Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 093 - Truth In A Vault (Patreon)

As Herb led him through some back rooms and doors of the guild hall, avoiding the main areas where others might be gathered, Kaen ran his fingers over both tokens he now wore.

I cannot believe they made us both platinum adventurers.

We should have been made much higher.  After all, we did save the kingdom.

Pammon was laughing, and Kaen smiled as he felt him through their bond.  It was still overwhelming to know and see his name on a token he had never believed would ever bear it.  Sure, every adventurer dreams of reaching these ranks, but somehow, he had in just a few months.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost bumped into Herb when the man suddenly stopped before a door.

“In here is the vault.  I will go with you the first time.  After you are inside, I will allow you to be alone in your father’s vault,” Herb informed him as he swiped his hand over an invisible rune on the door.  “I have no idea what all is in there, but Hess has told me that most of it is locked even to him.  Perhaps you will be able to access it all.”

The door shifted and creaked before it slid backward, and then, after a foot, it slid to the side.  Kaen noticed it was a solid metal door thicker than the length of his forearm.  Steps led downward behind it.

“That is… impressive.”

Herb laughed as he bobbed his head and began going down the stairs.  After Kaen had passed through the door and started down the steps, Herb held his hand over a section of the wall, and another rune lit up, and the door behind him moved back into its original position, locking them inside the vault.

For what felt like a good twenty minutes, stairs twisted and turned with the occasional door that required Herb to unlock and open.  Finally, he stopped outside a door that looked like every other one they had passed and grinned.

“This is your father’s vault.  If you would please place your hand on the handle.”

Nerves suddenly overwhelmed him as he realized that this was a moment he had not considered being at for years.  On the other side of this door was stuff he could only imagine about his father that he never knew.

Grabbing the silver handle, he felt it go cold, and suddenly, a sharp pain pricked his palm.  He tried to pull his hand from it, but it would not let him go.  Three seconds later there was a popping noise from the door, and it began to creak as his hand finally let go of the handle.

Looking at his hand, he saw a small, barely noticeable prick and a small drop of blood.

“The door is locked to just you, your father, and Hess,” explained Herb as they waited for the door to open up on its own.  “Anyone else who keeps trying to get it to open will not enjoy the pain that grows each time they fail.”

“It gets worse?”

“It can even kill someone foolish enough to keep trying,” he answered as he pointed at the opening.  “Go inside.  I’ll wait out here.”

“You sure you don’t want to come in?”

Licking his lips, Herb sighed and shook his head no.

“I am honestly tempted to say yes and see what is in there.  Many of us have often laid wagers to the contents,” he stated as the temptation he faced was evident by how he peered into the open doorway.  “I believe however you need to see it on your own the first time and decide if you want to invite someone in.  I can walk you through that for another day on how to permit it.”

“Thank you for being honest.”

Nodding, Herb moved down the hallway where a chair Kaen had not noticed was.

“I’ll be here until you return.”

Taking a deep breath, Kaen strode through the doorway, feeling a chill wash over him as he moved through the room's threshold.

What is it like?

Hold on, and I will tell you!

Once past the main door, a small hallway of only five feet led to a small wooden door.  As Kaen turned the handle, he heard the noise of the first door moving and closing, sealing him inside.  Small light globes were lit, and as the door shut behind him, he opened the wooden one, gasping as the door swung open.

A solid stone room made from bricks that reminded him of the ones that covered the buildings of Ebonmount lined the floors and walls.  All over the room, rows of meticulous organization of weapons and items assaulted his sight.  The room was easily the size of Hess’s house in Minoosh, and a twelve-foot ceiling had multiple light orbs casting a warmth over the room.

Spears ran the length of one wall until replaced by swords, all held by a pair of metal rings.  Shields, maces, clubs, bows, axes, and more all lined the walls.  Each one was slightly different, yet none seemed out of place.  Small bookshelves lined the wall on his left, each filled with books of all shapes and sizes.

Rolled-up paper tubes filled another bookshelf.  A row of glass cases on a wooden table ran along the left side of the room.  Each case was filled with rings and necklaces.  One case had no glass top, and when Kaen walked over to inspect it, he saw a single ring missing from the twelve spots that were in there.  There was a small piece of paper under each ring, and when he touched it, words appeared.

Blood Ring - Constitution increase

Lifting up his hand, he glanced at the blood ring he wore, and a smile crossed his face.  He wanted to touch all the rings' papers, but there was still too much to see.

Turning to the other side of the room was a chair in a corner with a table and an assortment of bottles and other containers that appeared to have liquid in them.  If he had to guess, they were alcohol, and as much as he wanted to sample one, lessons learned the hard way told him right now was not the time.

As his eyes swept the right side of the room, he saw a small box on a desk all by itself against the wall.  The way the box looked reminded him of the one he had seen Sulenda use multiple times for private things.  It was at least three times the size of hers but, by all appearances, was exactly alike.

Walking toward it, he noticed the rug on the floor.  It felt soft and somehow relaxing as he traversed it, making him wonder if it had enchantment that made him feel this way or if it was knowing he was somewhere his dad must have come to relax and unwind.

As he stood next to the desk, he pulled out the small wooden chair that was under it.  Sitting down, he gazed at the box and noticed a quill just like the one Sulenda had used lying next to it.  He hesitated as he began to reach for it.

Are you ok?  I’m still waiting for you to tell me what you see.

It is a room filled with weapons, books, rings, and more.  Things my dad felt the need to bring here.  It looks like he even sat here and relaxed.  Right now, I’m looking at a desk with a box that I hope to open.

I’m here if you need me.  Take your time and learn about your father.  Most will never get the chance you have right now.

Resting both hands on the desk, Kaen took a deep breath and let it out.

A small prayer that this would work left his lips as he picked up the quill and pierced his finger.  As a drop of blood began to form, he put it on the top part of the box as he had seen Sulenda do, waiting and watching.

Nothing happened, and as he resigned, it wasn’t going to work a small sound came from the inside of the box.

A drawer the width of his thumb came out from the bottom, and a few sheets of paper were in it.

As he pulled the stack out, the words on the top sheet caught his eye.

Hello Son.

Kaen set the papers down on the desk and felt his chest throbbing.  He was sobbing, and he knew it.  Leaning back so that the tears might not ruin the letters, he turned sideways and bawled.

As he did, he felt a peace of some sort coming through his bond with Pammon.  It could only be described as the feeling he had when they slept through the night together, and he wrapped his wing around him.

Thank you, Pammon, for more than you know.

As I said, I will always be here.  Do you need to talk about what happened, or do you just need a moment?

The hug is plenty.  Thank you for it again.

Wiping his eyes and nose, which was extremely runny right now, Kaen took a few deep breaths and returned to the stack of papers.  It was time to know whatever his dad wanted him to know.

Hello Son.

I know the only way you are reading this is if I have died on my last mission and you made it to the rank of gold token!  Congratulations on such a huge achievement, and I know that you and Hess have worked hard for this.  I wish I were there to tell you how proud I am of you.  Perhaps you will forgive me as you read these few pages I wrote.

Know, I have written this letter countless times.  Words never seemed right, and every time, I threw them away.  This one won’t be perfect, but time is short.  I must leave soon on the most dangerous quest I have ever undertaken.  As such, I will talk about it first before dealing with other things you must learn.

I was asked to take on a quest no others would touch.  A man has gotten stronger and is causing havoc in the kingdom of Luthaelia.  He is an evil man, bent on using dark magic and trying to find a way to grow in power.  His name is Stioks, and he was once a Mithril adventurer.  While I am not officially one, I am not worried about my ability to fight him.  Rumor has it he has made a pact with a black dragon and is attempting to find a dragon's egg and become a dragon rider.  We cannot allow this, or our kingdom and world will fall into darkness unseen for thousands of years.

This task is dangerous.  Was dangerous… and obviously, I failed.  I know you might wonder why I would risk it.  Why would I consider this knowing you would grow up without me?

First, it has to be attempted.  I cannot stand by and watch evil take hold of our kingdom.  One thing drives me more than anything, and that is to protect others.  Too many sit idly by, content to grow rich or old, not caring for those who suffer from their lack of action.

The guild offered me a reward regardless of the outcome if I took on this quest.  You were given a rare lifestone.  Occasionally in a generation or two, a lifestone is crafted that is usually kept for the children of kings.  They knew I was searching for one, bartering for one, offering my soul for one because you will thrive with one.  As such, Fiola secured it, and the cost was unbearable.  Certain death, but you are worth it.  It is worth it.

She knows more than I wish she did, but I have no doubts she has pestered you with endless questions and requests.  If she asks to know your stats, do not share them with her at all!

Kaen paused and chuckled as he read that last line.

“If only I had known that wisdom beforehand, Dad,” he muttered out loud.

She tried to get me to share mine as part of this deal, but I would not bend or break.  Eventually, she relented.  You remember that moment I gave you your lifestone, I am sure.  The power it gave you.  She gave me a few more months with you after that before I had to set out on the quest.  I want you to know I cherished every one of those days.

I will share with you what she wanted.  Guard these numbers with your life.  I am sitting here in a shirt, pants, and boots with no items.  What I have acquired is only a fraction of what you are capable of.

Kaen’s eyes felt like saucers as he stared at what he read next.