Chapter 28: RSVP
Zack
Water dripped off bit by bit from Zack’s ice-covered arm. An hour had passed since the battle outside of Toren. The creatures that had once threatened the village had been vanquished and the day was won. The spikes that once protruded from the back of Zack’s shoulder slowly melted down in shape with the warmth of the fire. He held his arm over and returned the nerves back to his flesh slowly.
“That was some magic their son,” said the captain from across the inn. “You should have let me know you had that firepower in you,” Zack didn’t look at him and only focused on his frozen arm as Maya sat next to him. Supporting the weight of his arm.
“I’m sorry, I only just figured out I had that kind of power,” he said with sorrow in his voice.
“It’s alright son,” He said placing a hand on his pauldron where his torn red scarf was tied. “The spearman may have passed, but it’s not your fault. You saved the village, that’s what was most important,” he said releasing his hand from Zack.
“He’s right Zack,” Maya said as she placed a hand on his armored arm. “Don’t blame the losses of people on yourself.” Zack still sat with a frustrated look of thought on his face.
“I know…it’s just…frustrating I couldn’t have done more,” Maya looked towards Zack’s arm as the last of the ice came off.
“How does your arm feel,” Maya asked.
“Sore, but not awful, I’ll be fine…thank you, Maya,” he said smiling slightly. Maya smiled at him.
“Well then,” Said Rena speaking up through the inn. “Ale is on the house for you three, for saving our village and our people!” The room full of villagers cheered on the three as Zack flexed his arm and created windmills in a counterclockwise fashion to work out the pain. The captain turned and made a beeline to the bar at the announcement of free ale. Maya and Zack followed suit with less haste. The room returned to the usual lively nature of a pub as Zack, Maya and the captain met at the bar. The door to the pub once again opened but with a louder slam than usual. Zack turned his head casually to see who had entered.
“Thomas?” He said with his eye widened. Thomas rushed in with a group of men he recognized from Sanctuary. They were all wearing light leather scouting apparel. He looked to be in a hurry and from his breathing it looked as if he had run to Toren for miles.
“Zack, you’re alright!” He said with relief in between huffed breaths as he approached Zack. The two gave each other a firm handshake. He turned to Maya
“It’s good to see you’re alright too.” Maya smiled. The captain stood up and took his tankard of ale with him
“I’ll leave you to it, son, thanks for today,” He said patting Zack’s pauldron and moving further into the inn.
“What are you doing here?” Asked Maya, happy to see a familiar face.
“We got word from our spies that some fucked up creatures entered the village, Looks like there dealt with though, right?” Asked Thomas. Zack nodded.
“Yeah, it’s dealt with, Me, Maya, and the villagers handled it, there were a few casualties though. Thomas tutted.
“Damn it, I should have got here sooner,” Thomas cursed,
“Thomas,” Zack said as he rose from his stool, his armor slinking down as he stood up.“Yami needs to be made aware of this,”
“Don’t worry pal. That was in the job description,” Thomas said with a light laugh. Maya rose as well to a stand. Her white hair bobbed gently as she rose quickly.
“He’s right, what attacked the village wasn’t just mana-sick creatures…they were something else, something dangerous, Thomas,” She said fearfully.
“That bad huh,” Thomas said as he began to make for the door, “Right well I better get going then,” He said breathing heavily, “I’ll be sure to tell Yami bout ya Zack, He’ll be proud,” he said turning and waving to the two with his back faced.
“Wait!” Zack said curtly. Thomas turned with an intrigued expression. Zack approached Thomas and remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
“Let me join Sanctuary,” he said confidently. Thomas looked surprised and almost amused.
“Oh, thought you had your own business to deal with?” He said in a slightly mocking way.
“It can wait, we need to find out where those creatures came from. If there are more like them…all of Elden could be in danger.” Thomas nodded with a smile and accepted his answer, then turned to Maya.
“And what about you Miss Royalty?” He asked.
“I agree with Zack, whatever personal issues we have…can wait. Innocent lives are going to be cut in their prime if we don’t find the cause for those monsters.” Thomas smiled at her answer.
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“Right, well we better get going back to Sanctuary then…get you settled in.” Thomas folded his arms and made a content, proud expression. “Ah this is brilliant news, Yami’s gonna love that you two are both on board.” He said with a smile. He then turned for the door once again. “Right, everyone! Back to Sanctuary!” he shouted to his small group of scouts. They collectively groaned after not even being able to settle down.
“Wouldn’t you like to rest some before departure?” Asked Maya curiously.
“No time, got to get all this news back to Yami,” He said between pants as he had been doing the whole time.
“Didn’t you run all the way here?” Asked Zack
“That I did,” He said puffing again. Maya raised her eyebrow and cocked a grin at him, waiting for him to crack
“Alright, alright, I’ll rest up a bit,” he said throwing his hands up. The accompanying scouts deeply exhaled in relief which garnered a laugh from Maya.
“Don’t worry, your position of “Number one spy” will still be there” she said jokingly. Thomas scoffed but cracked a smile, taking a seat by the hearth in the center of the room. Zack took a seat at the bar stools once again as he waited for Thomas. Am I going crazy? Thought Zack. The presence those aliens were giving off…it felt just like Yami…the same feeling he gives me. Zack debated asking Thomas or perhaps Maya but decided they might not share his feelings about the situation. Both of them had not been around both the aliens and Yami when he used his Devil Relic. They wouldn't understand what he meant. Zack sighed, realizing his thoughts were repeating in a circle and weren’t getting him anywhere. He decided to still the thought, but reserve it for another…more appropriate time. It was more or less interrupted by the cold chill he felt of The Frozen Blade running down the back of his breastplate. It shimmered in its low state of mana and gave off a gentle mist as it rose from the length of the blade. He felt like he entered a trance state when he used The Frozen Blade at its full potential. By throwing away the expectations of revenge and simply existing as the man he is, the heavy burden no longer weighed him down and allowed him to use the weapon without the risk of failing. Still…it’s a last resort, I got lucky the ice never reached my flesh…I still have my own magic… as well as my steel to rely on. The image of The Dark Slayer ran through his mind as he told himself that however. I will need to use it again…when I find him.
Entering through the familiar woods of Sanctuary felt good to Zack, especially after a day of travel. Zack decided to save his greetings for the other members of Sanctuary for now. He needed to inform Yami of what happened. It was all he could think about on the trip there. Zack, Maya, and Thomas entered Yami’s study. Exactly how Zack remembered it, cluttered, yet it all looked important, though, the desk Yami used remained clean and organized. The door creaked open and Yami took a glance up from his desk, that same red jacket he remembered was slung over the chair he sat on.
“Look what I happen to find!” Shouted Thomas. Yami got up from his desk, The man proceeded to lean over with his hands placed against the wood with papers and scribes, giving a warm smile to the three.
“This place is as busy as ever, Yami,” Zack said with a small smile, meeting the man’s gaze. Yami gave a genuine smile upon seeing the attitude change within Zack.
“I always tell myself its better tae be busy than tae no be, good tae keep yer blood flowing in yer old age,” Yami gave a small scoff to his own comment. “So…wit brings ye back? Need a wee bit’a help with that dark slayer lad?” Zack shook his head.
“I’ll deal with him later. We came back to tell you that…we wanted to join Sanctuary…properly,” he said gesturing towards Maya as he spoke. The feline-eared woman nodded in agreement with Zack as he stated this. Yami’s facial expression widened and showed a satisfied look.
“De ye noo? Well who am I tae turn ye’s doon,” He said with a smile “So, wit’s spurred this on?” Yami asked the two of them.
“We had to inform you of creatures we encountered,” Maya stated stepping forward, Thomas hung back and left the room as the three spoke. “They were unlike anything we had seen, I sensed no mana from them…and yet they were stronger than even the most mana-sick animals I have encountered.” Yami listened to what she said and took it in. “If there are more creatures like this…I fear it could spell trouble for all of Elden, not just Sanctuary,”
“Aye that dosnae sound good,” Yami stated. Zack stepped forward and placed an object on the desk with a small noise it met the wood of the unit. A small piece of rubbery flesh, the kind that came from the aliens they fought.
“Tell me…what do you get from this Yami? What do you…sense from it?” asked Zack. Yami looked at the piece of flesh before picking it up. He gave it a perturbed look before giving a more gruff expression.
“Bloody hell…Demonic energy,” He said forebodingly “There’s demonic energy in that,”
“That's what I thought too,” Added Zack, relieved Yami agreed with his anylisis “I got the same feeling I did from this as I did from The Dark Slayer…do you think he’s behind it?” Zack asked,
“Nah, I know he’s no” he quickly replied, “but, I've got a good idea who it might be,” said Yami. Maya and Zack leaned in as Yami gave a suspenseful silence. “I've seen these things cutting aboot now and then, contraptions that were once powered by mana, things like wheels, lanterns…nue poowered by demonic energy,” Zack and Maya listened to what he said, entranced by every word he said. “I wasnae sure wit tae make of it since we didnae ken were they were coming fae… they were rather harmless since they worked better than mana…but nue you've brought me a living creature…enhanced with demonic energy…that…I havnae seen” Yami leaned forward on his desk and met eyes with the two. “No guarantees…but it's been coming fae Vholeria,” The two stood confused, unsure of his answer.
“Vholeria? Are you sure? All three realms are in the possession of at least one devil relic. This feat of transferring demonic energy could come from either one.” Stated Maya, Yami drew his mouth to a line and relaxed his face.
“True enough princess, cept fir the fact that Vholeria’s relic user is the only wan who would dae something like this.” Yami continued as he paced slowly across his study “He’s bored. He sits atap the throne of poower with only me to rival him. There’s a fair chance he was behind those creatures you fought, not tae raise an army or tae cause chaos…but simply tae create a challenge fir him,” Yami then turned to the two of them. “So…I think it's time I went did my wee plan to deal with the king and these creatures,” Yami said turning to the three with a smirk on his face. Zack shook his head and gave a small smile.
“And what that be?” said Maya with a small chuckle. The three gathered around Yami’s desk as the middle-aged man dug through the sheets of parchment that lay neatly on his desk. He then pulled out an opened letter and held it up to the two with a smirk. The letter was high quality and featured the crest of Vholeria on the side Yami showed.
“It's time tae accept ma pending RSVP with the king of Vholeria himself,”
End of part 2