The day was slowly coming to an end, with the wind picking up as the harsh desert heat gradually diminished. Ascalon strolled leisurely until he reached the ‘souvenir’ store, feeling rather enthusiastic. After having recovered his emblem, and properly remembering the way back, he felt as though he had accomplished two huge feats. They felt so significant to him, that he had momentarily forgotten about the whole dungeon event.
Despite that, an uncertainty gnawed at him while he walked the streets. With the orange, afternoon light looming around him, he wondered if the establishment would even be open. Fortunately, his concerns were unfounded, and the place was actually buzzing with visitors. Ascalon could even recognize a few passengers from the train, once more; they were certainly making the most out of their trip.
After going in, he decided to wait until things calmed down. Nodding politely at people that noticed him, and trying to act inconspicuous—as hard as that was due to his towering figure—he navigated through the shelves and killed some time appraising the objects for sale.
Much like in Claude’s shop, Ascalon could barely recognize any of the items, and most of them were so strangely shaped that he couldn’t even begin to guess what they could be used for. He timidly picked up a few, feeling their weight, turning them around to examine all of their sides, and even being tempted to press some buttons—though he refrained, afraid of causing a ruckus!
As time passed, the customers began to dwindle, and soon, only Ascalon and the Crocodilian remained. The knight smiled with relief as he approached the counter, feeling that he would finally be able to talk about the emblem with the shopkeeper—and, perhaps, find some clues in regard to its origins.
The Crocodilian noticed him and twitched with surprise. “You’re back! What happened?” He asked with clear concern, likely being worried about Audun. Ascalon explained to him the events that had transpired, earning a mixed reaction from the man.
“I see… so he’s going to a shelter, huh?” The Crocodilian said with a smile, though his tone had a shred of sadness. It was clear he was going to miss the child. Still, from one moment to the other, he seemed to cheer up. “Well, it’s not like I won’t see him again!” He added with a chuckle, earning a smile from the knight.
After exchanging some other pleasantries, the Crocodilian thanked him. “I’m in your debt!” He declared as he bowed to the knight. It was then that Ascalon thought it was a good time to broach the main subject. Producing the emblem from his pocket, he placed it on the counter, and spoke up while the shopkeeper eyed it curiously.
“I would like to know any information you have regarding this object.” Ascalon asked his favor with a respectful tone, and the shopkeeper nodded decidedly. He then picked up the emblem, appraising it from all sides as he let out a thoughtful ‘hmm’.
“I didn’t notice before but… yeah, it’s this one.” He mentioned, his words sounding kind of cryptic to the knight. “Wait a moment, please!” The Crocodilian added before turning around and leaving through a door behind him.
Ascalon tapped his fingers against the wooden counter as minutes passed, feeling a bit impatient under the anticipation as he waited for the man’s eventual return. Soon after, the storekeeper returned, carrying a huge wooden box in his arms.
He placed it on the surface of the counter with a slight thud, and rummaged through its contents. “Here!” He chirped, producing from the container nothing more and nothing less than another emblem. Ascalon was immediately surprised, so much he took a step back due to the shock.
Not one, but two of his emblems existed in this world?! He couldn’t help but think that witnessing such a coincidence twice was a bit strange. “You’re in luck! I only remembered because I sorted my inventory last week!” The Crocodilian explained, earning a dumbfounded look from the knight. Yet again, a coincidence he could only chalk up to fate.
He picked up the other emblem, feeling it in his hand and clutching it with a cherishing touch. His original amulet didn’t stir or show any other sign of liveliness, but he was certain that they were both genuine. “How did you come to have this?” Ascalon asked, locking an inquisitive stare onto the Crocodilian.
“Let me see…” He began as he manipulated an invisible interface in the air. Unlike Claude, this one seemed to be part of the network. “Hmmm... I didn't register from where? Odd... but they came in a batch—three of them, alongside…” The shopkeeper paused, rummaging through the box once more.
Ascalon waited with bated breath, processing what he had just heard. Three of them, not two. His mind raced with possibilities, wondering if three of his knights had ended up in this new world, or if someone else had brought them here. He felt lightheaded, his thought swirling with uncertainty, until the Crocodilian’s voice brought him back to reality.
“This!” He said with a triumphant voice, placing a small, iron lockbox on the counter. Ascalon peered at it with curiosity, as the Crocodilian made a gesture with his hands, inviting him to open it. The knight nodded, and reached out—only for his original emblem to suddenly stir to life.
Ascalon hesitated for a moment, his eye focusing on the amulet. It was jumping slightly on the counter, inching closer to the lockbox. The shopkeeper let out a surprised gasp as he leaned in, understandably interested in the sudden development.
“Whoa! Did you see that?” He asked with a mix of intrigue and excitement in his voice, to which Ascalon simply nodded. He was so accustomed to his emblem’s shenanigans that he had almost forgotten it wasn’t normal behavior for an object. Feeling a strange sense of anticipation, he reached out once again and opened the box.
He gazed at its contents, finding a small, round object inside. With care and eagerness, he picked it up, appraising it closely. It was an ancient coin, its engraving having faded so much that it even appeared polished.
The emblem jumped slightly again, as if following behind the coin. Ascalon raised an eyebrow, and examined the trinket more closely. Upon further inspection, he finally realized—it was one of the currencies of Excadia. He almost dropped it at the revelation, placing it on the counter as he rubbed his temples with his other hand.
“What… just what is happening?” Ascalon asked himself, clearly conflicted. Why were there now four items from his world in here? His mind felt hot, as if his brain power were at maximum capacity, and yet he couldn’t produce any answer that would make sense regarding the matter.
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Just as he struggled to regain his composure, his emblem slowly inched closer to the coin, until it finally touched it. Ascalon observed how the amulet stirred for a moment, remembering that something similar had happened before, when it came in contact with the statue of Arkssol’el.
⌠ “This shall be enough!” ⌡
Suddenly, an otherworldly tone resounded throughout the store, catching both Ascalon and the shopkeeper off-guard. The knight opened his eye wide, the feminine voice feeling both familiar and nostalgic.
Then, the emblem began to shine with a radiant light, its contour expanding slowly and bathing the surroundings in blissful, pure energy. “Wha-” The shopkeeper blurted out, quickly crouching behind the counter to shield his eyes, a sense of wariness guiding his actions.
Ascalon, on the other hand, stood in silence and shock, witnessing how the white glow intensified, his chest filling with warmth. Gradually, the expanding light began to swirl and shift, coalescing into a figure—a round, floating halo that evoked a divine, regal image. Ascalon felt a rush of emotions as he promptly dropped to one knee, bowing with solemnity, his sudden motions guided solely by instinct.
He raised his head slowly, still bewildered, and continued to observe the unfolding event. After the halo took its righteous form, the brightness expanded below. A soft silhouette began to take shape from the light; at first ethereal, transparent, and almost frail, but quickly manifesting its presence. Ascalon felt as if he were basking in the first rays of morning, a gentle sensation overcoming him.
Then, the shining radiance flickered and expanded, strands of long, voluminous golden hair being woven into existence, sparkling with an unnatural luminescence. In the center formed a small, delicate frame, its short limbs extending outward as if stretching after a nap. The white glow relented slightly, and the body of a little girl emerged.
As she was brought into being, a delicate, silken white dress materialized around her, complemented by a huge yellow ribbon. At its center rested a golden orb, reflecting the radiant light that enveloped her figure. On her wrists appeared two gleaming bracelets, and on her tiny feet a pair of blue sandals. Her entire image radiated a feel of both divinity and cuteness.
Gently, her entire visage was formed, her face now visible as the heavenly brilliance faded away, sparkling in all directions.
Ascalon peered at her features with both curiosity and admiration, observing a round, adorable face. She had her eyes completely closed, her lashes twitching slightly as she slowly descended. The knight noticed her fall quickening, and rapidly stepped forward to catch her before she could touch the ground.
Her long hair bounced softly as he cushioned her in his arms, her petite complexion causing her to appear weak and floaty. She was breathing slowly, clearly in deep slumber. The warmth from her body spread to him, and his eye began to shimmer as a profound realization cemented itself.
image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/113363511/5115f17042134c04adb4181708deacd2/e30%3D/1.gif?token-time=1732320000&token-hash=ZyDz0x4zgqmVYjIX_41PpTPv6oE52IVs_V6WrvWO_A0%3D]
“My lady of the light…” He whispered, his voice slightly shaky. He held her gently, cradling it in his arms as the Crocodilian emerged from behind the counter, his eyes wide in disbelief.
“What in the world…?” He asked with a mix of awe and concern as he slapped himself across the cheek, likely making sure he wasn’t dreaming.
Ascalon was at a loss of words. The small girl in his embrace was undoubtedly his goddess—Athanya’el, Goddess of light and the third throne of the great Gods, in the flesh. It was unprecedented, to say the least. But more importantly, why had she taken such a form? Her childlike body radiated only a hint of her divinity, the most significant sign of her true nature being the halo that hovered over her head—though, as if on cue, even that detail started to slowly vanish, hiding from view.
It was as if she were weakened, her godlike might somehow suppressed. “Wait…” He suddenly muttered. So she was the one who dwelled within his emblem! It all made sense now. All the times he had felt that strange, tingling feeling, it had probably been her—calling out to him. It wasn’t just fate that had guided him toward the emblem in the first place; it had been divine intervention.
Ascalon smiled awkwardly, his expression still one of bewilderment. He was unsure of what to do, with this small girl in his arms. “Ehem… what the heck happened?” The shopkeeper suddenly asked, causing Ascalon to snap back to reality.
“Oh, this is… hmm…” The knight stammered, clearly at a loss. What could he say? That a Goddess emerged from his emblem? As if it happened every other tuesday? The knight shuffled through his options, feeling no answer would come out as anything but absurd.
As if sensing Ascalon’s inner turmoil, the Crocodilian exhaled deeply before speaking up. “I’ve seen strange things in my life, so I won’t ask anymore… but this is a first, let me tell you that, at least.” He commented as he examined the girl from a distance.
“Also, uh… it’s not like I want to kick you out, but I’m closing down soon…” The man explained, carefully picking his words. It was clear he didn’t want to have a part in whatever ensued from now on. Ascalon felt a bit guilty, having put the man in such an awkward position, and bowed deeply to him—though gently, taking care of the little one in his arms.
The Crocodilian smiled in response, before perking up with a sudden realization. “Oh, right! Keep this!” He stated as he put the emblems and the coin inside the lockbox, pushing it toward Ascalon. The knight hesitated for a moment, knowing he had no way of paying for these items, but was clearly conflicted since he really wanted to have them.
“I cannot pay…” He began, but the Crocodilian quickly shook his head.
“Don’t worry about that! The emblems are old and unappealing, and whatever value the coin had was shaved off along its engraving!” The man explained in a joking manner, and Ascalon finally relented. Making sure to hold the girl properly, he picked up the box and saved it in his network inventory.
“Thank you…” Ascalon said as he bowed once again, and the Crocodilian beamed at him.
“Haha! You’re so polite. It’s a rare sight these days. But you’re doing me a favor, actually!” He exclaimed with a cheery voice. “No one would actually buy these, anyway, so they’re just a waste of space… no offense!” He quickly added, knowing the items held some significance to Ascalon.
“Or… well, almost no one. That third one…” The Crocodilian suddenly brought up an interesting notion, bringing a hand to his long chin as he pondered. “The third emblem was bought by a Tharkodanian noble, I believe. Though I wouldn’t recommend visiting that place at all…” The shopkeeper explained in an ominous manner.
Tharkodania? The name sounded familiar, but Ascalon couldn’t quite recall why. Still, it was good to know the location of the third emblem. “I am in your debt, shopkeeper.” Ascalon said with a respectful tone, and the other man laughed.
“Hey, those were my words earlier, haha!” He replied with cheerfulness, and both shared a chuckle.
With pleasantries almost done, both him and the Crocodilian nodded at each other. “Farewell!” Ascalon exclaimed enthusiastically before turning around, the shopkeeper waving at his back. With decided steps, Ascalon left the store and began his slow walk back to where his friends were.
The night sky greeted him with sparkling stars, and his thoughts drifted toward the emblems. “So there might be even more than three…” He muttered to himself, a spark of conviction coating his words. “I shall find them all.” He declared with the utmost resolution, determined to find every single remaining item from his old world.
Though, for now, he had more important and immediate matters to focus on—like the small child he was carrying. What was he supposed to do now? He wondered as he sighed softly. With no signs of waking up, Athanya’el nestled peacefully in his arms, while the knight navigated through the nearly empty streets.
“Well, at least matters are concluded here…” Ascalon whispered, motivated by his own words. Levi had been rescued, and he had found more than a clue to his emblem origins—all in all, Starugnia’s visit had proven highly worthwhile.
Perhaps he and his friends could finally rest easy for a while—this time for real, he hoped.