“I know whoever you saw before you came to Elenora’s realm, he offered you a deal to correct your past. I also own one of those pieces of Sanctums that can return to you to your world. The question is, which one of us three are you going to trust?”
Kihet groaned and rolled over in his bed upon a sliver of light hitting his eyes. He had a case of minor migraines upon recalling memories from the feast he left early. After waking up from the ward, the feast had ended, and he was led to his tent.
“I have to learn to drink more responsibly.”
His stomach agreed by growling and forced him on his feet to find something to satiate his hunger. Following the savory scent beyond the covers, he was greeted by a view of people working to rebuild the city. The city was bustling of people of all races and size supporting one another was something Kihet wasn’t familiar with, but gave him a vision to what a peaceful world he could reference off of.
As he held his stomach and wondered where food was distributed, he felt a bump on his leg.
“Morning, Kihet!” Looking down, it was Hannah smiling at him.
“Morning, Hannah.” He beamed a smile with less energy back at her. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Everyone is in a meeting with Saintess. After Kihet eats, Hannah needs to bring Kihet to Saintess.”
“Did you eat yet?”
“Hannah will join Kihet!”
The guild was one of the first completed buildings and beside it, a tavern where food was distributed. With a bowl of porridge and bread in each hand, the two found a bench at the edge of the sidewalk. They sat side by side, softening bread by dipping it into the watery porridge. They watched machines unknown to Kihet lift heavy blocks without using manpower.
It was obvious to Kihet’s curious eyes. He knew they were fueled by magic. However, how magic power was distributed and how the machinery being controlled by a single person was its own mystery.
Kihet caught Hannah giving him a side glance. Noticing crumbs all over the sides of her mouth, he pressed a napkin on her face.
“Is this Kihet’s last day here?”
That’s right. As much as he’d love to stay here with all his friends he’d never thought to see again, there were others he couldn’t abandon in the material world.
“Sorry Hannah. I have to go back.”
“Hannah’s not blaming Kihet. Hannah knows Kihet is the only one to save Sorah and the world!”
“That’s a bit of a stretch. I can’t do that alone, but I have help from lots of people.”
“Ooh! Tell Hannah what they look like!”
“Right now, I’m traveling with a few of them. There’s Shiba’s sister. Her name’s Tomoe and she’s needy like you. Then I met Aten, an insectoid older than me. There’s Tama, a werecat who likes to scam people and Carmyn, a relative of Kridas.”
“And?”
“Do I have to tell you about everyone I met?”
“Hannah wants proof or Hannah thinks Kihet lied.”
He knew this inquisitive child would keep pestering him if he didn’t comply. It wasn’t as though he didn’t want to introduce everyone he met. Looking back, he realized how much support he took for granted.
Kihet happily recounted the names from those who helped him in Xu and Vivrus. However, when he revealed a bit more information about Martha than he intended, he Hannah pouted.
“Something doesn’t sound right to Hannah. Kihet is suspicious.”
“You’re thinking too much. It’s not like that.” That earned him a glare. “Anyways, we’re done eating. Are we going to meet Elenora?”
“Yeah! Follow Hannah! Hannah will guide Kihet!”
Somewhere along the way, they gotten sidetracked as people greeted Hannah and gave some words of encouragement to Kihet. Though he didn’t like the attention, it wasn’t as bad he’d thought.
Once they reached the gate, a group of Enuis confronted them. To dissuade any attempts of an ambush, Kihet’s hand hovered over his sword and donned on his glare. He pulled Hannah close as he continued down the road, prepared to fight against them if the loiterers showed any ill will.
None of the Enuis had their weapons drawn, but their faces weren’t so friendly either. Their leader stepped forward and met with Kihet’s cold eyes piercing into his core. Truth be told, it would’ve been a lie if the leader approached Kihet without a hint of fear brewing in the back of his mind. Nonetheless, he managed not to humiliate himself by backing down after putting a brave front.
“What do you want? I need to meet with Elenora.”
“I- we.” He stole a glance at his team. “We haven’t forgiven your sins for what you’ve unleashed onto the village.”
“Yeah. I’ve heard that a million times now. Even if I apologize, nothing’s going to change what I did. Move it, or I’ll force my way through.”
“H-hold on for a second! We aren’t trying to start a fight!” The Caster raised her hands. “We saw how dangerous those Shadows were. We didn’t think even the Elder would have trouble against them.”
“We couldn’t even take down a Behemoth.” The Defender scowled at herself.
“I’m not here to listen to your cries. Go hug each other in a corner if you are going to do that. If you don’t have any important to say, get out of my way.”
“Look, we’re sorry we acted the way we did. All of us didn’t see the bigger picture until after that battle.” The Archer said. “We want to make it up by giving you information. I’m sure the Elder said there were survivors and Irvan led them out.”
“He did mention that. So?”
“The place where Irvan said he’d lead them would be Sanctuary. That’s what he said before we volunteered to stay back to hold the Shadowed Monsters off.”
“That’s where Sorah went, right Kihet?”
After Hannah asked, tension around Kihet subsided. His eyes calmed which allowed the Enuis to relax.
“It’s where Sorah was sent to.” He wouldn’t have thought Sanctuary allowed people through its borders after the apocalypse. “If that’s all, I’d like to go now.”
The Enuis exchanged nods and marched away from the vicinity leaving Kihet starring at the base of the Cerulean Tower.
“Is Kihet okay?”
“I’m fine. There’s a lot in my mind.” He held her hand. “C’mon. Let’s go see Elenora.”
-
In the center of the highest floor, there was discussion held about the next course of action after the threat has passed.
Although the Acolytes have withdrew from this realm, the Shadows still claim fragments of the Creator to rebuild their numbers. Fortunately, with the Acolyte of Defiance now present, no invasions were bound to happen anytime soon.
“Everyone! Hannah brought Kihet!”
Announcing their arrival, Hannah happily rushed to the seat Lemi left vacant for her. Meanwhile, Kihet took whatever one was available. Before he was to greet everyone, the Elder jumped off his seat and immediately questioned him.
“Young Kihet, are you considering abandoning the Creator’s will?! For generations, we lived under the Creator’s protection. We cannot simply cast aside our faith because of a few words from the Saint and him!”
“Everything I said was factual. The Oracle knows.” The Acolyte waved away the Elder’s glare. “There’s no further need to elaborate.”
“We understood and accepted the details, but we want to know where Kihet stands.” Shibata spoke up.
Everyone set their eyes on Kihet expecting him to provide an immediate answer, but he brushed them off. “I haven’t decided anything yet. I just want to know how I’m going to go back.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“That is the premise of this meeting.” Elenora nodded to Lemi. “Could you testify of what you saw when retrieving the Oracle?”
“There was a person who looked identical to you.” Lemi turned to the Acolyte. “At the time, he held out a chromatic object and was offering to strike a deal with Kihet.”
“This, right?” The Acolyte set down a similar object on the table. It was well polished, reflecting everything off its mirror polished body. “These are called Sanctums, originally connects to a place of the Creator’s mind. After the said apocalypse of your world, and with the Creator slain, these are now scattered in unknown places.”
“And apparently tickets that connects the Limbo, Hollow, the material planes and...” Kaeth added. “What’s the last one?”
“They’re the reason why our two worlds intersect.” The Acolyte spun it on his finger like a basketball. “Finding one of these are more difficult than finding a ‘Seed’, but we know the enemy and we have one each.”
“What is that person after trying to strike a deal with the Oracle?” Kaeth asked.
“Looking at the information at hand, his aim may be very well trying to claim Kihet’s body as a vessel for him to walk in the material plane.” Elenora answered.
“Is that possible?” Kihet asked.
“It very well may be. Even I was able to speak with the first hero because she held a hero’s crest.”
“Erm, just a question.” Kridas raised his hand. “I’m getting lost in all of this, but is that thing he’s holding is going to send Kihet back in time?”
“Sending one back in time does not mean sending one back to the same timeline. We want to prevent any branches from forming.” Elenora explained. “What we learned, was these pieces of Sanctums allow one to jump into the memories the Creator left behind. One can then alter the outcome of an existing event before reinserting themselves into that same timeline. Though there are limitations.”
“To further simplify, it will allow the Oracle to erase his moment of death and continue life from there. He does not have that much magic to travel days or even minuites back, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be safe unless he can do something about it.” The Acolyte added.
“So, basically, I only know that part Kihet’s going back no matter what and there’s someone who wants to take his body.” Alam scratched his head. “This is why I don’t like magic. It’s too complicated.”
“Excuse me, but I noticed a contradiction.” The Elder argued. “The Creator was murdered at the beginning of the apocalypse. How was it able to have memories when Young Kihet was sent here? Fragments of the Creator laid dormant in this realm for years.”
“If the other claimed he could send the Oracle back, wouldn’t that prove the Creator’s seen it?” Kaeth asked. “Wait a minute. After I said it, it doesn’t really make sense. It’s like we’re trapped in some sort of loop.”
“We’re discussing about a topic where none of us are experts in that field.” Shibata objected as he heard the Acolyte snorted.
“It doesn’t look like any of you are willing to trust my words even if I saved you all.”
“I don’t, but we simply cannot ignore your words.” Lemi said. “I’ll stand by whatever Kihet decides.”
“I as well.”
“Same here.”
And so, a unanimous decision was agreed upon to let Kihet bear the choice. It wasn’t as though he had one to whether believed the Acolyte or not. The Acolyte held his only ticket to return to the material plane. The rest must’ve also known, or they wouldn’t have stopped questioning. They only wanted transparent answers to help him as much as they could at their current state.
“Kihet. I forgot to ask ever since you got here, but how did you die?” Kridas asked.
“A Dragonborn. Alc’Bruk. Heard of him?”
“Are you serious?! You fought him?!” Alam exclaimed. “There hasn’t been a single Rozzalian soldier who hasn’t heard of him!”
“I’ve learnt he is the champion of the Dragonkin tribe.” Shibata pushed his chin, searching through his mind. “If memory serves me correctly, he made his debut by defending an invasion from Easul and Pamalyra armies.”
“You wouldn’t believe how renowned and feared that Dragonkin was. I mean, Dragonborn now.” Kridas leaned back on his chair. “However, rumors say Dragonborns share the same weakness as their ancestors, the Dragons. I’m not too familiar with dragon ecology to know what that is. Don’t know if anyone tried it.”
“I read Dragons have scales strengthened by a magic ward. No ordinary physical and magical attacks can harm them.” Lemi put a finger on her lip. “Dragonborns should be magic dependent, but if there is a constant ward around them, how do they absorb magic to cast spells?”
“Somewhere on their body, they have a unique scale grown backwards.” The Acolyte answered. “That’s their only weak spot where it functions as a catalyst for their spells.”
Going through his memory, Kihet recalled a bright glow on Alc’Bruk’s chest when summoning an image of the Crimson Dragon’s head. That’s likely where mana was absorbed, and the core was.
“And if I break that, does that mean I can kill him?”
“That sounds easier than it done. They’d still retain their physical strength. If you managed to do so, it’d give you better chances to win. You’d have to find it first.”
Elenora suddenly coughed as she ended the discussion right there. “I regret to inform all of you time in the material plane may have stopped, but his realm hasn’t.”
That meant with every passing second, there was a chance Henrick used the time to act against them. Kihet may have fought against Henrick once, but he wasn’t certain whether he acted to be under the Tower’s control. Kihet only knew Henrick had no intention to harm him at that time.
“At this moment, there’s an outer force trying to break through the realm’s barrier to retrieve the Oracle. So, here’s the plan.” Elenora defiantly pointed her finger at Kihet. “You will steal the Sanctum off his hands and use it to return to your world.”
“Saintess, if I may.” Shibata interrupted. “Even I would take in account the possibility for Kihet to try and take a valued object from me if I were that person. If this person is as strong as an Acolyte, it’d be dangerous if Kihet is suddenly recognized as an enemy.”
“The Oracle will try to act in his best interest to deceive him.”
“Wouldn’t be easier to use the Sanctum we have to send Kihet back?” Alam asked.
“The way I see, the best outcome would be to cripple the enemy’s resources and keep ours for later, correct? I believe Young Kihet would’ve returned if not for this obstacle.”
“That sounds about right.” Kridas nodded. “But how do we guarantee Kihet’s safety? What if he can’t trick him?”
The Acolyte looked too eager and smirked. “Seeing I’m the only one here able to travel between realms, I’ll act as the Oracle’s insurance. So, ready to head out?”
“Not if I want to waste more time. Let me say my farewells first. Someone please wake Hannah up.”
----------------------------------------
“You better not do anything to my dear sister!”
“Young Kihet, I hope you can solve the mystery of my grandson’s status.”
“Make sure you free Sal.”
“Find Sorah!”
Rather than giving Kihet a formal farewell, he was instead given orders by his friends. The people outside the Tower were more polite than them. His friends acted like jerks, but ones he could count on.
“Stop shouting at me together. I can barely hear anything you guys said.”
“I’m sure Kihet has heard all of you.” Lemi stopped the others. “We can’t be adding more worries than he needs.”
“Yeah. What she said. Whether I heard you guys or not, I’m going to find out what happened to everyone.” Kihet patted Hannah’s head as he bumped Alam’s fist. “I won’t kick the bucket again.”
“You better not. Do your best out there!”
“Thanks for everything. Really.” His lips curled up slightly. “Look, I’m not too fond of giving speeches. I can only say if I haven’t met all of you, I don’t know if I’d make it this far.”
“Whaddya know. You sure know how to make a smile, Young Kihet.”
“We thought you wore a mask this whole time.” Kridas snorted.
“Hannah was the one to make Kihet smile! Angel sis, you were right!”
“I told you.”
“Shiba, what about your father?” Kihet asked. “We weren’t able to defeat him during the siege.”
“There is a chance he may appear in the material world. If so, I’d burden you to allow Tomoe and my son to take arms against him. My father will not rest until he corrupts Xu to his vile ideals, though if he shows his face here again, I shall confront him.”
“Got it. Good luck to us.” He nodded. “Hannah, behave yourself. Don’t cause too much mischief.”
“No promises.”
“Lemi, don’t let her eat sweets-.”
“No-! Hannah is joking! Hannah will behave!” She cried. “Angel sis, don’t take away sweets from Hannah!”
“As long as you behave, alright?”
“Hannah will!” Hannah raised her hand and Kihet responded with a high-five.
“Kihet, one thing before you go. I’m sorry to add more burden on you, but it’s important to me.” Lemi stepped forward. “When you see Draigh, tell him I’m sorry for going on ahead. Though I didn’t spend as much time with him, I was happy he looked out for me whenever he could, and I’ll be praying for his health.”
“He’ll be happy to hear those words.”
And it was time.
Kihet turned away, moving towards Elenora’s group standing on the other side with confident steps. His body was gradually turning transparent as if in the process of being phased to another realm.
“One last thing before Elenora lowers the barrier. I have something to return.” The man heaved the Silver lined coffin next to him.
He gave it a light tap and the coffin creaked opened. A stream of sparkling dust poured out of it as it gathered around Kihet. Memories of the incident flashed before him as he remembered the words he said before he received the Oracle’s crest.
“For the reckoning that is to come, all are tested. Thou shall be the shadow of which valiant souls shine and guide thee through harsh trials. Till oblivion comes, do not turn astray but to continue down the path thou chosen to walk. Lastly, thou must not see eye to eye with, but against the world.”
“Remember this day for when you find yourself unable to act. It is then I will return what I borrowed.”
Newfound energy surged within Kihet and he could no longer sense the feeling of the coffin luring him any longer. His body was exceptionally light which surprised him even though he was a spirit without a body in this realm.
“There we go. The Oracle’s crest should now be fixed, and I’ve unlocked the limiter that was placed on you and your heroes. You should be able to cast magic and the awakened heroes have their abilities all enhanced.”
“Whoa, wait. What? You put a limiter on me?!”
“The Oracle’s crest can multiply the vessel’s strength, but too much and it would burned your insides and out to ashes or cause your body to burst. The limiter was there to prevent that until I think you’ve reached the threshold.”
“So, after all this time, I wasn’t entirely as weak as I thought?”
“You were always handicapped.”
Kihet made a fist then forfeited the thought of venting out his anger. He calmed himself as he thought if the missing strength would make any difference in previous battles. Even if not, every little bit would’ve helped.
“How many things are you going to keep forgetting to tell me?”
“It’s not on purpose. I’m just clumsy, but there’s one detail I like to add. Because of the book you have, you’re the only one who can use the fragments to return. That book will serve its purpose when you enter the Towers so make sure you do not lose it.”
“No wonder it’s blank.”
Kaeth chuckled. “Oracle, see what I mean?”
“Yeah, he has a problem.” Kihet groaned. “Thanks for your help even though I’ve only seen you get thrown around.”
“Now that’s just scummy! I was outmatched and the difference was huge!”
“Kaeth, that’s enough.” Elenora stepped forward and stretched her hand. “This won’t be the last time you’ll see everyone and this realm. We’ll keep in touch.”
“Thanks, Elenora. And sorry for doubting you so much.”
“You’ve been through a lot. I can’t blame you.” She smiled. “I will contact you again as soon as I’ve replenished enough of my magic to do so.”
“How long will that be?”
“Two months or so, at least. Good luck, Oracle. Just remember, there’s no second miracle to bring you back. This is your truly last chance.”
“Go get em, Kihet!” Hannah’s words were the last thing Kihet heard before he vanished from the realm, not before flashing his brightest smile back at his friends.