There was a stark contrast to Sylvanbrook’s town, from their significant hubs and commodities like the hospital–where Lyra’s mother worked– an inn and tavern, the Lumos Churchyard, and a schoolhouse where they taught mass.
“Any specific place to go first?” Eamon asked her.
Someone called them before Lyra told him to avoid the hospital.
A young man in his mid-thirties with short brown hair and freckles adorning his cheeks approached them as he pushed his glasses further up his nose.
“Lyra, is that you?”
Lyra bowed to the young man. “Brother Samuel, it’s good to see you well.”
He smiled. “Likewise. I don’t see you too often now that you’ve graduated from St. Lumos’ grad school. Are you off visiting your mother?”
Lyra pressed her lips together. “Not exactly.”
Brother Samuel raised his brow, sensing that she might have been hiding something.
Eamon wasn’t sure how many people knew of Lyra being a Locksmith; there had to be a few people in town, but he couldn’t be sure of the nature of what she kept from certain people.
“She’s helping me,” Eamon interjected himself into the conversation. Samuel turned in his direction. “I’m a Locksmith training under Master Ealdred Ashbourne. My name is Eamon.”
Samuel gaped at the name. “So you’re Eamon. I’ve heard from past teachers that you were an astute student. You knew Lumos’ teachings from memory; bravo, I must say.”
Eamon grinned. He hoped the man wouldn’t ask him to recite anything as most of Lumos’ teaching had faded from his memory.
Samuel chuckled. He was sensing the young man's nervousness. “Don’t fret. I wasn’t going to quiz you, goodness no. That wouldn’t be quite what Lumos would do, would she?”
Eamon sighed. He was thankful for this man’s kind insight.
“Brother Samuel is kind like that. He doesn’t bug you and was always patient with me throughout my days in mass.” Lyra told Eamon. She mentally recounted the days of her youth.
Samuel sheepishly smiled, rubbing the back of his head. “You flatter me, Lyra. You were one of my curious learners. However, you tend to get distracted easily. I always knew Lumos had great things for you as a Locksmith.” His eyes were directed to the sword perched on her back.
Lyra flinched. She realized she was caught red-handed with her sword, Riftblade, postured on her back, giving her away. She sighed. Stupid, Stupid. If my mother saw this…
“Don’t worry.” Samuel leaned forward and whispered, bringing Lyra’s eyes to his smiling ones. “I’ve always known, and I know your mother isn’t keen on it, but you'll be safe and vigilant under your grandfather’s tutelage and Lumos’ watchful gaze.”
A sigh of relief left Lyra’s lips. “Thank you, Brother Samuel.”
“And if you don’t mind,” Eamon added. “Can we ask you your thoughts on the announcement yesterday?”
Samuel’s smile wavered, and his eyes filled with worry. “I’ve heard children in my classroom start talking about joining the military when they grow up.” He shook his head. “I remember the days before I came to Sylvanbrook when children wanted to be Locksmiths and peacekeepers. Even Custodians were well accepted. Now the military is all they talk about, and it doesn’t help that half the broadcast is catered to propaganda ‘what the military can bring out of you.’”
Eamon recoiled. He, too, had been enticed by those same messages as a youth.
“I just hope they understand the gravity of it all. War is no game.”
Samuel’s Voxlink beeped, and he removed the giant machine and looked at the screen. “And I should get going. I told my husband I’d only be a minute. He’s probably at the market where I left him.”
Lyra smiled. “Then we won’t keep you. Give my regards to Mr. Roland.”
“And thank you for your time,” Eamon said after.
Samuel waved to them, leaving the two.
“Well,” Eamon turned to her. “It seems we’re getting a fair bit of consensus. People are indifferent or concerned; thankfully, no one has lost their cool.”
“Which is a good thing. Come on, let’s check one more place.”
They headed for the Inn and Tavern.
A woman with stringy red hair was sitting at the bar's front table. She was wiping down the table when her piercing green eyes saw them.
“Well, Lyra, I hope you ain’t ‘ere to drink since you cannae legally drink, yet. So you mussa be on Locksmith duty.”
Lyra nodded. She sat on the stool. Eamon sat next to her. “Hey, Clarice. I'm asking the locals their thoughts on the Chancellor’s announcement.”
“Oh good, Lumos, that. Boy, I had almost to call the guild cause ‘er fight almost broke out. It was madness yesterday.”
“If you don’t mind, ma’am,” Eamon said, leaning forward with his hands on the table. “If we could ask your thoughts and those of your patrons?”
Clara raised her brow at him. “Who’s the cutie? Lyra Ashbourne, are you—”
“Don’t go there, Clarice!” the woman grinned like a sly cat. “He’s a Locksmith too. It’s Eamon.”
Clarice’s lips spread into an O shape. “Oh, lil’ Eamon? Well, not lil’ no more. How yer been? I heard yer left for the—”
From the corner of Clarice’s eye, Lyra shook her head.
“Ah, but anyway,” She waved her hand through the air. “youse did come all the way ‘ere to regale stories. So my thoughts… well, I have heard some of the local and visiting guests say that folks ‘have already begun protesting this tax. It’s getting tense out there. I think that announcing it like that with the tragedy's anniversary and all was insensitive and presumptuous. The Chancellor wantin’ brownie points for something that should already be: citizens protection.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
She shook her head.
“Imma just hopin’ to Lumos that chaos donna spill over more in our peaceful town. Now there’s always Rifts appearing close to every other day now.”
Taking in what Clarice said, they thanked her and, again, with her permission, asked the people in the tavern their thoughts.
A man in a long robe was reading the paper and looked up at them. From his long-sleeved cloaked garment, he was from the Valerian Republic.
Eamon spoke first. “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we’re Locksmiths asking people their thoughts on Chancellor Viktor Radovinov’s announcement.”
The man dropped his paper a few inches, so they made eye contact. “Locksmiths, you say? From the Ashen Vanguard taught by the Sentinel Riftbreaker?” Speaking of their master’s renowned title to the public.
Lyra nodded. “One and the same. Did you come from the Republic to meet him?”
He chuckled. “You have a sharp eye, young lady. Yes, the College of Lumos is by far prestigious and holds the greatest minds ever taught, but having Ealdred Ashbourne teach there is a dream. Did you know the College offered him a position once? They’re still hoping he says yes, and that was five, ten, and twenty years ago! So imagine my surprise when I finally hear where Ealdred has been, and in a quaint, quiet town, no less. I’ve had my digression at first, but it’s such a breath of fresh air from the bustling metropolis of the Republic—Oh, but goodness, I've blabbered too long and not even introduced myself. I’m Jacob Hoff, a scholar at the College training to be a Custodian.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jacob. If you don’t mind, could you answer a question for us?”
So, they repeated what their task was to the soon-to-be Custodian.
“Oh, that was something, and the Republic is always up and up with what the Empire is doing.” He shrugged. “I’ve been hearing about other countries' revolutions, not just because of this morning. People call it the Chancellor’s Curse.”
Lyra and Eamon tilted their heads. “The Chancellor’s Curse?”
Jacob nodded. “Every so often, a Chancellor makes life hard for the people, mainly the common folk. Chancellor Viktor might have been the first to sway people with bribes of land and money, but people are skeptics. If the Chancellor is sincere about improving things, this taxation may be a step in the right direction. We don’t need any more trouble—the Republic already has to deal with rebel groups—let Lumos be our strength and make us ever vigilant.”
They said their regards before ending their investigation and the day and heading back to the guild to let Ealdred know what they had discovered from the townsfolk.
However, as they returned to town, they noticed the red smoke in the air. Without hesitation, Eamon and Lyra sprung into action toward the mist where the Rift was located at the edge of Sylvanbrook across the bridge.
The Rift was a tear in the air that made blue lightning sparks come out of it.
The two of them stopped, staggered by the strange Rift before them.
“What in the world is that?” Eamon asked Lyra. He was sure that she would have an idea what it was.
Lyra unsheathed her weapon. “I don’t know, but I’m going to close it one way or another—do you have my back?”
Eamon drew his weapons, smirking. “You don’t even have to ask.”
Two Veilspawns with unusual glowing blue eyes and blue electricity coursing through its body. Something was off about these Veilspawns. Slowly, they appeared one by one.
“Radiant Smash!” Lyra shouted and jumped midway in the air with Riftblade above her head. She brought it down to the ground and apart in large dirt mounds as shreds of elemental Essentia burst from the sword.
The Veilspawn that had grouped in the area were destroyed upon impact.
One Veilspawn, who the blast hadn’t caught, darted across the fields at increasing speeds toward the Rift.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Eamon called out.
Eamob darted for the Veilspawn and smacked the shadowy creature with the broad end of the metal sticks. The enemy staggered, leaving it open for Eamon to smash it again.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed three more of the strange blue crystallized Veilspawn surrounding him.
What are these things? Are they really Veilspawn? Their power level… feels increasingly different than usual. “Uh, anytime, Lyra?” he called out to her as he dodged the talon claws of two Veilspawn, ducking his head out of the way just as a flying, shadowy Veilspawn swooped down to tear his face off with its talons.
“I’m coming!” Lyra shouted. She stood in front of the Rift with her palm and called upon the incantation to seal the Rift: “From darkness bound, to the light we’re sworn, by Lumos’ grace this Rift be sewn. With knowledge deep and will so strong, we seal the breach where shadows throng.”
Unlike the usual Rifts that closed shut after the incantation was spoken, this one rippled and warped. Even the Veilspawn reacted to it with a shudder. Lyra gaped at what was happening. Eamon, too, felt discomfort from the Veilspawn’s reaction, and his gut twisted when the Rift started to twist into itself and expand suddenly, without warning.
“Lyra, watch out!”
He ran to her and propelled his body on top, shielding her. They fell to the ground together when the Rift imploded on itself and exploded, with the Veilspawns in tow.
Smoke had settled around the field, and Lyra sat up and coughed. Her face and curls were caked with dirt.
“Eamon!” she frantically shouted, spinning around where she sat on the ground. A figure's body sat up from the dust cloud.
“I’m alright. I’m here,” he said through bits of coughing and choking from the dust in his lungs.
She touched her chest and sighed with relief. As the dust faded away, Lyra, too, could see Eamon’s tanned complexion dusty brown from the dirt mist.
“What was that? That wasn’t like any Rift I’ve seen or closed. Did you see it had electricity coming from it?”
Eamon nodded. He stood to his feet and then helped Lyra stand. “Yeah, then it rippled and imploded when we closed it. That wasn’t a normal Rift I’ve ever seen either.”
“Let’s head back and tell Master Ealdred—Oh my Lumos, Eamon, you’re bleeding!”
Lyra reached out and hovered her hand over his back, where his shirt was ripped and exposed, seeping red gashes.
Eamon looked behind him and shrugged. “Eh, no big deal. I’ve had worse.”
Lyra rolled her eyes. So much for being worried. “Good grief. That’s how people wind up dead, thinking it’s nothing. We don’t know what that Rift was, so let’s get you checked out at the guild. Do you hear me, Mister?”
Eamon’s eyes widened, and he smiled. Seeing how much she cared about his well-being and did not hate his guts made his heart skip a few beats. “Yes, ma’am.”
Lyra twisted her lip to the side. “And what’s with that grin anyway? I’m serious, Eamon.” She said as she chastised him back to town.
•†•
They returned to the guild and told Master Ealdred what people were expressing about the taxes, the military, and the strange Rifts with a weird electromagnetic lightning frequency that made the peculiar blue-eyed Veilspawn.
Ealdred rubbed his chin in thought as he sat at his desk. He had never seen something like that before. The strange Rifts were an enigma, but he was glad the town wasn’t in chaos because of the announcement.
“Good job, you two. People seem to be still processing the Chancellor’s message, but as for the change in Rifts. I will contact an associate to see if they can clarify some things. You both are dismissed for the day.”
Eamon didn’t move. “Forgive me, Master, but we never heard your thoughts.”
Lyra turned her attention to her grandfather, curious to know his thoughts.
Ealdred sighed. “I’ve seen the rise and fall of Chancellors and leaders throughout my lifetime, and Chancellor Viktor’s promises of change echo like those of his predecessors. I know better than to take everything at face value. The Sanctum of Lumos and the Locksmiths have always been the true protectors of this land, but I’m concerned about the rumors of the military taking over our duties. Locksmithing isn’t just about closing Rifts; it’s about maintaining the balance between our world and the Veilspawn realm and safeguarding humanity. It’s a responsibility that goes beyond politics and power.”
He stood up from his chair and walked toward them, standing a foot away from them with a hardened determination in his eyes that made the two of them stand straighter.
“Lyra, Eamon, you two are but one of many hopes for the future, and you, and all Locksmith, are to be true to the cause as the protectors of the realm, no matter the challenge ahead.”
They didn’t know what Ealdred was thinking then, but their hearts were the same. It didn’t matter what a person thought; all Locksmiths swore to the same thing. That was why Lumos and the Wellsprings blessed them with the power to save humanity.
It was their solemn oath and duty that they’d live and die for if it ever came to that. Ealdred wanted them to be ready for anything because he knew the worst would soon be approaching.