Sure, enough several hours later nearing they had created a campfire but needed more wood. “I will go gather some more dry wood this fire won’t last long.” Jenora walked into the woods.
With darkness falling a man riding a griffin clad in golden barding landed near them. He had come from the north likely from Wonora. He hopped off with a metal clank of his greaves on the road shining bright as the golden filigree on his armor added to the waning light of dusk. His helm almost entirely obscured his face with only his eyes visible. On his hip a golden blade less ornate than Swordie's but possessing the same faint golden glow even in the sheath Swordie had earlier. “I am Lightbringer Luke, and I am searching for the cause of a massive disturbance just south of here. Based on where you are camping and time of day it seems safe to assume you were involved. Who are you?”
Victor stood up and extended his hand to shake. “Hi Lightbringer Luke, I am Victor Vogal, the unconscious woman is Serena Brooks please leave her be she is exhausted, Emilie Ward, and Forala Medot. We have one more Jenora Oath who is gathering firewood.”
“AND I AM CAWTHORN!” Cawthorn crowed at him.
Luke deeming them not a threat removed his helmet to long smooth golden hair falling below his shoulders and his ears slightly pointed but not elven, a half-elf. His face had a chiseled jaw that even the Greek sculptors would be jealous of as he began to speak Forala sat up slightly leaning on one arm and looking at him while lying down. “I suppose a group like yours couldn’t be involved in such large-scale destruction but surely given your proximity you saw the massive blast in the sky.”
Victor decided feeling him out would be the best choice. “Sir Luke not seeing that explosion would require blindness. There is also a decimated area of the forest near the source of the blast.”
“That does seem obvious but thank you for confirming that. Are all of you well? Is Serena Brooks healthy?” Luke asked concerned.
Emilie piped up standing up clearly in awe. “She’s fine. I’m a priestess of the Golden Goddess and I healed her.” She extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He wrapped his massive, armored hand around hers and shook firmly with a smile and a slight nod. “The Golden Goddess can always use good priestess to save the lives of the righteous.”
“Absolutely, but you two are the real knights of the Golden Goddess.” Emilie smiled.
Victor palmed his head and rubbed his temples. Luke asked slightly curious squinting one eye with an incredulous smile. “Oh, two of us?”
Victor silently thought to himself ‘Please don’t tell him I’m an angelic knight this is going to be so much harder if he has the eagle eyes skill and ever sees my status sheet.’
“You’re both angelic knights of the goddess!” Emilie naturally followed joyfully decimating Victor who could only exhale knowing he now had far too much explaining to do.
Luke turned to him his golden hair falling over his shoulder as he turned his head to Victor. “Oh, is this true? An angel being involved might explain the power shown to the south of us.”
Before Victor could explain Swordie spoke up as if to make things worse on purpose. “I am Swordie I’m the angel who was involved.”
“You do seem a bit small for an angel,” Luke commented crossing his arms.
“Swordie is an angel!” Emilie declared still excited. “We met a Gizixil cultist who challenged Serena and Victor to duels. They got a lot more powerful while facing him, but Swordie granted Victor the power of an angel!”
Luke slowly turned to Victor with a growing smile as though he had just unwrapped a birthday present from his best friend. “Sir Victor, is this true?”
Victor figured why bother trying to hide it at this point Emilie has already exposed him. “Everything she said is true. I am an angelic knight with the title bestowed to me by Swordie here.” He gently patted Swordie. “The wings were the best part!” A bright smile stretched across his face.
Luke dropped the stoic attitude. “You got wings? THAT’S INCREDIBLE! That’s level 80!” Luke bear hugged Victor who could feel his spine being crushed as Luke spun around. “Another angelic knight and of such high level! HAHA! You know I’m rather high-level myself, so I enjoy those wings too.” Luke released his bear hug and put Victor down with a hand on his shoulder. “You should come see me in Kival when you can. I’m sure Peria would be happy to hire you as another national hero defending our country against the savage monstrous creatures, sinister undead, and invading devils.”
Victor chuckled nervously. “I’m uh actually only level 12.”
His enthusiasm hit a brick wall that he simply broke through causing him to pause only for the briefest moment. “NO MATTER! Join us at the church and I will mold you into a force for righteousness!”
Swordie chuckled. “He needs no guide to make him righteousness. He may be even more pure than you.”
Luke made a stupid smile. “Oh, I bet he jumps in front of people to save them all the time! You don’t become an angelic knight by saving a few kittens from trees. I have no doubt he is pure as driven snow. I want to mold him into a force of righteousness. Emphasis on force.”
Forala stood up almost offended and approached him sternly. “I am his trainer.”
Luke outstretched his hand to shake. She cautiously took his hand, and he vigorously shook her hand. “Good to see a worthwhile woman training a future hero.”
Forala seemed shocked by this. Her eyebrows went up her head pulled back a little and she put one hand on her mouth. “Oh. Um, wow. I’ve been whipping him into shape.”
Luke looked up to her as the wind gently blew his golden hair toward her. “I won’t take your student, but you are all encouraged to go to the church in Kival.” After a long pause, he turned to Victor. “Could you describe in your own words what happened?”
“The five of us were ambushed by a large number of bandits. Forala and Serena killed most of them while Jenora and I protected Emilie. They defeated 30 or 40 bandits and then Zolvorn dropped from the top of a massive tree crashing to the ground. He had this huge black blade crackling with red lightning that could break apart into multiple pieces. He challenged Serena to a Fair Fight and she took me far from the battlefield but like an idiot I went back. I watched her nearly kill him. With his blade above her head, I shot a jolt at him. I distracted him enough to anger him. He challenged me to a Fair Fight and I accepted. Apparently that skill levels up your opponent. Our clash midair is what caused that massive explosion.” Victor took a deep breath feeling like he had been explaining far too long and kept getting more and more nervous.
Luke patted him on the shoulder. “That is quite the mouthful there Sir Victor. Is there anything else?”
“Gizixil showed up near the end of the fight and Zolvorn stopped it. I think Gizixil killed the mood for him.” Victor explained.
“The Void Lord Gizixil? The ACTUAL Void Lord Gizixil?” Luke leaned forward with a grim face.
“He had eight mouths with eyes in each one and stood even taller than you. No shirt and black pants. He had more muscles than anyone I’ve ever seen.” Victor described the Void Lord as best he could trying to think back. “The weirdest part is I think he was worried I’d defeat Zolvorn.”
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Luke heartily laughed. “I bet you would too! Strangely, a Void Lord would show up outside of the Labyrinth though. Normally they leave this world alone. I will go investigate and if they’ve left, I will leave this incident”
“The Labyrinth? What is that?” Victor asked rather confused.
“The Abyssal Labyrinth is a series of portals throughout Verdan that connect to another realm beneath our own the same way ancient archways connected to heaven and pentagram circles can connect to hell. Some say Deox the Destroyer lives down there but undoubtedly the Void Lords do. The entry portals move after a single use so it isn’t as though you can easily access it but somewhere that place does exist. The most horrifying creatures and deadly encounters anywhere on Verdan, or rather in the universe reside there.” Luke explained.
Victor shook his head remembering the most important part. “Sorry, my curiosity distracted me. There was something much more important. Zolvorn was looking for someone. He was looking for you. Gizixil and Kokoxol both want to kill you and Zolvorn is strong enough to get the job done. You need to find allies if you want to defeat him. He regenerates so fast that losing a hand or even an arm is barely a flesh wound. Anything that doesn’t kill him will barely slow him down.”
Luke slapped his arm with a jovial chuckle. “All the Void Lords want me dead. I deal with terrible monsters daily this cultist is no different.”
“He is different! He’s incredibly strong. Our clash in the sky was so massive that it shook the country and brought you here. You have to be cautious and find allies to help you.” Victor pleaded.
Emilie piped up. “Oh, come now you don’t trust the Hero of Peria? I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”
“I guess I am inexperienced.” Victor turned down to Swordie hoping he’d speak up but not sure what else to say.
Forala interjected shaking her head. “I am much more knowledgeable on such topics than Victor and can say confidently you will lose unless you challenge him to a Fair Fight .”
Luke humored them. “I’ll make sure I do that. I will be on my way for now. I trust I will see you in Kival one day. May you light the way.” He walked back to his griffon and put back on his helmet hiding his golden hair beneath his equally brilliant armor. “One day we will meet again. If you need assistance give this to Vanor in Kival.” He flicked a medal at Victor. He easily caught it. With the same simple golden sun on one side and two Ls on the other side, Luke capped off. “He’ll help you out.” Luke took off on his griffon and the group waved at him bidding him farewell.
Forala watched wistfully as he flew away. “Should I fly after him?”
Victor seemed taken aback. “Wait why?”
Emilie laughed at his ignorance shaking her head in disbelief. “She’s got a thing for good guys. You’re so oblivious.”
Forala tapped her lips with her finger before sighing and returning to her bedroll. Victor slapped his head. “Oh, I’m so dumb when it comes to romance, my bad. Serena practically had to jump me for me to get it.”
Forala turned away shrinking back to her normal size. “If she hadn’t, she would have missed her chance.”
Jenora returned firewood over her shoulder and dropped it near the fire. She put a couple of pieces in. “I see someone came on a griffin who was it?”
Emilie sighed. “You missed him, it was Lightbringer Luke.”
Jenora visibly distressed and shocked. “What!?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t keep him talking long enough for you to get back. I know you’d want to meet him.” Emilie hugged her.
Flatly and insincere Jenora nodded. “Yeah, it would be fun.”
Victor turned to Jenora even more confused. “Does she like Lightbringer Luke or something? She’s acting weird.”
“Hey, don’t call my girl weird.” Emilie pointed at him angrily.
Jenora shook her head. “No, I am just uh. Never mind! Let me make dinner.” Jenora began to cook in a small pot. The smell of the salt and spices filled the camp inviting everyone to take part. “What was it like to use high-rank spells?”
“Incredible. Every spell I cast felt like it was flowing through my entire body. When I cast a jolt, I am lightning I transformed into what I can only describe as pure energy. I flew so fast that I just disappeared and reappeared so much farther away than I expected. If we reach those levels, I will need to spend a long time working on using it right.” Victor's head tilted back staring at the stars with a happy hopeful smile. “I also really want those wings again.”
“Do you think I could earn those wings?” Jenora leaned forward.
Swordie interrupted. “Only if you could find an angel willing to make you, their knight. Angels do not grant that title lightly. If our knight falls, we can never again appoint another.”
“Oh.” She hung her head in disappointment.
Emilie gently patted her head. “It’s alright. I’d love to earn that title too. Sometimes we just have to accept there are things we can’t have. We don’t have to be angelic knights to further the cause of the Golden Goddess though sweetie.”
Jenora leaned back and leaned into her hand. “I know. I just feel like between the four of us Serena is the best combatant no doubt. You have the incredibly rare Instant Spellcasting innate skill. He’s an Angelic Knight. What am I?”
“You’re the rock that keeps us together!” Emilie wrapped her arms around her from behind. “I’d have left them behind if not for you. They’d be dead and so would we if you didn’t help keep the peace.”
“Great I’m the only useful in convincing the rest of you to not kill each other.” Jenora threw her hands up before crossing her arms.
“Oh, come on now sweetie. You’re exceptionally durable more so than any of us.” Emilie looked at Victor.
“That’s true. I’m squishy in comparison.” Victor agreed.
“That’s barely even true. With your vitality boost you have significantly more health than I do, and for some reason, you’ve got a LOT more mana than you should since you can use multiple boosts for long periods.” She complained with Emilie still around her neck.
“Hey yeah, even with the spellsword bonus you shouldn’t be able to maintain multiple boosts and still cast offensive spells. Why can you do that?” Emilie asked.
‘Oh hell, I hadn’t even considered someone could figure out I have absurd mana regeneration by just adding my spell costs together in combat.’ Victor tried to think quickly but decided veiled honesty might work better. “My hidden skills are cursed I shouldn’t answer that. I’m sorry.”
Emilie sat down in a groan. “You both have secrets, and it SUCKS! Why am I the only one who has the guts to tell the group about my past?”
Victor looked at Jenora. “Perhaps she thinks it would be a deal breaker in your relationship?”
“Nah! No way she thinks that she is stuck with me.” Emilie punched her in the shoulder.
Jenora glared at Victor. “Perhaps the curse is his that his social tact disappears around women.”
Swordie cut in once more. “Don’t be foolish he never had any social tact. It’s his best and worst trait, he doesn’t know when to be polite.”
Victor sighed. “You know I could throw you in the fire to let your spicy words cool down.”
“The fire would not damage me and would increase the efficacy of my burns,” Swordie noted.
Victor put his head in his hand. “Someday people will respect me.”
Swordie added in a cheery voice. “But it is not this day!”