paul Wallace adopted the profession of Bowmen. With his connections to various well-established, equipped, and powerful hunters in Aelon, he quickly reached the cap of level twenty-five within two months. Unfortunately, with his incredible focus reserved for his class and not his profession, the man stagnated at level 25, never reaching the next tier for the profession. As his hunter connections were assuaged by their trusted elixirist obtaining a minimal ability to protect himself, Paul Wallace shut himself from the world, only fulfilling orders of elixirs from previous connections.
“Incredible, but what were they worried about? Wasn’t Dad only making elixirs for people as they needed? What is he needing protection from?”
Periodically, men in white robes were seen coming to and from the small shop Paul Wallace was known to work in, believed to either be part of the clergy or another greater organization. With eye-witness accounts, neighbors to the store overhead Paul Wallace complaining about ‘holy requests.’ At this time, Paul Wallace used his crafting abilities to not only rocket through the 2nd tier but also up to the 3rd. By his tenth month on Ludus, Paul Wallace had become one of the top ten elixirists in the entire Duchy. This caught the eye of the top elixirist in Sylen, Brisen Thudergast, a monic man constantly searching for a way to reach the 4th tier. Respecting the remarkable feat and break-neck growth speed, Brisen Thundergast invited Paul Wallace to become a research partner in Sylen, where he is based.
“Dad’s already a big shot? If he’s this Brisen guy’s research partner, doesn’t that mean he’s the second-best elixirist in the city? Why hasn’t he found me then, or why haven’t I heard of him being here?” Luke laid a hand down on the meadow against the grass, his fingers unconsciously tapping repeatedly. Luke’s essence flared, but Iona kept it in check. It bubbled within all the same.
Timber stretched, circling Luke in a relaxed manner. The bear sniffed the air and grunted in communication to Iona. The Beastmaster lightly shook her head and mouthed words back to Timber that Luke was too entranced to notice.
Accepting the invitation, Paul Wallace set out from the Aelon. He employed a professional hunter group for the escort from the Ducal Capital to the Bastion City, Sylen. According to reports from the hunter group, they encountered no hindrances during the journey. Detailed within the same report, they last saw Paul Wallace off from the South Gate entrance into Sylen. Afterward, they turned around and went back to their city of operations, Aelon.
It is often blamed that this small gap caused the Duchy of Elaria to have the most talented elixirist in its domain to meet an unfortunate outcome.
Aspirant Luke, it is our deepest regret to inform you that Paul Wallace was last sighted at the southern quadrant of Sylen. Despite the efforts of many interested parties, including the Defiers Guild, The Royal Faction, investigations such as this one, and those close to him, he has disappeared without a trace for over six weeks at the time of this report.
His whereabouts and reasons for his disappearance are entirely unknown.
“I…” Luke’s hands trembled intensely. He bore into the report with a glare. The blow to his spirit sent him into shock. Xera shook, about to speak, but stopped when Wayfinder swung from side to side, warning her off.
The young man stood up, rooted, and denial surged throughout him. He began to heave; his heart sped up. Luke ripped the report to shreds, but it only enraged him further. He tried to think, but a complete red haze prevented any attempt. Driven by emotion, he tried to flow essence around his body, but the attempts fell flat due to Iona’s interference.
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Ice began to coat his body slowly, responding better to his call but subdued. Iona began to sweat lightly.
“He shouldn’t be able to manage even that. What’s hiding within him?” She whispered to herself.
His eyebrows slanted, and he fixated on Iona, “You knew.”
Iona opened her mouth, but Luke lost all patience.
“WHERE THE FUCK IS HE! WHO THE FUCK TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME AGAIN?” He smashed his foot against the soil beneath him, a patch of meadow grass tore up from the impact point.
Luke stepped forward, but Timber stood between Iona and him.
“Calm down, Luke-”
“CALM DOWN? Someone caused my dad to go missing, and you want me to calm down?” Luke laughed in anger. The young man’s expression became emotionless, only tone and hand movements betrayed his inner thoughts.
He turned around and marched to a tree, concentrating more on the suppressed essence. He said, “Listen to my command. Never bend to the will of others.” Frost covered his fist, cracking the seal Iona attempted to place. The Beastmaster perspired profusely, “Control yourself, Luke. Timber doesn’t hold himself back as well as I do.”
Luke smashed his fist through the tree, and a hole splintered into existence. The tree began to creak under its own weight, threatening to tumble down. He began venting his thoughts, each punctuated with a strike that pulsed more frost. The wide tree earned a new frosty mark each time. Luke had ripped open Iona’s aura suppression enough to have frost essence cover both his arms but could push no further.
“A cave. A tomb. A trial.” The Reaver punched with increased intensity after each uttered word.
“A forest. A town. A city.” The tree shook, and cracks spread from the battered wood.
“A dungeon. A chase. A ritual.” Luke whipped around in the air, kicking the side of the tree.
It snapped in half, the tree falling onto others, causing birds to fly up into the air and insects to skitter; small animals fled in fear. A cloud of debris sprang up in that section of the forest. Branches shattered, and wooden fragments peppered the ground.
Timber looked back to Iona and growled. The Beastmaster paled, keeping an aura lock on Luke wore her down. As her concentration faltered, Luke’s presence only increased. Iona shook her head at Timber, “Let him vent. I know it’s straining to watch as I try to keep him in check. You’re only to act if he leaves the meadow to go on a rampage. He’s not meaning to hurt me, Timber.”
The Thunder Paw Bear roared in anger but stayed put in his position, focusing on Luke. He bared his teeth.
Luke continued his half-crazed list, wreaking havoc on the forest around him. He broke another tree in two, arctic wind built up around him. “A Reaver. A Defier. An Enchanter.” Luke’s voice choked, a tear dropped down one eye, freezing midway. “And now, a failure who can’t find his dad.”
His cloak began to billow. He whispered, “What was it all for…if not for my dad?”
Ice spread out from Luke’s feet, Iona’s aura suppression only ensured the Reaver couldn’t use his abilities at this point. The lock on Luke’s essence became useless, his command and will, too strong. The air blew as it whirled, snow began to fall, the meadow turned into an ice plane. Luke’s eyes became a frightening white-blue, essence wafted off, brushing against the sides of his face.
He yelled out in wordless fury. The frost spread to the nearest trees in the rings surrounding the meadow. Iona shivered from the cold despite her superior physique. Luke thought to command the frost to detonate around him, but cold rationality poured on him over the bubbling white-hot anger. He turned to Iona, “Tell me every group able to pull this off. All of them.”
“Luke, you can’t face those sorts of people yet. You’ll go rushing off to your death. You've got so much potential, keep yourself together,” Iona begged.
“Either you can tell me, or I’ll find out myself.”
“You can’t leave like this. Timber won’t hold back, and neither will I. You’ve no control over yourself. This frost you’re radiating out would freeze your average citizen to death in seconds! You need to bide your time.”
“AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO?” Luke yelled, snapping the building string of rationality.
Iona closed her eyes and reopened them. “You don’t have to turn this into something. It doesn’t need to upset you.” She came beside Timber and patted him on the head. “You know how many extraordinary people have looked for your dad since he went missing? He was one of the best elixirists in the Duchy. He's one of the most vital non-combat class to this country in existence.”
“And they all failed. What’s your point?” Luke repeatedly grasped his hands.
The Beastmaster emanated brown-green aura out of her body, nature began to spring up around her, pushing back the snow and frost, “It means there’s a greater force at play. One or two organizations in Sylen may have had a hand in taking away your dad, but more than that must be involved.”
She walked toward Luke, and Timber escorted her protectively. Luke’s frost passively lost ground, “Tell me, Luke, are you willing to do what it takes to find him? Or do you only say so? What is your measure as a man?”
Luke crashed his back against a fragmented frozen tree as he sat down. With hope, a trace of calm returned, “I’m willing,” He stared at Iona, wisps coming from his desperate blue eyes, “How can I get my dad back once and for all?”
Iona flashed him a smile, crouched down, and reached out to his shoulder. “Reach the peak. Use not only raw power but also learn to wield social influence. Become more than what you are right now, grow, and then grow some more.” Iona’s power returned most of the meadow to its natural state, except for a semicircle in front of Luke.
“It can’t be so simple.” Luke scoffed, about to take Iona’s hand off his shoulder.
The Beastmaster calmly looked into his eyes, “Things that are simple are not always easy, Luke. For you to have any chance of eradicating the organizations likely responsible, and make no mistake, you will have to eradicate them if you want to take the clues they’re hiding from you, you’ll need to reach the peak of the third tier at the minimum.” She brushed aside his hair, “That alone, is only half of what you’ll need to do. Gain connections and the favor of those with political power in this city. Only they can point you in the right direction.”
“Who would that be? And why is raw power not enough by itself?”
“No matter how powerful you are, you can’t directly rip knowledge from someone’s mind. Now, you’ve got three real options, unless you get the Duchess on your side somehow, those being, The Pyrites-”
“Never. That family tried putting a bounty on my head, remember?”
Iona put a finger on his lips, “Just listen. Okay?”
Luke helplessly nodded, the anger receding, and his breath steadily evened out. The ice finally thawed around him.
Taking back her hand, Iona said, “You also have the Miels and City Lord Cyrn. To have the best chances for success, you’ll have to earn the favor of both of them. Musai keeps out of politics, which makes life as a Defier simpler in most cases, but it also means his influence is minimal; he can’t help you with this side.”
The Reaver breathed out and calmed himself, anger spiked up every so often, but he tossed it aside, he asked, “How do I get them to tell me something they won’t reveal already?”
Iona brushed back her hair, “The City Lord faction, the Pyrites, and the Miel family desperately need powerful fighters and competent enchanters. Imagine how much sway you’ll have with them if you occupy both needs. What would they do to be on your side if you became the best in the city for both disciplines?”
Luke’s eyes lit up, “I’d be able to force them to hand over any clue they have on who’s responsible for kidnapping my dad.”
Iona stood up, a hand on one hip while offering her other to Luke, “That’s exactly what you’d be able to do.”
Luke took her offer and stood up. A more personal desire filled him. To make Sylen bend to his will. To reach higher and learn the mysteries around him.
All to follow his dad’s trail.