Chapter 435 (1/2)
Chapter 435
Chapter 433: Entourage
“All I can say with certainty is that Sehz-Clar fell, but Seris escaped,” Caera said “This knowledge was provided by Lyra of Highblood Dreide before the dragons arrived, and et anywhere, right?” Ellie asked, indicating the heavy chunk of hauely similar to a blacksmith’s anvil
“Aler tapped on her lips as she considered the tempus warp, which I had acquired from the Wraiths “But that only helps us if we knohere we’re going”
“Why not go straight for the throat?” Chul leaned forward on his elbows, his orange eye gleao anywhere, you say? So we could attack Agrona directly”
“Alrin Caeluic and technology”
“My grandfather sent an entire force of asuras to assassinate Agrona, and they failed,” Sylvie added “We don’t knohy Until we do, it’s too risky to face Agrona directly, especially in the seat of his power”
Silence fell around the table, the only sound was of Boo, as sitting in one corner groo himself loudly A day had passed since our arrival in Vildorial Caera, Chul, Ellie, Sylvie, Regis, and I sat around a large table with the te between us We were deep under the Earthborn Institute in a chaainst both sound andon us if he wasover what she’d said “But Lyra Dreide o to hi an eye on Alacrya If Seris’s efforts are in any way being ure out where to start”
“Vajrakor had considered locking her up as well,” Caera said, a bitter edge creeping into her tone “He wasainstand threatened to burn the Alacryan encampments—and the Alacryans in theave him some information because he then used me to verify it, but I can’t be sure that he wasn’t just atte to manipulate me further”
“More Alacryans?” Chul stood up from the table and turned his back on us “We blend the lines of ally and enemy tooan awful lot like Vajrakor,” Regis japed
Chul stared at Regis for a long ht around, then returned to his seat “So I am”
There was a knock at the stone double doors that led into the roo Realnatures of those beyond, then opened the just behind them, and I held the door open for her as well Wren iround for him even as he sat in it, while Gideon found a seat at the table
Mica leaned against the back ith a frown carved across her face She had abandoned the uniform of the Lance in favor of simple dwarven ar her childlike fraem shone from within her left eye socket
I stepped out of the roo the door behind me to ensure the seal remained intact, and waited for the rest to join us
Varay was the next to arrive We exchanged a few polite words, and I let her into thechamber
My mother looked incredibly nervous when she turned the corner into the hall, but relaxed when she saw , she kissed ly into my eyes “Arthur, what’s this all about? I’ around”
I couldn’t help but grin “You’ve survived being an adventurer, a front-line medic in the war, and my mother”
She rolled her eyes and swatted me playfully “That’s true, I suppose It’s a wonder allat a length of gray ao in…” I withdrew so froht about this a lot, and I want you to have this”
She carefully plucked theit over to look at the many facets “What is it?”
“Do you reave you when I started adventuring?” I asked “It’s kind of like that, except…well, if you are able to use it, you should be able to check on ht…I didn’t want you to have to worry Unless of course you turn it on and find ry aetheric monsters,” I added
My mother’s cheeks paled at my joke, and she pressed the stone back onthe back of my neck “Honestly, it’d make me feel a lot better if you kept it I’ve only been able to use it to see you and Ellie anyway, and if Ellie is with hed and took hold of it with both hands “Okay, what do I do?”
I’d given this soh it took tie after each use, it drew in its own aether, so it was only a ic When it touches your mind, think about Ellie”
“Should I…?”
I nodded, and Mom closed her eyes and iic interacted with the vivu it to the relic, then as the tendrils of aether reached out to her in response
“Oh,” she said softly The connection cut off and her eyes blinked open “I could see her speaking with Chul” Her eyes jumped to the closed doors “Inside that roo
“It takes a few days to be used again, so you won’t be able to watch us every step of the way,” I explained
“That’s probably a good thing,” she replied, staring down at the stone and turning it over and over in her hands A s enough to resist the urge of checking to make sure you’re okay every five seconds, and I have far too much to do for me to lose uests entered the hall She waved at Virion and Bairon, then I let her into thechamber
Virion put his hands on my shoulders and looked ed physically, but it was clear that the events of the last couple years had drained him of the exuberance and vitality he had once possessed in abundance “It’s strange Sometimes, when it’s been awhile since I’ve seen you, I al for me” His smile faltered, and he patted my cheek “Then I see this hair, these eyes, this face, and I wonder if it can really be you”
“Don’t get sentih my heart wasn’t in it “There’s…a lot to catch you up on”
“Brat,” he ether, we entered the chamber There was an ominous finality in the way the heavy door closed with a thud
My gaze tracked across everyone there, all the people I trusted ainst the manipulative power and authority of Kezess Indrath “Thank you for co” I took a moment to introduce everyone for the benefit of those who didn’t know each other
“I have news, and I have a request,” I said when that was finished Not intending to ht, Aldir’s sword, froed to the pantheon asura, Aldir”
The reaction was ie a wary look, while Virion stiffened, his jaw clenching
“Aldir was the asura responsible for the destruction of Elenoir That crime has now been punished Aldir will never harm another human, elf, or dwarf, and I carry his weapon as proof”
Locking eyes with Virion, I ht in front of him Carefully, I held out the silver rapier with both hands Fingers treh the solid h the silver, and with each undulation the rapier dissolved further until nothing reht condensed into a single point, like a silver star, and then flashed across the room
It swerved past Wren’s face then zipped at Varay, turning aside just before striking her chest Bairon jerked away as it skimmed the crown of his head, then it shot at Mica
Finally, so fast even I didn’t have time to intercede, it struck Ellie in her sternu into Boo—who had rushed to her side thearound—and his bulk cushi+oned her
Mother let out a choked gasp, and the Lances had weapons and spells at the ready, Bairon holding Taci’s red spear out toward ht attack
With one hand, Ellie was rubbing at her sternu ht was flowing into the shape of a long, bent staff
“Ellie, are you okay?” Mother asked, already channeling a healing spell
“Y-yeah, just…startled,” she said, still checking herself over to be certain her words were true
“Oh, put that away,” Wren scolded Bairon, who in turn shot the titan a distrusting glance “Unless you plan on sparring with the Leywin child and her neeapon”
I honed in on Wren, ore an amused and yet still irritated expression “What?”
“Silverlight has chosen the girl for whatever reason An asura’s weapon is bonded to them So asura may release it to find a new hand to carry it A weak bond h spirit” As he said this, he indicated the red spear still clutched in Bairon’s fists
Mica’s focus lingered on the bent staff “So, what, we’re just handing asuran weapons to children now?”
Mo
“It doesn’t look likecloser to inspect the staff
“It’s a bow,” Ellie answered
Boo sniffed at it, and I realized Ellie was right What I’dbow
“In this case, Silverlight has always beenEleanor to wield her, and in doing so taken on the form that will be most useful You should be proud to have been found worthy by such a weapon,” Wren concluded, his gaze bearing heavily down on my sister
Ellie’s eyes ide as full leam of the asuran artifact This wasn’t exactly what I’d intended, but I couldn’t pretend not to be pleased that she would have such a powerful weapon “But there is no string”
“I said Silverlight recognizes you as worthy As for ready…” Wren shrugged carelessly
Boo gave a grunt as if to disagree with Silverlight’s judg to his corner Sylvie patted his ruly as he went by
I returned my attention to Virion, as I wasn’t finished with aze was distant, pointed in the direction of the shi+ht?”
“You’ve provided justice, Arthur, and I thank you for it” He let out a breathy laugh, but it was almost a sob “And yet, it feels so shallow”
My brows creased in confusion “I’m sorry, I don’t understand”
“I know that, for the people of Dicathen to stand united, this needed to be done,” he replied softly, “but perhaps I didn't truly wish for Aldir, who I once respected greatly, to perish Can one death ever truly make up for millions?”
I wished then that I could tell him the truth of what had happened, but I kneould only undercut anything that ained by Aldir’s sacrifice “Maybe it’s true that justice can never end in death, or it becoeance instead In that case, perhaps this can be the true justice your people—our people need”
I sed heavily, nodded, and withdrew another object Setting the small box on the table, I pushed it toward Virion He took it delicately, opening the lid as if afraid it ether, the harsh lines of such heavy e into simple curiosity
“This soil is from Mount Geolus in Epheotus,” I explained “I’ plants anywhere—even somewhere destroyed by the World Eater technique”
With one treit, Virion reached for the dirt, but he did not touch it When he ain, there was a clear and desperate need written in them “Truly?