For subjugating the once honored hero ‘The Liberator’, they were hailed as heroes.

Although Kihet was one to never enjoy standing out, he chose to be present during the award ceremony. Using the celebration to be elected as Pamalyra’s new heroes, Kihet demanded everyone involved in the incident to keep the Acolyte a secret. If people of Navargzan knew they were within the Acolyte’s crosshairs, there’d be hysteria and chaos.

Nobles and the like immediately swarmed to Kihet after the ceremony. To their disappointment, Kihet was never one to attend banquets and discovered only his companions present. Since they were honorary guests, any offense, albeit an unintentional one, could strip them of reputation for their titles. None of them appeared to be approachable given Aten and Salith’s foreign appearance.

Unbeknownst to the attendees, an argument exploded in another room.

“Silver is a dangerous convict. He must be executed!”

“We’ve kept him alive for too long with that power and he’s shown to be irresponsible with it.”

“And why do you think he retaliated?”

The house of Vilija and Greypelt went silent. They would not face Kihet knowing the Merchants were the root of the cause for Douglas’ rampage resulting in half of Navargzan suffered damages.

“Now, now. Everyone.” Vike waved his hand to dismiss the tense atmosphere forming over them. “We must acknowledge to the Oracle we were simply held hostage. The ‘man’ who shan’t be named forced our hands.”

“Call it the Acolyte for simplicity. I’m guessing you were contacted by it as well, Fatilda.”

“I hadn’t agreed to its terms.”

Belka the Dockmaster, Rag the Guildmaster and Vike raised their brows at Fatilda’s statement. Were they bewildered by her defiance against the Acolyte? Were they surprised she had not been assassinated by her refusal to accept the Acolyte’s order? Perhaps they expressed their silent concerns about her still being alive.

Under Kihet’s watchful eye, none dared to act out of line. He kept tabs of their expression, bodily behaviors with his hand at the ready to launch a dagger at anyone planning to sabotage this interrogation.

“Oracle, I must add.” Vike spoke. “I believe my memories of this Acolyte you seek has been tampered with. Regardless, I will speak for all I remember.”

“As mine as well.” Belka added.

“Mine too.” Rag agreed.

“I don’t need any of you to testify.” Kihet objected. “I have a no way of telling truths from lies. There’s a possibility some of you could be lying or controlled by this Acolyte in a way I don’t know. Instead…”

The doors to the chamber open as an unlikely figure, Ainig, appeared before the council.

“How are your injuries? I heard you had it rough.”

“My body’s a bit sore, but I’m feeling a lot better!” Ainig drummed his belly. “I wish I could have stopped him though. Sorry...”

“The post I assigned to you was disadvantageous, but you were the only one I can count on. You helped me a lot. Don’t blame yourself.”

“R-right! S-so, why did you call for me?”

“I need the Pale Dragon’s help. Could you call for it?”

“Okay…!”

Ainig stepped where sunlight had gathered and made a prayer. Seconds later, a divine presence filled the room with a faint outline of a grandiose silhouette slithering on the walls.

Its opalescent eyes gazed upon everyone present. Its blackish wings formed by Ainig’s shadow flapped. Its five heads sprouted off a formless cocoon as the rest of its body took on the majestic form: the revered deity of daylight from Stusis.

Its shape was alien to those who never witnessed an Elder Dragon. The Merchants had mixed receptions towards the Pale Dragon. Both Dockmaster and Guildmaster were threatened by the manifesting foreign entity, wondering if a unified Pamalyrian army could even defeat such a beast. Fatilda and Vike were simply in awe, admiring the form and sacred opal eyes staring back at them.

“Yes, yes. You are all within the mighty presence of the Divine Pale Dragon. No need to gawk at me.” One of the heads hissed. “As for you, Oracle. I urgently ask any questions you pose with great haste. It is difficult, to maintain such form for long.”

“I need your abilities to read people’s stories.”

“Oh? Pray tell. I sense not a story of greatness behind their covers, but one of materialistic greed and deceit. Are you looking for lies tied behind their tails and whiskers?”

“Their memories were tampered. I need info of the Acolyte to attack the Tower.”

“Of memories they forgotten yet unforgotten? How intriguing. Very well. You have garnered somewhat of my interest. I shall take a little peek at this mystery you have declared so.”

Four of the Pale Dragon’s heads slithered around the walls, over the ceiling until each one positioned above the four Merchants. Four pairs of gemmed eyes sparkled, staring through the bodies and into the souls.

“What are you trying to do?” Rag abruptly stood up. His hands hovering over his saber. “I knew it. A beast is always a beast! It’s going to eat us!”

“My, my. Look at this flesh bag of fleas. You must be the bravest and the stupidest of the litter. The Harlot who birthed you must be overwhelmingly proud. She must be confident of your independence to abandon you and meet a new man in pursuit of wealth.”

“You-!”

“No. You. Watch your tongue or I may unintentionally rabble your secrets. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“You’re bluffing!”

“How brave! Oh, how I adore challengers such as you little one. To watch them break from mere exchange of words is amusing indeed!” The Pale Dragon turned with a dastardly grin. “Though, in front of the Oracle I must be fair. This is your last chance, unloved pup. Stand down or I shall whisper words turning you into a whelp who shall not bear to see the day of light. Ever.”

Rag looked for assistance from the other three Merchants, but none dared to side against the Elder Dragon. The Dockmaster avoided her eyes, Vike shook his head and Fatilda gazed down at the table.

“Oracle, do something about this beast!”

“I’m the one who called it here. If you want to help me with the battle against the Tower, cooperate.”

The Guildmaster was fuming, but with no one to back him he begrudgingly sat down.

“Excellent. Now, remain still and silent. If ignored, I am unable to promise your safety.” The Pale Dragon chuckled. “Oracle, as my powers dwindle, this process may take moments. During that time, do prepare with my Herald in the event my interference attracts some unwanted attention.”

“Ainig, can you cast a barrier over everyone?”

“Got it.”

One thing Kihet was certain was that the Acolyte would not attack unless someone mentioned its name. Trying to identify it through memories was already pushing the boundaries of Kihet’s comfort levels but there was no other choice at this moment.

All was quiet during the Pale Dragon’s dive into each of the Merchants’ mind until the main head sent a telepathic message to Kihet.

“Oracle, might I ask to exempt that one? Her story of obsession has similarities to your companion, the Majin. However, her fantasies are worse fivefold.”

“Why are you looking at their ‘fantasies’?”

“I’ve read their stories through and through. There only appears a shadow hiding the figure in question when it should be clear as day. I turned to their thoughts and imaginations to reconstruct the appearance of such foe and ‘that one’ has an unhealthy yearning for your friend.”

“I thought you were an avid enjoyer of all sorts of stories.”

“I’ve come to be matched at certain one’s thoughts. May I?”

“You better not withdraw from the other three.”

“Sweet release!”

To have even an Elder Dragon judge and shudder at one’s thoughts was certainly an impressive feat but concerning as well. But impressive to deter the Elder Dragon invasive tactics.

“Oracle, I have a question.” Ainig said.

“Go on.”

“Why do you need to know what the Acolyte look like?”

“I need to know what weapon it shot at us at such a long range. I don’t want to wander in blind.”

Much like the Acolyte from Stusis, if Kihet hadn’t been warned by Elenora and the Acolyte of Defiance of its capabilities, there were times Kihet thought he should have died. He survived because he collected the bare minimum information to work around the overwhelming difference of strength against the Acolyte of Fury.

“If I weren’t warned beforehand, I wouldn’t have made it till the end of the last battle. One misstep can end all of us can. Fighting’s only half the battle. Knowing is the other. I need as much information about it as I can get.”

From this investigation, Kihet hoped to deduce the Acolyte’s weak point much like the last possessed. If not, his only hope was that Elenora would soon contact him and inform the best action to beat such an overwhelming foe.

“Hrm…”

“Did you find something?”

“A few. One is that none of these impudent fools sought anyone to murder this ‘Ma’ you spoke of.”

“They weren’t responsible for her death?”

“They were ordered to subjugate the individual named Rogus.”

“That much I know. What else?”

“The being you seek has rid itself from even the past. I am unable to conjure its appearance and at my wits end. However, it wasn’t to say of its stave.”

Using panes of light magic, the Pale Dragon constructed it into an equipment Kihet recognized as a firearm. It was long and slick with a telescope attached above the trigger. Kihet was able to find similarities to the exposed mechanism of Irvan’s flintlock. However, the Acolyte’s weapon was far more technological advanced.

“I shall add one more. It appears to be a ghost of the past capable of detecting my intrusion. Perhaps a bluff, however I witnessed all three instances the foe returned its gaze to mine.”

“If it has a foresight ability, there’s no amount of preparation we can make to fight it.”

“As my duty has come to an end, I will dismiss myself. The separation from the mountains of Stusis has hampered my ability to materialize for long. I will continue to convey my thoughts through my Herald.”

The Pale Dragon’s silhouette converged back into Ainig’s shadow, and the chamber was freed of its divine grasp when the Tortoise left. The four merchants huffed a big sign of relief full of ragged breaths as if they had held the air in their lungs the entire time the Pale Dragon marked its arrival.

“Is it finished?”

“Oracle, have you found what you need?”

“Has that wretched creature said anything violating our privacy?!”

“Wretched? It is an ancient being of wisdom and knowledge!” Vike argued. “It’s no wonder you were being belittled, Greypelt.”

“That thing does not belong in Pamalyra! If anything, it must be plotting to destroy us! No, it will lead the Scalemen on a revolt to take Navargzan from us!”

“That’s enough.” Kihet warned. “Keep your delusions to yourself. No one will be safe in Pamalyra as long as the Acolyte in the Tower is watching our every action.”

“For that, you must brave the Sandstorm.” The Dockmaster commented. “Unfortunately, we are not equipped to send a fleet as many ships were destroyed by Silver’s revolt. Restoration of the harbor will take months as we wait for supplies to be collected. What of the Path Weaver?”

“I’ve taken the liberty to hire Captain Aghili deliver supplies from nearby settlements.” Vike answered.

Lumber was scarce throughout Pamalyra’s desert. Instead of wood, many Pamalyrians turned to use the needles of the world tree, monsters swimming underneath the sands as materials for housing, weapons, craft and shipbuilding. Although monsters were an abundance, the idea of hunting them required vessels which can subjugate and bring their carcass back to be processed.

Fatilda raised her hand. “Oracle, might it be possible to hire the Scalemen to assist Navargzan’s reparations?”

“That’s not for me to decide. I only brought them here. You’ll have to discuss it with their chieftains, but my group is for hire. That’s if you have a boat and sailors any of you are willing to lend me.”

“Hmm… most of the vessels fell at the night of Silver’s attack. The Invincible, Pursuer are inoperable and the Silver Cry is too valuable to be sent out. If I recall, only the Elusive Wraith suffered only minimum damage.” The Guildmaster stated. “Could we not have the Oracle commandeer it?”

“The Elusive Wraith requires experienced sailors. The Oracle hadn’t commandeered any vessels, let alone one as advance as it.” The Dockmaster objected. “Besides, it’s trapped in the middle of the city, in Kamrah’s little establishment.”

“Transporting it would be costly, but it is the only ship readily available for the Oracle.” Vike stroked his beard. “I’m willing to foot the bill if the Oracle willingly participate in hunts to speed reconstruction of the harbor.”

Vike shot Kihet a look to which it reminded them of the deal proposed to hunt the Dalva Loheka during Douglas’ siege.

“I can prepare the necessary supplies.” Fatilda volunteered. “As for sailors…”

“Can’t I hire that ship’s captain and its crew? We’d be able to use the ship’s full capabilities.”

Kihet’s decision was swiftly met with objections from three opposing parties. Although Vike’s expression did not agree with Kihet’s suggestion, he did not immediately dismiss it unlike the other members.

From a financial standpoint it was a great proposition. The Elusive Wraith’s original crew could make use of the vessel’s full potential. However, Kihet was their only path to salvation from the Tower after Silver’s betrayal to Pamayra. If a criminal were to work under him, even with the slave crest, Pamalyra’s war efforts against the Tower could be sabotaged.

“Oracle, it is an idea. Have you thought of the possibility Sazhar would rather die as a martyr than to assist us?”

“You know, I talked with Tama about this. She brought up a good point.” Kihet answered. “As long as you don’t execute Dou- Silver, I think the captains of the Invincible and Pursuer are even inclined to help.”

“You mean to enslave all of them by keeping Silver as the carrot and stick?”

“I’m don’t condone slavery, but they’re invaluable resources. They’d be more useful alive than dead, even Silver, don’t you think?”