After climbing through three more levels of the temple; none of which they struggled with thanks to Lucian, Vermilion Wing found themselves on the vault level. At first glance, one would be unable to tell there was even a vault. They stood in an all-but-empty room. Only decorated with a statue much like the one at the entrance of the temple.

“Where’s the vault?” Kai asked.

“Hidden in plain sight,” Lucian walked to the statue. “The Weaver’s treasures are guarded by the Weaver herself.” The Brimborne pointed their attention to a slot carved into the pedestal. Holding the stone he reclaimed next to it to compare the size and shape. It had to be the key he told he’d told them was stolen.

“Then open it already,” Kai demanded.

“Be calm brother,” Vivian said. She rolled her shoulder, I need to watch for the curse. If she saw her twin reach for his weapon, she would be ready to act. Intending to keep the promise she had made. I won’t let you harm anyone else. Kai suddenly turned back in their direction.

“We have company,” he warned. Vivian turned back. Shadows stretched into sight as two people made their way to the final floor. Excitement overtook Vivian as she saw the familiar priest come into view. Trailed by an unknown Brimborne. “Mira,” Kai said Even he was unable to hide his excitement in seeing her. “How did you get here?”

Mira’s face brimmed with joy, “You all made it!” Her staff was tossed aside; the priest ran to greet her team. “How did you get through all the traps?”

“Never mind that,” smiled Vivian, “how did you get here so fast?”

“I had help,” Mira indicated to her companion. “This is Tibius, and he showed me a transport circle that brought us here.” Mira saw Kai and embraced him. Nearly toppling him over as her weight slammed into him. “I was worried about you. In Karo, these strange shadows attacked us. But they only tried to kill people bearing the Aranea mark. Have you seen any?”

“We were attacked by one,” Kai said. A coy smile on his face, “But we took care of it. Though I wasted my last enchanted arrow to do so.”

“I should have bought more of them,” Torrik sounded dejected.

“No one could have predicted what we’d run into,” Kai replied. “Don’t worry about how few we had. And with Mira, hopefully, the next time we get attacked we’ll be safe.” At the mention of her name, Mira released Kai. Face beat re as she realized how long she had held him. Kai cleared his throat, “Speaking of, how did you escape the shadows?”

“The Mother’s light,” Mira said. “I guess any magic could hurt them, but I was able to use light to destroy them.”

Vivian turned her attention to the vault, The shadow wasn’t the demon. And the vault is still closed. Then, what sent those shadows? Her attention then turned to Tibius, “And who exactly are you?”

“My brother,” Lucian answered. Anger filled his eyes. “The one who ran off and neglected his duties, the duties of our family.”

“A duty I never wanted,” Tibius replied. “And I’ve found the freedom I wanted. With the Aranea.” His words sent Lucian into shock. “I was hoping to reach this point before you arrived,” Tibius went on. “I never wanted to see you again.” The blue Brimborne began to head back the way they came. “I assume Vermilion Wing is capable of retrieving the Eye from here.”

“I don’t understand,” Kai spoke up. “You grew up within the walls of this temple. When Jorn sought something from the vault, why didn’t you just take it yourself? Why send the others? Why send us?”

“Because my brother would have perished,” Lucian snapped back to reality. “We both know it, you would never be able to contain or defeat the demon.”

“Silence yourself,” Tibius bit back. “I’m more capable than you’d ever know.” A smile then appeared on his face, “But, as to why I chose not to take the Eye, it was out of respect for the Weaver. I may not choose to guard her temple, but I still hold her in the highest regard.”

“So, you can’t take from her,” Torrik jumped in, “but you don’t care if others do. Doesn’t sound like you hold her in high regard to me.”

“You would never understand,” Tibius waved them off. Descending the stairs in silence. None of them tried to stop him. Knowing there was no point.

And I thought my brother was difficult, Vivian shook her head. “We have a job to finish. Lucian, I wish we didn’t have to ask this of you. But we need you to open that vault, for my brother’s sake. Please.”

“This request of yours,” Lucian tightened his grip upon the gemstone. “I hope you can understand, I do not wish to fulfill it for you. Protecting this place, and everything within it is my sworn duty.”

“I’ll do what I must,” Kai drew his dagger, Lucian still in possession of the one he’d taken after the shadow incident. The action was his own; no sign of the curse’s corruption upon his skin. “I will have this mark removed from me. Even if I must spill your blood. “I don’t wish to harm you, but if you leave me no choice. I will.”

Lucian raised the stolen dagger in response. Neither making the first move. Vivian moved her gaze between the Brimborne and her twin. Unsure which of them would act first. “Enough,” Vivian said. Stepping between the two, he held her ground, “Lucian, please. You’ve seen how this curse affects my brother. Let us take the Eye. Will the Weaver even miss a single treasure?”

“I’m sorry,” Lucian lowered his blade. He stepped over to the statue of the Weaver. Placing the gem into place. Dust shook free of the effigy as it slid out of place. Opening up the passage to the vault. “Kill them,” Lucian commanded as an eerie black fog rose from the floor.

“That bastard is siccing the demon on us,” bellowed Torrik. The dwarf getting his hammer ready. “And here I thought we’d become dear friends.”

“As did I,” Lucian sighed. “But you wish to steal from my god. And I cannot allow you to do so.” Arms of twisted sinew rose from the floor; eight in total, hefting free an amalgamation of muscle and bone mimicking the form of a man. Ash and flame danced across its body, and a horned skull sat where a head should be. Leathery wings burst from its back and a metallic tail crashed into stone. It stood as tall as three men.

“The fuck is that?” Kai questioned. “Mira, please tell me you can do something about this?” Mira’s reply only came out as a terrified whimper.

“Lucian,” Vivian tried to reason with the Brimborne, “you don’t have to do this. Put the demon away.”

“I wish I could,” Lucian said. Voice melancholy. “But I cannot let you take the Weaver’s treasure.” Vermilion Wing group up. The three fighters built a wall around Mira.

“Mira,” Kai once again called to her, “we could use the Mother’s blessings.” Fear continued to silence the priest. In fact, Vivian was almost certain that it had deafened her as well.

“Brother,” Vivian readied her fists, “How many arrows do you have left?”

“Not enough,” her twin replied. “A little under two dozen.”

“If we die,” Torrik stepped forward, “then it was an honor fighting with you.” The dwarf charged forth. Dodging swipes of bony claws; the gap closed, he struck hard with his hammer. Unaffected by the hit, the demon swiped the dwarf away with its tail. Sending him halfway across the room with a single blow.

“This isn’t good, sister,” Kai shot an arrow into the creature’s eye. Viscous green good bled from the wound, but otherwise, it seemed unharmed. “Shit, nothing’s working.”

“Then there’s only one hope,” Vivian said. Attention turned to Lucian. “Until Mira can snap out of it, Lucian is our only hope of stopping this thing. Distract the demon for me?”

“What do you—” Vivian charged Lucian before her brother could finish his question. A massive clawed hand came at her. Thinking quick, she fell to her knees and leaned back. She could feel the air brush against her face as the attack barely missed. Back on her feet, she leaped over the tail. Closing in on Lucian as the Brimborne raised his stolen knife in defense. Cold steel lunged toward her, dodged last second as Vivian spun around the attack. Behind him, Vivian took Lucian’s arm and twisted it behind his back.

He retaliated by wrapping his tail around her throat. Vivian continued to apply pressure. Pushing his arm in ways it was not made to bend. With a sickening pop, Lucian released her from his grip. Writhing and screaming in agony; his elbow joint was torn and the bone snapped.

“Command the demon to stop,” Vivian commanded. Lucian buckled over as she stomped the back of his knee. Her hands placed at the top of his head and under his chin. His tail was trapped underfoot. From this position, she could easily snap her neck.

Vivian watched the ongoing battle. Torrik had managed to recover. Hammer used defensively, swatting away any attack that came his way. Kai had resorted to his dagger. Getting into close range and retreating before the counterattack. Both managed to keep the demon distracted from both herself and Mira. The priest was still frozen in place. “Make it stop,” Vivian once again ordered.

Pain shot through her leg, Lucian had plunged the dagger into her calf. In the moment her grip loosened the Brimborne dove into the vault. Teeth grit, she ripped the blade free. Limping after Lucian, refusing to let him get away. Each step filled with agony. There was no time to try and heal.

“Lucian,” she called down the stairwell. He’d managed to get far enough to be out of sight. Meaning he could plan a sneak attack. Guard up, she entered the main chamber of the vault. Blue light illuminated the room, produced by a large crystal hanging in the center of the ceiling. Ancient relics lined every wall. From strange masks to enchanted weapons, it was a museum of the arcane. Tapestries hung upon the walls. Depicting eras lost to history. Suits of polished armor stood at the foot of tombs. A black mist wisped throughout the room.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

On the far end of the vault was yet another stature of the Weaver. Positioned on her knees, hands outstretched, and offering out what appeared to be the Eye of the Storm. No sign of Lucian. She listened out for him. Footsteps, a breath just a bit too loud; anything that would give away his position. While her twin was much better at picking up these things, Lucian hadn’t seemed the type to be great at stealth.

“We don’t have to fight,” Vivian tried to reason with the Brimborne. “Just let us take what we want, and we’ll leave the island. Never to return.” She passed by a mirror. Reflecting warped into her childhood self, engulfed in flames. Put off by this, she continued on her way to the Eye. “We can stop the fighting peacefully.”

“We cannot,” Lucian stepped into view. Sword in hand. Putting Vivian at a disadvantage. Not only was he armed, but she was still injured.

ΦΦΦ

“Dammit,” Kai huffed. He’d been careless and found himself on the wrong end of a tail swipe. Hair matted with blood from where he’s slammed into the wall. His dagger lay halfway across the room by the demon’s feet; arrows scattered across the floor from being knocked loose of his quiver. Not that he could use them, his bow snapped in half.

He turned back to Mira, “We need you. I need you, please.” His words seemed to have gotten to her. The half-elf turned to face him. Face paled at the sight of his condition. She glided across the room and started to heal Kai. A pained chuckle escaped his lips, “I knew I could count on you.”

“Sorry,” Mira replied. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“It’s alright,” Kai lied. “Is there anything you can do?”

Mira shook her head, “Sorry, I still haven’t learned any offensive spells.”

“Can you bless our weapons? Maybe find a weak point?” He saw a spark in her eyes. A spark that brought a smile to his face, “You can find it’s weak spot, can’t you?” She answered with a nod; attention now turned to the demon.

A golden radiance enveloped her, “Oh Mother, show us the path to slay this devilish fiend.” The light surrounding her coalesced into a sphere in hand. Mira pushed the orb forth. Striking the demon with it. Nothing happened.

“What’s going on?” Kai forced himself to his feet.

“It has no weakness,” Mira backed against the wall. “Nothing the Mother could show us.”

“Perfect,” Kai scoffed. Pieces of bow in hand; he charged the beast. Its focus still on Torrik, Kai managed to slip under it and grab hold of his dagger. Now beneath the thing, he plunged steel into its underbelly. A massive foot then fell on him. Kai cried out in pain. Ribs cracked under pressure: the angle in which it stomped had dislocated his shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes; darkness crept into the corners of his vision. For the second time since taking on this mission, Kai found himself at death’s door.

At the center of his vision appeared a single dot of purple. Like spilled ink, the dot began to grow as a woman stepped from the abyss. The Weaver. Was he seeing things? Or had the Weaver come to personally take his soul away? She walked to his side and knelt. Pressing fingers to her lips as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. She comforted Kai. As though she were his mother. Without a word, she turned back. Slipping once more into the abyss before it faded into a haze.

The pressure was gone as well. No longer was he being crushed by the demon. In fact, the demon was gone. Mira ran to his side, “Kai, are you alright?”

“You’re a crazy one,” Torrik laughed. The dwarf exhausted. A slight limp to his movements. “Any idea what happened to that thing?”

“No.”

ΦΦΦ

Vivian was unsure why that mirror had begun to glow, but she knew it could only mean trouble. So, she was glad when the opportunity arose for her to slam Lucian face-first into it. Shards of glass embedded into his face, the Brimborne dropped his weapon. Before he could finish his cries of pain, Vivian grabbed hold of his neck. Using it to leverage his body and slam him to the floor, Lucian knocked out as his head met stone.

It wasn’t long before the rest of Vermilion Wing met her in the vault. Mira went to work on patching her leg. Torrik used Lucian as a seat. Both to recover his own strength and to keep him from retaliating should he wake up.

“It’s over,” Kai took the Eye from its resting spot. “We’ve done it. We retrieved the Eye.”

“That’s great, brother,” Vivian said. “But once again, how did you defeat the demon?”

“We didn’t.”

“Then it’s still up there?”

“No, it’s gone, but we didn’t beat it. It just vanished.” Vivian didn’t seem to believe him. “What more do you want from me? I was about to die, and then there was no demon.” With their mission complete—and the immediate danger dealt with—she chose to examine the parchment he’d given her. Her brow furrowed, The hell? Vivian locked her eyes on her brother. Watching him as he perused the selection of weapons gathered in the vault. Why do you have this? She would ask him about it later when the two could speak in private. Not wanting to cause any unneeded tension within the group.

“This could be useful,” Kai grabbed a bow from a rack on the wall. That was when she noticed he wasn’t carrying his bow. It must have broke, she decided. Knowing her brother would never discard the bow their mother had given him without reason. “Sister,” he called to her, “can you help me collect some arrows?” That was when Vivian noticed her brother’s arm dangled haphazardly by his side.

“Mira, my brother needs healing,” Vivian said. Signaling for her to assist him.

“Sorry,” Mira blushed. More out of embarrassment Vivian assumed. The half-elf darted across the vault, “Sorry, didn’t mean to ignore your injuries.”

“It’s fine,” Kai assured her. “I was being stubborn anyway, not asking for help.”

“Now then,” Torrik spoke up, “what do we do with him?” He slapped a hand against the Brimborne. “Do we just leave him here?”

“He made us fight a demon,” Vivian huffed. “I think he deserves some degree of punishment. Right, brother?”

“Honestly,” Kai winced while his body recovered, “I couldn’t care less what we do with him. We have what we came for.” Torrik shrugged as he got off of Lucian. The matter settled. Vivian rolled her eyes at how nonchalant they were being. But there was no point in arguing over the situation.

“Then I suppose we should return to Jorn,” Vivian said. Happy to finally get to leave the temple. “Perhaps we can get a better reward if we tell him about the demon.”

“Is that all you care about?” Kai rolled his freshly recovered joint. Resupplying himself with arrows stored within the vault. Having been stored within the vault; Vivian wondered if they had enchantments like the ones her brother used before. A steady supply of magical arrows would certainly come in handy.

“I care about more than the money,” Vivian curled her lips. “It would just be nice to be compensated for our troubles.” Her eyes then fell on Lucian. He’d been adamant about protecting the Weaver’s vault. Not wanting them to steal from his god, and here her brother was. Taking freely of what was stored within. It made her feel knots of guilt in her stomach. “Try not to take too much,” she commanded.

“Relax,” Kai said, him and Mira returning to the others. Aside from the bow, he’d only taken about two dozen arrows. “I’m no thief. But his demon splintered by bow, so consider this reprimands.”

“Fine, now let’s get out of here,” Vivian waved them on as she took the lead. Her progress stopped as Lucian stood in her way. “Back down, Lucian,” she glared daggers. “You’re too injured to fight, and there’s four of us now. We don’t want to hurt you anymore, and we certainly don’t want to kill you.”

“I will if I have to,” Kai said. He tried to walk past his sister, but she stopped him.

“Don’t be a fool. Let us go, and we’ll never return.”

“I can’t allow you to take that,” Lucian spat. Determined to stop them no matter the cost.

It was Mira who next spoke, “I understand your devotion to the Weaver. I would be distraught if someone tried to take relics belonging to the Mother. But please, if we don’t get this to the man who hired us our friend can’t be freed of his curse. The Painter may be a god of death, but she is not cruel. Will you be cruel to someone for her sake?”

Lucian stood his ground. With a broken arm—as well as being outnumbered—it was a losing fight. There was nothing admirable about the way he was acting. Blinding by his devotion, the Brimborne would choose death over feeling as though he lost. “I may not know what that orb is, but if the Weaver deemed it worthy of her vault, it must stay here. Your brother may take the bow, but nothing more.”

“Lucian,” Vivian once again tried to reason with him. “There is nothing you can do to stop us. Stand down. The fight is over. Don’t make us harm you.”

“No point in talking,” Torrik readied his weapon. “I’ll finish this quickly.”

“That’s enough,” Kai said. He pushed beyond his sister. Standing face-to-face with Lucian. “I get it. This is what you live for. If we walk out of here, then you’ve failed. And that failure is going to eat away at you.”

“You think this is about failing?” Lucian scowled.

“You don’t want to fail the Weaver. This place, her word; your entire life is built around it. But is it worth dying over?”

“If I must join the Weaver, so be it.”

“That’s enough,” a voice called down into the vault. They all turned to see Tibius had returned. “No one is losing their life today. Stand down, Lucian.” With his brother added to their ranks, Lucian lamented. He stepped aside to allow Vermilion Wing through. “I’ll have a word with my brother, you go on ahead. Jorn will be pleased with your work.” Vivian hesitated upon her exit. As she turned back, she saw Lucian crumble to the floor. His brother having used magic. She could only hope he still lived.

A gray dawn greeted them as they reached the city. People still in mourning from the shadow attack. Vivian watched as the dead were piled together. A mass funeral pyre had been erected in the center of Karo.

As they reached the estate, two elven women greeted Vermilion Wing. One of them seemed pleased to see Mira, while the other completely ignored their group. Together, they led them into the library before being dismissed by Jorn. The gnome wore a pleasant smile, “I assume this means you have recovered the Eye?” Vivian presented the Eye to Jorn. “Excellent,” the gnome cheered. He pointed toward a chest on his desk, “Your payment is ready, so hand over the Eye and be on your way.”

“Not so fast,” Vivian held her arm out to the side. The Eye facing the ground in a loose grip. “There were some complications that require further negotiations.”

“Careful!” Jorn all but yelled. He cleared his throat and proceeded, “Please, tell me about these complications.”

“Firstly,” Kai said, “you sent us to a temple of the Weaver. And this Eye seems to be some important treasure.”

“Secondly,” Vivian continued, “we had to fight undead and a demon to retrieve this. Not to mention the guardian of those ruins.”

“And lastly, I was attacked by some shadow creature that only attacked me because I bore this curse.”

“The shadows, yes,” Jorn rubbed his chin. “I was afraid you might be attacked by those creatures. And a demon, the world will love to hear that story. Fine, I’ll double your reward. Just hand over the Eye.”

“After you remove my curse,” Kai demanded. “Then you’ll get your treasure.” Jorn agreed and summoned his own priests. Two Lacerian women entered the room and removed Kai’s shirt. They stood on either side of him and spoke in ancient tongues. It was not any language their father had taught them. Vivian watched with held breath as her brother writhed in pain. A mist of blood and magic hissed from his shoulder; the skin surrounding the spider decoyed and flaked away. Leaving pink, bloody flesh exposed.

They wrapped his shoulder in fresh bandages before inducing sleep. Mira went to Kai’s side. Confirming that he’d been cured with her own magic. Relief set in, and both parties exchanged their end of the bargain. Satisfied with how things turned out.

“It was a pleasure working with the children of Alister,” Jorn said. Caressing the orb that now sat upon his mechanical legs.

“Don’t get used to it,” Vivian replied. Handing two chest worth of gold over to Torrik. She then propped her brother on her back. “It likely won’t happen again.”

“Oh, I’m sure with the right motive,” Jorn smiled. As Vermilion wing went to leave, the gnome called to Vivian, “When your brother awakens, tell him to come meet me. I have something important to go over with him.”

“Any message you have for my brother,” Vivian smiled, “you can give to me to pass on.”

“Perhaps, but I would still like to see him. I would also like to inform you I have arranged for your return to Arasta. The airship shall arrive two days from now. Be ready by then.”

Once outside the estate, Torrik let out a bellowing laugh, “Now then, let’s celebrate.”