“The rest of you, clear out for now,” Raphael commanded.
The people who’d been arguing over the battleplans quickly bowed and left the room, leaving only Raphael, Darian, and the five newcomers.
“Hello again,” Lucia said with a smile.
Darian was a bit surprised to see her here, but then he became thankful for the familiar face. The other four Darian had not met, and they looked upon him with more than a hint of apprehension.
“Here is the Blood Aspirant,” Raphael announced. “Soon to be Blood God, if we have our way.”
“Greetings,” Darian said with a wave, a pit forming in his gut. None of them besides Lucia look like they want to be here.
Three of them were satyrs, and the two men beside Lucia almost appeared to be afraid. They cast nervous glances at each other, their bodies standing rigidly at attention. Another of the five was a dryad, but despite her stern outward appearance, Darian could sense her fear. The final person was a nymph, and she stared at Darian with something like anger in her eyes.
“You five have been chosen for your grand potential,” Raphael continued. “And by proving your worth, you may be accepted to the Blood God’s side as his companion.”
Though Raphael smiled as he spoke, the others grew more and more anxious.
“Thank you for all for coming here,” Darian said, stepping forward. “But I need a few minutes alone with The God of Seasons. Please wait outside.”
Four of them cleared out without a second thought. Lucia lingered, but a nod from Raphael sent her away. She closed the chamber door behind her, and Darian rounded on the God.
“I don’t want to take any of them with me,” he announced.
Raphael’s face twisted into a crooked frown. “They would make excellent companions,” he argued. “They are loyal, strong, and most of all, they have high level caps.”
“Loyal to you, Raphael, not loyal to me.” He glanced at the door. “Their fear was plain to see. Are you honestly telling me you couldn’t sense it?”
“We ready for war. Fear is natural.” He walked to the table, his walking staff tapping sharply along the stone floor. “After our attack on the Lich Cult, the demons will have a better idea where the portals are. Sooner or later, they will find one. If that happens, I will need powerful people to repel them.” He glared into Darian’s eyes. “You must add companions to your party officially. The longer you wait, the weaker you become.”
“This is a partnership,” Darian replied, drawing upright. “And that means you don’t give me orders.”
Light flashed in the God’s eyes, and the air in the room began to crackle, arcs of golden energy sparking into life all around Raphael. But then he doubled over, blood spraying from his mouth as a violent coughing fit consumed him.
Darian approached the God to help out of reflex, but then he backed away. “You’re dying,” he said as he watched Raphael struggle to stay on his feet.
“I’ve been dying for a long time now.” He ran a finger from his left shoulder down to his right hip. “Atarax struck me with his Ultimate skill during our battle. It is an attack that cuts though anything. Be that bodies, armor, souls, or even concepts themselves. And wounds from it cannot be healed. Only my own ultimate skill, The Law of Cycles, keeps me alive.” He looked around the room. “And it is why I can’t leave the sanctuary.”
“You can’t leave?” Darian asked.
“I am bound to this place, and it to me. Without it, my ultimate skill alone would not be enough to keep me alive.”
Darian looked down at the maps and battleplans strewn across the table. “That’s why you’re so desperate for me to get stronger quickly. Everyone else can leave if the demons attack, but you’re stuck here.”
Raphael nodded. “It is exactly as you say.” He smiled flatly. “And I am afraid. Afraid of dying, afraid of losing all that I’ve built in this world.”
“I understand more now why you wanted me to accept new companions,” Darian said. “But I will not accept your people. They love and respect you, and any I add to my party would never truly align themselves to me. And if I’m going to have companions, I must trust them entirely.”
Looking a bit deflated, Raphael slumped into a nearby chair. “I cannot argue with you. I have already asked much of you already. I…I’m sorry. From now on, I will remember this was to be a partnership.” He waved at the door. “Years of having everyone follow my orders must have made me forget that some people are not my subjects.”
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“Apology accepted,” Darian said with a grin. He slid out a nearby chair and eased into it. “But I am still open to the idea of attacking the Lich Cult. If they have an Aspirant held prisoner, rescuing them might indebt them to us.”
“But if they are not a prisoner, you must kill them.” Raphael reached up and touched a scar on his chin. “Other Aspirants we can force to accept your…gift. But this is the Aspirant of Fire, and that makes them your natural enemy.”
“I will do what I need to do.” Darian thought back on Victoria. That battle had been won with more than a small measure of luck. If he faced another Aspirant, especially one who was stronger, could he win? But I have to. I’m in the middle of things now, and that means fighting Aspirants and Gods is inevitable.
“Then we will be ready to launch the attack tomorrow night.”
Darian looked up from the maps. “Tomorrow? That’s sooner than I expected.”
“Time is against us,” Raphael replied. “And so we must strike hard and fast if the opportunity presents itself. The Lich Cult are building a powerful undead army. We could wait until they march away from the fortress with it, but the Flame Aspirant might have moved or been killed by then.” He motioned at the table. “My companion, Zander, will lead an army against them in order to draw them out of the fort.”
“But why would they leave and not hunker down for a siege?” Darian asked. “Wouldn’t they be giving up a good position?”
“Zander has…methods for drawing them out. But you are mostly correct. Many will stay within the fort’s walls. But my daughter, Almeda, will go with you. She has skills that can help you slip inside.”
“I want Jorg to come with me.” The paladin had not been mentally well the last time they spoke, but he could count on him in a fight at least.
“I have already sent my people to equip him in anticipation of this request.” Raphael replied. “And I have instructed another to accompany you. But I understand the two of you already had an unpleasant encounter.”
Unpleasant encounter? Who is he talking about? But then he realized. “Yazliar.”
“Yes. When the orc caught wind of our battle plans, he demanded we stick him on the front lines. But his power would be better suited to smaller engagements. I know you might have your reservations about him, but he is powerful.”
Darian groaned, but having the orc and his massive sword at his side could be a great help. “Fine, I’ll take him with me. But he has to understand I’m in charge once we infiltrate the fortress.”
Raphael nodded. “Besides him and my daughter, there are two others I would like to go with you. The first is Lucia. She is a great archer, and she has several healing spells. I know her magic will not help you, but it can help the others.”
Darian hadn’t spent too much time around the satyr woman, but he liked her. “If she can fight and heal, I will take her.”
“I figured as much,” Raphael tapped his fingers against the table. “But the other person is Alistair, the necromancer you freed from the Justicar’s fort prior to coming here.”
I’d honestly forgotten about him. “Why him? And can he be trusted?”
“Trusted? To an extent. I told him if he helped us, I would guarantee his freedom. But he knows the interior of the fortress. He could help guide you to the Aspirant while avoiding guards and traps. His knowledge could prove useful.”
“But are you sure he won’t betray us? He used to be a member of the Lich Cult.”
“A reasonable fear, but I had Zander question him. Zander’s unique skill can look into a person’s soul. He found no treachery within Alistair. But he did find rage, much of it directed at this Oliver Swink fellow that I understand you have prior history with.”
“You’ve seen the quest I have to kill him,” Darian said. “Hopefully I have chance to sink my fangs into his throat during the attack.”
“Then will you allow him to accompany you? Besides his knowledge, he is a rather powerful necromancer. And his dark magic spells can heal you. He would make a worthy addition to your team.”
“I don’t know how Jorg or the others will react, but he can come with me. But if he does anything suspicious, I take it I have full permission to deal with him as I see fit?”
“Of course.” Raphael gripped his staff and pulled himself to his feet. “I must converse with my generals about the coming battle. Please feel free to relax for now. I will send a fairy for you when the time comes to ready yourself for battle.”
Darian nodded and then exited the chamber. The generals and Raphael’s potential companions were all waiting outside. He exchanged goodbyes with them, then made for the street. I will let Raphael be the one to turn them down.
As he walked toward the home he shared with Jorg and the boys, a notification blared into existence, the sound of sudden trumpets nearly sending Darian falling backwards.
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Quest Completed: Nightlord
* Reward: 300 Race XP
* Reward: Nightlord’s Mail
Congratulations! Your Race level has increased to (Lv. 4)!
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A wave of power coursed through Darian’s body, his muscles expanding, his skin hardening. And though it all, the familiar pang of hunger needled his stomach. I need blood. He thought, more notifications filling his vision. I need blood. He turned for the House of Innovation, knowing the old elf would have something for him to eat.
Then he paused as a random XP counter appeared.
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Enemies Slain
Companion Contribution: 37 XP
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What? He looked around, then he realized what the notification meant.
Fria was in danger.