Morthol finally stops, after several days of travel. Raxyas and Bazren descend, making their way to the Halgorth's gates. Raxyas feels a slight pain in his head. Very faint.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : finally home again... very few can be trusted in Mortmundus. Za... is one of those few. he-
Raxyas: Shut up. Not now...
He manages to send the curse away by sheer will. It seemed his new power gave him greater agency over it. Still, he knew there would be a price to pay... Eventually.
Bazren: Did you say anything, Raxyas?
Raxyas: No, nothing at all. Now, look Bazren! This is what your average citadel looks like.
The citadel was quite lively. It was probably tournament day in the arena. Halgorth was famous for holding such events, given that it was practically the capital of fighters.
Halgorth was famous for holding such events, given that it was practically the capital of fighters [https://img.wattpad.com/b080c50d629863df849cdbb908888b866b3a751a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f576b5f51794743764a39633934513d3d2d313139393933343137312e313732393461626338313236663136383931313237303232383037302e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Bazren: Well... It's better than Slynvha. But the people don't really seem all that joyful to be here...
Raxyas: A joyful undead is a rare sight. One day, I'll have to ask master Qu what his secret is...
Bazren: Oh yeah?
She lets out a short laugh.
Bazren: How innocent of you to assume he has a single secret only!
They are stopped by a guard.
Guard: What is your business in the citadel of Halgorth?
Bazren cuts Raxyas off before he can speak.
Bazren: We come from Karghna. I am Bazren, one of master Qu's redeemers. Here is my weapon, to prove it.
She summons her flail. The guard seemed convinced.
Guard: Pink star... You may enter. Go straight to the cathedral and make your presence announced to the master.
Bazren: Of course.
The duo walk towards the cathedral. Nobody in the citadel paid them any mind.
Raxyas: Why would you do that? I could've just shown them my weapon.
Bazren: Because I haven't forgotten what you've told me... These people treated you terribly after your return last time, did they not? No point in going through that again. We can let them know you're here after they know you are innocent.
Raxyas: I see. Thanks, Bazren.
Bazren: Don't worry about it... I just don't want us to be the center of attention, that's all.
As they arrive at the cathedral, Bazren introduces the both of them. The guards let them inside. As per usual, Za was sitting on his throne. He was talking with one of his redeemers.
Za: Are you certain that they have stopped? [https://img.wattpad.com/380bc3b5149356adaefc9680556372e66ba8c84d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f516c455046702d3779754d3935513d3d2d313139393933343137312e3137323934623038343565383162356433323930363234333437312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Za: Are you certain that they have stopped?
Magenta Grid: Master, it has been weeks since we have received reports of corrupted undead.
Za: That's very odd... There is no way Raxyas and Xayn could have taken care of them already. Something strange is afoot.
Magenta Grid: We have received information that some undead have gone missing. Or rather, their souls have. Empty vessels have been found inside the walls of at least six different citadels. The masters claim they did not damn their souls...
Za: Hmm... First corruption, now this... This makes no sense. Is there supposed to be a connection here?
Raxyas: I may be able to help.
The cathedral goes silent. One of Za's redeemers speaks.
Scarlet Fist: Insolence! How dare you interrupt the Master! As redeemers, you ought to kn-
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Raxyas summons his whip-gladius, raising it high overhead.
Raxyas: Take it easy, friend. It's me.
Scarlet Fist: Raxyas... You're back!
Za: Ah! Raxyas! At last, you return!
Za smiles, standing up from his throne to greet his pupil.
Za: And... Qu's right hand redeemer is with you? What about Xayn...?
Raxyas: Sorry I've been gone for so long, master. A lot has happened since the last time I was here...
Za: I see we have much to discuss. Everyone! I will be in my chambers speaking to Raxyas. We are not to be disturbed.
Za takes Raxyas and Bazren back to his chambers. There, Raxyas tells him what happened.
Za: This is... A lot of information. So as far as you know, only one member of the Thirteen has been defeated, and it was by the hand of that group of undead?
Raxyas: Correct, master.
Za: And that group, Incola, was it? Do you think they are rivals of the Thirteen?
Raxyas: I... Can't say for sure. I know they cannot be allies, since Incola snatched me away from the Thirteen, ruining their plans. But I don't know if Incola is making any additional efforts to stop them... They seem more concerned with amassing the power they need to open the portal.
Za: Raxyas, this is all quite suspicious. These Incola could very well be behind the recent reports of missing souls inside citadel walls, which just so happened to coincide with the time at which undead have ceased to be corrupted by the Thirteen. I... Raxyas. There is something I must ask you.
Raxyas: Yes, master?
Za takes a deep breath. He looks at Raxyas dead in the eye.
Za: Is there any chance that Incola... Are the Thirteen in disguise?
Raxyas and Bazren were shocked. Raxyas takes a moment to answer.
Raxyas: Master... With new information constantly being discovered in the boxes... I cannot say for sure. But if anything, I know this: their eyes are not the same. I know the color and pupil shape of the eyes of every single member of the Thirteen... And there are no exact matches for them in Incola. Also, my attunement alerted me to the presence of Zank, but that was the only time it flared up... It hasn't activated itself for any of Incola's members. Not only that, the Thirteen operated with a very restricted group comprised of thirteen undead. Incola has several dozen members, according to their leader, who are sent all over Mortmundus to complete assignments that will help their cause. And let's not forget that their goals are similar only as far as opening a portal to the world of the living goes... Unlike the Thirteen, Incola do not seek world domination. They seem to desire almost the opposite: To give the people of Mortmundus the freedom they believe they deserve.
Za: Very well... It is likely safe to rule out this possibility, then.
Bazren: If I may speak master Za, it seems that there are only two things in common between the two groups: one, they need Raxyas in order to open the portal. And two, they both have access to forbidden knowledge. I believe the real question here is this... How come Incola and the Thirteen have access to the same pool of knowledge?
Raxyas: The same pool of knowledge...? What do you mean?
Bazren: Think about it. Both of them need you to open a portal into the world of living, correct? Yet, this information was only uncovered by peering into forbidden boxes. Here's the kicker... Boxes don't contain redundant information. So either one group somehow stole the boxes from the other...
Za: ... Or there is an informant, passing knowledge from one group into the other.
Bazren: Correct.
The three of them ponder for a moment.
Za: From what you've told me, I don't believe we have enough information to determine who that might be... So, in my eyes, the next thing we should focus on is determining who's team this informant is on.
Raxyas: Wait... Of course...!
Bazren and Za looked at Raxyas.
Raxyas: It all makes perfect sense now... How could the members of Incola know where Zank was...?!
Bazren and Za think for a brief second.
Bazren: Given what we've discussed, I see only two options. They either used a redeemer's attunement ability to pinpoint his location...
Raxyas: Which would not be possible for them to do, since only I could track Zank. And I know for sure nobody was tailing me or Xayn on our way to meet him.
Bazren: Well then... That only leaves one option. Someone told Incola what would happen.
Raxyas: Exactly! Most likely the same person telling them the forbidden knowledge that the Thirteen possess. Incola must have an informant within the Thirteen who is telling them not only their moves, but also any new information they come across.
Za nods in agreement.
Za: Your theory seems like the most plausible explanation for all this... Alright. The way it seems to me, the Thirteen are most likely plotting their next move carefully. They know they need you, Raxyas, but more than that, they will also need the power that was taken from you and split across the members of Incola. I expect them to act at any moment. They probably won't wait long to strike, since the more they wait, the more Incola grows.
Raxyas: Which is why we need your help, master. Incola aren't just absorbing souls to get more powerful, they are also using the help of master channelers... They are using the ritual that allows a master to channel power to another soul to do so.
Za: I see... So you're asking me to help Incola, so that they can become powerful enough to finally put a stop to all this...?
Raxyas: Yes. I understand this may be a lot to ask, especially given the lengths they are willing to go to in order to achieve their goals... But I strongly believe it is the quickest way to save the people of Mortmundus from what is happening.
Za: I see...
Za walks around the room with his hands behind his back, balancing his options carefully.
Za: Very well. Tell the leader of that organization that they can count on the master of Halgorth to aid them. But, under one condition: I will lend my power only to a member of my choosing, and I choose you, Raxyas. You are the only one I trust within their organization.
Raxyas was caught off-guard by this proposition.
Raxyas: Thank you, master... But I'm not sure if I'm exactly a member of their group. I believe I'm simply helping them, as things stand.
Za: What I said remains! When the time comes, I shall lend my power to you, and you alone.
Raxyas: I understand. I shall return to them and let them know. Also, there is one more thing, if I may.
Raxyas shows Za a soul sphere.
Raxyas: I believe this could very well be the magic the Thirteen used to conceal their souls after their vessels had originally destroyed by me... This artifact can store souls inside for an indefinite amount of time. It's like there's a different dimension inside of it...
Za: Remarkable...! This could indeed have been it. Do you know who manufactured them?
Raxyas: Not yet, but I have a hunch Incola might know. They, too, were using them.
Za: More forbidden knowledge then, no doubt... May I keep this one, Raxyas? I would like to examine it further.
Raxyas: Of course.
Raxyas hands Za the soul sphere.
Za: Alright then. I hope the next time we see each other, that Xayn is with you once more. Now, you may go. Best of luck on your journey.
Raxyas: Thank you, master. I shall return soon.
Raxyas and Bazren leave Halgorth and make their way back to Incola, to let Ilkatorza know of all that had transpired in Slynvha and Halgorth.