Zavet bolted upright, his eyes wide with confusion and alarm. He felt the cord’s pull, a subtle but persistent force that seemed to call to something deep within him. As he looked down, he saw the ethereal blue strand connected to his chest, pulsating with an otherworldly light. Panicked, he swatted at it, his voice rising in a mixture of fear and frustration. “What is that?” he screamed, desperately trying to brush the cord away before it faded into near-invisibility.
Runner, who had also been startled awake, sat up and examined the cord now connected to him as well. His brow furrowed as he tilted his head, trying to make sense of it. “Uh... I don’t know,” he admitted, his usual composure shaken by the mysterious magic.
Zavet, still on edge, leaped away from Runner, his heart racing. The sudden movement caused his tail to detach—a reflexive response that had evolved over generations for self-preservation, though rarely triggered outside of true danger. He stared at the severed appendage, his chest heaving with a mix of adrenaline and annoyance. “Runner?” he blurted out, a hint of embarrassment coloring his voice as he glanced around, half-expecting some unseen threat. “I thought you were a bird or something.”
He sighed heavily, bending down to pick up his tail. The sight of it lying limp in his hands only deepened his irritation. “Do you know how hard it is to grow a new one? Or how impossible it is to walk without it?” Zavet’s tail was not just a part of his anatomy—it was integral to his balance and his sense of self. The thought of being without it, even temporarily, filled him with dread.
Runner, trying and failing to suppress a grin, couldn’t help but find humor in the situation. He watched as Zavet tossed the tail in his direction, the limp appendage hitting him with a soft thud. It was too much for Runner, who burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet surroundings. Standing up, he began to wobble exaggeratedly, his voice a mocking mimicry. “Hur hur, look at me, I’m Zavet. It’s hard to walk without a tail,” he teased, swaying from side to side in an exaggerated imitation.
Zavet’s glare could have melted stone, but Runner’s good-natured mockery eased the tension that had gripped him. Despite his irritation, Zavet couldn’t stay mad at Runner for long; the bond they shared went deeper than just friendship.
Runner shook his head, still chuckling. “Alright, alright. Enough of that. We should head back to the keep. Let’s get some food and do a bit of training before we return.”
Zavet hesitated, the pull of the blue cord still lingering in the back of his mind. But as he looked down at his scales, noticing how chipped and dry they had become, the thought of staying out here seemed less appealing. His scales, once lustrous and smooth, now felt rough and sore against his skin. A swim would do wonders for them. “Yeah,” he finally agreed, running a hand over his scales, “I need to go swimming. My scales hurt.”
Runner clapped a hand on Zavet’s back, the gesture both comforting and reassuring. “Come on, I know a creek just outside the city. We can catch some fish while we’re at it.”
At the mention of fish, Zavet’s mood brightened. He could already imagine the cool water soothing his scales and the taste of freshly caught fish, their crisp, salty flavor dancing on his tongue. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he nodded, the tension easing from his shoulders.
Together, the duo left the city, their pace relaxed as they made their way through the familiar paths leading to the creek. The landscape around them was serene, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows through the trees. Birds chirped lazily in the branches above, and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze added a soothing backdrop to their journey.
When they reached the creek, the sight of the clear, flowing water brought an immediate sense of relief to Zavet. He wasted no time stripping off his gear and slipping into the water, letting out a contented sigh as the coolness enveloped him. Runner followed suit, though his dip was less about comfort and more about washing off the dust from the day’s work.
They spent the next few hours in peaceful companionship, catching fish and cooking them over a small fire by the water’s edge. The scent of the roasting fish filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the creek. As they ate, the tension of the day melted away, replaced by the simple pleasure of good food and good company.
For a while, they spoke of nothing important, letting the moments of silence speak for themselves. Yet, even as they relaxed, the memory of the blue cord lingered in their minds, a reminder that their roles as heroic souls were far from over. But for now, they allowed themselves this brief respite.
As Zavet and Runner made their way back to the keep, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape. The path was familiar, yet their minds were far from the tranquility of their surroundings. The earlier events and the strange blue cord of magic that had connected to them lingered in their thoughts, unspoken yet heavy in the air between them.
As they walked, Zavet began to share something that had been on his mind. “You know, Runner, while we were out there, I had some help from two guys. They were going around, finding people and sending them to the halls of resurrection.”
Runner looked over at him with interest. “Who were they?” he asked, curious about the identities of these mysterious figures.
Zavet chuckled, shaking his head as he remembered the encounter. “Honestly, I was so out of it. I didn’t even catch their names or anything they were saying. All I could hear was that damn command Iscariot gave me, echoing in my head like a broken record. I didn’t want to do it, you know? But I found that if I was too tired to understand who I was talking to, I wasn’t forced to follow his orders. It was like being half-conscious shielded me from his control.”
Runner slowed his pace, processing this new information. This was the first time he’d heard anything about what had happened to Zavet after they were killed. “You never told us what happened after we died,” Runner said, his voice quiet, tinged with both concern and curiosity.
Zavet exhaled deeply, his eyes clouded with the memories of that dark moment. “It wasn’t something I wanted to relive, but I suppose you should know.” He began to recount the harrowing events. “I was beaten, left barely able to move. I watched as you were turned into a ghoul right in front of me. The light in your eyes was gone, and then Ekias commanded you to go get Iscariot. It was like a nightmare.”
Runner listened intently, his fists clenching at the thought of his own body being manipulated in such a grotesque way. The idea of becoming a ghoul, a mindless undead, and being used as a tool against his will was horrifying.
Zavet continued, his voice heavy with the weight of what he had seen. “Then, Elias killed Talich. Just like that, with a flick of his wrist. He didn’t even hesitate. But he let everyone else go. I guess they weren’t worth the trouble. After that, Iscariot appeared, like he was summoned by the destruction and death around him.”
Zavet’s expression darkened as he recalled the confrontation. “He asked me why I was helping the city instead of him. I told him the truth—I don’t want to kill people. That’s not who I am. But he wasn’t having it. He started telling me that as undead, people’s lives would be better. They would be stronger, faster, more resilient. It was like he was trying to justify his actions, but something about the way he spoke… it wasn’t entirely his own words.”
Runner tilted his head slightly, sensing there was more to the story. “What do you mean?”
Zavet met Runner’s gaze, his eyes filled with unease. “I could hear a voice, Runner. A woman’s voice, whispering in his ear, telling him what to say, what to do. It was like she was pulling the strings, and Iscariot was just her puppet. But when she tried to push her will onto me, something strange happened. I felt this… force push her away. It even severed the link she had with Iscariot, just like that. He was confused, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.”
Runner frowned, troubled by the implications. “That’s… unsettling. It sounds like someone else is pulling the strings, someone even Iscariot can’t fully control.”
Zavet nodded. “Exactly. But then, as if trying to regain control, Iscariot commanded me to kill the nobles of the kingdom. Only, there was a small problem with that—I don’t really know who the nobles are. It’s not like I go around memorizing faces and titles.”
Runner couldn’t help but let out a small, grim laugh at that. “So, his plan fell apart because you didn’t know who to kill?”
“Pretty much,” Zavet replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But the smile quickly faded as he continued. “Then, the world started to shake. I think it scared him—it sure scared me. He thought I was somehow causing it, and he floated out of there, straight into the sky like he was running away.”
Zavet’s voice grew softer as he recalled the final moments of that encounter. “As he flew away, I saw Elias trapped under some rubble. He was struggling, about to free himself. But something inside me—no, inside the dagger I was holding—compelled me to act. I didn’t even feel the pain of my injuries. I just knew I had to kill him, and before I knew it, I had plunged the dagger into his heart, ending him right then and there.”
Runner’s eyes widened, the gravity of Zavet’s words sinking in. “That dagger… it had a will of its own?”
“It felt that way,” Zavet admitted, his voice heavy with the burden of that dark moment. “It wasn’t just a weapon in my hand—it was like it was guiding me, pushing me to do what needed to be done. I don’t know if it was right or wrong, but in that moment, it felt like there was no other choice.”
As they approached the keep, the weight of the conversation hung between them like a thick fog. The keep loomed ahead, a symbol of the struggles they had faced and the battles yet to come. Zavet and Runner shared a moment of silence, both processing the enormity of what had been revealed.
Finally, Runner broke the silence, his voice low but resolute. “We’ve been through hell, Zavet. But we’re still here. And whatever comes next, we face it together.”
Zavet nodded, a determined light in his eyes. “Together,” he agreed.
Zavet and Runner made their way inside the keep. Everyone was inside the common room including all the barons, Merlot, Ulrich, and Yvonne. “Well you missed the meeting.” Lina says To them.
Talich waves them down “I'll inform you. Come on, let's go outside for a bit.”
As they made their way outside, the evening air was cool, and the shadows of the surrounding trees stretched long across the clearing. Talich led them to a well-organized camp, a stark contrast to the chaos they had faced just days before. The area was cleared by the people who had once lived nearby, now transformed into a temporary refuge for the survivors. Waxed canvas tents were arranged in a circle around a large campfire, their dull colors blending into the earthy tones of the forest. The warm light of the fire flickered across the faces of those huddled around it, casting long shadows that danced along the ground.
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Five golems made of solid granite patrolled the perimeter, their massive forms moving with an eerie precision. These sentinels, crafted to protect, exuded an ancient, unyielding strength. Their eyes glowed faintly with the energy that powered them, reflecting off the firelight. The rhythmic crunch of their heavy footsteps added a sense of security to the camp, a constant reminder that they were under watchful protection.
Talich gestured toward the tents. "The soldiers are handing these out," he said, his voice carrying a note of practicality. "I suggest you two get yourselves a tent. And by the way, you've been ignoring someone." He pointed towards the campfire, where Alley sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the dancing flames.
Alley, noticing them, gave a small wave, but her eyes lingered on Runner before quickly looking away, a shy smile playing on her lips. Zavet, always the one to break the ice, waved back with a grin. "Hey, it's Alley! How have you been?"
Alley stood up and approached them, her steps hesitant at first, but she quickly enveloped Zavet in a warm hug. Then, turning to Runner, she leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. Runner, caught off guard, flushed with embarrassment, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.
Talich, observant as ever, raised an eyebrow at the interaction. "Runner, you've got a woman, huh?" he teased, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Runner chuckled, scratching the back of his head in a rare display of bashfulness. "Yeah, we've been spending a lot of time together," he admitted, his voice softening as he glanced at Alley.
Alley smiled, her eyes meeting Talich’s briefly before she responded. "We've gotten close over the last few days. He needed a tent to sleep in last night, so I let him stay with me."
Zavet, ever the oblivious one, smiled brightly. "That was really nice of you, Alley. I think we're going to go get ourselves some tents after Talich talks to us." His words were earnest, his understanding of the situation clearly limited to the surface.
Talich sighed, but the warmth of his smile didn’t fade. "I have something important to talk to you about. Alley, you can stay too—you might need to know what's going on."
Once they all settled around the campfire, the flickering flames reflecting in their eyes, Talich began, his tone more serious. "Alright, did any of you notice a blue magical cord attached to you earlier today?"
All three nodded, their faces etched with curiosity and concern. They opened their mouths to speak, but Talich raised his hand, signaling them to hold their questions. "Yeah, I’m getting to it. That was a very old ritual. The last time it was used was during the Dragon Wars. It’s called the Gathering of Heroic Souls."
The weight of his words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation sinking in as he continued. "You are now linked to the ley lines of magic, the very veins of the world’s energy. The magic cord you saw will pull you to where you’re needed most, but it can only do this once every twenty-seven days. Most of the time, this pull will be felt by all heroic souls, drawing them to a specific location. This area is usually within a fifty-mile radius."
He paused, letting the information settle before going on. "This gathering used to be a way for heroes to unite against future or current threats. Now, we have rituals that can do something similar, but those only work once for each casting. But this time... it was reactivated by one of the last known elder dragons—Adair, the green dragon. He’s also the guardian of this world."
Runner, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "If he’s the guardian, why doesn’t he just go kill Iscariot?"
Talich shrugged, a look of uncertainty crossing his face. "That’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer. I don’t know what makes him a guardian or why he doesn’t interfere with wars. But from what I understand, the earthquake caught his attention, and that’s why he agreed to reactivate the gatherings."
The fire crackled, filling the silence that followed Talich’s explanation. The group sat in contemplation, the weight of their newfound responsibility settling on their shoulders.
Zavet stood up abruptly, brushing the dirt from his scales. "I’m going to go find one of these tents," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. "I need somewhere to keep all the stuff I’ve been finding. I already lost a bunch of gems I tried to hide."
Talich chuckled, a deep, hearty laugh that echoed through the clearing. "Are you looting the ruins, Zavet?" he teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Zavet shook his head, his expression serious despite the humor in Talich's voice. "No, I’m giving them a better home. Those gems were being mistreated, left abandoned in the rubble like that." His tone was almost defensive, as if the thought of leaving anything valuable behind was a personal affront.
Talich’s laughter grew louder, but it was a laugh of understanding rather than mockery. "You’ve always had a soft spot for shiny things, haven’t you?"
Zavet gave a small, sheepish smile but didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to leave, his mind clearly set on his mission. But before he could take more than a few steps, Runner jumped up, his movements quick and almost frantic. "Oh, let me go get the tents, Zavet," he blurted out, glancing nervously at Talich. His sudden enthusiasm seemed a little forced, as if he was trying to delay Zavet’s departure for some reason.
Talich, noticing Runner’s odd behavior, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Runner, now visibly anxious, added, "And, uh, Talich... make sure he doesn’t get too close to any nobles, okay?"
Zavet, who had been half-listening, suddenly froze in his tracks. He turned slowly, his shoulders slumping in defeat. The weight of Runner’s words brought him back to reality. "Fine," he muttered, almost begrudgingly. With a heavy sigh, he walked back to the campfire and plopped down beside Talich, his earlier excitement now replaced with a somber expression.
Runner watched him for a moment, his eyes filled with concern, before giving Talich a meaningful look. "Zavet," Runner urged, "you need to tell Talich what happened with Elias and Iscariot."
Zavet’s face tightened, his eyes dropping to the ground. It was clear that the memory weighed heavily on him, something he hadn’t fully processed or wanted to revisit. But Runner’s insistence left him no choice. With another resigned sigh, Zavet began recounting the events that had unfolded after their deaths at Elias’s hands.
He spoke slowly, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "After we were killed, I was beaten, and I saw you get turned into a ghoul, Runner," he began, his eyes still fixed on the ground. "You were commanded to find Iscariot, and Elias... he killed Talich." Zavet paused, the memory of Talich’s death clearly painful for him to relive.
Talich, listening intently, remained silent, his expression unreadable. He didn’t interrupt, letting Zavet continue at his own pace.
Zavet went on, his voice growing quieter as he spoke. "Elias let everyone else go, but then Iscariot showed up. He asked me why I was helping the city instead of him. I told him I didn’t want to kill people. He started talking about how, as undead, their lives would be better—how they’d be stronger. But... I could hear a voice, whispering to him, telling him what to say and do. It was like Iscariot wasn’t fully in control, like the voice was the one in charge."
Zavet’s brow furrowed, his tail twitching slightly as he recalled the encounter. "The voice tried to push its will onto me, but something stopped it. I felt something... something powerful, pushing it away. It even severed the link it had with Iscariot. He looked confused, like he didn’t know what to do for a moment. Then he commanded me to kill the nobles of the kingdom. But..." Zavet looked up at Talich, a weak smile crossing his face, "Good thing I don’t really know who the nobles are."
Talich couldn’t help but chuckle at that, shaking his head. "That’s probably for the best," he remarked, trying to lighten the mood, though his concern was still evident.
Zavet’s expression darkened again as he continued. "Then... the world started to shake. Iscariot thought it was me, but I didn’t know what was happening either. He floated up and flew into the sky. I saw Elias trapped under some rubble. He was about to get free, but... something inside the dagger I was holding made me kill him, ignoring all the pain I felt."
The campfire crackled in the silence that followed, the weight of Zavet’s confession hanging in the air. Talich leaned back slightly, processing everything he had just heard. His expression was serious, but there was a softness in his eyes, a hint of understanding.
Finally, Talich spoke, his voice calm and reassuring. "Zavet, I can help if that command starts to take over. But until that moment comes, let’s keep you away from the nobles, just in case. We’ll figure this out.." Zavet nodded, relieved by Talich’s words.
Runner and Alley walked off together, their footsteps fading as they headed to collect the tents. The camp around the fire grew quieter, the crackling flames casting long shadows across the surrounding tents and the watchful granite golems.
Talich remained by the fire, deep in thought. He reached into his satchel and pulled out his book of ritual scrolls. The leather-bound tome opened with a familiar creak, revealing pages filled with intricate diagrams and ancient script. His fingers lingered on a particular ritual designed to send messages across vast distances—a task he needed to complete urgently.
However, when Talich reached for his ritual component bag, his heart sank. He rummaged through it, realizing he was missing the key materials needed to perform the ritual. With a resigned sigh, he closed the book and carefully stowed both the tome and the bag back into his satchel. The absence of the necessary components meant he wouldn’t be able to cast the ritual tonight.
“Zavet,” Talich began, his voice breaking the silence. He turned to his companion, who was still seated by the fire, poking absently at the flames with a stick. “I’m going to need to leave tonight.”
Zavet looked up, surprised. “Leave? Where are you going?”
Talich’s expression was calm as he explained, “I need to go to the Black Pyramid. I have to give a report to my master, and it can’t wait. It’s not dangerous, so you don’t need to worry. But it’s something that needs to be done.” He pointed to his own tent, which stood a little way off from the others, its entrance flapping slightly in the cool night breeze. “You can sleep in there tonight. I’ll be back in a few days, but while I’m gone, I need you to keep an eye out for any undead in the city. The ruins might still be harboring them.”
Zavet frowned, concern evident in his eyes. “The Black Pyramid... it’s not dangerous, right?”
Talich gave him a reassuring smile. “Not for us. I’ve made the journey many times before, and I’ll be back before you know it. Just stay with Runner for the time being. He’ll be back soon, and you two can handle anything that comes up. I’ll bring back some supplies that might help with our search.”
Zavet nodded, though his concern didn’t entirely fade. He trusted Talich, but the thought of him going off alone, even to a place he claimed wasn’t dangerous, was still unsettling. Still, he knew better than to argue. Talich was a seasoned warrior and a skilled practitioner of magic—if anyone could handle the journey, it was him.
As the night deepened, the stars beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky, Zavet waited with Talich by the fire. The two of them sat in companionable silence, the occasional pop of the firewood the only sound breaking the quiet.
An hour passed, the sky now fully dark, and the camp was bathed in the soft glow of the firelight. Just as the first hints of unease began to creep into Zavet’s thoughts, Runner and Alley returned. They carried two waxed canvas tents, their breath visible in the cool night air.
“We got the tents,” Runner announced cheerfully as they approached. His good mood seemed to light up the area around him, even as the night grew colder.
Talich stood up as they arrived, giving them both a nod. “Good timing,” he said, his tone appreciative. “Runner, I need to talk to you for a moment.”
Runner’s expression shifted from cheerful to curious, sensing the seriousness in Talich’s voice. He handed one of the tents to Zavet, who took it without a word, then turned to face Talich. “What’s going on?”
Talich glanced at Alley, who was standing a few paces behind Runner, and then back to Runner. “I have to leave for a few days,” he explained. “I need to make a trip to the Black Pyramid to report to my master. While I’m gone, I want you to stay with Zavet. Keep an eye out for any undead still lurking in the city, and make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.”
Runner nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “You can count on me,” he said confidently. “We’ll keep things under control here.”
Talich smiled, a brief but genuine expression of gratitude. “I know you will. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. Just stay safe, and remember, the undead are still a threat. Don’t let your guard down.”
With that, Talich began to gather his belongings, preparing for the journey ahead. The air around the campfire seemed to grow colder as he packed away his things, the weight of his departure hanging over the group. Though they all knew it was necessary, the prospect of Talich’s absence left them feeling more vulnerable.
As Talich prepared to leave, Zavet and Runner watched him with a mix of admiration and concern. The responsibility of keeping the camp and the city safe weighed heavily on their minds. All they could do was trust in Talich’s skill and hope for his swift return.
Talich paused before leaving, giving them one last look. “Take care of each other,” he said quietly, the firelight flickering across his face. Then, with a final nod, he turned and disappeared into the night, his figure quickly swallowed by the darkness.