Chapter 52 – A Conviction of Steel

The long-stretched silence in the lounge of the High Lodge was deafening. After Caine’s words, the piercing cold in the room seemed to have deepened by several degrees. Without pause, the high-stationed members of the Starwing Order stared at the man in their midst.

A brave man, Adam had to admit, despite everything that had happened between them. In the strict hierarchy within the Starwing Order, a request like this, to Zachalynn of all people, may very well mean the end of one’s career. Caine seemed very much aware; judging by the bead of sweat on his forehead, there despite the chill.

Osterhild tutted her lips sourly, as she stirred her tea with a jewelled spoon. Louis’ eyebrows furrowed and his face reddened. Right when the growing tension in the room reached its peak, and several mouths opened to speak, Zachalynn raised a calming hand. Immediately, all of the built-up agitation in the room seemed to evaporate. The temperature rose again. All future members of the Holy Council relaxed visibly and sat back in their chairs again. Effortlessly, quite as if she stood in front of a classroom of children, Zachalynn had called everyone to order.

“My dear Caine,” Zachalynn said clearly. “I truly wish we lived in a world where we could base international relations upon trust. Where we could count on other nations to uphold their promises. However, the only way we can expect other countries to act is the way they have done throughout history and its many wars: in their own self-interest. If they get the chance to enrich themselves, to exploit our weaknesses, or to direct the Pure’s wrath to our lands instead of their own, they will gladly do so. The Archpriest says what’s needed to keep our alliance together, mingled with her own personal opinions. However, the occupation of Archpriest is merely traditional, meant for the spiritual guidance of the people. She doesn’t concern herself with the daily practice of war, which people like me do for her.”

Adam had to stop himself from laughing. ‘A traditional occupation,’ eh? Says the person who turned into the effective dictator of Dorenland today?

Caine’s jaw tensed up. “I understand, master, but with all due respect. Nowhere, in all the scriptures of Aves I’ve read, does He state that Insticas or those of other religions should be mistrusted or even hated. As agreed upon, I’ve read one of the Omitted Chapters of Aves’ life, in which He even befriends another Greater Being of—”

“Know your place, boy,” Louis hissed, glaring tensely at his son. It was strange. Adam had only known Caine’s father as a jolly man. He used to compliment Adam for being ‘big and strong for his age.’ Although the Thuraum and Emily’s story had shown him entirely different perspectives, it hurt to see the other side of Louis in person.

“It’s been a long time since someone tried to lecture me on the Lord’s words,” Rüdeger said. The old, deaf man moved his shoulder with a series of bony clicks louder than his hoarse voice. “You should know by now that His actions and words can only be interpreted correctly after many years of study. You lack the experience and insight to see his words in the context of the time.”

Zachalynn waved towards the window. “Look at the Insticas gathered here, Caine. People who have willingly become like animals, who’ve turned to primitive habits and uncontrolled emotions for power.”

“Indeed,” Osterhild said curtly before she noisily slurped her tea. “Mr. Roosenburg, do you know of the Mistresses of Misery? They purposefully deepen their own depression and mental anguish, to use it as a weapon. Would you like them to protect our fearful and traumatised citizens?”

Zachalynn exhaled disapproving air through her holy nose. “Or how about Tur, do you trust him?” She pointed down at the head of the Golems. A man who had purposefully accumulated thick layers of muscle and fat to become like a mountain of flesh that radiated physical might. His hairless face grinned, showing rows of elongated and pointed teeth. Zachalynn made no effort to hide her disgust.

Osterhild scrunched up her nose as well. “Apparently, his grotesque ‘people’ can transform the energy in their body mass into this vile Inner Fire, using the concept of ‘Hunger.’ I’ve seen one who dissolved—or rather digested—his own limbs in a desperate attempt to defeat my agents. Pitiful.”

Rüdeger gave a dry cough. “Servants of the Prince of Parasites willingly let bugs live inside their flesh, to use them in the Forbidden Arts. In a vile, perverse version of the body’s symbiotic bond with minuscule creatures, they desecrate Aves’ perfect design. Would you like them to guard our hospitals, young Caine?”

Louis shook his head. “Animals, each and every one of them. They lack the discipline and self-control of Novaseers. And since they venerate wild emotions without training self-control, what stops them from joining the Prophet? Why would they turn down eternal euphoria?”

“How could we trust those with such a vile ‘philosophy’ if some of the strongest amongst ourselves have been turned by the Pure?” For a moment, a shade of endless sadness fell over Zachalynn’s steadfast gaze. She blinked and looked up with a conviction of steel. “The Prophet’s hollow promises have spread across the world like a pandemic of drugs. Every day, people all over Dorenland travel to the borders to join the Pure. The weakhearted, the desperate, those who’ve been seduced by evil. And so, this war is primarily a battle of will, of belief. It is our duty to protect our people. To reach our hands out to those lost in the bog of doubt and pain. Our families, traditions, and communities make sure the people have a network to support them during times of pain. The more solid the people’s belief in Aves is, the better they are protected from the Prophet’s lies.”

“To allow other ‘philosophies’ to flourish in Dorenland means replacing certainty for doubt,” Rüdeger said. “And wherever there are cracks in conviction, the Prophet’s words can take root.”

Osterhild sipped her tea again with an insufferable slurp. “In a war where every misstep, every miscalculation, means the destruction of countless lives, we can’t afford to gamble. We can’t afford to ‘trust’ other cultures and nations.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Zachalynn spread her arms wide, as her sky-blue eyes looked up in veneration. “We’ll hold on to the holy laws that have formed the backbone of our society for generations. May Aves’ words of truth dissolve the poison of hatred! May the Lord lead us to salvation!”

Zachalynn’s compatriots bowed their heads in a small moment of prayer. “In the name of Aves,” they said as one.

Louis raised his eyebrows at Caine. “This talk of animals gave me an idea. We could use your bond with this ‘Fist of Gotterburg’ to our advantage.” Louis sucked on the mouthpiece of his hookah. Adam resisted the urge to slap it out of the bastard’s mouth. Caine was silent. However, behind his back, he clenched his hands into fists that trembled ever so slightly.

“Is it difficult for you to follow orders?” Rüdeger asked from the other side of the room, having noticed somehow.

Caine exhaled, quickly opening his hands again. “I will obey, of course.”

Zachalynn nodded. “Good. Adam is a beast we need to keep tightly shackled indeed. When his and Agatha’s inevitable betrayals come, we will be ready. Caine, I expect reports on both of them and I trust you will not disappoint me.”

Caine swallowed and bowed deeply. “Of course, my master.”

As the memory ended, Caine, Zachalynn and the others turned from humans of flesh and blood into translucent shapes again. The sprite reappeared and continued its circles around the mirages.

Adam crossed his arms. Anger seeped through him as he looked at the green shape of Dorenland’s dictator. So, the country is led by this ‘holy’ bunch of crackpot discriminating hypocrites? No wonder it’s all going to shit. To think I actually wanted to join the Starwing Order once...

Oliver stared at the ground with astonishment. “They let him read one of the Omitted Chapters of Aves? They go against the wishes of the Archpriest?” Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“You twisted bastard!” Emily hissed, shaking her fists in anger as she paced towards her father. “Caine was right! And you force him to spy on Adam as well? For what, so your golden child can be a cunt like you?” She stomped around the lounge.

Adam frowned darkly, with a sour taste in his mouth. “That was just vile. Hmm, do you know whether your father and Caine stayed in touch after the War of the Prophet?”

Emily raised her hands in frustration. “How should I know? I cut off contact with them both for years! Ugh, sorry! I know I shouldn’t yell at you, I’m just… so… PISSED!” She kicked a golden threaded pillow across the room.

Oh really? I didn’t notice. Adam thought it best not to say that out loud, as the pillow crashed into a cabinet, sending exquisite wines and liquors flying. “Well, this seems to be the part where Caine turned away from the Starwing Order. I guess he started prying into my research after this.” Adam frowned. But how did you come to hate us so? What made you think you could take my wife and child away from me?

Oliver seemed lost in thought, still staring at the ground with a pale, distraught expression. Must be hard for him, seeing his leaders like this. Emily seems less surprised though.

Oliver suddenly pointed at the ground. “Wait, look closely, right there. Is that another set of those green mirages?”

Adam squinted at the two shapes, which seemed tiny as they were so far away. It was impossible to say who Caine was with, or what he was doing.

“But that must be deep underground,” Oliver breathed as he rubbed his lip. “Could they be in some secret dungeon of the Starwing Order? Or in the sewers, perhaps?”

“Oh yes,” Emily deadpanned. “Lovely location for a tea party.”

Adam chuckled at the mental image. “No, judging from the size of the shapes, I’d guess one of the shallower levels of the Vaults below Ziecherhein.”

Both Emily and Oliver looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“What? You know, the Vaults,” Adam said, pronouncing it extra clearly.

Emily nodded with a glassy expression. “Yeah, no bells are ringing over here.”

----------------------------------------

Soon, Adam led the way through the park towards the Vaults’ entrance, followed by Emily and Oliver. On the way, they passed the entry fair for fresh new students at the Starwing Grove and Menhir League. Associations of all kinds did their best to attract new members. The mountaineers' club proudly showed off their equipment while the cooks whipped up impressive dishes, sending delicious scents over the park.

Adam sighed with a smile, thinking about his own golden times in Ziecherhein. “So, was history education that bad at the Starwing Academy,” Adam quipped over his shoulder. “Or did you two just not pay attention?”

Emily raised an eyebrow. “Maybe both. But you know what helps more than being a know-it-all about it? Explaining what the Vaults are!”

“Or where we’re going!” Oliver added with a disapproving frown, walking at a safe distance from a couple of gladiators.

Unsubtle as always, the local association of gladiators thought the best way to attract new members was by ‘showing their skills’ in their non-lethal sport. Apparently, this included sparring everywhere with elaborately decorated weapons or making loud quips and boasts as part of their showmanship. A grateful subject for the artists’ clubs to make caricatures of. Adam fondly remembered how Julienne could throw guys twice her weight across the ring. I wonder where she ended up after the War? Far away from Dorenland, probably, being Agatha’s sister and all. Why is everything so long ago? Adam shook his head sadly and focused on the here and now again.

“Basically, Vaults are places where everything that is deemed too dangerous for society is locked away,” Adam said. “Ziecherhein’s one is particularly huge: an ancient underground labyrinth full of sealed chambers.”

Oliver looked up. “Oh, that’s… interesting! What did it store?”

Adam laughed. “Only those at the very top of the Menhir League are authorised to know everything they held in there. As a relic hunter, I had special permission to store dangerous artefacts I’d found within ruins. I know of many remnants of ancient civilisations in there. Keys with haunting Instillments, sheets of music with the names of the Forbidden Saints, foul sorcery from eradicated cults, to name a few. Researchers of the Menhir League could gain permission to…”

Adam’s eyes widened. A vague, tugging sensation occurred within Adam’s head and blurry memories flashed before his mind’s eye. “I had access to the Vaults! For my investigation into Reminiscence!” he exclaimed.

A startled blonde girl looked up. Adam quickly shut his mouth, thinking he’d accidentally interacted with the memory. However, it turned out she was asked for a date by a grizzled, way-too-old veteran of student life, who was politely yet firmly rejected.

Oliver smiled at Adam. “Great that you’ve remembered! Now please tell us more!”

“It’s still quite blurry. But I know I’ve been down there, reading old parchments and translating old hieroglyphs. That’s all for now.”

----------------------------------------

Adam led them towards an entrance into the Vaults. Within a barracks near the old city walls, there was a hidden staircase in the basement. After that, the group halted in front of the heavily guarded antechamber.

Six guards usually prevented passage to all but those with the right documents. However, the armoured men and women stood still as statues. They stared straight ahead with remarkably bland faces and empty expressions. One of them stood beside the unbolted door towards the Vaults, seemingly gesturing a visitor to come in.

Adam waved a hand before the face of a guard who had only the most basic outlines of a face. “I guess Caine doesn’t remember these people well.”

“Just six nameless guards who granted him access,” Emily said.

With an unnerved feeling in his gut, Adam picked up some torches and walked past the creepy guards. Up on the streets, it was easy to forget they were inside a memory, but things like this made it painfully clear again.