As they approached the gates of Karthas, Kade marveled at the city itself. It was clearly built around the massive Elder, with no structures ever touching him directly, but Kade got the sense that this was more symbolic than practical. The streets wound around the immense stone covered legs, and even tunneled into the mountains behind them. Buildings were visible all the way up to the Elder’s torso, making use of every scrap of available space, and actually seemed to favor being as close to the Legend as possible. Certainly the city was not made under any real expectation of the Elder someday standing back up, as no part of it would survive such an upheaval.
What Kade hadn’t expected was for the city to be shockingly beautiful. After the long trek through various types of unfriendly terrain, from stretches of desert, to bogs, to uncaring forests, all of which were permeated with constant presence of death, given the whole countryside was effectively an Elder graveyard, Kade had begun to think this world was an entirely uncaring place. But the city of Karthas belied that notion, as it was truly breathtaking.
While the stone of the mountain, and even the visible flesh of the Elder himself were just various shades of grays on browns, the city was the complete opposite. Everything seemed to be made from different colored crystals, which contrasted remarkably against the plain backdrop the mountain created. Kade saw buildings of stark white, capped by glittering diamonds. There were spired dwellings of many stories, built entirely from what looked to be obsidian, but with reliefs of emerald and some purple crystal Kade couldn’t name. While the streets and massive walls that divided the city into an unknowable pattern were all of the same stone as the mountain, it seemed that every other object was a burst of color rising majestically into the sky.
Kade was still staring, open-mouthed when they at last reached a set of massive doors, large enough that even the monstrous Elder they’d fought wouldn’t have managed to see over them. Edwin approached a pair of guards who clearly recognized the woodsman, and began to speak with them quietly. Kade was surprised to find that the massive gate not only didn’t have a line of citizens waiting to enter, but was completely unused save for their own small group. He brought up the oddity with Alara, who had been surprisingly patient with his endless questions.
“This is the Keepers Gate, and it’s kept entirely clear of civilians for safety reasons. More than one group of desperate Keepers has been forced to retreat to this gate, and if Keepers are retreating, anyone else’s life would be utterly forfeit. The Eastern and Western gates are open to all, and will be bustling with merchants and supplies at this time of day. Karthas is home to tens of thousands, and it takes much to keep it running.”
Their conversation was cut short as an immense rumbling signaled the opening of the gate. Kade was surprised to see that the massive doors were being moved by only two individuals, a man and woman on either side, each enormously muscular. They were clearly using some combination of muscle and magic, as leverage and mass alone would have made it impossible for the comparatively minuscule Awakened to even budge the tremendous doors.
With no further delays, the group strode into Karthas and Kade felt an unexpected relief as the gate shut behind him. He hadn’t entirely realized how much a low-level of anxiety had been affecting him while he was outside and exposed. Being inside a city–even one so alien as this–was a comfort after what felt like a lifetime in the Chaos. As they slowly made their way past groups of what must have been soldiers or city-guards, they finally reached the city proper, and Kade suddenly found himself surrounded by people.
It was an odd experience, as it felt simultaneously normal and impossibly out of place. He would politely excuse himself as he walked between a couple or a group who appeared completely human, only to bump into someone with purple skin, or red eyes. Even when the people seemed unremarkable, the buildings wouldn’t be. A smiling matronly-looking woman welcomed customers into a shop filled with monster parts, right next to a glowing orange building that appeared to sell…different colors of fire? Before he could even ask what that was, the group was already shuffling him along, new sights around every corner.
At last they stopped at another set of gates, though these appeared to be more decorative and far less defensive in nature. They were made of metal, which Kade observed was more rarely used in construction in the city, and the bars allowed him to glimpse a large, sprawling campus filled with countless people, many who were clearly Awakened. Edwin spoke as they gathered around him, “We need to get Kade registered with the Academy and evaluated for the Trial, so this is likely where we part ways for a time.” They all nodded and Alara spoke first.
“Take him to my estate when you’re done, I’ll make sure he’s expected and has some currency to spend,” she didn’t say another word, simply strolling away. Graves spoke next, appearing unsurprised by the terseness from Alara.
“My place, as ever, is back among my brethren. You know where to find me when you finish your tasks, Edwin,” he exchanged nods with the ax-wielder, and glanced meaningfully at Kade before moving off in a different direction from Alara, clearly heading upward toward the Elder. At last Edwin turned to Kade.
“There shouldn’t be much for you to do here today, I’ll explain the…special circumstances by which you’re joining the Keepers, and a priest of Karthas will evaluate your Ancestral affinities so they begin arrangements for your Trial,” Kade nodded, then asked a question he had been dreading.
“How much should I say about where you found me, Edwin? Should I be worried at all?” Edwin sensed the poorly-concealed desperation in the question, and smiled reassuringly.
“That’s up to your discretion when the questions are from the other potential Keepers. Your past is yours as much as theirs belongs to them, but that doesn’t apply to any of the teachers, or Keeper officials; they’ll need the truth to help you with your own growth.” He could tell Kade was concerned by this, and smiled, “You won’t be able to avoid some attention, but this is world of Legends, Kade, and you’ll find that most are more obsessed with carving out their own than concerning themselves with others.”
Kade nodded, considering. He still had the strange feeling inside, warning him that not every truth was meant to be shared. Part of him knew the anomalous energy his bracer spoke of was a secret the Keepers would not be so relaxed about. He was about to ask more specifics when the gates swung open, and a robed woman walked out to meet them.
She was of average height with dark skin and deep black hair, which had the crystalline caste that marked her as an Awakened of Secundus or higher. She smiled warmly at Edwin, then greeted the embarrassed man with a quick embrace. “Have you brought me another stray, Edwin? Perhaps I should start charging you for this service,” the voice was playful, as they appeared to be at least old friends.
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“You tease, but after you get to know this one you might regret not taking a fee. Allow me to introduce Kade, of an unknown house. He is only recently Awakened and Bonded, and you’ll find his education lacking, but not his enthusiasm,” she looked at Kade with unabashed curiosity.
“You found a second unregistered, Edwin? This will reflect more on you than this poor man, but the reputation you’re building is a dangerous one,” she shook her head in bewilderment before turning to Kade. “It is a great pleasure to meet you, Child Kade, and welcome to the Keepers Academy of Karthas. I am Keeper Selina, one of the instructors here, and if Edwin is vouching for you, that speaks of great potential in your future.”
“I’m glad to meet you, Keeper Selina,” Kade said while returning her slight bow. Edwin spoke again hurriedly.
“Selina, there’s much I need to tell you, could you arrange for a tour of the grounds for Kade?” Selina looked even more curious, but nodded readily while waving to a nearby student, who quickly joined the group. The newcomer was a tall woman, nearly Kade’s height, with dark hair sporting highlights of blue, kept in a neat braid over one shoulder. She had a welcoming smile, but her eyes were intelligent, and appeared calculating; Kade didn’t miss how rapidly she appeared to take in the group, and the dynamics between them. She was dressed in what Kade now understood to be casual clothes among these people, shirt and pants of similar fabric with high boots. The colors were dark, but with blue highlights that matched her hair.
Selina gestured to the younger woman and made quick introductions, “This is Gwen, one of our more promising new Keepers, recently raised to Primus. Gwen, you’ve no doubt heard of Edwin Houseless, and this is his new charge: Kade. Would you please give Kade a tour of the grounds…starting with the quartermaster. Shirt and shoes are not optional here, Child Kade.” Kade nodded, embarrassment coloring his cheeks.
Gwen seemed unconcerned, and nodded once before gesturing for Kade to follow. Kade hurriedly fell-in next to her, suddenly very aware of his unwashed state and unkempt appearance. His own blonde hair was so caked with road dust that it was unrecognizable when he spotted himself in a window’s reflection, and despite a few dips in the occasional river, he still noticed dried blood caked to him in various places. Gwen noticed his self-scrutiny and let out a surprisingly deep laugh. “You’re not the first one to walk in here half-dead and half-clothed, don’t worry. Keepers return to the city every day looking worse than you do, and the citizenry are used to politely ignoring it. Are you from the farming communities?”
Kade raised an eyebrow as he detected something subtle in her tone, not quite lining up with the easy question. He felt like he was being entered into some kind of game, and decided he didn’t mind a little play to distract from his own embarrassment. “Not exactly, I’m from a little farther out,” he answered casually, but cryptically. The woman’s easy expression didn’t change, but she was silent for a moment as they continued walking.
“You arrived with Edwin, he’s well-known around the grounds, are you from his village to the South? I’ve heard he still visits from time to time,” again, there was something more to the casual questioning, and Kade had to think quickly–it wasn’t easy to play coy when he knew virtually nothing about the world he was in. With no real goal other than not being taken advantage of, he stuck to vague.
“Edwin doesn’t like to speak about his home, and I don’t think I should do so either,” this time he thought he caught a brief flash of irritation from the woman, but further discussion was cut short as they entered a large building with a number of people carrying supplies in and out.
“Hello, Slip,” she greeted a short, bald man with darting eyes. “I have a new student who needs a rush on a uniform–for obvious reasons,” she concluded with a look at this gesture directed at Kade’s appearance. The small man roared with laughter, then his eyes briefly flashed with green light as he glanced in Kade’s direction. With no questions and no delay he turned and went through a door, then returned after only a moment or two, carrying a dark tunic and pants in one hand, with some simple, brown boots in the other.
“Always happy to do a rush-job for you, Gwen. Your man can get changed over the shed there,” he finished by gesturing at a small structure built into the side of the building, and was already gone when Kade turned back to thank him. He shrugged and went to the shed, mentally commanding his chains to retract as he did so, leaving a simple black belt, with tiny chains woven around it in place of the flowing skirt he had grown used to. The chains had many useful properties, but ironically–given they doubled as a belt–they made pants very tricky. He had yet to figure out a way to remove the belt entirely, and had been trying to avoid considering the implications of that.
He emerged a few minutes later in a simple uniform of blacks and grays, marked with an insignia he’d seen around the grounds, likely that of the Keepers. It was a green tree against a blue sky, and its simplicity seemed oddly appropriate for the eclectic group. Kade enjoyed the sensation of having his feet and chest covered again, despite the resiliency of changed body, and was shocked by how perfectly everything fit. He kept his chains retracted as he rejoined Gwen, and she began moving without a word.
He followed her lead, taking in the sights of the campus, which appeared to take up a large space on the outskirts of the city, with only the massive side of Karthas’ left leg visible, the rest disappearing into the mountains. There were dozens of buildings, and hundreds of students, with the occasional true Keeper in the mix, usually distinguished more by their bearing or personalized equipment than any unusual physical traits–though he did see more than on sporting an extra pair of arms, suggesting that Karthas may be a common Ancestral Totem, which made sense.
As they walked, Gwen lazily pointed out training yards, dormitories and lecture halls, all between trying her hand at more probing questions, “So where did you get your Bonds? Are they more common in your home?” Kade had heard enough angry exchanges between Alara and Edwin to understand the Fragments he had been given were extraordinarily valuable, and was careful in his answer.
“I was lucky enough to meet some generous people, and choosing between hoarding their Fragments or saving my life, they made the Keeper’s choice,” he hoped that was vague enough that she wouldn’t press, and he invoked the nature of the Keepers to make any further questioning hopefully more difficult for Gwen to keep casual. She smiled though, and Kade thought he recognized a bit of triumph in it.
“You were lucky to meet such generous benefactors,” she said knowingly, then stopped as they reached a larger building with little traffic. It seemed some of the students were actively avoiding stepping too close as they walked by; Kade noticed this building alone appeared built directly into the mountain. Gwen gestured to the open door, “This is where the Academy houses its visiting priests of Karthas, Selina and Edwin are waiting for you inside.” Kade nodded then headed for the door.
“It was nice being interrogated by you,” he said with a smirk, and was rewarded with a look of shock across her features. He still felt like he’d lost the exchange, but the barb helped lift his spirits as he disappeared inside. He found Selina and Edwin waiting exactly as Gwen had predicted, next to a man that looked like a muscle-bound version of Graves, wearing the same black robes and sharing the pale skin and black eyes.
Edwin smiled and gestured at Kade’s appearance, “I think I miss the desperate madman look, but the uniform suits you. This is Priest Markis; he will be conducting the ritual required to measure your Ancestral aptitudes,” the man nodded politely, revealing surprisingly red hair hidden beneath his black hood.
“Child Kade, please follow me into the ritual chamber, it’s time to see where you come from.”