24 - Working in the Shadows (Patreon)

Knight Veldrix Thevaris pulled the hood of their cloak further down over their head, better hiding their sparkling red hair, as they approached the enormous city walls of Tulimeir. They were impressive for the zone normally being so much lower than the magic required to sustain the enchantments and weapons on them. The only reason Veldrix knew it was possible was for the Reality Rift powering them.

The knight had begun reading up on the city more when the scandal with House Ruwena first reached Blomstra, and Veldrix learned their services would be called upon. They didn’t need to know why they were executing someone but it helped them on a more personal level to at least understand the situation.

Most of the Tulim tundra was unremarkable. With a majority of mining and fishing operations, along with some smaller logging in their southern section, and the lower Caste Mana Bit farms comprising their exports. The capital city was the most notable point of interest with its carefully planned foundation, leverage of steam magitech, and total control over its Rift to allow it to function beyond its means.

As Veldrix reached the guards at the door, the gemite merely displayed the ruby-colored insignia of the Royal Knights of Blomsterang to quickly be granted passage. Not bothering to ask for directions, Veldrix began heading towards the center of the city where it was well known the ducal palace towered over all.

They kept their aura held tight to keep any passing Casters from sensing their presence and instead relied on their other senses to gather information as they made their way through the city of steam and glass. It was a far cry from the scenery within Blomstra of stucco walls and pastel fabrics adorning windows and doorways.

Despite having been ordered to come here in response to the invasion of Soul Reapers, the people didn’t currently seem to be in the mindset of one under siege. Either the threat had been under-reported or taken care of. Veldrix wasn’t sure which they would prefer being the case as both made it feel like their presence was uncalled for. At least it would be a nice vacation away from the suffocating halls of the royal palace and its denizens.

The whispered words among the people were confusing, though. Words of Wayland’s victory and defeat were conflicting in nature and seemed to assume some common knowledge by this point that Veldrix was missing. There were also the even more concerning whispers of an Obsidian Caster having taken up residence within that particular noble House and Veldrix had heard nothing regarding that before arriving.

The speed of communication was once more proving to be an especially painful shortcoming in their world during this unprecedented time. While mostly inconvenient during previous years and only month-long blood moons, this time, it was leading to more wasted resources and loss of lives in responding to attacks and larger threats.

Veldrix glanced skyward to see the top of the massive skyscraper that was the ducal palace they had finally reached, hoping for a better summary of the events leading up to the current situation they were arriving in and getting a more accurate picture than the rumors painted. Being unsure if their presence was even required was not a feeling they were accustomed to after a handful of centuries of being a Caster.

The knight wasn’t physically stopped by anyone, though they did show their insignia quite often. It’s not like these Sapphire Caste guards could stop Veldrix from getting where they wanted, but the knight approved of at least asking questions. While the guards didn’t have the power to overcome the knight, they could warn the duke to escape, which might have been enough of a head start, but they doubted it.

Veldrix didn’t even need to knock as a steward moved quickly ahead of them to announce their arrival to the cinderen man sitting at a desk furiously writing on a sheet of paper. The duke glanced up in annoyance at first, but when the man heard “Knight Thevaris,” he quickly dropped the pen and stood.

Duke Tul didn’t bow –he was of higher station technically, after all– but the Caste difference between the two of them demanded respect, which the cinderen gave them with a nod and palm over the heart as he greeted, “Welcome to Tulim, Knight Thevaris. I have been expecting the arrival of a Ruby Caster from the nation’s capital but was not expecting someone of your position.”

The gemite nodded and did give a respectful bow in return as they said, “I requested the assignment; though, it appears I may have arrived too late to be of assistance.”

“Quite the contrary,” Victor Tul replied, gesturing to the seats in front of the man’s desk, “Please sit, and I can apprise you of the situation. I was actually hoping to request even more Emerald and Ruby Casters from the other duchies and cities.”

Veldrix raised an eyebrow at that before taking a seat and asking, “The Soul Reapers are still that large of a threat?”

“While I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if they tried attacking again, I believe we have that handled with Paladin Kara Fairweather acting as a champion for House Wayland’s Regent,” the duke explained, retaking his own seat.

The Ruby Caster wasn’t exactly pleased to hear that one of the more combat-oriented Obsidian Casters that was known for her collateral damage had taken up residence in the nation, but the more confusing rumors the knight had heard along the way made them ask, “Regent? Lord Wayland lives, then? I had heard conflicting rumors on my way here.”

“Perhaps I should start from the very beginning… When Lord Wayland first arrived in Tulimeir with his Wayfarer Protégé, who is now the Regent.”

Veldrix was surprised by the mention of a Wayfarer, understanding how rare and often nation-changing they could be, and leaned back further in the chair as they gestured for the duke to continue, “Well, you have my undivided attention now.”

Veldrix frowned as they were currently looking over an illusory map of the tundra while Duke Victor Tul was trying to explain the status of the odd alien ship currently in the care of House Wayland and the Church of the Parent.

The last few hours of explanations had been both enlightening and terrifying for so many different reasons that Veldrix wasn’t even sure they could adequately list out their increasing list of concerns. How such a backwater place was becoming the epicenter of world-altering events was beyond anything the gemite had experienced in their lifetime. 

At least this trip won’t be boring, they thought.

The explanation about the cleansing tree vessel felt only half-understood by the cinderen at the moment, and Veldrix already knew they wanted to visit the location theirself to see and feel the magic there. If it truly would be the type of future sanctuary the Sacred Grove offered the other continent, then it would be vital for the entire monarchy’s relationship with the rest of Pyrin.

Those thoughts were interrupted, however, by a trio of new visitors for the duke who had not been expecting to find the Royal Knight already in attendance. The Sapphire Caste Director of the AOA, who felt close to ascending soon, wasn’t all that notable of a presence, but the Emerald Caste Avatar of two major goddesses and the Obsidian champion definitely caught the knight’s attention.

Veldrix respectfully bowed to the trio anyway, as a knight should with first impressions, but the Obsidian Caster surprised them by getting very up close with them, circling and flicking those nine tails around, running a clawed hand through their sparkling hair, even sniffing at the air before grinning at the knight and saying, “Running away? Tired of being a toy or tired of executing people?”

The knight found theirself grinning back at the disrespectful Caster and replying, “The heads just start to blur together after so many fall to the ground or to their knees. I asked for a change of scenery and was sent to the frozen north.”

Kara laughed, “Must have really pissed someone important off.”

“A knight knows better than to say.”

“And that alone says a lot on its own.”

“What about you, Paladin Fairweather? Did you anger your goddess to get sent here to play guard to a Crystal Caster?”

“If you know that much then I know you’re aware she’s more than that. Her importance aside, I was one of the closest champions capable of handling the situation. Time was a matter of importance though it seems your Queen didn’t think so with how late you’ve arrived.”

Veldrix frowned at that, slightly confused by the statement as they explained, “I left Blomstra a mere two days ago, the morning after I was informed of the order.”

Duke Tul’s aura flared in anger at that and everyone turned to look at the man who growled out, “We asked for assistance over three weeks ago. Even with the travel time for our Sapphire messenger, if you had been given the order immediately, you would have arrived before Paladin Kara.”

The knight realized their mistake in admitting their timeline to the duke. The queen would likely keep them here longer as “punishment,” but since arriving in the city, Veldrix’s opinion had completely flipped around on how uninteresting this assignment might end up being. 

Apparently, if they wanted to avoid being bored, they just needed to find the nearest Wayfarer. Perhaps, they shouldn’t have been so eager to leave home to become a knight, after all.

Veldrix attempted to change the subject before they gained more ire from the inflamed noble, “What brings you three to see the duke? I know my arrival wasn’t exactly planned.”

“Ah, right,” the director spoke up, moving forward towards the map and gesturing to the northern point of Tulimeir and saying, “We had another sabotaged alarm of the port district that resulted in a monster spawning without alerting the AOA for response or the locals to evacuate.”

Victor seemed to tense again and asked gravely, “How many casualties this time?”

“None,” Kara interjected with a grin, “I happened to be in town and heard the screams.”

The duke let out a sigh of relief, but Veldrix interrupted, asking, “Did you say this happened before?”

“First time I heard of it,” the golden voxen replied, turning to look at the rainbow variant.

“Paul and I were helping with the AOA investigation after a Sapphire spawn destroyed a decent chunk of the temple district,” Everin explained, “We had a suspect that wouldn’t talk, and so was passed along to the ducal guards, but then the Soul Reapers arrived, and that became the priority.”

Veldrix raised a brow at the Avatar’s use of the Lord Paladin’s first name and asked, “It sounds like you were close to Lord Wayland. Even becoming an Avatar to save his life, if the report I was given is accurate. Not many people would be willing to take that risk for a man they only occasionally work with.”

The Emerald Caster grinned and simply said, “He was important to my goddess’ Chosen.”

“I admit I find it… intriguing that so many deities and powerful people seem to bend around this Crystal Caster, even if she is a Wayfarer. I know another Wayfarer quite well, and he was not nearly as divinely invested in,” the knight said thoughtfully.

“Phoenix is a bit special,” Kara admitted, “You would do well to remember exactly how many deities seem to be invested in her success.”

Veldrix glanced towards the Obsidian Caster, who might as well have been holding a sign over the Wayfarer saying “Touch her and die,” and nodded in understanding at the thinly veiled threat.

“Just curiosity, but I don’t get paid enough to dig that deeply into her,” the knight said placatingly, “So you had a suspect for this alarm sabotaging, but it happened again, which means you either have the wrong person or there’s a group.”

Another glance at the furry explosion of colors and they clarified, “And I’m guessing the Scholar isn’t giving any hints on this one. Which means other gods are probably involved, and at this scale, I doubt it’s just the Confidant not liking the secret slipping.”

“We don’t know, but that’s not a terrible assumption,” Director Agatha confirmed.

“And is it safe to assume you’re already working on the other side of the problem with preventing this without knowing the perpetrator?”

Duke Tul nodded and gestured toward the door, “Let me show you all what Lord Teras has been working on with the other Magi.”

Veldrix was quick to pull up their hood once more in preparation to go back out into the public, and the Obsidian Paladin looked at them quizzically as she asked, “You prefer working in the shadows? Never showing that pretty face?”

The shiny gemite gave a mocking grin and a half-truth, “I wouldn’t want to cause a panic among the populace. The Pyre Executioner, with hair as bloody as their blade, tends to stand out in a crowd. Especially in a city like this one that leans towards the xenophobic end.”

“We have an International District,” Duke Tul interjected, “All are welcome within our city’s walls.”

Veldrix looked from the duke then towards the two voxen and asked, “Is he joking?”

“I wish,” Everin said with a sigh, “But sticking everyone else all together in a single section is at least better than the last place I came from. If you managed to get past their borders –in either direction– they just killed you for it.”

“What in the abyss? What nation would do that?” the AOA director asked in shock.

The Avatar and Paladin glanced toward one another, sharing knowing looks and unspoken words that piqued Veldrix’s interest, and Everin answered solemnly, “One that needs a hero to liberate it.”

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