There was a universal problem with specific portals, and it was the thing standing in front of them.
Deoti watched in silence as David stared it down, Fendor and Lisa standing right beside her. They flanked her on both sides. Axe and Saxi stood to the side, watching the encounter with a certain level of alertness. There was no one in the team who wasn’t alert.
Today just might be the day they attempted the impossible. With David in full blown Oath of Madness mode, there would be no stopping him.
They had heard from the other teams about how they were treated by their Oaths. Some Oaths treated their teams like servants, high-end servants, but servants nonetheless. Some treated them like sidekicks. Distractions designed to keep them alive. Inevitability’s team rarely spoke. There was a standing speculation that if the Oath’s team hadn’t ended up working for the Oath, they would’ve ended up being mercenaries of some form. There was just a thing about them.
War’s team was the only one that somehow seemed more like soldiers than anything else. War, from what they’d heard, had a strict rule of hierarchy. She’d had a second in command and a third and a fourth. Each member knew their place. She’d even had something no other team had, a designated teammate who played the role of mediator.
Deoti had asked what the role really entailed once, and the man had claimed his job was to think and plan. It was odd to learn since everyone knew that War did most if not all the planning for her team. Further probing had revealed more.
“I plan and anticipate the negotiations,” War’s mediator had once said. “Sometimes, both parties have what they want and find it difficult to reach a compromise—War more than others. My job is to skirt the lines in between. I plan for concessions, arrange compromises. It’s a taxing role.”
The last part he had said a little downcast.
But amongst all the teams, David’s was the only one that acted as a group of friends working together. The team had heard on multiple occasions when other Oaths had advised David against the way he treated them, War being one of them. But nothing had changed. They might as well have been a project team like the one you got in high school.
But they worked in their own way. No matter how free they were, they never disobeyed and always knew who was in charge even though he never strictly pointed it out.
So they always had free reign. Until times like this. Times when David was completely overcome by his single-minded pursuit. Working for other Oaths meant that at all times, there was always the possibility of avoiding death.
Working with Madness meant that there was always that raging fear at the back of your mind. A fear that told you that a day would come when you would stumble upon certain death. A day when a situation that was meant to be avoided by all values of the cosmos met with the single-minded focus of David Lockwood, the Oath of Madness.
And they all knew that David would not be the one to stand down.
I just didn’t think that day would be today, Deoti thought with a touch of sadness.
But it didn’t matter. If today was the day she died, then she would die giving that pompous chibi all she had to give.
The creature continued to stare down at David, lines for eyes turned down in a clear display of rage. It hadn’t even done the customary tradition of introducing itself to David. From what they knew, there was rarely a portal creature that did not introduce itself to an Oath.
Apart from the Oaths, the rest of them might as well be nonexistent.
<
David did not flinch. “I am here for what is mine.”
<
David pointed forward, beyond the creature. “One of mine has gone beyond.”
<
“It is a part of my world.”
<
“I claim it by law of bloodline.”
The creature’s eyes twitched. A line grew were a mouth would’ve been, jagged and terrible. Then it disappeared.
“The law of bloodline applies,” David said.
<
Deoti had no idea what exactly they were talking about. She could make sense of some things through deduction, though. The law of bloodline had to mean that there were rules that governed the portals and the worlds beyond them. Rules that only the Oaths knew, apparently.
Why they didn’t share this knowledge, however, was beyond anyone that was not an Oath. At first they’d thought the Oaths kept it a secret to monopolize information and keep themselves important. But their power was more than enough levels of importance.
So there was another reason. There had to be. If not she would have to accept that the level of arrogance all Oaths possessed was something David shared despite how different he was from them. And that wasn’t something Deoti was ready to accept.
David was the only living proof she knew of that told them that the arrogance of Oaths was simply the effect of the corruption of power.
So there was another reason the Oaths did not share what they knew of the laws governing portals.
As for the law of bloodline, it seemed Oaths—most probably not just them—could cross portals without hindrance if they had a family member on the other side. Which didn’t make sense since this was the first time anyone was ever experiencing an Oath being hindered.
Some Oaths don’t enter some portals, though, Deoti remembered.
Maybe this had something to do with that. No Oath ever claimed that they were kept out or couldn’t enter a portal, but there were times when Oaths simply didn’t enter portals. Sometimes an Oath would opt out and another would replace their team.
And by opt out, Deoti meant refuse. Maybe they were playing off hindrances. Shield, for one, rarely entered portals. Everyone had always thought it was because her Oath wasn’t offense based. But what if there was a different reason for it?
Deoti held back a groan. How she hated Oath businesses.
Ahead of them, David remained locked in conversation.
“I will uphold and execute the law while I am there,” he said.
<
Deoti paled a little more. Did an opposition mean an Intruder that the creature considered an equal match to David would be brought in?
In a C-rank portal that would be all out chaos.
Nobody on the other side of the portal would survive a clash between two Oaths. It was madness.
“On what grounds?” David asked.
<
David paused, shook his head as if dispelling a thought. “Fairness is not necessary in a world without laws.”
The creature shook its head. <
“You claimed they do not apply.”
<
David shook his head again, dispelling not disagreeing. “It should make sense.”
The moment the words left his lips, he bristled. His shoulders stiffened and hands twitched. Deoti and the others had no idea what that implied. But they had seen something akin to it once. It hadn’t carried such fervor but it had been close enough.
Once upon a time Oath of Secrets had screamed at David and he had twitched ever so slightly. At the time, David’s wife had still been the Oath of War, and she had taken one glance at David and told the Oath of Secrets that lies were not a favorable course to take.
Did it lie? Deoti found herself wondering.
While she wondered, the portal creature floated a little lower, brought itself closer so that it could stare at David at eye level.
It said only one word. <
The word carried disgust.
David leaned into it, undeterred. “You know me,” he said. “Now I must know you. I know the rules.”
The creature folded its arms like a petulant child. Whatever anger it had started the conversation with only seemed to boil a little more, and for a moment, Deoti thought it would not answer.
She had never seen a portal creature refuse to answer when an Oath identified themselves. Then again, she had also never seen a portal creature stand in an Oath’s way when they were inside a portal.
After a while it dropped its arms and its eyes turned to horizontal slits. It still remained without a mouth.
<< I am Void-beast designation 12849,>> it said, as if declaring its very being. <
The last title drew everyone’s attention. Every portal creature was always so pompous in their introduction. They declared themselves as if reading a royal decree from an infinite king. But they’d never heard the word ‘hopeful’ in any introduction before.
Or August.
<<…And I say once more that you don’t belong,>> it finished.
David raised his hand, turned it so that its back faced the void beast. “And yet, the portal disagrees.”
The frown returned to he void beast’s face. It made a gesture, a wave of its hand. On Deoti’s hand the symbol glowed softly, morphed slightly. When it was done, it remained the same. Nothing of its shape had changed. At least nothing discernable.
<
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“So we may enter?” David asked.
<
“You will stop us?”
Another thoughtful pause followed. <
David’s hands balled into fists and Deoti paled further. The possibility of a fight danced on the horizon, staring at them like a favorable lover.
If David chose to fight, they would die. Deoti didn’t know how Oaths would fare in a fight against a portal creature, but she knew how S-ranks fared.
And to think she’d punched some low ranked Gifted just a few moments ago while playing the role of the powerful S-rank. Life really comes at you fast.
In a normal situation or as normal as any situation the Oath of Madness often found himself in, Lisa would’ve walked up to him to offer a word or two of advice. Especially in a situation where the problem was communication.
Deoti’s gaze shifted to Lisa and she gave up hope on that happening. The problem with being Lisa was that just as she knew when and how to talk, she also knew when not to and how not to talk.
This was definitely a when not to talk.
“You will not stop me.” David said, voice tight. He paused at the end of his words and frowned. “I will not allow it without a fight.”
The creature nodded. <
For a moment, they both stared each other down. An Oath opposing a portal creature. Before long, the void beast relaxed… maybe deflated was the right word.
<
Deoti fought to stop herself from asking what about Oaths. It felt like she was about to hear one of the secrets of Oaths right now. One so guarded that it was a universal law accepted by all Oaths throughout the world.
<
“Questions were asked,” David said, voice impatient.
<
“Questions were asked. No answers were given.”
<
“We are all mad.”
<
The creature was sounding more disgusted and put out with every word. It sounded as if it was angry at a dog for trying to eat at the table. It was brimming with condescension and arrogance.
<> It floated a little higher. <
“I am a tool that is necessary.”
<
“Something greater?”
<
“I will stand in the way of anyone to protect what is mine.” David’s stance shifted ever so slightly. He moved from an angry man to an Oath ready for war.
The void beast did not move a muscle. But the cloud-like visage of the portal moved. Its deep blue twirled slightly, the smell of blood deepened as if freshly spilled.
Deoti’s hand moved for her gun, a response to violence honed over time. Against a portal being, a gun would definitely be useless. But it didn't matter since she was without one. It took her a moment to remember that they'd placed it in Fendor's storage space. So she prepared herself to use her skills, instead.
To everyone’s greatest surprise, the creature sighed. It was an actual sigh, an impossible thing.
<> it began solemnly, <
Those words were both terrifying and comforting. The creature had said it as if its ability to eat David was without question. As if it would not even be tasking.
It was a statement of their weakness and a statement of their safety.
It could always just kill us without eating us, though, Deoti thought.
<
Deoti paused, confused. That was a complete switch up. The creature had gone from arrogant and condescending to whiny and infantile. And what was with the sudden change of speech pattern.
It knocked the ends of its arm together. The action looked eerily like it was trying to fidget, play with fingers it didn’t have in nervousness.
Deoti looked at the others and found them equally confused, but no less alert.
What the hell is happening?
The creature scratched its head. <
Nicely?
What the hell was happening? Were they wrong? Were Oaths protected within the portal somehow by the virtue of what they were? The entire conversation had been a rollercoaster. And if Deoti was being honest, it now looked like more of a negotiation than a conversation.
Just how much power do Oaths have?
What she was witnessing implied that their very being transcended even earth. The portal creature, feared by all who knew of its existence, and absolutely condescending and disrespectful was attempting to ask nicely?
The damned things didn’t even talk to anyone unless they were Oaths. There was rumor of it talking to an SS-rank but Deoti hadn’t confirmed how true that was. Normally, it would only speak the briefest words to an Oath, talking to them as if they were children that had no other business but to sit, listen and obey.
Portal beings did not ask nicely.
David shook his head. “I must be on the other side.”
And the Oath of Madness was hell bent on getting them killed. Amazing.
There was also the possibility that he knew the creature couldn’t kill him. Wouldn’t try. What was it that the creature had said? He was the Oath closest to existential. What did that even mean?
It was almost as if it was saying the Oath of Madness was almost as powerful as it.
<
For the first time since entering the portal and having the void beast descend in front of them, David took a step forward.
The void beast floated backwards.
That was all they needed to know. It would not stop them.
Deoti took a step forward, her action leading the others to act as well. Vertical lines moved in a round, expressionless head, and she froze.
The void beast had spared a very brief moment to give them its attention for the first time. Dread coiled around Deoti’s spine. Her breath froze in her lungs. Her hands shook.
If she moved, she would die.
Is this the difference in power between us and an Oath? Is this the difference in our importance?
<
David looked back at them, face expressionless.
Placed in a decision between picking them or Melmarc, there was nobody present that did not know the answer he would give the creature.
He looked back at the void beast. “I will not leave.”
Deoti knew this would be his response. She had accepted it ages ago. Yet, to hear him say it still broke her a little bit. It was unfair to feel bad about what you already knew, but she couldn’t help it.
He would discard them to save his son. It was admirable. It was painful.
<
“He’s listening,” Saxi said, hurriedly.
Deoti shot him a death stare. Why the hell was he drawing attention to them? When she saw his face, she knew the answer. The man had been terrified for his life. Having his life negotiated over as if he was a useless battering chip must’ve taken a toll.
He wanted to be part of this negotiation. He wanted some modicum of control over his fate. Hopefully he doesn’t die because of it.
The void beast ignored him.
<
“Why?” David asked.
<
Veebee? What the hell’s a Veebee?
As far as Deoti was concerned, it was official. This was the most confusing portal being she had ever met.
David took only a moment to think about it. “What is this handicap?”
<
Well, that really wasn’t a handicap. Rumors had it that Oaths were technically as powerful as an SS-rank when they didn’t use their Oath skills, not that Deoti knew what an Oath skill was when it was used.
Regardless, there was only one answer David was going to give.
“I accept.”
The creature nodded. <
David nodded.
“I will not forget,” he said, and the mark on his hand glowed once more.
The creature floated all the way to the side. It was a simple action, but it carried all the meaning to it. They were allowed to proceed.
David walked forward and Deoti and the others followed.
“What’s Law of bloodline?” Axe asked as they walked, the portal’s chaotic roiling returning back to its normal calm state.
“It’s a law permitting me to walk into any portal to save anyone that is of my bloodline,” David answered.
They were suddenly already close to the exit.
“So what?” Saxi asked. “Only Oaths have it?”
“Everyone has it.”
“Never heard of it,” Fendor said. “So we can just walk into any portal to save our bloodline?”
“There is no portal you cannot walk into to do whatever you want,” David answered.
That was true. The only portals people were not allowed to enter were portals the government and the legal rules on earth did not allow you enter.
Like us entering this portal.
“If you can enter any portal, then what’s the point of the Law of bloodline?” Saxi asked confused.
“They are just laws.”
Fendor looked confused. “I don’t get it.”
“Speech is free,” Lisa said in way of explanation. “You can say whatever you want whenever you want.”
“That’s true,” Fendor agreed.
“Yet Freedom of speech is a part of our constitution.” Lisa shrugged. “I’m guessing Law of bloodline is just there because for some reason it has to be.”
“And there are other bunches of Laws people don’t know about?” Axe asked. “Laws only Oaths know?”
“Yes,” David said.
“You gonna tell us what they are, Boss?” Saxi asked.
“No.”
“How about why only Oaths know it?”
“Because we are Oaths?”
“Gonna expand on that, Boss?”
“No.”
They stood at the end of the portal, a swirling portal in front of them that showed nothing of what was on the other side.
David took a step forward when the creature appeared right beside him, startling them. Well, the rest of them. David didn’t even flinch.
<
David looked at it. “I thought you were worried that I would interfere.”
<
“Then how do you intend of getting my help?”
The creature shrugged. <
Deoti said nothing. No one did. It seemed the creature was not omnipotent. It did not know everything, apparently.
The creature’s eyes shifted to her and she felt herself shrink slightly.
It looked back at David. <
Then it vanished once more.
It can read minds?
That was a very terrifying thought. Deoti was beginning to think that the portal beings not talking to them was the lesser of two evils.
“We should hurry,” David said, then stepped through the portal.
…
The moment they appeared on the other side of the portal Deoti’s interface came alive in front of her.
[Welcome to The Ruins of Caldath]
…
[Portal Quest: Ruins of Caldath.]
You have walked upon the ruins of Caldath, ancient city of debauchery and hate. Its inhabitants have sold their soul to Caldath and have lost it eternally. Only their servants, too unimportant to be granted such misfortune, remain. Conclude the ruination of Caldath and free these innocent servants from their unfair damnation.
[Portal Objective: Find the orb of Caldath.]
She skimmed through it before discarding it. The moment it was gone, she felt something. They had appeared in a large room, filled with rubbles and broken walls. It was dark, with a small stream of light coming through a window that was at eye level.
David and Axe would have to bend to look through it.
The room smelled wet and moldy with a touch of decay. Deoti didn’t like it. The window also let in a small draft. Deoti ignored all the information she gathered and turned to the side almost immediately.
She was already too late. Their enemy had moved far sooner than she had, probably before the portal had fully deposited them in this world.
A large humanoid thing darted through the air with a speed unbecoming of most things that should be in a C-rank portal. It swept through the air, shot forward, arm swinging and spinning. Deoti watched just in time to know that it held a broad sword in its hand.
“Move!” she called, raising her hands to activate her skill, knowing she might be too late.
The creature cut through the air with a powerful sword slash and she felt the breeze ruffle her hair. The edge of the sword cut straight into David’s neck…
…And bounced off.
The creature landed in front of David, just to the side.
David had been looking at the window the entire time. He paid it no attention as he swung his hand in a casual gesture. His hand connected with the creature’s head in a back-handed slap and the head shattered on impact. What was left of its body dropped to the floor, lifeless.
“Some one check the window,” he instructed. “Some one get the door.”
Saxi moved to the window while Axe went for the door, everyone moving without question. Deoti took the time to look down at the creature.
It was grotesque. Humanoid with a knight’s armor, though the armor was rusted in different places. What she had thought was the creature holding a broad sword turned out to be the blade of a broadsword attached to the thing at the wrist.
Grotesque and wrong, she thought. No surprise there.
Saxi walked back to them and spared the creature a glance. He used a skill because through the connection established between all of them by Lisa, Deoti saw the effect of the skill. Words appeared over the thing’s chest, identifying it.
[Damned (C)]
[State: Damned]
“Well that’s not helpful,” Saxi complained. “I know its dead but I was expecting to see dead.”
“What did you get from the window?” Fendor asked.
His words brought Saxi back to what was important.
“Oh yeah,” he said, turning to David. “It’s a bit interesting. So get this—”
“To the point,” Axe chided from the broken wall that looked like it opened up to a pathway.
Saxi sighed. “Anyway, we seem to be high up and surrounded by buildings.”
“Buildings?” Deoti asked.
Saxi nodded.
“Personally, I think we’re in a castle or something.”