Bellic swung his great axe towards the heretic's head, but in a sudden flash of arcane runes, the room erupted into blinding light. Instead of the satisfying thud of his weapon meeting flesh, all he felt was the wooden floor splintering beneath his blow. The witch was gone, leaving behind only a furious templar. Though the runes had ceased their glow, the lingering power hung in the air, a reminder of the filth of mana left behind by that girl. She dared to flaunt the name of the great heretic Valicar openly, a blatant attack on the sacred church he had dedicated his life to serving. His mission was clear: retrieve Blue Dawn and locate the ancient dwarven vault hidden somewhere in the nearby mountain range. Bellic had witnessed Blue Dawn's power firsthand years ago during the battle between the Pillar of the North and Valicar. It was a spectacle to behold, the two most powerful men on the continent clashing for days, devastating entire counties and mountains in their wake. But in the end, the heretic had escaped with his blade, and the church had been searching for it ever since. The Pillar of the North had eventually slain Valicar, but his pet bird had managed to escape with the sword, leaving it tantalizingly out of reach. Now, here he stood, the closest anyone had been to Blue Dawn since the Northern Pillar, and it had slipped through his grasp.
"DAMN YOU, VALICARRRRR!" Bellic's rage echoed into the sky, a primal scream of frustration at being denied his rightful prize. Regaining his composure, he ordered his men to clear the debris, determined to decipher the runes used by the witch to escape.
Bellic's eyes narrowed as he examined the runes, his mind already working to decipher the intricate spellwork before him. "A long-distance teleportation array," he muttered to himself with a mixture of disdain and begrudging respect. "Linked directly to the other side. Child's play."
With a determined grimace, he set to work, meticulously deciphering the spell's incantations. He knew he could modify it to function with Divine magic, albeit with some minor adjustments. But time was of the essence; he couldn't afford to let that brat slip through his fingers again. Her trickery still rankled him from years past, and he was determined not to let her outsmart him again. Bellic was certain she had accomplices aiding her, and he vowed to uncover them.
"Gather the men," he commanded, his voice cutting through the air with authority. "We are going after her."
Twenty-four templars swiftly assembled around him, forming a tight circle. Bellic closed his eyes, focusing his willpower, and invoked the power of the spell. "OPEN BEFORE THE GODS, OMEN OF THE FOUL GATE, AND BEAR US UNTO THE SAVAGE LANDS BEYOND!" he intoned, channeling his divine energy into the enchantment, ready to pursue his quarry wherever she may have fled.
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Reality warped around them in a golden light as Bellic and his men were transported to a tavern of rather fine condition, a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. "Tear this place apart and bring me something, men!" Bellic commanded, his voice sharp with authority.
As his men began their search, Bellic hurried outside to assess their new location. He could deduce their approximate whereabouts from the climate alone. Spotting another magic circle nearby, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Used recently, but the magic trace is different," he muttered to himself, cursing under his breath. Rushing over to inspect the runes, he noted the damage inflicted by the previous use. Several stones had self-destructed, rendering replication of the spell impossible without extensive time—a luxury he couldn't afford.
Despite their thorough search of the area, they found nothing of significance except for an old map of the island. With only two villages marked, Bellic decided to split his men, sending half to the farther one while he led the rest to the nearby settlement. They encountered locals who spoke no common tongue, resorting to divine judgment to extract information. After some trial and error, they finally encountered an elder who could communicate in broken empire.
"We seek a girl with blue and red hair, a crimson-red eye, and a golden-hilted sword on her back. Have you seen her?" Bellic questioned the elderly-bound man before him.
"She passed through here yesterday, sir. She rescued our village girls from the clutches of slavers, dispatching most of them before commandeering their ship and sailing north. She mentioned her intent to return to the main continent," the man hurriedly explained, his words tumbling out.
"And what is the name of the vessel she took?" Bellic inquired.
"It was called the Salty Dog, my Lord," the elder replied.
"Very well, may the gods guide you and your people to enlightenment," Bellic bid the elder before hastening towards the docks.
With a merchant ship anchored in port, Bellic seized it in the name of the church, encountering little resistance from the crew or its captain. Setting sail northward, they followed what Bellic referred to as the will of the gods, guided by the occasional thunder in the distance amidst clear skies — unmistakable signs of magic at work. After several days of navigation, their journey led them to an abandoned ship, the very Salty Dog they sought. Finding it empty, save for the corpses strewn about, pointed to a disturbing truth: the executions were too precise for mere pirates. "The Royal Navy doesn't know what they have," Bellic concluded grimly.
Pressing forward at an accelerated pace, they sailed towards the nearest port city.
"Returning home to your family, are you, Valicar?" Bellic uttered with disdain as they docked at Catitao.