Ryuu stands outside of the South-East Tower as the sun rises over the castle walls.
He has just finished explaining the situation to Sherry and Isaac, who had slept through everything last night.
“I hope La-, Ilene, feels better soon,” Sherry sighs.
“I doubt it…” Isaac mutters.
“I don’t think I’ve heard anyone mention a duchess, so isn’t she parentless now?”
They offer their initial concerns before heading to the Magic Tower for their work.
The news hasn’t been widely announced yet, so the group must behave as if everything is normal for now.
Outside of the people who discovered the body last night, and the duke’s council, nobody is aware of his passing.
Ryuu had finally been able to drag Ilene to bed at some point last night, but he has yet to sleep himself.
As much as his body screams for rest, his mind refuses to let him stop moving.
He hadn’t reacted much to the death of Lord Alastair at the time, perhaps due to how little contact they shared.
If he’s honest with himself, he’s much closer with Lady Evelyn than Lord Alastair.
Despite that, something has been disturbing the Blade from the moment he stepped into the duke’s room last night.
There were no signs of resistance, and the killing blow was likely dealt with magic, considering how fast the death was.
The guard said he heard a crash–presumably the broken window–and was able to break his way into the duke’s room only a few minutes later.
Any kind of drug able to kill someone in that time would have left some visible aftereffects, or at least a sign that the doc wouldn’t miss.
As much as I hate to say it, the number one suspect is obviously Xander.
The question is… Why?
I have a hard time believing he was insecure enough about the election to take the throne in this manner.
Without a motive, I’m just grasping at straws…
The troubled Blade stares up at the clouds for a moment, letting his mind go blank.
Each time something pops into his mind, he pushes it to the side, constantly refreshing his train of thought until it lands on something useful.
Suddenly, the memory of a secret he’d kept from even Ilene flies through his brain.
I forgot about that option.
******
He waits outside of the Magic Tower for a couple of hours, sitting cross-legged on a stone wall wrapped around the stairs.
People funnel in and out of the tower while Ryuu meditates.
He’s found that the calm, yet constantly refiltering mana around the Magic Tower helps him find his focus.
After almost three hours of waiting, a familiar set of emerald robes appears from the courtyard maze and walks toward the stairs.
“Yo, Belynda.”
The young noblewoman stops just under Ryuu on the stairs.
Her thick glasses catch the sunlight as she looks up at him with a neutral gaze, unintentionally shining the light in his face and making him close an eye.
“You’re certainly early. Did you need something?”
“Yeah, I want a quick word with you. Do you mind?”
“Look at you, acting all high and mighty. Sure, I can afford to miss a class. Today was just another lecture anyway.”
He leads her to the same building that she’d pulled him into before.
It doesn’t stand out much against its surroundings, serving as a perfect place to hold impromptu meetings.
They step inside and navigate to a small room in a back hallway, with nothing but an uneven table and a few chairs inside.
Ryuu and Belynda settle on opposite sides of the dainty table and get straight to business.
“If you’re bringing me here, it must have something to do with our earlier agreement,” she assumes.
“Have I not been friendly enough for you?”
“I don’t really care about that right now. What I want to know is if you know anything about last night’s incident.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Let me rephrase; do you know why Xander has been acting odd lately? Ilene mentioned something about constant visits to the castle’s library.”
“I get it. You think I have some kind of insider information. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I’m only called on when there’s a job to do. Frankly, I’ve probably had more conversations with you than I have with Lord Xander.”
“Damn…”
Belynda lowers her glasses, showing off her multicolored irises as she looks into Ryuu’s eyes.
“Listen. I know I said I’d be more open as long as you played along, but if you do something to antagonize Lord Xander, then I’m not going to have a choice. The moment he gives me an order, I’ll have to follow it.”
“Because of your brother?”
“Why else?”
Ryuu nods his head and gives a wry smile.
“Well, I expected as much. I just wanted to make sure before going to check for myself.”
“Hold on, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’m sure you’ll learn soon enough. I just got back, but maybe I should perform some Blade-like duties every so often.”
Ryuu stands from his chair and starts toward the door.
“By the way, where’s the castle’s library?”
“You don’t know? It’s in the Central Tower’s basement.”
“That place has a basement?”
“Yes, all of the towers do. I’m sure your status will get you inside easily enough, but then what? You’re just going to accuse Lord Xander of something to his face?”
“Pretty much.”
“Ridiculous.
You know this “can’t be bothered” act you put on is flimsy, right?”
“Hm?”
“As far as I know, you’re still at the Intermediate-Tier. You might think you’re hot shit because you’ve gotten lucky a couple times, but there are labels for a reason. Sometime soon, you’re going to get yourself killed being too reckless.”
You’re not wrong, but stopping now isn’t an option for me.
The only way I can get answers is to charge ahead.
“I appreciate your concern, Belynda, but don’t worry yourself over me. Even if I act like this, my mentor is someone widely considered as the most capable Blade in the region. I’m sure I picked up a few habits of his during my time under his care.”
“…Whatever. Just don’t drag me into your problems, please.”
“I’ll try my hardest.”
The two of them discreetly shuffle out of the building and merge with the midday traffic, soon splitting ways as Belynda heads for the Magic Tower, while Ryuu aims for the Central Tower.
He’d never spent much time looking around the inside of the tower before, but it’s certainly what he’d expect from a duke’s residence.
The main entrance immediately opens up to a large chamber with a blue and gold throne at the end.
Wide rugs lay out in every direction, leading toward a descending staircase on the left, an ascending staircase on the right, and what appears to be a locked door at the back of the chamber, behind the throne.
Massive murals and portraits form a layer over the four-story high walls and ceiling, creating a grandeur indicative of the capital’s ruler.
After committing some details to mind, Ryuu moves down the left staircase into the tower’s basement.
The lower area isn’t as bright and colorful as the throne room, but it still holds an ancient, magical air to it that can’t really be described.
Shelves rise in an orderly fashion across the rectangular basement that must be at least half a mile long, with the only true separation being a rusted gate at one end of the basement.
Ryuu walks through the shelves, glancing at books that happens to stick out to him every few seconds, until he reaches the far gate.
Through the bars, a smaller section of books and scrolls are visible, and they’re clearly from a time before the rest of the library.
When the curious Blade goes to pull on the nearby door, a voice calls out from the shadows on the other side.
“I didn’t take you for the reading type, Dragon Blade.”
A man in deep blue military robes steps out of the darkness.
His neatly-trimmed dark bangs and silver eyes make him especially creepy in this lightning, but Ryuu answers the nobleman in an even tone.
“I didn’t see you there, Lord Xander. I’m actually down here looking for you.”
“I’m honored, Sir Ryuu.”
The two men lock eyes from opposite sides of the bars as Xander moves toward the rusted door.
There’s a click, then the barred door swings open surprisingly easily.
Xander waves Ryuu inside, before shutting the gate again behind him.
“I must say, I think this is our first time having a talk like this. Just the two of us,” the nobleman observes.
“Yeah, it is. Before I begin, am I correct in assuming that you’re aware of last night’s incident?”
“I am. Doctor Corna brought the tragic news to me early this morning. In fact, I was the one that helped her move my father’s body to an area better suited for further investigation.”
“I see. Please excuse my directness after such a rough morning, but where were you around midnight last night?”
Xander’s nostrils flare for just a moment, then he brings his hands behind his back and lightly smiles.
“Surely you’re not accusing me of being behind my father’s murder?”
“You agree that it was a murder? No chance of suicide?”
“Wasn’t it? The broken window must have been how the killer got past the guard, then they used some kind of weapon to stab my father in the back of the neck… Oh… I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m still a bit sensitive on this matter.”
Xander dabs at the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, while Ryuu keeps his eyes square on target.
This guy, he’s not even trying to hide it.
Sure, he’ll probably never actually admit it, and has likely gone to great lengths to cover up any involvement, but he’s not upset in the slightest.
Unfortunately, this still doesn’t prove that he committed the act.
He just clearly benefits from it, and feels nothing from his father’s death.
“Could you please answer the question, Lord Xander?”
“If you must know, I was here. I’ve spent every night in this library for the past two weeks, and even most mornings. The guard that patrols this area can vouch for that.”
“Speaking of the guard, why is there only one guard stationed inside of this very important location?”
“Hmph, I wish I knew. I insisted on raising the number all the time during my youth, but my father would stubbornly retort that he could only have one guard. My guess is so that in case they tried to betray him, he wouldn’t be overpowered.”
“Did Lord Alastair have trust issues?”
“What do you think? You went from the streets to living in our castle in less than twenty-four hours, if I remember correctly.”
True.
“Then why do you think he had such a reason for keeping one guard?”
“Because it’s what I would have been thinking. That’s all.”
Xander steps close to a nearby shelf and pulls out a thick book the size of a palm.
He dusts off the cover and smirks, handing it to Ryuu as he passes by.
“I’m afraid I have some business to attend to, but I do hope this clears your suspicion of me. Feel free to have a look around our family’s restricted section, starting with this book.”
The nobleman leaves Ryuu behind the gate and ascends the far staircase.
The young Blade looks down at the book he’d been handed, squinting his eyes as he makes out the smudged writing on the cover.
“”The Founding of the Capital”.
Is this supposed to be the history of Mahora?”
He opens the book and skims through the first few paragraphs.
The introduction starts around a thousand years ago, detailing the end of a war between the Northern and Southern Reaches.
After the fated battle between heroes and dragon reached its end, the Sacred Land was formed between the two reaches.
The territories began rebuilding, and eventually settled into the new title system placed upon them by the king.
New cities were constructed, and it was time to choose which one would serve as the north’s official representative.
At first, the votes were tied between Titania and Roasia, the respective cities of scholars and warriors, but a third powerhouse suddenly rose in the center of the region.
The city of Mahora, created by the first duke, Quill Mahora, entered the race to become capital.
The new city quickly grew in population and influence, operating on a model that promised a hierarchy based on prowess of any kind–magical or spiritual.
Many people that were stuck between which city to choose flocked to Mahora, and before long, it rose above even Titania and Roasia.
The king selected a city from the north, Mahora, and a city from the south, Dijor, to become the representatives of their regions, starting the current era.
Things ran as promised inside of Mahora for years to come.
Business grew, population size erupted, and riches flowed without end.
It wasn’t until seven hundred years after the city’s birth that something changed.
It all began with the twentieth duke, Archie Mahora, and his sick lust for power.
Although most records containing information on Archie’s abilities have been erased, it is rumored that the duke had a magnificent Talent capable of storing mana inside of his body for an unlimited amount of time.
It was due to this that he was able to lead wars into many surrounding countries, using his bottomless wells of prepared mana to endlessly shower spells over his enemies.
At first, the duke’s people weren’t too upset with his behavior.
They didn’t want war, but the extra riches in their pockets kept their mouths shut.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for Archie.
He targeted more and more of their neighbors, until eventually, there was nobody left within reach, even across the sea.
After a decade of Mahora’s citizens being used to a lavish lifestyle, the funds began to slow down, and it wasn’t long before a depression struck the capital.
The people quickly grew angry with the duke and demanded that he fix things, which made the already restless man explode.
He challenged the Southern Reaches once more, deciding the war from seven hundred years before wasn’t over yet.
Leading his massive army of M’yin and A’yang alike, Archie marched around the Sacred Land and stormed straight into Dijor, the heart of the Southern Reaches.
A battle immediately ensued, shedding heavy amounts of blood on both sides.
The respective dukes met in battle, using their immense powers to change even the landscape as they raged on.
It wasn’t until a full day after the siege that things came to an end, and Archie stood victorious over Dijor’s leader.
His prize-an ornate sword embedded with a flawless ruby-was strapped onto his belt, and that was the end of the incident.
This guy seems like a pain in the ass.
Also, isn’t that ornate sword Ilene’s rapier?
All of this history is interesting, but why did Xander want me to read it?
Ryuu flips through the pages, skimming through glimpses of information, until a passage catches his eyes.
In the year 730, thirty years after the start of Archie’s reign, Mahora finished its decade-long reconstruction.
Large, imposing walls were built around and inside of the city, made from thick bedrock, and enchanted by the best of Masters.
Time had passed since Archie’s prime, and now, new generations of his past enemies were looking for revenge.
It was because of this that the duke sought a way to regain his power, or any kind of power, to defeat his foes.
He remembered the legends from the time of heroes, when the elders of the Blessed City sent a prayer to the heavens and were gifted with strength.
Using a golden staff passed down by Quill Mahora, Archie performed a ritual and sent a message out into the mystic plane.
He contacted a mana-being of unimaginable power and formed a contract, ensuring that his city would never be touched.
It’s said that from that moment forward, those crowned as the leader of Mahora would take hold of the golden staff and achieve unrivaled magical prowess, at a large cost.
Ryuu turns to the next page, but it looks like an entire chapter was torn from the spine.
He flips through the remaining pages, then sighs and returns the book to its shelf.
What was that all about?
It was a nice little history lesson, but I mostly ended up learning about Archie Mahora.
If I’m following what the book said, Mahora sounds like it used to be a paradise, then ran itself ragged under the twentieth duke’s rule.
I guess that’s what led to the creation of the inner walls in the year 730, creating the three districts… Is Xander suggesting that all of this somehow ties in with Lord Alastair’s death?
A spark ignites in Ryuu’s mind.
Of course, I’m an idiot!
That golden staff, I’ve never seen the duke without it!
That must be the motive…but the number one suspect handed the clue to me himself.
Is he really arrogant enough to pull a stunt like that?
Knowing I could just bring this information to Ilene?
The Blade leans against a small table and crosses his arms, pushing his cognitive capabilities to their max.
The murder took place at midnight.
The only person around to witness it was barred out of the room after the sound of breaking glass.
Ilene and I went to train, then came out after the duke was dead and didn’t see anyone fleeing.
The culprit would have had to have been capable of scaling several stories without being seen after breaking a window, and quickly disappearing afterward without any flashy magic.
On top of that, the target was a duke.
I’d never seen him in action myself, but Alastair’s mana was still among the strongest I’ve ever felt.
If I had to create a profile… The suspect would have a mobility build–either an A’yang or possessing a Finnese-type Talent–capable of getting the jump on someone in the Master-Tier.
People within the castle grounds capable of that are myself–due to my unique trait–Ilene, and possibly Xander.
Oh, and Masters Nolan and Darius.
I’m sure there are some soldiers and guards, but they have no real motive here.
I must admit, if I take Xander out of the picture, it’s hard to see this as an inside job… I should investigate the golden staff for now.
******
Ryuu climbs the staircase on the right side of the Throne Hall, making his way to the scene of the crime.
The corridor is disturbingly calm, with no guards or staff in sight.
I guess they don’t care about people sniffing around, so long as they’re allowed in the Central Tower.
He opens the door to the duke’s room and steps inside, running his gaze across the area now lit by sunlight.
He spots Xander by the broken window, who greets him without turning around.
“You’ve finally caught up. What took you so long?”
“What?”
“You read about it right? The Staff of Muvolgyin.”
“You mean the golden staff?”
“Yes, that one. Muvolgyin is known as the god of magic, and is widely thought of as the one that Duke Archie came into contact with when praying for power. Since you’re here, you must agree that the staff is the reason for my father’s death.”
“…Have you found anything?”
“Perhaps, but I don’t know what to make of it. The staff is certainly gone, which supports our theory. That said, I wasn’t able to view the room before it was cleaned, so you can help clear up some questions of mine.”
“Okay.”
“First, do you remember there being any shards of glass inside of the room?”
“…Now that you mention it, I don’t.”
“Doesn’t that suggest that the glass was broken from the inside?”
“I guess so, but how is that possible? That means that Lord Alastair would’ve had to break it, or that the killer was already inside of the room.”
“Indeed, those are the two most likely conclusions. The answer comes from another question: how did the killer escape?”
“What?”
Xander taps his temple while still staring at the window.
“Think about it. If the killer was already in the room and broke the window to escape, it could still line up with the guard’s account of not breaking through until later.”
“And?”
“Don’t you think that’s too obvious? If they were going to be stealthy enough to wait for hours in this room and assassinate my father, why escape in such a reckless manner? They could have easily waited until the morning and slipped out without a sound.”
“So what do you think is the real reason for the broken window? Just a diversion?”
“Yes, but there might be something more to it. The placement of the hole, it’s in the head of the black dragon.”
That again?
Ryuu follows his gaze to the hole in the window.
With a closer look, he verifies that it does look as if the tip of a black wing can be seen around the edge.
“Is there something symbolic about destroying the dragon?”
“The legend of the heroes and the dragon differs slightly in each area, but the theme remains largely the same. Heroes are warriors of humanity, blessed by the mana-beings powerful enough to be recognized as gods. The black dragon was the fiercest Fallen of them all, serving as a king of sorts, who wanted the land of the humans. Both sides clashed, and ultimately, the dragon fell. This hole could be interpreted as the killer identifying themselves as a hero, or at least holding a grudge against the dragon.”
“A grudge against something from a thousand years ago? You think a clue like that will help identify the culprit?”
“It’s all we’ve got to work with for now. I’ve got my eyes and ears out for any sign of the Staff of Muvolgyin, so I’d appreciate it if you stay out of this from now on. Up to now I’ve made an effort to clear your obvious suspicions of me, but I’m too busy to entertain you any further. With my father dead, the throne now falls to me without any election. The shock of both of these events will likely affect Ilene for a while, so you need to be there for her as her Blade.”
“Why do you care?”
Xander raises a brow.
“She’s my little sister. Do you take me for some kind of demon?”
“You just don’t seem very torn up about your father. I find it hard to imagine you feeling anything for your rival in power.”
“Heh, well, you’ve got me there. Truth be told, I haven’t felt much toward my father for some years now. It’s not that I hated him, I was simply indifferent. I would tell you more, but I think I’ll leave the rest of our family’s story to my sister. I spent my time researching the past, while she lived in the present.”
“…You’re saying you wrote that book you gave me?”
“Wow, you caught that? Ilene’s Blade is certainly a man worth having. Yes, what you read was essentially my research journal from my late adolescence. It’s been collecting dust down there for close to a decade, but the signs of what I was researching have started to move into action. You’ve done well to resist the terrorist organization until now, but I fear that their next attack will be the last.”
“You think they’ll attack Mahora again? The city’s been on high alert ever since last time.”
“Someone managed to assassinate the duke right underneath all of our noses. I’m sure they could attack tonight if they so wished. So it’s not a question of if, it’s when.”
“Ilene thought the same thing. She said that the Eternal Order is behind this.”
“Eternal Order?”
Ryuu nods and tells the soon-to-be-duke what he knows.
“I learned the name of the organization in Titania. It’s composed of grunts, secondary commanders, and commanders. They have a boss at the very top, but since the commanders we’ve seen have been Masters so far, there’s no telling how strong they are.”
“I see, this is quite valuable information. I’ll spread the name Eternal Order to my contacts and see what I can find out. I appreciate your help, Dragon Blade, and would like for you to take my earlier advice. I must be going now.”
Xander strides away once more, while Ryuu sits behind and mulls over the long conversation.
We still never really reached a decision on how the killer got in or escaped.
Xander says it’s likely that they were in the room beforehand, then broke the window as a diversion, but that’s still missing an exit plan.
They couldn’t have been in the room once Ilene and I arrived, so where could they go in his scenario?
Ryuu casts [Mana Sense] as he begins another thorough investigation of the private chambers.
He searches every nook and cranny, follows every scarce trail of mana, and even stuffs himself under the bed.
After finding nothing, he sighs and leans back on the display case to the right of the bed.
Crack.
“Shit.”
His elbow cracks the glass of the display case, and seconds later, it crumbles and falls inward.
Ryuu winces at the damage and glances around quickly before taking a closer look.
He expected some kind of gem or special weapon, but the inside is just a shirt button sewn into red fabric, with a few dull stones around it.
Despite the plain appearance, a certain pull comes from the button, inviting Ryuu to press his finger against it.
The Blade follows the urge, causing the shelves in front of him to slightly shake.
They scoot apart and reveal a spiraling staircase in the wall behind, with torches in sconces lining the entire way down.
Sweet, a secret passage!
I should probably tell someone about this…
The white-haired man descends the stone staircase, getting dizzy from the constant spiraling.
His view doesn’t change for a long while–smooth stone, flickering torches, and dry cobwebs–until he finally reaches the bottom, and finds yet another trapdoor leading downward.
Seriously?
This is gonna be a long day.
He opens the door and descends down a thick rope ladder, eventually dropping down into a complicated tunnel system.
There are no more torches in this area, so he relies on [Mana Sense] to guide him through the darkness.
Several paths branch out to the side and ahead of him, but the one with the most curious feeling to it is in the far right corner.
Ryuu follows it at a steady pace, keeping himself prepared for any sudden changes.
I’d say it’s almost certain that this is how the killer entered and escaped.
The problem is that I didn’t see any way of opening the private chamber’s secret passage from this side.
The path widens out into a mid-sized cavern with half-decayed scaffolding and old construction equipment.
Empty carts and dull pickaxes make it appear to be an old mine, though there’s no sign of any resources left.
The curious source of mana Ryuu was following leads farther ahead, where a hole in the wall plunges straight into darkness.
No point in turning around now.
The Blade steps into the darkness without hesitation, prepared to pursue the duke’s murderer as far as needed.
***Isaac***
A wide, green plain stretches out for miles on end in every direction, completely void of civilization.
In the center of the peaceful plot, a group of eleven people stand around while one of them talks.
After giving instructions to the ten others around him, Master Darius steps back and waves everyone into place.
Isaac and Sherry separate from the group and walk about twenty yards away, while the eight students group up and begin charging mana.
Isaac groans internally while rapidly drawing in mana, then raises his hands in front of him.
“[Barrier]”
Ten murky shields of mana spark to life in front of him, while his friend creates eight barriers equal to his own.
“Someone’s been training in secret…” he mutters.
“I wish I could take that credit, but it’s really just these drills…” Sherry replies.
“I’ve never cast [Barrier] so many times in one day!”
Spells of different shapes, sizes, and elements begin crashing into them in waves.
The two temporary aids hold off a constant barrage of spells from the Apprentice-Tier students while calmly holding a conversation.
“About this morning…” Isaac begins, “Do you really think Ryuu’s lady friend is going to be alright?”
“Not anytime soon, of course, but she seems like a strong person. I’m sure she’ll overcome it.”
“I hope you’re right, but honestly speaking, I’m more worried about Ryuu right now…”
“Why?”
“With the death of the duke, Mahora is silently running without a ruler right now. The Mahora family is going to have to skip procedure and hand the throne to the older brother, which means all of Ilene and Ryuu’s efforts were for nothing.”
“Shouldn’t you still be more worried for Ilene?”
“Normally, but Ryuu’s hardheaded… Knowing him, he’s likely aiming to solve the mystery as fast as possible. That way, punishment can be dealt out and a story can be given to the people, which would open a path for the election to continue as planned… If Ryuu is the one to figure out whoever killed the duke and take them down, Ilene will gain a lot of points as his master.”
“Incredible, Isaac… I hadn’t even thought of that possibility, but do you think Sir Ryuu is capable of coming to that conclusion himself?”
“Don’t underestimate him. He likes to switch his speech patterns around different crowds, but he’s a lot smarter than you think… It’s almost a shame his Talent is so straight-forward, but then again, his athleticism might still surpass his intellect.”
“Heehee, you think pretty highly of him.”
“…Why did you follow him here, Sherry?”
She turns her gaze upwards while she thinks for a moment.
“I couldn’t stay in Titania anymore, so it just seemed like the natural thing to do. Plus, he’s the one that asked me to in the first place.”
“Right… I followed him because he reminds me of someone I used to know… I can’t describe why, but I get the feeling that if I stick close to him, I can become a lot stronger.”
Sherry waves her hand and creates more barriers as another volley of spells flies at them.
A small smirk forms on her face while she stares at Isaac, who looks away in confusion.
“Since when did you get so interested in becoming stronger, Isaac?”
“Shut up… I just don’t want to lose anything anymore. You’re telling me I’m supposed to stay behind when a terrorist organization attacks my home and targets my only friends? No… I’ll fight alongside Ryuu and bury the Eternal Order. That’s why you’re coming with me as soon as we get out of here…”
“Where are we going?”
“While Ryuu digs around, we’re going to prepare ourselves for the aftermath that’s sure to come… It seems like every time he gets involved with something, the Eternal Order is somewhere down the line.”
******
After finally escaping Master Darius and his draining tasks, the pair of friends leave the Magic Tower and set out to follow Isaac’s plan.
The afternoon sun beats down on them from above, and hardly any breeze is able to make it through the castle walls while they trudge along the stone path.
When Sherry asks Isaac what they should be doing, he shakes his head and replies, “I don’t know,” before coming to a stop.
“I said all of that, but I have no idea where anything is around here… We didn’t really get the grand tour.”
“This is why we should have thought about it more. Let’s just head to one of our rooms for now and figure something out.”
“That won’t help… It’s not like we’ll learn the way around in a basement.”
Sherry frowns at his logical rejection, then notices an interesting character from across the courtyard.
The man notices her staring and raises a brow, then waves at her in a friendly manner.
She pulls Isaac’s arm and says, “Let’s ask that guy for directions,” before pulling him along.
They move close to the North-East Tower, where a large man in simple training clothes stretches in the grass.
“Hey there! Can I help you?!”
Ah… This person is really intense…
“Yes, Mister…?”
“Call me Leon!”
“Mister Leon, my name is Sherry, and I’m looking for some directions around this confusing city.”
“Of course! I was thinking that I hadn’t seen either of you around before! What are you trying to find?!”
Isaac speaks up, pulling his hood down a bit to block out the sunlight.
“We’re looking for areas where the mysterious organization has been popping up… We heard there were sightings near the outer walls, and figured that there must have been similar occurrences inside…”
“…”
Leon suddenly becomes quiet as he stares into Isaac’s eyes.
The young M’yin doesn’t back down, but it takes everything in him not to falter under the oppressive gaze of the muscular man.
“Why do you want to know?”
“…We have reason to believe that they might appear again sometime soon. There’s no telling what could happen, which is why we need to find answers now… Can you help us?”
Leon rubs his chin as he contemplates the two strangers’ request.
After several long moments, he smiles and nods, agreeing to help them.
“There’s only one condition! I’m now a part of whatever happens! I’ve got my own reasons for chasing that group down, so I won’t take no for an answer!”
Sherry and Isaac readily agree to his condition and follow him out of the castle grounds.
Despite not knowing the man at all, Isaac can tell he’s strong enough to accompany them to a place that could potentially be dangerous.
Just from a glance, his physical ability seems to surpass Ryuu’s, though he can’t be sure unless something happens.
The group moves through the streets of Mahora and journeys back to the Bronze District, although it’s the southern section, so they hadn’t seen this area when they entered the city.
Leon then jogs through a desolate clearing and moves to a nearby shed that looks as if it’s been there for hundreds of years.
He rips a couple of shrubs out of the ground and throws them to the side, revealing a magically-sealed hatch.
After performing a few hand movements, the hatch hisses and unseals, swinging open for them.
“Glad I watched Lady Ilene do that before! Ah! You guys didn’t hear that, and you were also never here! Got it?!”
They nod with thin smiles, which satisfies Leon, who then moves down the ladder first.
Sherry follows him down, then Isaac enters last before dropping down into a chamber full of strewn documents and gated tunnels.
One of the gates has been blown out its foundation, seemingly by a cannon, and Leon walks over to it with a laugh.
“About an hour this way is where I recently encountered a couple powerful members of the organization. Things were one wrong move away from ending horribly, but we managed to make it out alive. I’m warning you now: you two seem weaker than the two I went with before. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Sherry nods with determination, while Isaac frowns and pulls his hood off of his head.
“Don’t look down on me. As an Advanced M’yin, I can assure you that I’m capable of holding my own no matter what we run into.”
Leon smirks at the bold declaration and motions them forward.
“What are we waiting for then, senior?! Let’s get moving!”
Isaac shakes his head and drops down from the upper landing onto the floor of the semicircle desk.
“This place looks good enough… I’m going to collect some information before we make our next move.”
Sherry makes her way down the short flight of steps with a curious stare.
“What are you up to, Isaac?”
“A spell, of course.”
He closes his eyes and holds his hands outstretched over the wide desk, pulling in mana while tightening his concentration.
Documents flutter and chairs rumble as pressure builds around the dark-haired M’yin, then he opens his eyes, which have become filled by a dark glow.
“Forgotten memories, final wisps of breath, regain your former glory with my permission. [Ghost Yard].”
A dark mist spreads throughout the entirety of the underground chamber.
It quickly fades away, and in its place, the spectral forms of many figures can be seen sitting around the desk in the middle of the room.
“Hmm… It seems a lot of the spirits are overlapping each other… I’ll have to pick a specific time period.”
Leon raises his hand from across the chamber and calls out to Isaac.
“In that case, try three hundred years ago!”
“Is there something special about that time…?”
“My family often says that three hundred years ago, the fate of Mahora took a sharp turn! If there’s any time period that could give us some juicy information, it’d have to be then!”
Isaac nods and holds his hands up again.
“I’ll take your word on that… We only get one chance at this.”
I would’ve liked to use this spell at the scene of the crime, but it only shows the dead, so the killer would still be unknown, given that it was an assassination…
The number of specters rapidly thins out, until only one ghost is left in each of the six seats.
They sit paused in motion until Isaac snaps his fingers, then resume a discussion as if time had never ended for them.
All of the ghosts shout back and forth about completely different topics, making it impossible to catch any details, until one figure seated in the middle slams their staff down and bellows over everyone.
All of the noise dies down at once as the ghosts settle.
Then, the one that yelled, supposedly known as Archie, sits back down.
The transparent figure has long wild hair and an eye patch on the left side of his face, making him look like a common madman.
“Now then, Duke of Ganston, please remind me why you’re still complaining after I was kind enough to gift you the Topaz Relic? Is there some kind of problem with Mahora taking what it pleases?”
A spirit on the far right end of the desk, with a thick mustache and balding head, slams their fist on the table and points a finger at Archie.
“You can’t be serious! That relic was ordered to us by the king after he rightly decided that you shouldn’t have two of the relics in your possession! What were you thinking, attacking Dijor of all places?!”
A regal figure with their eyes closed, next to the balding spirit, raises their hand by their shoulder.
Archie’s good eye moves to them before he can respond to the Duke of Ganston.
“Do you have something to add, you narrow-eyed whore?”
The figure opens their eyes just enough to pierce the wild man with their stare.
“Is that any way to speak to a duchess? You know, Archie, I can’t say I’m too fond of your actions either. I was able to turn my head when you were focused on enemies across the sea, but creating a war with the Sacred Land in the middle? Count me out.”
Wait a second… Is that Lady Evelyn?
From three hundred years ago?!
Their style is different, but it feels just like her… How is this possible?!
My spell only works on the dead!
Archie laughs and sweeps his hands out wide.
“Does anyone else have something to say? Come on, don’t be shy.”
The three unknown figures around the desk remain silent, perhaps too intimidated by the Duke of Mahora to voice their concerns.
“Well would you look at that, it’s four against two. Sorry, but you’ve been overruled.”
A voting system with an even number of participants..?
Whoever designed this clearly wasn’t thinking straight.
There are only five major cities to begin with, so who’s the sixth person?
The opposing duke and duchess pull back, giving up for now in the face of the unfair system.
“Now that we’re all on the same page, I’m here to inform you all of the new plan Mahora will be putting into action. Since we’ve amassed enough wealth to rival even the Sacred Land, we’ll be closing our borders. From this moment forward, entry to the capital will require identification, and to reach the good stuff, you’ll need to be a person worthy of it. To enforce this change, walls will be built throughout Mahora, ensuring that no trouble enters the city under my watch. I’m giving you all time to prepare because this will inevitably slow down the money moving through your own cities, but unfortunately, this is a length we must go through. I trust you all understand.”
The ghosts rumble and groan, but nobody makes a direct counter to Archie’s decree.
The arrogant duke widely grins as he stands from his chair, then laughs and waves his staff as the spirits dissolve into nothingness with an air of finality.
The three living people in the chamber stand silently for a few moments as they absorb everything they just heard, connecting whatever dots they can in their minds.
After a while, Sherry breaks the silence with an astounding observation.
“That Archie guy sounded pretty bad.”
Leon nods enthusiastically, while Isaac holds his head and continues thinking.
It’s up to me.
These two idiots probably drowned half of that information out.
Think, what could this have to do with the late duke’s murder?
Is there anything at all to connect them?
“Leon… Did anything stick out to you about Archie? His appearance, perhaps?”
“Not really, but I wasn’t looking at him too closely! What did he have on?!”
“A tattered coat, an eye patch… He had a thick staff…”
“Oh! That staff! I couldn’t really tell since the spirits were all that weird bluish color, but it’s probably the gold staff Lord Alastair always carries around!”
“Is there anything special about it?”
“I don’t know… You’d be better off asking Lady Ilene!”
Right, I should’ve thought of that first.
“Alright… This should be enough for now. We don’t want to be gone too long and risk missing any developments at the castle.”
The odd group of acquaintances leaves the chamber after a while longer, each of them questioning the value of what they saw in the old meeting hall.
Isaac’s mind races during the walk back to the Gold District, but he’s missing a few essential pieces of the puzzle in front of him.
The sudden murder of the duke just a week before the Succession Election… Ryuu’s presumably looking into it, but I wonder how far he can get on his own… All the clues I have are a past meeting between what looked like the rulers of the five major cities, and a golden staff that seems to be passed down within the ruling family…
Leon’s right; I’ve got no choice but to meet with Ilene Mahora.
***Ryuu***
A dimly lit tunnel curves and narrows as Ryuu steadily continues onward past the abandoned mine.
There were a few more forks in the path along the way, but the mana signature he’d been tracking has grown stronger with every step, effortlessly leading him the correct way.
It’s been a little over an hour since he first found the secret passage, but his sense of time has already been lost.
After what feels like an eternity of the same scenery, the tunnel sharply slopes downward, and a bright light fills the space below.
The Blade bends his knees as he slides down into the light, which turns out to be a wide cavern with a low ceiling, and an enormous crystal jutting out of the ground.
It seems to be the source of the light, as the flashes of blue in the area match the deep, rich shade of blue inside of the crystal.
Ryuu’s [Mana Sense] detects monumental wells of energy inside of it, but he’s unable to read any further.
He resolves himself and steps forward, holding a hand out towards its void-like surface.
Just before his fingertips brush the enchanting crystal, a deafening boom echoes through the cavern.
“Halt! Who goes there, and what business do you have with the Ancient One?!”
“I’m Ryuu. What’s an ancient one?”
The resounding voice lowers its volume before responding to the man.
“I am the Ancient One! It was a title given to me by one of my successors, although I couldn’t tell you which one it was!”
“Okay, well, I wasn’t really looking for you. I was following a secret path, then the mana signature from this crystal caught my attention.”
“Ah, so you are a wanderer of the labyrinth! Perhaps if you share with me what it is you’re seeking, I could provide some assistance?!”
I guess it couldn’t hurt to try.
“The truth is, there was a murder in the city above here, and I have reason to believe that the killer used this labyrinth as both an entrance and exit. What can you give me with that information?”
“I may be the Ancient One, but I am not omniscient. The only thing I can say is that I do have knowledge on everything that happens inside of this area. There was a presence that moved in and out of where you came from recently, but their identity is unknown to me.”
“But you can tell me which direction they went, right?”
“I can, but-”
“Sweet! Hurry, I don’t have time to lose!”
The voice pauses for a moment, obviously caught off guard by Ryuu’s behavior.
“Are you truly not curious about the talking crystal in front of you?”
Ryuu shrugs while jogging in place.
“Not really. I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind this, but like I said, I’m in a hurry!”
“O-okay… The single figure I mentioned was last sensed in the far southern end of the labyrinth. You can get there the fastest by going through the path behind me.”
“Got it! Thanks, Big Blue!”
“Excuse me?”
The Ancient One’s voice wavers as Ryuu runs past them for the far passage.
The Blade charges toward the southern region of the labyrinth at full speed, eventually grabbing a torch from the wall along the way.
His flickering flame lights the way ahead through a winding passage of unending darkness, and fortunately, there are no branches.
Heavy footsteps echo off of the crumbling walls as his dark combat boots thud across the ground, then skid to a stop at a dead end.
The one-way passage has come to an end at a thick wall of dirt, leaving Ryuu with nowhere to turn.
This is clearly some kind of trick, since Big Blue confirmed someone went this way.
I think there was a magic art for disrupting traps and obstacles like this, but I never got around to learning it because I couldn’t use it in a fight…
Ryuu presses his hands on the surrounding walls and uses his [Mana Sense] to search for anything out of place, but he comes up empty.
After thinking through his options for a few moments, he rolls up his sleeves and casts [Piercing Claws] over his arms.
“If you can’t find a path, then make one.”
Golden claws begin shoveling through the earth with ease, pulling out large chunks with each swipe as the Blade steadily pushes ahead.
His face and hair are dirty by the end of it, but he eventually breaks through into a sacred-looking chamber.
Ankle-high water spreads evenly across the floor, maintaining a crisp, clear visibility no matter what contaminates it.
In the center of the shallow pool, an awe-inspiring statue stands tall, radiating a holy energy that fills the water.
The chiseled marble depicts a man with a solid staff in one hand, and a masterfully-decorated ring on the other, holding his treasures up high with a satisfied expression.
That staff, its design is definitely that of the Staff of Muvolgyin.
I’m not sure what that ring is, but if the person who took the staff passed through here, there may be some kind of significance.
A numbing sensation passes through Ryuu, then he realizes his legs are getting heavy.
“Wha-?!”
He drops to his knees as the water splashes up around him.
Despite channeling {Recovery} and pounding on his legs, the heaviness won’t seem to go away.
“I’m surprised someone was able to pursue me this far. Even more so that it was you of all people, Ryuu.”
A figure cloaked in white steps out from behind the statue, holding an orb in their hand that glows with a pale, malevolent light.
“I hope this artifact’s effect isn’t too potent for you. When meeting with someone as aggressive as you’ve proven to be, one cannot be too prepared.”
They speak in a sultry tone as they slowly approach, yet their pitch is distorted behind some sort of sound modifier.
Flowing white robes and a deep hood, as well as a mask without any holes or design, obscure most of their features, giving Ryuu nothing to go off of.
“Heh, with an outfit like that, you must be Morrell’s estranged brother. Am I right?”
The figure stops in place and looks down at themselves, then exasperatedly shakes their head.
“I would prefer you didn’t compare me to an underling who cannot accomplish the simplest of tasks. I am here in good will to hold a conversation with you, despite how easy it would be to take you with me right now.”
“Underling? Morrell?!”
It can’t be-!
“Indeed, I am the leader of the Eternal Order. The destruction of your home, the attacks on Mahora, Titania, and the rest of the Northern Reaches–they’ve all happened because I ordered it.”
“It was you!”
Veins bulge from Ryuu’s forehead as he strains his muscles and attempts to force his body off of the ground.
The boss watches with mild amusement as he struggles and wastes his energy.
“It’s no use. This A-grade artifact isn’t one that can be escaped so simply. Its paralysis effect is powerful, but in exchange, the range is limited to a single target. Though, that drawback doesn’t matter now. Unfortunately for you, the staff isn’t here.”
“Spare me the breakdown! Just tell me why you’re here! Are you the one that killed the duke?!”
“And if I am? Tell me, do you think you can do anything to stop what’s been set into motion? You’ve been a thorn in my side for some time now, but that ends today. Alastair’s death marks the beginning of the twenty-year-old plan to bring ruin to the Northern Reaches, and it all ends with you, Ryuu. Whether you realize it or not, your power is the key to realizing my dream.”
“Why should I care?! If you need my help so badly, you probably should’ve started with a greeting, or some money! Not killing everyone I know!”
“True.
I admit that we could have started off on better grounds.
As I said, Morrell is an uncontrollable idiot, though powerful and driven.
I apologize for making you suffer, but perhaps because of that, you will understand what it is I’m trying to do here.
Understand that I am not your enemy–the Sacred Land is.
And not just yours, but mine, and everyone else that lives in Kismet.
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
The boss sighs and conjures a flat, clear barrier in the air.
They sit on it and cross their legs, speaking with Ryuu as comfortably as one would with a pet.
“I’m afraid I don’t have time to give you a complete rendition of the north’s history, but what you should know is that its very foundation is a lie. Everything began after the battle against the black dragon, the battle itself taking days upon end, and the lives of two heroes. The last one standing, the Hero of Fortune, was never seen again, but many areas tell a version where the hero returns to the Blessed City shortly after. The true history, however, is that the Hero of Fortune fled. He found a way to change his appearance in a far off land, then assumed a new identity and returned to the Blessed City. It wasn’t long after his battle with the black dragon that the Blessed City became what is now known as the Sacred Land. ”
Ryuu stops straining himself, and wears a skeptical expression at the boss’ words.
“Even if what you’re saying is true, where’s the bad part? A hero creating a city should be a good thing.”
“You only think that because you do not know their true identity.
It’s best if you cast aside any notion of “goodness” when it comes to the heroes.
They were simply the three people most capable of accepting a god’s blessing at the time, and were by no means proper role models.
The Hero of Fortune was especially twisted, using his god-given abilities to enslave other species and take advantage of those weaker than himself.
One look at the Bronze District that was inspired by him is all it takes to prove that.”
“…”
“The true history has been lost to time, and with it, the true identity of this land’s corruption. Mahora’s poison has spread to the other major cities, and now, the Northern Reaches have lost what it means to truly be one with this world’s mana. We’re supposed to be a region of natural energy and spiritual ascension, but now, we bet money on fights, and teach children how to kill. It shouldn’t be allowed to stay this way, yet it will unless something is done. Join me, Ryuu, and I’ll spare all of your loved ones, as an apology for Morrell’s mistake before. Once the slate has been wiped clean, you’ll be free to lay claim to whatever home you’d like, and live in peace with your friends forever.”
Ryuu continues to sit silently for a while, his thoughts unreadable behind his measured gaze.
“…Is this supposed to be some kind of Eternal Order recruitment speech? Let me keep it simple for you. Your people destroyed my home, killed everyone I knew, attacked my new home, caused Lady Evelyn to overexert herself, then killed Ilene’s dad, and you still think I’m somehow gonna join you?! I don’t care what bullshit you spout about the past, what matters to me now is that you’ve fucked up my life, and I’m not gonna let you do the same to others!”
“Is this some kind of hero performance? Please. You’re not so noble, Ryuu. Do your new friends know about the amount of blood on your hands? How even if you were to save everyone in the castle, everyone in this district, it wouldn’t outweigh the lives you’ve taken?”
“Shut up… What do you know?!”
“I’ve known everything about you since the moment you were born. As soon as the hatchling was incarnated in this realm, I began my planning and bided my time, all for this moment. You think you know suffering, but let me assure you, once I take hold of the Staff of Muvolgyin and pair it with a certain Talent, this land will become dyed in red.”
“For what?! All so you can reshape it in your view?! At that point, you’re no better than Archie, or The Hero of Fortune!”
“Say what you will, but I cannot be swayed from this path.”
“Fine with me, because I don’t plan on settling this with words! You can say what you want about my past, but the one who pulled me off of that doomed path was Ilene, so I won’t allow you to fuck with her! I don’t care if it means killing every single one of you myself, I won’t let you take from me anymore!”
The boss’ body silently shakes in what might be amusement.
They reach into their robes and retrieve a small wand with a bright opal at the bottom, then point it at Ryuu.
“Worried about Ilene Mahora? You certainly seem to have grown close over this past month and a half, if you’re willing to throw everything away for her.”
“I don’t take this Blade gig lightly, unlike what some may think. I don’t care what happens, I’m on Ilene’s side until the end!”
“Let’s see what really lurks behind that wall in your mind then, shall we?”
They press the tip of the wand between Ryuu’s eyes, then a white light quickly flashes.
His eyes cross as he’s suddenly pulled out of his body and into a space of blank nothingness, much like his experience with Lady Evelyn.
While his unconscious body remains behind, the boss watches it silently with the wand still pressed against his head.
Soon enough, Ryuu returns to his body with a deep gasp of breath, and the boss stands from their barrier as they tuck the wand away.
“I see… You idolize her. Even though you’d never admit it, you think of her as the ideal, despite the flaws she’s already shown you. Is that why you fight so hard? To protect the one you admire?”
Ryuu falls forward and catches himself with his forearms, before weakly responding to the white-clad figure.
“I…don’t…know…”
The Blade groans as he recollects himself, managing to form a few words.
“I just…don’t…want to disappoint her.
That’s why… I don’t give a shit what reasons you claim to have… Ilene’s goal is to become Mahora’s duchess, so I’ll stop you and make it happen, no matter what!
“…What if I told you that was my goal here as well? Would that help you calm down and listen?”
“What reason could you possibly have for wanting Ilene to be in charge?!”
“I can’t share that much with you just yet, but it’s always been a part of the plan. Yes, you and Ilene have been moving parts in my plot since long ago, although the two of you crossing paths and forming your current relationship was beyond even my expectations. It certainly saves me some time in moments like this.”
“…”
“Ah, you’ve finally calmed down. Now that you’re properly listening, allow me to explain what I’m doing here. You see, for reasons I can’t share, Ilene Mahora needs to become the duchess of Mahora. Once she takes hold of the capital, my plans can truly set into motion, and within the week, the north will fall. I’ve had Alastair disposed of, and planted enough evidence for most eyes to be on Xander, so once the council takes a look at the options in front of them, it’s likely that Ilene will own the throne.”
Could that be why Xander was leading me around?!
He realized that since he was the only one to noticeably benefit from the death, suspicion would fall unto him.
Even though, ultimately, he was already favored to become the duke in a week, so he never would have had to resort to murder… He wanted me to use my position and support his innocence!
“There are some things that don’t line up with your story! You killed the duke for his staff, and with it you can set things off, but you don’t have it with you?! Not only that, but I thought that holding the staff was a ritual for those that rule Mahora, so how can Ilene become duchess with the staff missing?!”
“Hehehe, don’t worry about my side of things. Everything is proceeding smoothly. I’ve had fun talking with you, but this first meeting must come to a close. You’ll be staying down here until after everything is over, then I’ll send someone to pick you up. Maybe Hyouma, if he promises not to kill you.”
“Where do you think you’re going bitch?!”
Ryuu tries to lunge forward, but falls face-first into the shallow water.
The boss sets down the pale orb that’s weakening him right at the foot of the grand statue, then moves to step past him.
“That artifact will continuously release a curse that cuts off the function of half of your muscles. It’s configured so that it won’t target anything too important, but it’ll be impossible for you to move until we come back for you. The energy radiating from that statue will constantly refresh the artifact’s power source as well, just in case you were hoping you’d get out that way.”
“…So you’re just gonna go out there and kill everyone?!”
“You make it sound so vulgar. I’m going to make sure things go the way I want, then everything will begin anew. You’re one of the lucky few that has a guaranteed ticket to my new world, so you should at least open your mind and enjoy it.”
They leave with those words, and Ryuu has no choice but to watch them go from the floor of the chamber.
He’s about ten feet from the pale orb holding him down, and even if he tries to lift an arm to shoot it down, he’s not able to hold one up long enough to do so.
The confused and desperate Blade takes long, deep breaths, then begins to conserve his energy.
You’ve fucked with me for the last time, Eternal Order!
If it’s bloodshed you want, then once I bust out of here, I’m gonna rip every single one of you apart!