“You work for the Order?” Dallion asked just to confirm what he had heard.

After passing the fifth awakening gate, he believed there wouldn’t be many mysteries in the world remaining, but he was mistaken. The world of nobles came with their own rules, and among the useless squabbles and political intrigue, there were a few secrets buried in plain sight.

“We have for centuries,” fake March replied.

Dallion’s immediate reaction was to ask the inhabitants of his realm; it was one of the old habits he still hadn’t quite kicked yet.

“You’ve seen them, haven’t you?” The copyette continued. “The void items that fill the city.”

“I’ve noticed a few.”

“There are thousands of them, scattered all over the capital. All of them remain hidden, but for those with enough skill, they’re obvious.”

Throughout the entire capital? Dallion’s perspective suddenly changed. This wasn’t a cage, it was a web drawing people to it. It was everyone’s dream to get here. It was often said that awakened, nobles, even otherworlders were drawn to the capital. The only reason they weren’t all going in droves were effects of the other settlements’ overseers. A noble without a settlement wasn’t a noble. Plus, the locals were very picky as to who they let in.

“And neither you nor the Academy managed to figure this out?”

“The void isn’t stupid, neither are those it corrupts. They keep their distance from the palace. The emperor is the only one who can freely take any possession he wants. Anyone else risks causing a major stir, even the Order.” March looked at the sky. All seven Moons were shining above, yet there was no way of telling how many of them she could see. “The few mages that get here are too blinded by the allure of the capital to do anything about it. If we’re lucky, there might be one who tracks down half a dozen void items and brings them to us. But even if that happens, what’s the point? Crumbs from a loaf.”

Two servants approached hurriedly, carrying the prize Dallion had been promised. Even in the darkness, Dallion caught a glimpse of the void thread leaving the wooden box and disappearing further into the city.

The servants bowed to March and Dallion as they rushed into Pilih’s forge. Although the gift was meant for Dallion, only the count had the privilege of handing it to him.

“Amusing, aren’t they?” March smiled. “It’s quite possible they didn’t start that way. All it takes is one corrupted item to slowly convert the rest. The whip blade you made has every chance of becoming one like them. It won’t be right away. It might even take a generation or two, but eventually it’ll happen.”

“Why tell me this? Another task from the archbishop?”

“Another?” The copyette laughed. “You still haven’t finished the first.”

“The device was destroyed.”

“You haven’t given Adzorg to us.”

“The emperor gave me Adzrog.” Dallion didn’t like where this was going.

“It wasn’t his decision to make. But even so, you’ve seen a room full of void items. You know exactly where they are. How about you go and cleanse them?”

Dallion couldn’t find a good response. The question wasn’t so much whether he would or not. The real question was why hadn’t he done so up to now? Nothing prevented him from entering the realm of every item in the trophy room and defeating the trophy. The fights would be difficult, no doubt, but thanks to Harp, he stood more than a good chance of pulling it off.

“I’m not sure,” Dallion admitted. I’ll do it soon enough, he added mentally.

“That’s just an excuse. No doubt you have some sort of plan, but it won’t work.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because it was in the archbishop’s prophecy.”

Silence filled the street, only broken by the distant laughter of parties throughout the capital. Knowing that the conversation had come to an end, March walked off.

“My work is done here,” she said. “I’ve said what I was supposed to. From here on, events will happen as the archbishop has foreseen. Don’t keep my “father” waiting. He’s not the most patient man, even when he’s surrounded by toys.”

“His prophecy was wrong once,” Dallion raised his voice. “It might be wrong again.”

“In that case, you have nothing to worry about.” March walked on.

Dallion kept on looking for another few moments, almost expecting her to transform into something else. However, the copyette retained its chosen form. As far as everyone was concerned, it was March—a copy so flawless that even the city overseers hadn’t taken notice.

“Sir?” A servant peeked out from the forge’s entrance. “Count Pilih has inquired regarding your health.”

“Yes.” Dallion removed all traces of reluctance from his voice as he spoke. “I’m fine, and I’ll join him shortly.”

Copyettes and void items within the imperial city. The whole spectacle about the Order leaving was nothing but a charade. They had never left, remaining in the form of local inhabitants. No one could be certain how many of them there were, nor where. The same could be said about the void weapons. The far greater war between the void and the servants of the Moons was still going on behind the scenes of world events. That explained why no one had managed to kill off the cults—they had been hiding in the imperial capital all along.

Did any of you get that? Dallion slid off his blocker ring.

Yeah, Gen replied. Maybe staying here isn’t the best idea, after all.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The rest of night—and morning—was spent creating a second whip blade under the count’s strict instructions. Dallion proceeded as normal, the only difference being that instead of using a sun gold thread, he attached the blade fragments together directly with magic. Count Pilih would remain a few steps away, carefully observing every action, constantly commenting on how things could be done better. Any other time Dallion would have been appreciative, but his mind was still focused on the conversation.

The presence of void items couldn’t be ignored and neither could the Order. March hadn’t admitted openly, but it was clear that the archbishop wasn’t pleased with Dallion’s decision to shield Adzorg from consequences.

Why must it be at the worst time? he wondered.

He was starting to understand the domain ruler game; more importantly, he was on track to discover what had happened to his grandmother. And just like that, everything pulled him out of the city again, back to the wilderness and Nerosal.

By noon, and a lengthy breakfast with Count Pilih, Dallion was finally allowed to return to his home. The majority of his weapons had been transported directly to his personal realm, with the exception of the void daggers. Those, Dallion decided to carry. There was no point in taking useless risks. On the way, he tried to follow the direction of the void threads, but that proved impossible. Just when he thought he had caught the direction, the thread would turn, pointing to a completely different direction altogether.

Contrary to his expectations, his mansion was in a far better state than he expected. All the surprise guests had left, probably to sleep, leaving a very stoic Taem behind.

“Welcome back, young master,” he said the moment Dallion stepped through the door. “I take it your night went well.”

“In a manner of speaking,” Dallion replied.

“Wonderful. I’d like to inform you that the young duchess said she’d pass by at some point today. There are a few matters she’d like to discuss with you.”

“Great. Any idea what?”

“Unfortunately, I have no idea, sir. Such matters are only meant for you.”

Most likely, it was going to be some familial matter again. With a family like this, there was no telling whether she disliked Dallion or Tors more. On the one hand, Tors was a marquis, which meant his claim for the head of the family was greater. Then again, Dallion remained a wildcard, so maybe she wanted to make sure he wouldn’t ruin her political aspirations.

“Did she say when?” Dallion made his way to the upper floor.

“Not exactly, sir.”

Of course, she wouldn’t. “I’ll be… somewhere upstairs until she gets here.”

“Splendid, young master. Oh, and your friend said that he’ll pass later this evening for the gift you promised him.”

This time Dallion only grumbled.

On the bright side, you’ll know that he’ll be punctual, Vihrogon said. Leeches are always punctual when collecting. It's the delivery that takes time.

Dallion’s initial thought was just to get rid of the pesky noble. Sadly, with everything going on, that might prove to be the only way to sneak out.

Entering what seemed to be a small library, Dallion closed the door and cast a barrier spell on it. Done, he placed the wooden box on the ground and opened it. As if they sensed his intentions, the daggers had hidden all traces of void, becoming nothing more but two very exquisite works of art. Alas, for them, Dallion knew better.

Ready, Harp? he asked.

Always, the nymph replied in her own voice.

ITEM AWAKENING

Reality shifted. Dallion expected to find himself in a room, as was usually the case with items. Instead, he found himself at the entrance of a gray castle atop a cliff. Clear skies continued as far as the eye could see in all directions, even below.

This must have taken a lot of remodeling, Dallion said to himself.

You are in a vast onyx domain.

Defeat the guardians to change the TWIN DAGGERS’ destiny.

Twin Daggers?

It means they affect each other, dear boy, Adzorg explained. They are particularly well suited for arts skill combat. It’s said that in the early days of the empire, they were used by high caliber assassins. Lately, though, it’s mostly for operas and other entertainment.

Both the harpsisword and aura sword appeared in Dallion’s hands. Shortly after, they were followed by the armadil shield on his back, and all his familiars. Gleam and Ruby were missing, but they weren’t necessary for the fight. If Dallion wasn’t able to win with what he had at present, he wasn’t going to win at all.

Careful, Vihrogon said. There’s two of them, and the void provides a lot of strength.

That’s why I didn’t come alone. “How about you come out here?” Dallion asked, filling his words with self-confidence. “There’s no reason we can’t talk for a bit.”

“Wow. Really?”

The voice sounded youthful. The owner had to be in his late teens or early twenties before banishment. The slight accent sounded dryady, although Dallion couldn’t be absolutely certain.

“I bet you’re just here to improve us, right?” another voice, this time female, asked.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

Laughter poured onto him, coming from all directions.

“You’re cute,” the female voice said.

“And stupid,” the other added. “The void warned us about you. Never thought we’d cross paths this fast.”

“I take it you’ve heard of me then?” Dallion swung his aura sword, casting a dozen spells. One of them granted him the ability to fly. The rest wrapped around him, forming pieces of aether armor. “In that case, you know I’ll accept your surrender.”

“Dream on,” both daggers said in unison.

So much for that approach. Apparently, void items didn’t have the option to surrender.

“How about we make a deal?” Dallion asked. “If I improve you, you promise to tell me all about the void.”

“Okay.” The laugher suggested there might be doubts regarding the truthfulness of that response. “And if we win?”

“The void will get its new Star.”

“Why do you think there isn’t one already?” the female voice asked.

“I’d know if there was,” Dallion replied. It was a lie, of course. There likely were plenty of candidates, some in the imperial capital itself. Yet, if that were the case, they wouldn’t resist taking him on to prove a point, if nothing else. “What do you say?”

COMBAT INITIATED

The entire castle was sliced in four as two line strikes flew in Dallion’s direction.