Swinging his giant sword, Arturo Pentori sighed in relief. Finally, he was fully recovered from his injuries. This wasn’t the first time he had been near death and he didn’t expect it to be the last. Killing the legend Ribalt had resulted in a shattered right arm. Killing fifty men single-handedly had brought him to the brink of death. Those fights didn’t bother him. The fight that haunted him most was against Kyrad Durmaddon, the man who bested him in one-on-one combat and nearly killed him.
If it hadn’t been for his sister, Arturo would have died. The healing had taken its toll, causing him to feel more exhausted than normal at times. The mages told him this was normal. Since his refusal to join the Whispering Mists, the others avoided him. Only his sister, Jen, visited him, along with Tarmon.
The sun shone brightly, with not a cloud in sight. Survivors of the assault on Talin Grad were back in their homes and were starting to rebuild their city. Arturo wanted to leave but he had agreed to stay for a little longer for Jen. She made sure he didn’t try sneaking out—much to his irritation.
He put his sword on the hooks on his back and walked to where Jen would be. Arturo didn’t want to stay here much longer. The time to rest was over. It didn’t take him long to find his sister. Her dark-red hair was hard to miss, and she sat on a chair, talking with Tarmon. She laughed at something he said and stopped when he arrived.
“Brother,” Jen said. Her smile vanished and her brown eyes studied him closely. “I see you’re feeling better.”
“I think I’m back to one hundred percent,” Arturo said. “Which means it’s almost time for me to go.”
“Why won’t you join us?” Jen asked.
“This isn’t my path,” Arturo said.
“What is your path?” Jen said.
“To avenge our family.”
“Really?” Jen’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think that’s what father would want? Mother? No, they would want you to live your life. Going on this crusade isn’t going to accomplish anything.”
“Except for justice,” Arturo said softly. “How can you not want that?”
“Arturo Pentori!” Jen said, her chair sliding backward. “Did you not hear what I said? The last thing our parents would want is us going on a suicidal rampage to try and avenge them.”
It was true. Arturo recalled his father’s last words. Archard had told him to live, but how could he do that while Kyrad lived? “You weren’t there. I saw Kyrad cut down my brothers. I saw mother get murdered and our father. If you saw what I did, you would be seeking justice as well.”
Jen moved forward and rested her hand on Arturo’s chest. Her face was full of sympathy and Arturo hated it. He didn’t want to be pitied, especially by his sister.
“I may not have witnessed what happened but I feel their loss as much as you,” Jen’s voice was quiet, not what Arturo had expected to hear. He had expected anger. “You have me. Are you going to leave? Again? Is there nothing I can do?”
“There’s not. It’s something you’ll have to accept,” Arturo said. Initially, he planned to tell her he was leaving now. A few more hours wouldn’t hurt. “But I have to do this.”
“Fine,” Jen said angrily. “You’re as stubborn as ever. Tarmon, why don’t you talk to him. I’ll be right back.”
Arturo watched her take stomp off. He wished he could be the brother she needed. There was so much to be done. Killing Kyrad Durmaddon wouldn’t stop the invaders, and he needed to be ready. He would help drive the invaders off Aidris when they attacked. It was why he was still alive.
“I’m not one to intervene in family affairs,” Tarmon said.
“Yet?” Arturo said.
“Yet,” Tarmon said with a sly smile. “Why don’t you stay longer? I understand why you left the Crystal Syndicate the way you did. Jen’s your sister and it’s obvious she cares about you. Why are you in a rush?”
“A war is coming. Each day I do nothing is one less day to prepare. I don’t know when the invaders will attack. All I can do is prepare so that I am ready when the time comes,” Arturo said.
“I get why you think that, but this is your sister. She needs you,” Tarmon said. He sighed and scratched his head. “And you need her.”
That last part stung. He wanted to stay close to his sister but not here. If only he could convince her to come with him. “I can’t be the brother she needs right now,” Arturo took the seat where Jen had been. “Thanks for saving my life. I didn’t expect to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Tarmon said and opened his mouth, then shut it again and chuckled. “I’ve been looking for you since you left the Crystal Syndicate. I snuck out a day later and lost your trail.”
“I needed to hide my tracks. Couldn’t risk being followed. How did Veldahar react?”
“Oh, he’s furious. The last thing I heard was a threat that if he ever came across you again, he would have you killed.”
“Figures,” Arturo said. Another enemy to worry about. How many enemies would he make? “Are they hunting me?”
Tarmon shook his head, “Veldahar debated on sending men after you but decided against it. You’re too dangerous and the last thing he wants is to lose good men. He’s back in Azzellia or should be by now.”
“What about Gosford, Rogoth, and Cevelt?”
“I don’t think they were surprised. Had you asked them to leave with you, they would have.”
“Perhaps I should have asked them then,” Arturo said with a laugh. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when leaving the crystal syndicate.”
“Why not lead? Create your own mercenary band,” Tarmon asked.
“Or, Arturo could join the Whispering Mists and not have to worry about recruiting and taking care of a bunch of soldiers,” Jen said, appearing out of nowhere. She took the seat next to Arturo.
“I know a lot about the Whispering Mists. However, I do think Arturo can do more good by leading his own company. I know the restrictions placed on you and those can’t be in place for the war to come,” Tarmon said.
“That’s not true!” Jen said. “We’ll be fighting as hard as any other army. My clan will do better because all of our fighters are skilled. Arturo would be a great fit.”
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“Except, you follow Modric’s orders. A good man, though who can say who he’ll support. Will he go to Azzellia’s aid? What if the invaders attack all the nations at once?” Tarmon asked.
“I could say the same about Arturo. He can only choose one battle at a time, no more than us!” Jen shot back.
“Enough! I don’t want an argument about this,” Arturo began rubbing his head. “I won’t be joining the Whispering Mists; of that I am certain. I don’t know if I want to create my own mercenary band and lead men into battle. Whatever I decide to do, you both are welcome to come.”
“All right,” Tarmon took a sip of his drink, and the silence built to an uncomfortable level. Arturo was leaning against a wall and Jen was staring at her empty plate. “Do either of you know what the curved sword was?”
“A sword that can carve through armor,” Arturo said.
“A little more than that,” Tarmon said. “It’s an artifact. Known as the unbreakable sword. It was crafted thousands of years ago during the great awakening when power users from all over the world developed incredible technology with the power. The sword was said to cut through nearly anything.”
“That explains why Kyrad was able to block my attacks so effortlessly and pierce my armor. I didn’t understand how the blade could withstand my own,” Arturo said.
“How do you know so much about artifacts?” Jen asked.
“I used to read about famous swords. I find it fascinating what a power-forged weapon can do,” Tarmon said.
“Do you know about the Sword of Cataclysm?” Jen asked.
“I do,” Tarmon whistled. “That’s the greatest power-forged weapon ever made. Entire armies used to tremble at the thought of that sword.”
“Do you know where it is?”
“Nobody does, except perhaps one of the kings. Maybe it’s been destroyed or lost forever,” Tarmon said.
“Impossible,” Jen said aggressively. “The stories say the weapon is indestructible. Only someone from the Durmaddon family can yield the weapon. The sword is far too heavy for any other person.”
“What? Does that mean it’s impossible to move?” Arturo asked.
“Not entirely,” Tarmon said before Jen could respond. “There are two ways to move the sword. Using the power or wrapping the weapon in something like cloth. So long as no skin is touching the sword, it’ll act like anything else.”
“I didn’t know that,” Jen said.
“Not many do. Most people don’t know about the Sword of Cataclysm, not anymore,” Tarmon said. “Oh yeah, I have something for you, Arturo.”
Before Arturo could say anything, Tarmon got up and hurried into a nearby building. He was gone for less than five minutes before returning. It was the Verian armor. “Here you go,” Tarmon said and handed the armor over.
It was a relief to see the armor again. He felt naked without it on. Arturo was grateful to have it back and was surprised to see the armor didn’t have any of the cuts that Kyrad had made. “Did someone repair my armor?” Arturo asked.
“Yes. Your armor is quite remarkable. The materials used to replace the damage converted to the same type of metal that forged it. Each piece will be as strong as if your armor was never damaged,” Tarmon said.
“Wow, here I was worried I would have to be extra careful around my chest,” Arturo said.
“What are you talking about?” Jen asked.
“This armor, it’s what father gave me shortly before the attack on Arindall,” Arturo explained. He forgot that Jen had no idea about this. “Anyone who wears this armor can’t be harmed by the power and arrows can’t pierce it either. Most weapons couldn’t—except for specially-forged ones like Kyrad’s and his own.”
“That’s amazing. I wish father had given me armor like that,” Jen said wistfully.
“This is far too big for you,” Arturo laughed and put the armor back on. It felt right to have this on again. “Now nobody can stop me from leaving.”
Jen’s face turned sour as she shook her head. “Before you think of leaving, I want you to speak with Modric.”
“Why?”
“I want to see if he can convince you to join. I bet he will,” Jen said.
“All right,” Arturo said. Maybe Jen would leave him alone if he told Modric no.
Jen stood up. “Excellent, let’s get going then!”
“Right now?”
“Yes!” Jen said. “I want to get this over with. Tarmon, you’ll have to stay here.”
“That’s fine,” Tarmon appeared relieved that he didn’t have to go. “Just don’t leave without me.”
“I won’t,” Arturo said.
Arturo didn’t know anything about Modric. Did Jen think her leader would convince him to join? She had to know it was a lost cause. He already made up his mind not to join a while ago. The Crystal Syndicate taught him much and he doubted he would join another mercenary band ever again.
He walked around, surveying Talin Grad which had far fewer people than before the attack. Over half of the people who fought in the battle had died. Another quarter was injured to some degree. The city itself was in ruins and Arturo imagined it would take years to fully recover from the invaders' attack. It reminded him too much of Arindall after the attack. Perhaps that was why he wanted to leave so badly.
Some of the Whispering Mist members were helping out where they could. A couple, Arturo recognized from fighting them and they looked at him with curiosity. It was unexpected. Arturo imagined the people he fought would hate him since he nearly killed one of them, yet some viewed him as a mystery.
Jen stopped in front of a half-destroyed building where two guards were standing. He assumed Modric was inside. “After you,” Jen said.
Rolling his eyes, Arturo walked past the guards and into the building, with Jen right behind him. Inside was Modric, who was writing on a piece of parchment. He looked up when he heard them enter.
“Ah, I was wondering when Jen would get you to visit me,” Modric said. He put away his pen and stood up.
Not a tall man by any means but Arturo could see the commanding presence that Modric gave off. Modric rubbed his goatee as he waited. “I came here to tell you that I won’t be joining,” Arturo said.
“Why?” Modric asked.
“I had a falling out with a previous group. I have no desire to join another,” Arturo said.
“Ah, you mean the Crystal Syndicate?” Modric said. “I have my sources.” He said when Arturo looked at him questioningly.
“Then you know why I won’t join.”
“The Whispering Mists is different. We have good people who want to help. No one here rapes or murders. Anyone caught doing so is publicly executed nor do we have anything to hide,” Modric said.
“I’ve made up my mind,” Arturo said firmly.
Modric was about to say something else, then shook his head and smiled. “I understand. I got your bounty removed. Nobody else should be hunting you.”
“How?” Arturo found himself surprised. Somehow, he had forgotten about that. A bounty had been set on his head ever since he killed a few guards in a small village called Urantis. The last attack on him was over a month ago now. He would have expected Modric to use this as a way to make him join the Whispering Mists.
“I have my ways,” Modric said. “I hope you’ll reconsider someday. Things are only going to get worse before they get better.”
“Don’t expect me to reconsider,” Arturo said.
“Very well. Jen, would you stay behind for a moment? I have something to discuss with you, alone,” Modric said.
“Of course,” Jen said.
If Jen was disappointed in the conversation, she was doing a good job hiding it. Nodding slightly, Arturo turned and walked out of the building. It was time to go. Jen would be angry when he left without saying goodbye but he couldn’t stay here anymore and he didn’t want to argue with his sister. He had wanted to leave many times, yet he always remained because of Jen. The only way he would get himself to leave would be not to tell her.
I’ll grab my gear, grab Tarmon and leave. Surely, I can get out before Jen finds me. Arturo thought and picked up the pace. He walked into his quarters and grabbed his money. There was nothing else to grab but some food. Once he was sure he had everything, he walked out and was surprised to see someone waiting outside.
“Are you going to leave without saying goodbye to your sister?” The man asked.
“Who are you?” Arturo said. He could see the symbol of wavy silver lines, with a faded person on the man’s armor, the Whispering Mists insignia.
“My name is Caldian. I saved your sister.”
Arturo knew he should thank the man. Jen being alive was more precious to him than anyone could know. “I have to go. Jen is desperate for me to stay and the longer I stay, the more hopeful she’ll be. I should leave now.”
“She’s a strong person. You underestimate her,” Caldian said.
“Perhaps,” Arturo shrugged. What did Caldian want him to say? He didn’t know Jen like he used to. She was far more secretive than when they were kids. “She has her path. I can see that she loves the Whispering Mists. Who am I to try and take that from her?”
Caldian looked him up and down before shaking his head. “You Pentori’s are a stubborn lot. You and Jen are more alike than you think. You’ll crush her for leaving but I won’t stop you.”
“You couldn’t anyway,” Arturo said and walked past Caldian. Perhaps he would do what Tarmon suggested and create his own company of soldiers. That would be the best way to accomplish his goals and help end the threat that was coming. It was only a matter of time before the invaders struck with their entire army and he had to be ready. Especially when he faced Kyrad again.