I dismissed the mask, and Commander Arnild looked at me with a grim smile. "So you 'are' the one. I heard the governor rage about the torturer cutting an adventurer's eye out, that it had pissed off Malik. I remembered the name... Harlequin."

I smiled, "Yeah, I think he is still pissed about that. Can't say I harbor warm fuzzy feelings about it either."

Arnild frowned, "And yet here you are, helping us. Why?" I shrugged, "I kinda signed up for it. We are working under contract now."

Arnild smiled, "An honorable mercenary then, that is good. So, the orb, what does it do exactly?" I looked down at it in distaste, "I think it controls the monsters out there, or more accurately, it controls the souls trapped within the cores."

The man frowned, "Cores?" So I explained it all briefly, what we had discovered about the cores, and our suspicions on how they were created. Arnild looked more and more angry as I spoke, and I was relieved when he said, "We need to destroy that foul thing then."

He held his hand out, but I didn't hand it over. "Look, Commander Arnild. I am grateful for letting me in, and for listening. But I have a hard time trusting anyone at this time, so I would like to do it myself if you don't mind." Arnild sighed, "I suppose that is fair."

"Thank you," I said. "Is there a large area where I can do it? I have a feeling it might explode." Arnild raised an eyebrow, "There is a pretty expansive garden between here and the castle itself." I thanked the man and was about to leave when I turned back and asked, "Where is the governor? Is he safe?"

Arnild nodded, "He is with your guildmaster and his administrator. I believe they are..."

He was interrupted when I burst out, "He is what!?" Arnild was taken aback at my outburst, but he calmly answered, "As I said, he is..." I waved my hand, "I bloody well heard you. It's just... shit. Okay, listen, the guildmaster is involved in all of this. If he is with the governor, he might be in very real danger."

Arnild froze, and his eyes bore into me. "You better not be spouting nonsense, Harlequin!" I shook my head, and I think he saw the honesty in my expression. "Shit... We are going then, right now!" He began barking orders, and fifteen of the best soldiers in Creston ran over. Arnild explained the situation in a brief but very precise manner, and I saw the soldiers' faces darken with fury. Then they were off, and I was right on their heels.

Soon we reached the castle, but as we entered, it was eerily quiet, not a single movement in sight. Arnild took point, and with weapons drawn, the soldiers advanced. I summoned my mask and had an idea. Hanging back, I conjured an illusion of myself and surrounded myself in illusionary shadows. I stepped into a dark alcove, watching as the soldiers and my illusion continued forward.

After a few moments, I followed my illusion, ensuring I had time to react if things went wrong.

We crossed a grand foyer, with wide stairs made of white marble on each side, leading up to a balcony that overlooked the area. We stayed on the ground floor, heading towards a pair of enormous wooden doors adorned with gold. Arnild opened the door slightly, and it moved silently on well-maintained hinges. I was grateful for whoever took care of the castle's maintenance.

Arnild's expression hardened as he peeked inside, then he swung the doors wide open, striding into the room with his weapon at the ready.

I entered last, cautiously creeping along what I recognized as the throne room. It was an enormous space with a high ceiling adorned with beautiful artwork. The entire right wall was lined with tall windows that offered a view of a stunning garden beyond. But my focus was on the group of people gathered around the throne. However, it wasn't the governor sitting there; instead, it was a small, plump woman.

She wore the same small smile I remembered from my initiation, and my frown deepened as I recognized her as the female administrator whose name I had never bothered to learn, now occupying the throne.

She smiled as the soldiers entered, with my illusion in tow, and Arnild confidently strode into the middle of the room.

The governor lay on the floor, blood pooling around his head, while the guildmaster and Malik stood over him. Seeing Malik there nearly caused me to reveal myself, and I froze in place.

"So, the watchdog finally realized something was amiss? Or wait, no... Harlequin dear, did you warn these loyal hounds?" she taunted. Arnild growled, "You will pay for this, witch! Get your fat ass off that throne!"

The woman giggled, "Oh my, what a mouth you have on you. Malik dear, would you mind silencing him for me?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Malik hefted his axe, but there was something off about his movements, a strange mechanical quality. "Grim, is he being controlled?" I asked, seeking Grim's insight.

His answer carried a tinge of sadness in his voice. "He has a core partner... I think he's lost," Grim replied.

A mix of emotions swelled within me, a mix of sadness and anger, but I managed to maintain my composure. "And what about the guildmaster?" I inquired.

Grim hesitated for a moment before answering, "He's... Hmm, not a core. I can't be certain, but he reeks of the same corruption, albeit in a different form." I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "This is a mess..." I muttered, my words cut short as the woman's gaze locked onto me. She had found me.

With a gleeful laugh, she called out, "There you are, Harlequin!" Pointing her finger, a dozen meter-long metal needles materialized in the air before her, hurtling towards me.

I swiftly took cover behind a nearby pillar, but it offered only partial protection. I suffered a few deep gashes on my arms, but they were relatively minor compared to what could have been. The woman's laughter echoed through the room as the battle began. Arnild fought against Malik, while the soldiers advanced, moving methodically towards the throne and their governor. However, the guildmaster made his move. He became a blur, swiftly joining the fray among the soldiers, leaving a trail of death in his wake.

I conjured illusions of myself, scattering them to gather information. I needed to understand the situation, and Grim could assist me with that. Just as the administrator laughed, Grim warned me of another wave of spikes heading my way.

Reacting quickly, I erected a "Mirror Mirage" illusion, but the spikes pierced right through my defensive spell, demolishing the pillar I was hiding behind. I seized the opportunity, using an illusion to expand the dust from her spell’s impact, creating a billowing cloud that obscured the room.

Taking advantage of the chaos, I left my shattered hiding spot and sprinted towards the guildmaster. However, before I even managed to attempt a strike at him, I had to dodge, only narrowly evading a dagger aimed at my face. It struck my mask, deflecting the blow, but I was still sent sprawling to the ground.

The impact left my ears ringing, leaving me bewildered at how the guildmaster had managed to strike me without even looking in my direction. Rolling out of harm's way as the elite soldiers closed around the guildmaster, I observed his agile movements, far more nimble than one would expect from a person his age.

Glancing towards the fierce battle between Arnild and Malik, their heavy blows tearing through everything in their path, I decided it was best to stay clear of that particular fight. The force unleashed in their clashes could easily prove fatal to anyone caught in the crossfire. "Nope," I thought to myself, "not going anywhere near that mess."

My attention shifted to the departing woman administrator, frustration welling within me. She couldn't be allowed to escape. I sent Grim to discreetly follow her while I focused on confronting the guildmaster.

Desperate for an advantage, my mind raced in search of a solution. "How could we..." I trailed off, pondering the possibilities.

Then it hit me. I gazed down at the orb still clutched in my hand. "Oh, fuck this world... Sorry, Malik," I whispered under my breath.

With unwavering focus, I turned my attention to the orb, removing my glove. As my bare skin made contact with its surface, a powerful connection surged through me, as if every core in the vicinity became a part of my being. But one core, in particular, drew my focus.

Tightening my grip on the orb, I saw only Malik. I could feel his presence within it, his unimaginable pain. Tears streamed down my face as I witnessed the suffering inflicted upon my friend. It was excruciating to witness, but I steeled my resolve and instinctively reached out to him.

At that moment, I took control. Rising to my feet, I pointed at the guildmaster. "Malik, take care of Maximilian!" I commanded.

Malik jerked, but then he halted his attack and charged towards the guildmaster with a fierce roar.

Arnild appeared bewildered, but I shouted to him, "Take care of the governor, Arnild!" He locked his gaze on me, his eyes briefly shifting towards the slightly glowing orb. I believe he grasped the significance of my actions, and his expression softened, tinged with sadness. With a firm nod, he rushed to his lord's side.

Malik clashed with the guildmaster, their confrontation even more explosive than the battle between Arnild and Malik.

The soldiers quickly withdrew, their eyes wide with astonishment as they watched the epic showdown. I grabbed a soldier's shoulder and shouted urgently, "The woman escaped! You can't let her get away!" The soldier glanced at me, then shook his head. "We are here for the governor. We won't abandon him in his current state, even if he..." The soldier's voice trailed off, leaving unsaid what weighed heavily on all our minds.

With a low growl, I turned my attention to the ongoing battle, deciding it was time for me to intervene.

Their movements were lightning-fast, and I carefully timed my spell. As Malik relentlessly pressed his attack, the guildmaster took a few steps back, preparing for a special move. Sensing an opportunity, I cast "Unstable Footing."

At the exact moment the guildmaster unleashed his attack, ethereal wisps swirling around his knives, my spell took effect. His back foot remained firmly planted, thanks to the considerable amount of ether I poured into the spell to hold him in place.

Caught off guard by the sudden immobilization, the guildmaster stood frozen for a split second. Against a formidable opponent like Malik, that momentary vulnerability spelled the end of the fight. Malik's axe cleaved through the guildmaster from shoulder to opposite hip, sending a gruesome shower of gore cascading across him and the surrounding area.

A profound silence settled over the room as Malik stood there, awaiting his next orders.

Knowing what I likely had to do next, I cursed the world for forcing me into such a position. Determinedly, I strode toward Malik.