Talax lingered over the desiccated remains of Edward, taking a perverse pleasure at seeing his fallen enemy like that. Yet, his self-indulgence ended abruptly when he heard a whimper, reminding him of what truly mattered, his friends.
He looked up and saw a wounded Franny, his torn clothes hanging off him as he fumbled helplessly in an effort to reach his bag for a potion. Rushing to his friend's side, Talax quipped, “We seem to always meet like this!” Franny gave him a blood-streaked smile, his breathing shallow, and in a weak voice, he said, “Where did you get this armor? I want one too!”
Talax chuckled and gave the young noble one of his potent health potions. Franny accepted the small bottle gratefully and downed its contents. When he saw color returning to the man’s face, he stood up and surveyed the scene.
Qalo was fighting off the remnants of the skeleton army not far away from where they were standing. The rest of the chamber was devoid of life, the last gnoll having fallen to Vesperine’s blades. Talax looked around the chamber, filled with mana that appeared to condense into a mist laden with energy, but Vesperine was nowhere to be found, as usual.
Talax’s gaze returned to the half-orc. He was fighting valiantly, his hammer glowing with the tell-tale sign of mana. The skeletons had no chance against the determined orc, but a few managed to exact a price for their demise. Qalo’s body was full of scratches and gauges, the dim light catching on the blood seeping from his wounds, yet the half-orc remained undeterred.
Still, Talax decided to help his friend and rushed to his aid. The ground had been shaking without reprieve ever since he had reached the lower platform, indicating that the dungeon was about to collapse. “Stay here!” He yelled at Franny as he went to join Qalo.
The two of them fought side by side, trying to stem the unrelenting tide of the skeleton army. Qalo was exhibiting a new ability after another, making their task easier. Qalo's hammer strikes rang out amidst the chaos, the echoes reverberating through the chamber. He must have leveled up several times while they were apart, to have been able to unlock so many abilities.
Talax, on the other hand, used mostly his new Galewind Shortsword, which every so often would unleash a violent gush of air that pushed his enemies back. Other than that, however, he barely used any of his abilities or spells. His overtaxed mind and pathways prohibited using his mana for anything other than the basic functions.
Talax and Qalo fought with fierce determination, their movements focused and efficient as they whittled down the remaining creatures, the echo of their clashes reverberating through the chamber. As the numbers dwindled, their focus wavered only when Franny's panicked voice pierced through the haze of battle.
“The ceiling is caving in!” Franny's urgent cry snapped their attention skyward. The once dark expanse above them now crackled with ominous, pulsating light emanating from colossal fissures. The chamber trembled as massive rocks broke loose, hurtling downward to shatter upon the platforms, sending shockwaves rippling across the room.
“I really want to get out of this place! I'm sick of the falling rocks!” He muttered to himself, prompting Aria to interject. “You'd better get moving then. Your blessing is about to expire, and then, you won’t have the protection of luck.” Talax nodded at Aria’s advice. She had been silent so far, only providing information about his battles.
“Where is the exit?” He asked aloud, earning a confused look from Qalo. “At the last platform, where the filth Morgrimm was.”
Talax grabbed Qalo and urged, “We don’t have time for this, let’s get Franny and get out of here!” Qalo nodded, with a final swing of his hammer disassembling two skeletons, then followed Talax.
They grabbed Franny, who was too weak to walk by himself, and they hurried as fast as they could towards the stairs. At some point, Qalo muttered, “This won’t work,” and with a strained heave, he grabbed Franny and threw him over his shoulder. The young noble’s already pale face lost all color, but with an admirable effort, Franny managed to remain silent.
As they crossed the platform, something caught Talax’s attention, and he stopped. “Go ahead,” he shooed Qalo as he knelt next to Edward’s lifeless body. He searched around, feeling a little uncomfortable disturbing the dead, even if the dead was Edward, but he couldn’t let it go to waste.
With an exalted breath, he grasped Edward’s enchanted bag and secured it around his belt. With a wicked smile, he rejoined his friends. Qalo gave him a look, but he didn’t have time to inquire about what Talax had been doing because the chamber had begun to collapse in earnest.
They ran with the last reserves of their strength, pumping their legs to avoid being crushed by the crumbling ceiling or being brought down by the skeletons that tried in a last-ditch effort to capture them. By some miracle, or by the blessing of Tychos, they managed to reach the last platform unscathed, their faces drenched in sweat and fighting for breath.
"Now what?" He asked Aria. "To the right, there is an opening with a small door leading to the surface." The high priestess’s voice was surprisingly calm, her composed demeanor acted as an anchor amidst the chaos, steadying his frayed nerves. "This way," Talax said, pointing in the direction indicated by Aria, Talax signaled for his friends to follow, though Qalo wore a puzzled expression, probably wondering who he was talking to or how he knew where to go. Unable to spare time for explanations, Talax simply gestured for Qalo to move forward.
"Wait!" Franny yelled desperately. "We have to get that skeleton’s weapons! I have to bring something to my father!" He was clawing at Qalo to let him down, but the half-orc didn’t release him. They shared a look, and Talax ran to the middle of the platform, where the broken remains of the Deathbound lay.
He tried to lift the enormous greatsword, but it was too heavy to wield. "The restrictions are too high, Talax. All you can do is put it inside your bag." Talax grimaced and with a loud grunt managed to stow it away. The same experience occurred with the staff, this time however, instead of being heavy, the enchanted item seemed to resist being held, attempting to escape his grasp as he put it in his bag. He hurried back to his friends, who looked at him with wide eyes.
Finally, Franny exclaimed incredulously, "Where in the name of Avass have you been? You have a bag of holding now too?" Talax chuckled, but the ominous creaking refocused his attention on escaping the dungeon. "I'll explain later! Now, let’s go!"
With some reluctance, his friends followed him as he searched for the opening. He found a small depression on the wall with a circular door that almost blended with the surroundings. Talax opened the door and motioned for Qalo to enter first with Franny. Behind them, destruction ensued, the platforms cracked and sank deeper into the earth with each tremor. Beams of ambient magic fell from the fractured walls and ceiling, saturating the temple in an impending explosion of arcane energy.
Talax wasted no more time and entered the narrow tunnel, following his friends. Qalo struggled under Franny’s weight but disregarded the noble's protests. Talax had to brace against the walls several times just to stay upright; the tremors intensified, and his heart raced, fearing they wouldn’t make it out alive.
"Aria, how long until the blessing expires?" He questioned frantically, fearing his luck would run out before they reached the exit. "You have four more minutes. You better make them count," she responded with a note of worry in her voice.
Talax sprinted even faster, his whole body heaving from the effort. He yelled at Qalo to go faster, the ominous sounds growing louder, a distant thunderous crash echoing as if the whole mountain was collapsing.
“Light! I see light!” Qalo shouted in disbelief, Franny flopping around on his back, trying to hang on. The prospect of sunlight infused Talax with renewed determination, and he ran the last few meters separating him from sweet freedom like the wind.
The hole of light grew bigger until his eyes struggled to adjust after being in the dark dungeon for so long. Laughing, Talax heard the tunnel behind him being destroyed, urging him to leave as soon as possible. Blinded but elated, he crossed the invisible line between dungeon and forest, feeling the warm sun cleanse him from the pain, death, and questionable actions he had committed.
Despite exiting the dungeon, their sprint continued under the ominous sounds of destruction from the crumbling mountain. Abruptly, a wave of overwhelming energy swept them off their feet, crashing onto the forest floor, strained grunts escaping their lips as the very earth trembled from the unleashed magic.
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Talax remained down, gazing at the clear sky, grateful to be alive. All three of them lay still as the noises of destruction faded. He heard uncontrollable laughter and turned to see Franny rolling around, laughing hysterically.
“We made it... Ha, ha, ha. We are alive! Ha, ha, ha! And my uncle is dead! Ha, ha, ha! Dead! Ha, ha, ha!” Talax exchanged a worried glance with Qalo, both unsettled by their friend's odd behavior.
“I mean, you warned me! Ha, ha, ha! Again, and again! Ha, ha, ha! I just couldn’t believe it! Ha, ha, ha! That old turd got what he deserved! Ha, ha, ha! Well done, Talax!” Talax raised his head to get a better look at the laughing man.
“Franny, are you okay?” His question stopped Franny’s laughing, leaving a lingering smile. “I'm fantastic! Fantastic! I've never been better! I can’t wait to return to my father and inform him of my uncle’s treachery, or that the entire company was wiped out, or that the expedition was a complete failure!” His smile faded into a frown.
“The expedition wasn’t a complete failure,” Qalo argued. “We have the weapons of the lead skeleton.” Franny scoffed. “Those belong to Talax; he was the one to kill the creature.” Talax responded immediately. “You can have them; besides, I can’t even use them. What am I to do with them?”
Franny turned to him with a serious expression. “I cannot accept it. Those weapons are precious, they could fetch you a fortune, I can’t do that to you!” Talax sat up and removed his helmet. “See this? That’s enough for me. It’s something I can use; those weapons felt like dead weights in my hands. I want you to have them, really!”
Franny frowned, clearly desiring the weapons to appease his father. What Franny originally sought was on Talax’s finger, but Franny wasn’t aware of it, nor was Talax about to reveal it. Those two weapons were the least he could offer. He briefly considered sharing some of the artifacts from the treasury but decided against it, fearing the questions it would raise.
“Aren’t you going to tell your friends about the treasury?” Aria’s voice didn’t hold any judgement, just genuine curiosity. “I haven’t decided yet. I want to share my findings, but I’m unsure if it’s the right move.” Seeing Qalo’s face, waging a war between greed and understanding only reinforced his decision to hold back the news. He didn’t fear that the half-orc would do something wrong, but he couldn’t be sure that the wealth he had discovered wouldn’t change their relationship.
He was put out of the difficult position when he heard the rustling of leaves from behind him. All three stood up in an instant, their nerves taut, bearing their blades. From behind a bush emerged a slim man in worn leather armor. Before Talax could react, Franny exclaimed, “Bryan?”
Talax glanced at the young noble, confused. “Who’s Bryan?” Franny sighed exasperatedly. “I've already told you, my childhood companion, my closest friend!” He struggled to recall but came up blank. “Right,” he murmured as the newcomer rushed to Franny with tearful eyes.
“My lord! You're alive! I can't believe it!” The man bowed, shedding tears of joy, and Franny clasped Bryan’s shoulder, pulling him into a hug.
“My friend! You have no idea how good it is to see you!” The man wept openly, expressing relief. “I thought I had lost you! I had no hope left, but the Mother had other plans!”
Talax narrowed his eyes at the man’s emotional display. After the dungeon events, he held little trust for Franny’s companions. He used analyze on the man but gained little information.
Name: Bryan
Health points: 130/130
Mana: 80/80
Level: 12
Race: Human
Age: 19
Profession: None
Class: None
Humans stand out as the most populous and adaptable race. While some races may possess inherent magical abilities, superior strength, or extraordinary longevity, humans rely on their inherent versatility to navigate the diverse landscapes and challenges of Helios. Their broad affinities and capacity for learning quickly have allowed them to thrive in nearly any environment or occupation.
“How did you find us?” He demanded. His tone was sharp, and probably a little too hostile because Franny gave him a questioning look. The man turned to look at him, confusion evident in his face, because he then looked back at Franny, who nodded as if giving him permission to speak.
“I have been circling the mountain for days, trying to find a way in. The only entrance I found was guarded by a vicious tree-like creature...” At the mention of the forest guardian all three exchanged worried glances, and Qalo looked downright terrified. “I looked and looked but without success. What’s more, it became increasingly difficult to traverse the forest, it’s teeming with dangerous creatures, I have never seen anything like it! The king will have to send his adventurers to clear out the forest, or we will be cut off from the northern kingdoms.”
Franny was looking at his friend with a troubled expression. Talax, for his part, wasn’t convinced that the young man wasn’t part of Edward’s inner circle. Maybe he was waiting for the chance to finish off what the older noble failed to accomplish.
“Talax, the boy speaks the truth. The creatures in the forest will evolve and become exceptionally powerful due to the extraordinary levels of ambient mana. Now that the temple is completely destroyed, the flow of mana trapped for centuries will feed the forest and the creatures within, transforming them into something simply terrifying.”
Talax could only imagine what would happen if all the creatures transformed like the forest guardian had. The forest would become impassable, and a deathtrap. Still, he needed more information to be convinced that the man could be trusted. Taking a few steps to get closer to the man he inquired. “Where have you been all this time? Why weren’t you with Edward?”
Bryan took a few fearful steps back at his approach and gave a panicked look at Franny. The noble was looking at Talax with an indecipherable look until he turned to Bryan, seemingly having the same thoughts and doubts as Talax. “Yes, Bryan, where have you been?”
The man gave a confused look at Franny but answered. He gave them a long-winded recount of what had happened to him. He claimed he had been devastated by Franny’s abduction by the bandits. He had argued with Edward, wanting to pursue the bandits, but the older noble had shut down the idea, claiming they had been ordered to enter the dungeon no matter what. After a brief altercation, he had decided to abandon the rest of the company in search of Franny.
He had never found any signs of Franny or the bandit camp. He had been hounded by gnolls and other forest creatures and found himself in front of the dungeon entrance. He had seen the countless corpses of the dead gnolls and the forest guardian feeding on the dead creatures and decided to find another way in. Desperate and afraid, he had decided to rejoin Edward but had no way in to the dungeon. He had been wandering aimlessly ever since, hoping that someone would eventually emerge from the dungeon.
Talax listened carefully, measuring his every word. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate, his interrogation skill never flared up, detecting some kind of falsehood. He wasn’t completely convinced by the man’s claims, but his distrust was soothed a little.
Franny’s expression was troubled listening to the events that had taken place while he was away. “Your uncle?” Bryan asked timidly, and Franny waved his hand. “Dead.” Bryan’s eyes grew wide in astonishment from his friend’s pronouncement, but he didn’t inquire further.
Franny massaged his temples and let out a deep sigh. “I don’t get it! I really don’t. Why would my uncle betray me like that?” Talax was perplexed as well, but he knew little of the politics that took place among Ferdinand’s kin. Then he remembered Edward’s bag he had grabbed at the last moment.
“Maybe this will give us some answers.” Talax drew the small bag that hung by his side and infused some of his mana to establish a connection. He was momentarily disoriented because instead of a vast black space that appeared when he used his own bag, a small window popped up in his vision with a grid, showing several items.
He heard Franny’s surprised voice, but Talax focused on the contents of the bag, growing confused by the second. The man was broke, he only had a handful of silver coins and a couple of gold coins inside his bag. A spare sword, that looked spectacularly unimpressive, and a few other knick-knacks. What drew his attention was two slots, both occupied by documents. When he focused on the items, Aria’s voice sounded in his head.
“You have found the Deed of the Blaclan Estate.”
“You have found a personal letter.”
Talax put his hand inside the bag to pull out the personal letter, remembering seeing Edward reading furiously something while in the dungeon. “Franny, there is a deed for some estate called Blaclan. Do you know that place?” Franny nodded as Talax unrolled the small piece of paper.
“Yes, that is my uncle’s home. Whoever holds the deed is the owner of the estate.” Franny looked at him with troubled eyes, which Talax barely noticed because his complete focus was on the few scribbled sentences.
Uncle,
The chancellor has proven most obliging.
He agreed to extend the crown’s discreet support,
under the condition of concealing the king’s involvement.
Your loyalty warrants reward, a vast extension of your holdings,
including Weavel town, as agreed.
Avass willing, upon your return, I shall have usurped my father’s place.
I will take care of my father and brothers,
while you take Franny out of the running for the title.
Remember, his removal must resemble an unfortunate mishap,
without witnesses, in order to ensure the secrecy of our plan,
especially if your return precedes the plan’s culmination.
Safe travels,
Your Nephew, Malachi
Talax raised his eyes at an impatient Franny, at a loss for words.
“Oh, Franny…”