Scrambling off the side, and bumping Luna awake, the two of them slid a crate to the side. It was affixed to a rope at the bottom which had been pushed through a hole at the center of a wooden hatch.
They opened the hatch, slipped down, and pulled the rope with them to tug the crate back into place above them.
It was one of the many renovations Dreiki had assisted with during his time here. Digging out this hiding place had been a month’s worth of work. It was cramped with network small tunnels only big enough for him and Luna to fit through.
Dreiki rumaged through the bag. It was filled with survival equipment. Right down to a pair of silvery blue potions that would temporarily boost their magical output. Everything the two of them would need in case they had to run.
“What’s going on?” Luna said with sign language.
“I don’t know. Someone’s at the door.” Dreiki signed back.
“Savekio Riinukura. It has been so long, I see time has not been kind,” A posh accent sounded.
Savekio did not respond.
“Are you hard of hearing at your age, commander?”
“Unfortunately not.”
“As sharp a tongue as ever. I see the Waning has not taken your wit.”
“Why are you here, Vilkus?”
“May I come in?”
Dreiki heard footsteps above them.
“I’m going to get a better view.” Dreiki signed to Luna, crawling through one of the tunnels. It was cramped even for someone as small as him. He had to hug his elbows close and worm his way through.
When he got out to the other side, he was in a small room beneath a carved out cavity in the wall. It was just big enough to fit his head into when he stood beneath it.
He could see the house through a dark crack under the fireplace.
Savekio had taught him not just how to hide, but to erase his presence entirely. His mother had built the foundations, but having someone like Luna to play hide and seek with had allowed him to perfect the technique.
Vilkus was a xio of imposing presence. He had the skin of a black drake hanging off of one shoulder, its horns a grim ornament. He had crimson scales which coated his neck and face like a beard. Dreiki had never seen anything like it. Xiozians usually grew hair like a human did.
His hair was slicked back and black as oil, horns bending backward and flaring up at the tip. His face rested in a smug grimace, as if his default state was knowing his superiority.
Dreiki could feel sweat trickle down the side of his cheek. Out of everyone Dreiki had met up until now no one radiated such an oppressively terrifying magical power like he did.
Not even his mother.
“And to what or whom do I owe the displeasure of this visit to my peaceful retirement home? Has King Jormunuk sent you?” Savekio asked.
“No need to be so cold to your former disciple, Savekio. But no, The King of Bones has not sent me. I have not worked for him in a long while.”
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“Hmph, then who? And why?”
“A young xio worthy of your sword and so much more. None other than the emperor’s son himself.”
“Emperor’s son huh? Doesn’t exactly narrow it down. There’s at least a hundred of those royal brats around.”
“True, though this one is among the most likely candidates to inherit the grand crown.”
“The seat of the emperor isn’t inherited, it’s earned.”
“Ah yes, merit and all that. Anyone can be emperor, right? Much like those Venator Knights you’re so fond of. You know that hasn’t been true for quite some time. Or have you forgotten in your old age?”
“I still remember that you used to be one of those Venator Knights.”
“When I was foolish enough to believe in things like merit, I was. But true power doesn’t come from shedding blood, it comes from mixing powerful blood with powerful blood. And the Emperor’s son holds quite the grand lineage. He can use lightning magic.”
“So he’s also an offshoot of Atriux Xirxus then? Am I to be impressed?”
“You know as well as I do how much that bloodline means to our society. It is always a Xirxus who ends up rising to defend the world from destruction.”
“As the Xirxus like to write it, yes,” Savekio mumbled.
“Denying the emperor’s summons is quite the insult. I’d advise against it.”
“I’d advise you to find someone more worthy of your illustrious heir. I’ll be old, decaying, and senile within the next year most likely.”
“Be that as it may, the heir’s legend would benefit from your name.”
“Then put your own behind it. You were my student at one point weren’t you?”
Dreiki could see Vilkus’s jaw flex, “They have demanded your name.”
“Pass.”
“Is that so. What if I were on orders to kill you if you didn’t accept?”
“You’re not, and you won’t.”
Vilkus inhaled sharply through his nose, “Fine. Sit and rot away. I will provide them with your answer.”
Savekio gave him a forced smile, “Tell them I give you my blessing to teach in my stead.”
Vilkus clicked his tongue, pausing for a moment, “Put it in writing, and I’ll make sure you’re not bothered.”
Savekio pulled a letter from his pocket and tossed it to him, “You think I didn’t anticipate your arrival?”
He opened the letter, eyes glancing over it, “As clairvoyant as ever…” he muttered, “Even with this much I do doubt they’ll accept your answer.”
“They’ll have to accept it, or you’ll find me hanging from the roof of this cabin the next time they send you.”
Vilkus laughed darkly, “I’m surprised I didn’t find you that way this time.”
“Is that everything? I’d rather like to get back to my peaceful retirement.”
Vilkus pocketed the letter, pacing around the cabin, His boots stopped right in front of where Dreiki was hiding, “You’ve been anything but peaceful it seems. Still trying to support your knights in whatever way you can.” He picked up a vial above the fireplace and examined it, “Denying the emperor’s request would be one thing. Denying him to train someone of lesser blood would be utterly unforgivable, I'm sure you know.”
Dreiki felt his heart sink. Did he know where he was? He didn’t move. He couldn’t. Even the slightest noise now would mean he would be discovered. Dreiki knew to resist that urge and believe he was still hidden like his life depended on it.
And it very well did.
“I’m well aware of what his grace did to my last disciple,” Savekio said coldly.
“What happened to Novadus was an accident. Fate has a way of guiding us to the outcome it wants. Even if it’s the one we don’t want.”
“I think ‘Fate’ should swallow its tail and jump into the Abyss.”
Vilkus laughed dryly, “So long as you are content with leaving Novadus as your final disciple. You’ve got so many fantastic disciples who still live. I can only hope fate has a good plan for them.”
“You’ve made your message very clear, Vilkus. Now get out.”
Vilkus bowed his head and swept out of the cabin.
Dreiki sank down to his knees, finally allowing himself to breathe. He was shaking. What had he gotten himself into being Savekio’s disciple? And why was Savekio willing to go this far just to train him?
What did he have that the heir of an emperor and a heroic bloodline didn’t?
Luna touched his hand, “Are you alright?” She signed.
Dreiki nodded, but they both knew it wasn’t true.
Whatever weight he had on his shoulders before, it had just increased tenfold.