Chapter 7: Sanctuary

One hour after the battle of the weeping crucible

Zack

The three continued through the deep forest. The trees and flora looked far less saturated compared to land bountiful with magic, though, it did not look unhealthy or dying, just…different. Zack had heard of places like this that had very little mana, but he had never actually visited them. The Atlus empire and its soldiers relied on magic. For enchantments to their blades or powerful spells. Fighting in an area without it would be suicide, especially against an Ashian who were accustomed to fighting without mana. Still holding the unconscious princess. Zack, Yami, and Thomas entered a small opening in the tree line that opened up into the small village.

“Welcome to our wee sanctuary!” Said Yami as he held his arms open to present the village. It was a small circular village made primarily of wood-based structures. He wouldn't describe it as primitive but it was about what he would expect for outlaws. Still, it was impressive. It had everything a small community would need like farms, a joinery, and a roof to sleep under. Though on a much smaller scale than Atlus towns and cities.

“It's not much, but it does us and everyone here well,” said Thomas

“Aye, a nice wee village deep within a mana-less forest,” said Yami

“The last place the kingdoms would look,” said Zack quietly as he realized why they chose this forest.

“Exactly!” Yami said pointing to Zack with a smile. Zack met his eyes but not for long. His eye soon caught sight of something abnormal from his right. From one of the larger wooden huts came a giant lantern. A walking lantern with long, lanky legs and arms. The lantern was about nine feet tall and was transparent so it was possible to see right through it with a long flame kindling inside. The lantern strode over to the three of them quickly as its arms flayed back and forward at its sides.

“You found her!” sounding exactly the same way a human would “Wait, who’s the Atlus soldier!?” said the lantern with more worry in their voice than there should have been for someone of their size.

“Aye, bloody assassin over ere saved us some trouble of finding her so dinnae give him any grief,” said Yami “Zack, give the princess to Thomas. Jane will nurse her back to health. She's the best surgeon in Elden. I promise, you've got nothing to worry about mate,” he said with a reassuring tone. Zack, still shocked as to why a giant sentient lantern was somehow walking, much less talking without a mouth, decided to do as he was told. He handed over the princess to Thomas and he walked off with the lantern towards one of the wooden houses.

“Oh look at the state of her! Your so reckless?”

“What!? Me?! Blame Yami, it was his idea to go find her after the those Ashian bastards hightailed” Zack watched the two carry off the young woman. Unsure what to make of the lantern. Its fleshy limbs combined with the fact it had no eyes or mouth was hard to comprehend.

“Ha, never seen a fortune lantern lad?” Yami said as he patted Zack on the back. “Aye most people in Elden hav’nae either”

“What the hell is a fortune lantern?” Zack said as Thomas and Jane disappeared into the house.

“It's a wee race of sentient lanterns, simple as that.” Said Yami with a smirk “I could go and tell you all about their history but you look as if you're not bothered.” Yami then placed his hand on Zack’s shoulder firmly, his tone changing to a serious one “All I ask is you treat Jane just like you would your loved ones. She’s one of the kindest people in Elden and were all in debt to her.”

“Is that her name…Jane?” Zack asked not showing any emotion in his voice.

“Aye. Feel free to walk about and meet everyone, Zack. It’s just a small community we have here but we're all from different walks of life. They won't pay much to that mask on your face” Zack grimaced in his head at the thought that he could never go back to Atlus now. This mask was a symbol of being a deserter that he could never remove, and at the same time, was a symbol of being an Atlus soldier to any citizen. He wouldn't be welcome anywhere now. Regardless, he had to get back to the hunt for Matthews's killer. He didn't have time to waste, but, he was in Yami’s dept for saving for him. Being a bit courteous and talking to a few people would be the least he could do.

“I…guess I could that,” Zack said looking lifelessly at the dark green grass he stood on. Yami patted Zack on the back.

“Good man” Yami walked off to a two-story building before turning around back to Zack. “Zack, when you've got a minute come see me up in my study mate. I've got a wee offer for you.” Zack listened silently as Yami disappeared into the building. Zack looked around with his tired eye. Despite being small, there were plenty of people who roamed the village, functioning just like any other society. Lumbermen carrying large planks, Horse groomers tending to the few horses they had from the stables. As small as the village looked from the center, it did seem to open more as you went through the side of the huts and was deeper than it looked. Zack wandered over to a wide-open wooden building where a fantastic smell emanate out from. Even in his single-minded state of revenge, he couldn't deny how good the smell was. The building from the outside looked like a horse shed large enough to hold a dozen or so horses, but once Zack’s eyes adjusted the light inside as he got closer, he could see it was a bar, and a large one. Groups of circular tables with people of many races, sitting and enjoying food and beverages that extended up to a small second floor around the back where even a bard was playing light notes which radiated through the bar. At the center was the bar itself which some men sat on stools and behind the counter was a large fire which held many types of meats and poultry hanging over it. With the number of people and the energy the bar gave off, it felt like he was in a large city rather than a small village made primarily of forest wood built by a couple of joiners.

“Why hello there!” Zack turned to where he heard a voice of an unfamiliar accent “And who do I have the pleasure of welcoming to the sleepy phoenix?” Zack looked at the man behind the bar. He had a friendly face and a horizontal scar across his nose. He wore simple commoner clothes with a well-worn leather apron. His hands rested on the old wooden counter as leaned against it.

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“Uhmm Zack,” He said quietly.

“Ahh well, it's good to meet you Zack my name is Jamie. Welcome to the sleepy phoenix, the Red Wing's spot of rest and nourishment.” His face looked as if it had never shown any sadness before. He had an unwipable smile. He did realize what Zack was right? Of course, he did. His mask and armor were a dead giveaway.

“My mask…it doesn't scare you?” Zack asked him.

“Not at all Zack” The man continued to smile. “I presume you no longer serve the Atlus empire if you got this far. In which case you are your own man. That mask has no impact on who you are as a person.” Perhaps Jamie could think that but…it was hard for Zack to accept he was a regular man. “Thus you will be treated as a man, and not, as an Atlus soldier. That goes for anyone who wishes to join the Red Wings. No matter who you were in your past life or how you were treated based on things in life you couldn’t control. The Red Wings is always warm to welcome men and women of all types, whether they are magicless or not.”

“And is that all you live for…to be free?” Zack asked the kind man

“Why of course, I believe that is reason enough to live. I believe that is why everyone here trusts in Yami’s vision.” Maybe that was enough for them but…not for Zack he had to live to avenge Matthew. Nothing else would fit him in this life. He wasn't deserving of any other life.

“Zack, would you mind handing this stew to the gentleman in the corner there” he said as he nodded past Zack to a Ketan man sitting reading a rather large book. “The sleepy phoenix is a demanding beast. I hope it isn't too much to ask”

Zack sighed “I guess I can do that” Zack took the warm stew that sat on the counter that wafted steam with a smell he couldn't describe. It was beyond tasty, but, somehow different to the meals they would feed the royals within Atlus. It was hard to describe. He carried the hot bowl over to the Ketan man who sat on the far end of the pub. Upon getting closer he noticed the man's squared beard and trimmed hair that complemented the hair of his ears that sat on his head. The man was wearing clean robes, though, they looked like rags to any Atlus soldier. His large book sat on his table and just about covered the entire table. He must have been a scholar with a book that large, doubly so since most commoner men would never have the opportunity to learn how to read. He placed the bowl on the open space of the table.

“Your meal,” he said in a low tone with no effort of good customer service

“Yes yes thank you,” Said the Ketan, not diverting his eyes from his book.

“Uhh just make sure to eat it before its cold” He added awkwardly

“Of course as soon as I’m finished,” He said, still not diverting his attention from his tome. Zack quickly left. He didn't feel like arguing with him and the job was done. Perhaps it was a good thing he didn't look up from his book. The less attention his mask drew the better.

“The man’s been served Jamie,” He said as he approached the counter again.

“Excellent, thank you,” Said the polite man. Before starting his next sentence, Zack began to walk out of the bar curtly. “Might I interest you in a bowl of stew young man? Free of charge of course thanks to your service” He added. Zack stopped at the wide entrance, He looked back and looked at the giant cauldron that was used as the vessel for the stew. A warm meal, how long had it been? He thought to himself. He was tempted but did not want to overstay his welcome. The sooner he reached his goal the better.

“I'm fine,” He said before striding out of the bar and back out into the grassy alley next to the center of the village.

Before long he walked up the steps of a wooden staircase he had seen Yami enter into. He assumed this was where his study was. He decided he would see Yami about his request and leave promptly. He wasn't sure why he was even hearing him out. Zack knew the answer he was going to give Yami before he continued his quest for vengeance. As he entered, he found the room lit with soft light by candles and Yami sat at a desk, writing away with ink and paper. His crimson jacket draped over the chair he sat in so he only wrote in his undervest. The day didn't feel hot enough to warrant that type of clothing but perhaps scribing all day was more labor-intensive than Zack had first thought. The room was quiet aside from the scribbing from his feather. The shelves that spanned the walls of the room were filled with books and papers stacked on top of each other. Aside from one corner of the room which was filled with trinkets neatly arranged atop a piece of royal blue cloth, most likely belonging to Yami.

“Ah, if it isnae the man of the oor” Said Yami as he looked up from his desk. He sat up and quickly walked to a table next to Zack that held some drinking vessels.

“I’m a wee bit surprised you decided to hear me oot. You didnae seem too keen on staying aboot here” Yami added as he poured a deep purple wine from a jar into two goblets. Yami raised the second goblet to Zack, offering it to the masked man.

“You're right, I’m not. And I don’t need to be buttered up with booze” Zack said as he held up a gauntleted hand to decline the drink. Yami smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“Suit yourself,” he said as he took a swig of the wine. “I’ll make this quick then. The Red Wing’s are a resistance group that fights against the kingdom's oppression but a lot of oor members are just regular lads and lasses who’ve got nae combat experience. So, while we are self-sustainable with plenty a’folk who work in trades, we havnae made much progress in removing the kingdoms power and their hold on the land.”

“Don’t you have a Devil Relic?” Zack asked “Why would you need my help” Yami smiled.

So you already know what I want to ask then. Aye, I do have a devil relic but that’s all the more reason I need more men experienced in combat. Being a relic user puts a big bounty on my head and if I were tae venture oot and take territory alone then theirs a good chance the kings will settle their wee feuds just to take care of little ol me” Yami holds his goblet towards Zack. “But with a strapping lad with skills and experience under your belt like yourself, they won't be as eager. Not to mention that taking away territory will be easier with more manpower. Dare I say we might be able to start changing things.” Yami then picks up the second goblet Zack refused and offers it once again, holding it up to Zack. “So what do you say mate, are you willing to join our fight” Zack looks at the goblet and then looks down to the planked wood floor with his lifeless eye contemplating the offer. He felt his mask on his face, he felt the pressure of ensuring the princess would at least be ok, but not as much as his vengeance was pressing down on him.

“I have no interest in taking down these rulers Yami. All I can remember is pursuing one man. One man who took everything I had.” Zack paused before continuing. “The man with the black blade. The Dark Slayer” Yami raised his eyebrow. “I know little about this man outside he is Vholerian and his public past crimes, but I Vowed to get revenge. And I will get my revenge. So I will aid you until he is slain. After that, you're on your own.” Yami smiled

“That's good enough for me mate. Now, are gonna take this wine? My bloody arms gonna fall off.” Zack scoffed and took the goblet and held it to a toast with Yami.

“This doesn't mean I’m joining you” he stated firmly.

“Course not,” Yami said with a cheeky grin as they both swigged from the wine. Did they make this wine here? It actually tasted quite rich and complex