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Chapter LXVII : Laevinic Defeat

Latemorn of Quartus, Nineteenth Day of Autumnmoon

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Bram woke to a soothing melody, artfully strummed on the strings of a lute. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wood stoves, reminding him of late autumn morns in Providence, when villagers lit their hearths. He raised an eyelid, ever so slightly. Through blurred vision, he saw the shadows of people at his side. He tried to move, but his body ached. He uttered a small grunt.

The notes stopped, and the shadow-people gathered.

“He has awoken!” An excited voice sounded like Józef’s.

“Praise to Gaia.” He recognized Emperor Zhao.

Bram forced his eyes open, and his friends came into focus. A shape at the foot of his bed approached and gave his arm a hug. It was Yuri.

Memories flooded back. A battle against the Angkorian fleet, the passing shadow of the Goliath, an emotional battle against Kane, Rosa’s abduction, and a mysterious Gnostic named Samuel. The Knight’s spell nearly killed him. He wondered if Yuri had something to do with his survival.

He opened his arms. “Come here.”

His throat was raw and his voice hoarse. Yuri climbed on the bed and nestled close to his chest. They looked happy.

“I’m glad to see you, Yuri.”

He coughed, and Józef passed him a goblet of water, which he drank gratefully.

Józef grinned. “They never left your side, you know.”

Zhao concurred. “What a brave and endearing child.”

Bram was still a bit uncertain how things ended. He shifted in bed and stretched his back, hoping to find a more comfortable position.

“What happened? Did the Gnostic escape with the sunstone?”

Zhao sighed and shook his head dejectedly. “I’m afraid so. He disappeared into thin air, sunstone and all. The demonspawn were eventually defeated when reinforcements arrived, but many of … of our men … were taken. We searched for the man who took Miss Reynolds, but he was nowhere to be found.”

Zhao sounded choked up.

“Which men?” Bram wondered what he could have meant, but the emperor withdrew to the far corner of the room, where he stared out a window overlooking the city.

Bram made eye contact with Józef, hoping he could explain.

The young king kept his voice low. “Master Nan is missing. So are many of the Kenju and palace guard. We must assume Angkor took them prisoner, so obviously the emperor expects the worst. He and Quon were good friends, you know.”

Bram heard faint sobs from the other side of the room. He looked around and saw a rather decadent bed chamber, but it was unfamiliar.

“Where are we?”

“Inside House Agriculture, the emperor’s home. The palace is closed, you see, and Koban investigators are trying to reconstruct the scene.”

The heir’s expression turned grave. “I’m not expecting anything useful, though.”

Bram felt defeated. He lived, but the losses were almost too great to bear. He stroked Yuri’s hair as Józef caught him up on the last several days. He was so preoccupied, he hardly realized how long he’d been asleep. The realization sank in like a wave of nausea.

“Three days …?”

Józef nodded weakly. He looked almost ill, himself.

“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but you were in really bad shape, Bram. Your skin … it was like seared steak. I’ll never forget the smell.”

His hand went to his nose, and his voice shook. “Your body … it was practically melted inside your armor, and your eyes were like … like runny egg whites. I’m surprised you’re not blind.”

Bram’s hands went unconsciously to his head and face. Nothing felt scarred, but his scalp was fully shorn, as were his eyebrows.

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“Your hair was all singed. We thought you were dead, for sure. But … Yuri never gave up. They never left your side, not even once. And their aeons … what they did was a miracle! Except for your hair, you look completely uninjured.”

Bram didn’t know what to say. The description made him feel lightheaded. Yuri took no credit. They just nestled close to his body. He gave them a squeeze. The best he could muster.

Józef went on. “Yuri wouldn’t let the sorcerers near you. They spent all morn, all day, and all night just sitting there with their aeons, doing their best to heal you. I came to check in, every few hours, just to admire their progress. I know you would have had it otherwise, but the scholars here marvel at Yuri’s abilities. They’re already the talk of the town.”

Bram laid his eyes upon the child who saved his life. He felt so undeserving. Yuri wanted nothing, other than his affection. They still thought he was Remiel, which made him feel like an imposter. He wasn’t a Great Sage. Far from it. He was one of Richard’s weapons. He was Deathbringer. He didn’t raise children. He made orphans. He wondered how Yuri could see him as anything other than a monster.

He wanted to say something heartfelt, truly sincere.

“Thank you, Yuri.”

Hollow. Not nearly enough. Perhaps, Knights like him were incapable.

The child simply smiled.

Zhao emerged from his exile in the room’s corner, looking more composed. “Yuri told me something, Bram, and I think you should hear it.”

He sat in a chair on the side of the bed. “I realize how difficult it is for Yuri to verbalize, but they took the time to explain something to me, and I think it’s important.”

Bram’s flesh broke out with goosebumps. “Please, I want to know.”

Zhao shimmied his chair closer. “They said they were worried that you might touch the sunstone. They said that Belial wanted you, and had you touched it, they were ready to claim you.”

“Belial?” Józef’s voice rose an octave higher than usual. “As in, the Ahriman named Belial?”

Zhao nodded.

Bram tried to understand. “Are you saying that if I touched the sunstone, Belial would have controlled me?”

Yuri shivered in Bram’s arms. They looked terrified, almost on the verge of tears. He squeezed tighter. “It’s alright, Yuri. You don’t have to worry, anymore.”

The child buried their face in his chest.

Józef raised a different question. “What about that Gnostic Knight? He looked just like you. He could have been your brother.”

Bram couldn’t believe it was true. Sure, there was a clear resemblance, and Samuel seemed to know a lot about him. But that didn’t mean they were related. He couldn’t imagine a man who would hate his brother so much, especially when they had never met in person. But he couldn’t deny the possibility.

“The man who raised me wasn’t a blood relative. I never knew anything about my birth, or my family. If Samuel is truly my brother ….”

He couldn’t even finish. It just felt tragic.

“But, you’re both Gnostics,” Józef argued. “How could you not have met one of your own order.”

Bram took a deep breath, but his chest felt constricted. “Gnostic Knights are not a standard military unit. We work as independent agents. Richard usually keeps the number of Knights the same over the years, but nothing stops him from adding to the ranks. All he needs is to direct his scholars to fashion the sword, armor, and helm that has become our standard.”

He couldn’t help but recall Kane’s words. Richard had slipped into madness and was the pawn of a demon. He wondered if the same might have happened to him, had he taken the sunstone, as Samuel instructed. He could have become Belial’s vessel, a body under the control of an Ahriman. His skin prickled once again at the possibility.

Zhao posed an observation. “Yuri warned us about the dangers of touching the sunstone. Samuel wanted you to take it, yet he ended up taking it, himself. I have sought answers using Transiens Veritas, and it tells me that handling two sunstones is significantly more dangerous than handling one.”

Józef provided his take. “He was desperate. He knew his magic wouldn’t stand up to Yuri’s aeon, so he took the sunstone and fled.”

Zhao shook his head. “Desperate or not, I believe it makes him all the more dangerous. We should be extra careful of Angkor’s next moves.”

Bram let out an exasperated breath. “They will no doubt turn their attention to Vineta and the final sunstone. I must get to Kish and warn the Circle of Sorcerers. It’s our last chance to stop the Ahrimen from escaping.”

Zhao looked surprised. “You would continue your quest, even as close as you came to death? Even knowing what awaits you with Angkor’s next attack?”

Bram tried sitting up, but his abdomen ached. He winced. “I’m still a bit sore, but it’ll be a long enough trip by sea for me to heal.”

Zhao shook his head with wonder. “Then we are in your debt, Sir Morrison. I speak not just for Koba, but on behalf of the Sunstone Protectors and the world. I thank you.”

Bram smiled. “I just want to live in a world that’s free from Ahrimen. I want that for Yuri, and for everyone. All I need is Yuri by my side, and ….” He turned to Józef. “I assume you’ll want to join, too, Your Majesty?”

The heir looked hopeful. “Actually, Bram, I intend to return to Rungholt. A ship entered the harbor this morn from my people. I intend to leave by sunrise.”

Bram felt uplifted. “That must mean Kitezh has liberated themselves from Angkor’s occupation. That’s great news!”

Józef chuckled under his breath. “It would seem so. My immediate return has been requested.”

Bram was happy for him. “I understand, my friend. I wish you good blessings in rebuilding your country.”

Józef looked wistful. “Thank you, Bram. I’m certain our paths will cross again. As king, I will prioritize alliances. Just as in the Omega War, we must combine the efforts of every kingdom on Gaia. Only through unification can we ever hope to combat the Ahrimen. It’s a daunting task, but I plan to start the process as soon as I return.”

It was decided. “I’ll leave at sunrise as well. Fully recovered or not, I’ve been in bed for three days. It’s time to move on. The sooner I reach Vineta, the better.”

Zhao clasped his hands triumphantly. “Then we’re agreed. I’ll make the necessary preparations. You’ll have our fastest ship and our most reliable sailors for the trip east. Are you certain about your health?”

Bram nodded. “I’ll be ready.”

“Then your ship will be ready, too, Sir Morrison. May the blessings of Gaia be with you.”

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End of Arc V : Race to Loulan

… To be continued in Arc VI: Where it all Began

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