By the time Leonidas and the others arrived at Nirvana, the sun was halfway cut across the horizon, dyeing the clouds shades of red and yellow. In Nirvana, this was undoubtedly the most appreciated time of the day. Not just due to the fluorescent hazel glow across the brilliantly crafted rooftops, but the way everything meshed with each other like one big work of art.

The amber sky leaked its orange tints onto the puffy clouds, the King’s flags of red and gold hung around every corner of every shop, and the maple trees were setting for the arrival of autumn shades across the edges of every leaf. This was s sight anyone would remember for a lifetime to come.

With the King’s castle in the far distance, Leonidas gained a hidden smile across his clean-shaven face. Kalvin and the rest were right behind him, all appalled by how beautifully the capital presented itself.

The streets were crowded, packed with wagons and guards, and had a lingering smell of freshly baked treats across every nook and cranny. Leonidas slid off his black-painted horse, which was exhausted and smeared in mud, gesturing for everyone else to do the same. They followed, and he began to take the lead.

Faibel could see a guard eyeing down Leonidas in a different way than some random traveler. It's as if the guards knew him somehow, but refused to break their posture on the sidelines.

Kalvin caught up with Leonidas, tagging along as he dodged a wagon full of potatoes on his way. “So, what’s the plan from here on out?”

Leonidas kept his gaze away from Kalvin’s, “Not too long till we reach the courtyard. There lies the entrance to the catacombs.”

“Shouldn’t we find a place to stay for the night first?” asked Kalvin, his eyebrows slowly beginning to drop. “It’ll be dark soon. Surely it would be a much wiser plan to go at sunrise.”

Leonidas stayed silent for a moment, looking as if he was about to scream at the top of his lungs. All the innocence from his face disappeared, being replaced by the face of a man who wants nothing more but hatred and vengeance. “We go to the courtyard, end of discussion. If we sleep another night we might not get to the jewel in time.”

Kalvin chuckled, “Whatever do you mean? If no one has found it yet, I don’t believe another night will hurt us.”

“I said, we go to the courtyard!” Leonidas snapped. Bystanders and guards dropped their attention onto him, giving looks of unease and concern.

Kalvin however, wasn’t fazed. His face was as hard as stone, eyes beaming. “Alright… We’ll go to the courtyard.” Kalvin jerked the horse by the lead and continued forward, cautiously.

Guards were starting to follow Leonidas’s trail like a pack of hungry wolves, their silvery breastplates clinking against one another. The guards kept their distance, but dozens of armored veterans all conveniently walking in the same direction was far too obvious.

“Leonidas!” Kalvin called out to him, “Do you mind if we stop for a quick round of drinks. All this traveling is taking quite a toll on my throat.”

Leonidas gritted his teeth, concealing it behind his nod. “I’ll wait outside, just be quick. Here,” he tossed a silver nuck into Kalvin’s hand, then gathered the horses outside.

Kalvin, Faibel, Paris and Oscar all went inside a small tavern, which had dozens of the King’s flags hanging from the rafters above them. There were a fair amount of people inside, so Kalvin barely managed to grab a secluded table by the corner; being loud would surely turn unwanted heads.

An older gentleman waddled his way over to them, his eyes closed and his mouth curled into a grin. “What can I get for ya?” His voice was surprisingly young, yet his face had more wrinkles than his actual age.

Paris ordered a coffee. Oscar asked for a pint of cold beer. Faibel asked for a glass of water with a lemon slice, all while reading the final chapter of Tombs and Trinkets. Kalvin also ordered a glass of water, as he couldn’t risk any alcohol confusing his suspicions.

“Listen,” Kalvin started, keeping his voice low. “I think something fishy is going on. Something we might’ve dug ourselves into…”

Paris leaned back in her chair, her blade leaning against the table. “Tell me about it. That bitch prolly’ has everything she wants with that jewel…” Paris growled, scraping her nails against the wood carving on the table.

“No,” barked Kalvin, “It’s about Leonidas… I have a weird feeling in my gut that something doesn’t seem right.”

Faibel clapped, “Bravo, Bravo. Congratulations to our professional detective. It only took him, seven days to solve the case.”

Kalvin raised his hairy brow, “What are you talking about? What case?”

Faibel sighed, “You seriously didn’t suspect anything from him until now?” He shut the book, blank stares gawking back at him. “Seriously? Are you all morons or simpletons?”

“Hey!” Oscar shoved his finger in Faibel nose, “I ain’t no moron.”

Faibel flicked Oscar nasty finger out of his sight, “Simpleton it is then.” He knew Oscar didn’t know what that meant, and it was very clear from the dumbfounded look that painted itself across his face.

“Why don’t you three use your brains for once, instead of you assess,” Faibel said, his voice swallowed by secrecy. “The first instance was when we met him by the docks in Bonemount. Leonidas mentioned he was looking for a crew to find the Jewel, coincidentally after we got a bounty for the Jewel itself. Bounties only go to Guilds, and Leonidas never mentioned he was a part of one, which was the first red flag none of you dared to question. Next came the incident on the boat, where Cairo mysteriously vanished with the raft—”

“Oh yeah,” Oscar interrupted him, trying to sound all high and mighty. “Explain that one four-eyes!” Paris and Oscar laughed.

Faibel sighed, nudging his glasses up his nose again, “It was pretty obvious Cairo didn’t just leave in the middle of the night during a trip across the ridge. One, he doesn’t know how to get to the jewel. Two, the ropes on the stern were tangled to an extent of panic and aimlessness. They were dug through in a rapid manner, fear tangling them even further. It was a simple act, but not one for escaping. Also, Leonidas had a blood-stained shirt, one with tiny holes in a row-like format—holes that were possibly made from a bite mark of some sort. Quite coincidental considering Cairo traveled with a wolf.”

After taking a sip of his lemon-infused water, Faibel continued. “The last instance was with Rina, which concluded it all.”

Paris jumped out of her seat and gained a risky smirk, “I can explain that one! That bitch threatened Leonidas to give up information on the jewel so she can get it herself first!”

“Yeah!” Oscar shouted, raising heads and gathering awkward glances towards the table.

Faibel sighed and leaned back in his chair, gathering stares, “Not even close. Why would Rina go on without us? And why would Leonidas tell her where to go? Even Leonidas himself kept saying he doesn’t know the exact location of the entrance to the catacombs until he gets close. Rina wouldn’t be selfish enough to just leave without saying anything. She most likely caught onto Leonidas and he did something about it. What he did, I cannot say with certainty, but she isn’t in the catacombs. She is either dead or captured, with a slight possibility she was saved.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Kalvin clenched his fingers into a fist, pounding the table with a forceful groan. “What is all this! How can you spit these words with such a smirk! If you knew from the start, how could you just sit there and let this all happen!”

Faibel smiled, looking as if his satisfaction was caused by other’s hatred. “Because,” He pinched his bottom lip and stretched it out to reveal the insides of his mouth. The light in the tavern entered his jaw, and his tongue had a vile scar drawn diagonally across it. “I’m the Whistleblower.”

Everything fell into silence. It seemed as if the tables around them were quiet too. The only noises that remained were the cockroaches in the floorboards, and the peaceful music playing in the back. Kalvin’s fingers released their grip, his loyalty fell to the deepest trenches of his dirty boots, and his mouth fell open, with no words to come.

Faibel got up and nudged his glasses forward again. “All three of you are so caught up in your own affairs that you fail to realize the obvious signs of pain and drought to those who are close to you. Selfishness leads you all to a path of self-pity and worthless pride that lead to your demise.” He chuckled, his smile curling with every breath. “I was sent to follow Cairo, observe him for his actions. A man who’s lived a life like him piqued my interest and curiosity like no other. Initially I thought he was a dangerous man to keep alive, one that would wish for a massacre, or cause one. However, after these dreadful months of watching you, I came to realize that he isn’t a problem. The three of you are. I’m afraid this is where we have to part ways for now, and I do hope you’ll learn a thing or two from our little chat. Farewell, and may we meet again.”

Without saying another word, Faibel tossed a silver nuck on the table and left, his words trailing behind him.

“Wait!” Kalvin stopped him, “How am I selfish! I guided innocent kids to their safety! I helped them live normal lives! I—”

“Because,” Faibel cut him off abruptly, “You only did that in an attempt to wash your previous sins away. You thought by helping a few kids escape it would suddenly mask your pitiful greed? Don’t bother to amuse me with lies.” Faibel flipped Tombs and Trinkets to the final chapter, ripped off the last page, and placed it on the table. The page was labeled “The Jewel of Mynotna.” It read the following:

As above and As below

The jewel rests where one should know

Behind the men of sacred past

And down the floor of broken glass

A wish will pass but only one

Don’t wish for much, or you’ll get none

Kalvin’s eyes sank onto the table, his hands wanting nothing more but to rip the paper to shreds. His brain wasn’t used to dealing with so much frustration at once. Although to him, it wasn’t frustration, it was clarity. His pride was dwelling in his stomach, and his mind was racing in his heart, all while Oscar and Paris began to argue with each other.

“Let’s go…” Kalvin whispered as he got up from the table, placing the paper in his pocket. “We’ve already lost…”

“Whaddayamean we lost?” Oscar grabbed his shoulder, “We ain’t lose nothing yet—”

Screams interrupted him as people from the tavern began rushing outside. However, they weren’t screams of terror or horror, they were screams of joy. Screams one would hear at a party or an arrival of a long lost relative. Screams that could only mean one thing…

Kalvin shoved Oscar’s hand out of the way and marched outside, his face full of sorrow and anger mixed into one hateful look. The only thing racing through him was selfishness, and how he had come about such a miserable disgrace of a man.

Just as he swung the front door open to the streetside, royal flags and guards surrounded him as if he was the center of attention. And to an extent, he was, second after the golden-brown carriage that rolled up with four beautifully guarded horses leading its path.

Six guards with trumpets blew out a thunderous tune, and the carriage began to slowly come ajar. Kalvin scouted for Leonidas, but as the carriage doors came to a halt, his gaze fixed onto the man walking out; King Richard II.

Kalvin could feel his nails digging into his skin, piercing through it so freely that the blood running down his fingers didn’t rattle his nerves. All that could hurt him now was seeing the King still alive after all these years. There was nothing else he wanted but to see that fat head on a skewer for the crimes he committed against thousands of innocent lives. Kalvin always assumed he was dead after the explosions, but seeing him now was worse than knowing he had been alive.

Slowly, the king stepped down from the carriage, pushing his silver hair out of the way as dozens of guards came to his aid. He was an old man, one that could barely even stand without the help of some assistance.

“Kalvin Pride,” King Richard smiled, gesturing his presence with his wooden hands. “We meet again.”

Kalvin didn’t move, or say a single word. Any second he was prepared to lunge and end the king’s miserable life. “I see you haven’t found the jewel yet.”

“The jewel?” the king laughed, coughing, barely holding onto his breath, and slightly baffled by such a childish greeting. “Look around you Kalvin Pride. You’re surrounded, those meddling children are dead, and the rest will follow shortly. Why would a man such as yourself be fixated on the jewel?” The king laughed again, lying. “The jewel will never be found, because it doesn’t exist.” Even the guards laughed this time.

Kalvin’s frustration couldn’t hold back anymore. The vague entrapping it broke free, and his legs dashed him forward. “You bastard’”

“Gruughg!” Kalvin’s forceful leap was stopped short by a catastrophic pain entering right below his ribcage. It’s as if his entire body became paralyzed from the neck down. A knife plunged into his body, attached to a fierce grip, which attached to an orange-clothed body. Leonidas squeezed the shaft of the blade, twisting and turning it inside Kalvin’s body with a sinister grin. Blood leaked onto his hand, and Kalvin’s mind dipped into a numbing pain.

Kalvin’s body seemed to freeze, arms shaking and face full of regret. He dropped to his knees, and Leonidas began to drag him along the cobblestone as bystanders looked down in horror.

“Citizens of Harvoria!” The king lifted his wooden hands into the air, “This is a traitor to your righteous king. This is the face of a man who’s committed countless acts against the kingdom, and tried to run away from his punishment!” He lied. Lied like he was born to do it.

The citizens began to regain their breaths and settled down, some even cheering the king on.

Paris and Oscar finally burst through the tavern onto the street, and Leonidas instantly flipped the knife against Kalvin’s neck. “You run or fight. He dies!”

Kalvin tried to muster enough strength to gesture for them to run, but Leonidas punched Kalvin’s stab wound so hard the agony that escaped from Kalvin’s mouth was unbearable to hear.

Paris’s face turned grim—she dropped her katana on the ground and put her hands behind her head. Oscar followed, his expression darkening.

A giant man walked out from behind the carriage and picked up Paris’s blade. His face was sturdy, his chin squared, and baldness swept over his scalp. “Hmm…” His voice was even bigger than the amount of muscle on his body, “Where did a kitty cat like you find my weapon for me?”

Paris spat in his face, ready for whatever punishment she would receive. Instead, the man smiled, wiped the spit off, and licked it. “You’ll regret that later… Very, very much.” He cackled and walked off.

Lenidas dragged Kalvin into the back compartment of the carriage, having the guards do the same with Oscar and Paris.

“Where’s Fai—” Paris started, but didn’t finish. She was trying to ask where he was. Wait… She couldn’t remember…. She was sure they had another with them.. Yes, that kid with glasses…. Did he even have glasses? Her stomach dropped; she really couldn’t remember. Did they even have a forth with them? What did he look like? He was just here… She was sure of it...His name...

Her eyes trembled onto Kalvin’s, who was also thinking the same. No one could remember the boy that’s been with them for the last six months. No one except for Rina and Cario, who were just arriving at the entrence of Nirvana.