Soon after the calamity, I found myself once more entwining my path with Petr’s cohort and the ever-endearing Lana. The echoing bane of the monstrous horde had been silenced, our chapter of nightmares finally closed.
The devastating burst had echoed all the way to our sanctuary, where the cluster had sought refuge. Petr and Vaness were perfectly positioned to witness the grandiose scene of annihilation, and so, the recount of my victorious skirmish against the fiendish battalion through the invocation of a celestial rain was unanimously accepted.
“None of us can dispute your formidable prowess as a weaver now—or should we say, 'Archmage', Master Xandros…or perhaps ‘Lord’ would be more appropriate?” Petr’s voice broke the silence as we gathered around the campfire. Lana handed me a comforting cup of sil tea, her presence soothing amidst the chaos. Petr's tone was even, but his expression was rigid. Around the circle, I noticed the apprehensive looks on Greg and David’s faces, the anxiety clouding Philip and Vaness, and Eryn's vigilant wariness. Lana, however, regarded me with a concern that felt personal.
“No, there's no need for formalities. I'm not a scion of nobility. I'm not a man of importance—merely your average denizen. I’d rather you see me as ordinary, not extraordinary.”
In the comfort of my old life, even the formal salutations of itinerant merchants unsettled me. I had no desire for such a lofty title, yet a creeping realization began to permeate my mind. After performing such a monumental feat, there was no chance of blending back into the ordinary populace.
“But Lord Xandros! How can I withhold the deserved reverence for you, the savior who obliterated all those monstrosities?!” David’s voice rose first, followed by Greg’s.
"Lord Xandros, you're a beacon of valor!" Greg added, though it was more fear than respect shaping their reactions—a response I could hardly blame them for, given our recent encounters.
"I want to affirm my gratitude," Petr interjected, taking the reins of the conversation again. "Had that unholy legion of fiends besieged an unsuspecting hamlet, the outcome would have been a bloodbath. But therein lies my unease. Should you, a man capable of obliterating such a formidable force single-handedly, decide to summon a celestial bombardment upon us, our predicament would escalate considerably. I trust you comprehend the gravity of this."
I drew in a deep breath. Yes, I understood their concerns all too well. Struggling to put them at ease, I clarified my position once more.
"As I've conveyed before, I am Emberus Blazeus Xandros, an Archmage from a distant land. My knowledge about Dravus and its customs is limited. Yet, I vow to you—I bear no intention of employing my magic for malevolent purposes or to harm you or this realm."
Murmurs of approval, uncertainty, and trust met my statement. Vaness, Greg, and David seemed to relax a little.
"A vow? On whose authority? Is there a deity to whom you offer your faith?" Philip asked, his tone holding the tenacity of a warrior-priest.
I pondered for a moment. "Our deities might not align, but...I make this pledge in the name of the Lord God."
"That's...thought-provoking," Petr murmured, intrigued. Clearly, my response had piqued his interest.
In my world, the Abrahamic God seemed the most appropriate choice. After all, it was his will that transported me to Dravus, perhaps with the purpose of combating the Fiends.
Philip folded his arms, his expression pensive. "An unfamiliar name, indeed...but it stands to reason that your deity champions the righteous cause, considering you harness your powers to vanquish fiends," he conceded with a smile.
"Master Emberus might be remarkable, but he also possesses great kindness...a profound kindness!" Lana chimed in, her timing perfect as always.
The irony wasn't lost on me; here I was, relying heavily on the endorsement of a girl I had only met the day before.
"Surely, it would be unjust to withhold our trust from a hero who just liberated an entire village," remarked Petr, his face adorned with a peculiar blend of a smirk and a smile.
Despite his benevolent intent, I wished he would refrain from labeling me a "hero." I was not ready to don that mantle yet.
"Possibly, this 'Lord God' destined you to venture here. I’ll be relying on you," said Petr, giving my shoulder a comforting pat. Between the two of us, I was more inclined to place my faith in him than in myself.
Resuming our journey after the respite, we followed the winding path to the primary thoroughfare, heading toward Maridal Village in the east. Petr and Vaness remained vigilant against potential fiend attacks, but thankfully, our journey remained undisturbed.
The main road extended from east to west across a vast expanse of open terrain, graced by stone pavement. Its well-kept structure hinted at the advanced civilization in Dravus. We planned to spend the night encamped along this route, ensuring our arrival in Maridal by dawn.
As I glanced over my shoulder towards the south, tracing the path we had trodden, my gaze wandered up towards the forest-clad mountain. I then turned to Petr.
"As I've mentioned earlier, my knowledge about this place is practically nonexistent. Could you provide some insights about Dravus? A simplified version would suffice."
Before we reached the bustling village, where encounters with inhabitants were inevitable, I yearned for a foundational understanding of Dravus. Not to mention, considering the time I would be spending here, gaining a basic grasp of my surroundings was necessary. My interest gravitated particularly towards information related to fiends and magic, but starting with the rudimentary aspects was logical.
"That's a broad query. What exactly do you wish to know, Lord Xandros?"
So the title of "Lord" had found its place, I mused. However, I appreciated Petr's straightforwardness, a refreshing contrast from David and Greg's veiled apprehension.
"Well, I suppose...it would be valuable to gain insight into the nations of Dravus and their historical context."
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"History, indeed?" Petr responded, a grin lighting up his face. "That's a vast subject. However, once we establish our camp, I could delve into some of the most significant epochs..."
"Truly, a concise summary would be more beneficial at this point. Let's stick to the basics."
"Well...I suppose that's acceptable."
Despite his palpable enthusiasm, Petr's explanations were remarkably digestible. His scholarly inclination was evident.
Firstly, I was introduced to our present locale: Lumeos. It was strategically nestled at the core of the Dravus continent, encircling Lake Lumeos, the region's centerpiece. A coalition of city-states, known as the Lumeos Concord, was established around this expansive body of water. Their confederate nature conferred substantial political clout.
Further east along the path lay Maridal Village, a constituent state of the Lumeos Concord, governed by the Order of the Adamant Knights.
In the opposite direction, the path led to Vindaris, a fortified city nestled on the banks of Lake Lumeos. Both Lana and the team of adventurers regarded Vindaris as their homeland. It held the distinction of being the second most affluent member state within the Lumeos Concord.
Beyond Maridal, to the east, a perilous wasteland stretched out. Yet, on its farthest edges, a thriving foreign nation flourished, drawing many daring merchants and adventurers.
To the north of Lumeos Lake's northern shoreline lay the Kingdom of Trenevar, the largest entity on the continent. To the south, another significant foreign power stood, albeit embroiled in a civil war.
"That's truly fascinating."
My thoughts wandered back to numerous instances when I embarked on a fresh tabletop campaign, with the game master explaining the world. The world of Dravus bore striking resemblances to those campaign settings inspired by medieval Europe.
"Now... Could you explain more about 'fiends'? What exactly are they?"
"That's...a complex question." Petr’s enthusiasm seemed to dwindle when discussing these creatures. Nonetheless, he offered a comprehensive overview.
Firstly, Petr explained that "fiend" was a blanket term encompassing a myriad of creatures such as the curseling, netherhulk, and dreadbeast we had previously encountered, and more. These creatures tended to band together, sharing two principal attributes: a prodigious rate of reproduction and an unrestrained destructive urge towards all sentient life. The general consensus across most territories and nations in Dravus was that fiends posed a fundamental threat to humanity, and their eradication superseded all disputes between nations.
Curiously, no known origin or habitat had been ascribed to fiends. The narrative invariably played out similarly: Initially, fiends would spontaneously materialize. Subsequently, they would establish a nest and proliferate at a startling pace. Once a nest was erected, it would incessantly spawn new fiends until it was obliterated. Therefore, the destruction of any discovered nest was paramount. Depending on the nation, the obligation to eliminate a nest rested either on the nobility or the knights.
"There was indeed a period when fiends nearly eradicated all of mankind," Petr murmured pensively.
When an exceptionally large congregation of fiends was amassed, it was labeled a legion, and any time a colossal nest capable of spawning multiple legions came into existence, it was designated a brood event.
Fortunately, the total number of fiends inhabiting Dravus was presently lower than historical counts. The last incidence of a fiend explosion substantial enough to form a legion transpired a decade prior. Since then, Petr conveyed, his team and other bands of adventurers encountered only a handful of fiends at a time—until today's events, that is.
"And what about today's occurrence?" I queried. "Does the number of fiends we faced constitute a legion?"
"Likely... A Dreadbeast was present, and the numbers were far too great to be a stray contingent," Petr affirmed, his brows furrowing with concern.
"Given that... Do you think there might be a nest nearby?" I hesitated. "That would be a problem, wouldn't it?"
"Indeed. If left unchecked, another legion could potentially rise and attack the neighboring villages."
I sighed deeply.
While the prospect of flaunting my magical prowess and engaging in another battle didn't exactly excite me, I also recognized that I couldn't ignore the looming threat, particularly after our confrontation earlier in the day. When Petr intimated that he was banking on my support, this must have been his underlying intention. If the fiends' nest was nearby, someone would have to take action—and it seemed that 'someone' was, by default, me.
Petr was knowledgeable about the geography and historical landscape of Dravus, yet seldom found opportunities to share his wisdom. After I sought clarification on various subjects, he expressed how gratified he was to engage in such discourse.
Our conversation spanned several hours as we traversed the path, and before long, dusk descended upon us. We had covered substantial ground, yet it seemed we would not reach Maridal until the following afternoon.
Identifying a suitable location for our encampment, Petr rapidly issued instructions to the remaining members of our party. In a tabletop role-playing game, establishing a camp required little more than a few simple phrases, but the actual task proved laborious. However, when I attempted to lend a hand, David and Greg swiftly intervened. "Lord Xandros, we cannot possibly impose such tasks upon you!" Even Petr advised me to relax, considering my status as a guest.
Lana and Vaness set about preparing a fragrant stew of meat and beans, seasoned with spices. The tantalizing aroma quickly set my stomach rumbling in anticipation.
Time hung heavily in the air, so I attempted to engage Eryn in conversation, seeking to comprehend the distinctions between my magical aptitude and the weaving arts of Dravus.
"Such matters aren't appropriate for discussion in this setting," Eryn responded, her attention unwaveringly focused on combing her cascading locks.
Engaging in discourse with a younger woman often left me drained, especially when the subject pertained to our professions.
"Well, in light of that... um..."
Before I could finish, Eryn fixed me with an intense stare. "Upon our arrival in the village, could I request some of your time? I wish to converse with you privately."
"Lord Xandros seems to be quite in demand," Greg chortled, though I harbored no illusions that the impending dialogue would proceed smoothly.
"Your words may very well astound the Weavers’ Guild."
Exactly.
Just two nights past, I was in the comfort of my own bed. The previous night, I found myself in the eerie tower of a malevolent Weaver. Now, I was destined to spend the night under a canvas roof in an adventurers' camp...
Being a guest, I didn't have the responsibility of night watch, so I retired early in my borrowed tent, aiming to get as much rest as possible.
"Morning."
"Apologies! Could I request an additional five minutes, please?!"
"Well, we aren’t in any particular hurry," Petr responded amicably.
With the advent of sunrise, the troupe of adventurers stirred from their slumber. A brisk meal was consumed, and the remnants of our encampment were tidied away. By the time they concluded their tasks, I was still deeply engrossed in the arcane pages of my spellbook.
In the world of Tombs and Titans, a mage must prepare their spells each dawn if they seek to utilize those spells for the day.
The substantial amount of magic I had expended the prior day necessitated a thorough study of my spellbook to replenish my reserves. Alas, time was a luxury I couldn't afford, and I had to settle for readying only the most essential spells.
"At last, I'm finished! Sprite Porter!"
Driven by urgency, I immediately initiated the casting of the spell once I'd prepared my spells.
"They're levitating..."
"Indeed, once more they defy gravity, don't they?"
The objects entrusted to the sprite porter were identical to the previous day: Lana's weighty bag and Karyon's petrified form. The spell cast the day before had exhausted its efficacy, hence my haste to recast it. David or Greg might have accommodated my request to shoulder the burden, but the heft of the objects was considerable. A work of fiction might have chosen to elide such inconveniences, but reality seldom extends such courtesy.
"I can't discern any mana being harnessed... It seems incontrovertible that your magical technique differs fundamentally from our weaving." Eryn muttered under her breath, but the volume was loud enough for me to hear.
Aware that any comment on my part would only invite future complications, I opted to maintain my silence. After all, the deity had echoed similar sentiments... Her inference was likely accurate.