Chương 58: Runes
(Small spoiler for those that have not reached the third nightmare and its conclusion.)
The cathedral looked as grand as ever.
Entering through the main door, the scars of their previous battle still remained, with even more to count. With the black knight gone, many other nightmare creatures attempted to stake a claim on the territory. With the help of Bael, they made quick work of a set of Basilisks that took refuge in the dark corners of the cathedral.
Turning back to his apostle, Aldric ordered.
"Feel free to do whatever you want. This will be the last time we will set foot here for a very long time."
With that, he continued to walk inside the cathedral. Through the hallways lined with the rooms that priests and priestesses spent their time in, he was on the lookout for something out of the ordinary.
One of the walls in the hallway was raised, in some sort of secret passage. Aldric walked through it and followed in the dark. Walking for what seemed like minutes, twists and turns led him down beneath the cathedral. Right under the statue of the goddess.
Leading to a staircase, he descended down in a spiral. Deeper and deeper, he went.
Finally, a large black door entered his vision. It was made of the same material that made up his apostle. Lit by two ghostly torches, the massive door was wide open.
Entering through the door, a narrow room came into view. Scanning the room, all he could see were shapes written on the ground beside a pile of dust. All situated within an ominous circle formed out of runes.
Taking out a rudimentary pen and paper made by the artisans in the Bright Castle from his [Stone Coffer], he jotted down the lines of runes. While the basic translation of the nightmare spell could help him understand the themes behind the runes, that was not what he was after.
He wanted to be able to use it. Just like whoever built these torches to burn for more than a millennia in a closed room. Just like whoever built the runes in the circle that sealed the follower of Weaver. That was his goal.
It was an overzealous goal. Without someone to teach him, it would be as if you were trying to write a book in a language that you just learned. It was a daunting task. However, what else could Aldric do? Seeing an opportunity for growth, there was no way he could be afraid of failure.
He could understand the meanings of the runes from his lessons back in the academy; however, he could not understand the method that brought them together and gave them power. The rules and all. It was something to study.
The ancient room had clear signs of recent entry. From the opened door to the footprints in the dust. And that was what Aldric was waiting for.
With no chance of entering the chamber without the iron key, he had to wait for Sunny and his [Mark of Divinity] to find it within the Lord of the Dead. Without the attribute guiding him, it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack that was attempting to kill you. There was no chance that he would subject himself to that.
He did not know the runic protections that the room had against those that attempted to force entry. Getting stuck in a runic entrapment this deep underground with no one to help was not a good way to die.
Aldric had entertained the idea of pilfering Weaver's mask when he had learned of his flaw. Wearing that mask every time he was in the dream realm was a small price to pay. To avoid being corrupted by any strong nightmare creature that crossed his path. Some deeper thought made him ditch the idea.
Unlike Sunny, his flaw was not that simple to have a reverse that was easily imagined. The inverse of honesty was lying. What was the inverse of corruption?
Like a djinn trying to grant wishes while looking for ways to maximise the suffering of their summoner, Aldric did not know what he would receive.
Perhaps he will become a vessel for corruption and release it into the world, automatically corrupting himself and those around him. Perhaps he would descend down the path of profanity just like nightmare creatures instead of the path of ascension. He could even be susceptible to divinity or those higher on the path of ascension, like Saints and Masters. He had no clue.
'The enemy that is known is better than the one that is unknown.'
His eyes went to the runes that were scribbled beside the pile of dust. The spell translated for him:
"Hail Weaver
Demon of Fate
Firstborn
of the -unknown-"
Revulsion and pain entered his mind. Fighting the feeling, he reaffirmed what he knew.
"Forgotten God... That's their damn name, you stupid spell."
With that revelation, the pain passed through his body. Reaffirming to the spell that he knew exactly what it refused to translate, it was pointless now. This was reflected in his sight as the runes for 'unknown' shifted to the 'Forgotten God'.
Looking away from the runes, he completed one final look at the room. There was nothing else of value. This was not the lair of a daemon or the temple of a god. Part of him just wanted to explore the areas that he had read about. Completing all the known locations in the Forgotten Shore aside from the Ashen Barrow.
With that, he finished his task and returned back to the grand hall of the cathedral.
It was not surprising to find Bael standing in front of the goddess' statue. Transfixed like a statue himself, he was basking in her visage one last time.
"Bael. We have to go."
Looking at his master, Bael began to walk towards him. Giving the statue one final look, he left.
Aldric noticed a new addition on his apostle. A ruby necklace connected by silver chains that hanged around his neck. Observing the emotions from his apostle, he paid it no mind and continued walking.
----------
Preparing for sleep, Aldric was in the Bright Castle. Taking up one of the rooms in the eastern tower. After taking over the castle, it was more strategic for everyone to live closely. Even Sunny and himself.
With nothing to occupy his mind before morpheus took him to sleep, he went within his soul sea. Commanding the tesseract to summon in front of him, he could see that the mysterious relic was still making work of the corpse that Aldric had fed it. Remembering what it did to the [Mantle of the Underworld]—fixing it and making it operable when it should not have—he wondered what he would gain from the corpse of at the very least a high-ranking stone saint to perhaps one of the seven that Nether favoured. His intuition knew that he would be rewarded. After all, that was the point of Tesseract. To find relics and pieces that related to its creator. Bringing with it boons and rewards.
With the final battle tomorrow, it would definitely not resolve itself beforehand. So Aldric pushed the thought away.
As he enveloped himself in the soft silk bedding, a knock rang on his door. With contained annoyance, he approached the door shirtless with loose trousers on.
Opening the door revealed a small figure that reached his upper chest. Having grown taller in the year that he stayed in the dream realm, the figure that used to reach his chin was now dwarfed by him.
The figure was like a porcelain doll. Adorned in white cloth like a Greek goddess, her golden blond hair shun brightly in the face of the moonlit hallway. Her eyes were opened just enough to see a set of ocean blue irises. However, her demeanour and aura did not match her dainty appearance.
Not giving him a moment to speak, the blind girl spoke first.
"Aldric, we need to talk."
**********
Thank you for reading again.
Double upload, felt bored this Sunday.
As for the spoiler warning, this will be the last time I will do it. It seems annoying to keep up and interrupts the flow of reading. Just assume that from now on, this story could contain stuff relating beyond the point in the story that I am writing. I will of course not write it explicitly and it will be interwoven in the story in a way that makes sense.
Appreciate the words of support, Ka1serMax.
That's it for the yap. Till next time.
Chương 59: Manipulation
"Aldric, we need to talk."
The blind girl uttered in an assured tone. As if this conversation were ordained.
Her robe did little to hide the subtle curves of her matured body. Pale but soft shoulders were exposed to the air as well as parts of her sternum. The sight would be enticing to any man that looked her way.
Summoning his silk robes to cover his torso, Aldric stepped aside to let her into his room. Closing it as she entered.
Using her floating rapier to guide her to an adequate seat, she sat on the wooden chair beside his bed. Following her, he took a seat on his own bed. Leaving a sizeable gap between them. Enough to hold a conversation.
In the silence before she spoke, Aldric was thinking about what she wanted to talk about exactly. Given the importance of tomorrow, he knew that it related to the final siege. While his rational brain could not think of a possible reason, his intuition spelt it out to him. Jogging certain memories regarding the original conclusion of the Forgotten Shore.
"I'm sure you wondered why my gaze seems to linger around you more than necessary."
Cassie spoke.
Aldric thought in response to what she just said.
'She's really laying it all out, huh?'
He responded, acting slow.
"Isn't it because of your aspect? You can see the attributes of other sleepers."
Cassie's lips formed into a hard line.
"We both know there is more to it than that. Does the word [Destined] ring a bell?"
She responded in a calculative tone.
It was weird to Aldric. Hearing something so personal come from the mouth of someone else. Any regular person would have no reason to know such a thing, but Cassie was different.
Aldric did not want to entertain her move, so he kept quiet.
Guessing his mood, she continued.
"You see, my visions are very vague; however, what they aren't is inaccurate. Before you had arrived in the outer settlement, I knew how the end of this story would play. A play that you were not a part of."
Aldric kept quiet. Allowing her to continue her monologue.
"You weren't meant to be there. On the expedition, in the cathedral, or even in the war. But you were. Did you not wonder why I welcomed you into the outer settlement so easily? At a time when Gunlaug sent spies by the dozen. It was that attribute."
Her uncovered eyes widened as she stared at him.
"But you see, it is not all powerful."
Now that surprised Aldric. He wanted to see exactly how his attributes looked from the eyes of a seer.
"From when we met, I continued to have visions. The same visions, but ever so different. Ones that included you. All beginning to converge in a familiar scene. It seems that fate is not that easy to overcome."
Her behaviour was erratic. Constantly shifting where she was looking. It was as if he was not in the room as she explored her thoughts.
Her face screwed into a look of displeasure as she imagined something terrible. Looking straight at Aldric with a face pleading for help.
"All I came to ask of you is that for tomorrow, whichever way this ends. Protect Nephis and Sunny. It might be too late; however, I can't tell you anymore without affecting things, but please."
She stood up and gripped his shoulders from where he sat down. Invading his personal space.
"I might have ruined it already, but please help them!"
In Aldric's eyes, all he could see was a fragile girl. A girl who already overcame insurmountable odds to reach so far with such a debilitating flaw.
He stayed quiet.
Aldric could feel primal emotions begin to form within him. Like any man, protecting such a vulnerable woman was not a wrong thing.
Any other person would agree to whatever she asked of them. Perhaps in an act of kindness. Or someone who was unable to refuse such a heartfelt request. Or even a manipulative person, wondering how they could benefit from having such a vulnerable girl ask something from them so earnestly.
But Aldric was different. He was not controlled by kindness and integrity. He was not controlled by greed, hoping to gain favour from agreeing to this task. Or even desire having such a beautiful girl begging for his help.
His [Insight] did not alert him of anything, showing its weakness in determining non-direct dangers and manipulations made against him.
So while any other person would crumble in front of such a request, his [Tranquil Core] helped him in removing any vested emotions in the subject. With cold rationality, his answer was clear.
No.
Tomorrow would be a day of slaughter. Even if they won, no one knew exactly who would be left standing. Beside surviving tomorrow's battle, nothing else was on the majority of the sleepers minds. To attempt that battle while worrying about two perfectly capable people. Especially their leader, Nephis. It was frankly silly.
As for Aldric, he had his own plans for how tomorrow would play out.
His voice spoke into the silent room.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I really don't. If I see Nephis and Sunny needing help or in danger, I will not hesitate to help them."
Cassie's face did not seem pleased with the wording of his answer; however, in her eyes, this was the best that she could hope for without giving him more information. What if telling him resulted in both Nephis and Sunny dying? She had already made a mistake in detailing her prophecy to both of them the first time around. She often wondered if that was what caused it to cement in the annals of fate.
With a small nod of her head. The conversation was over.
Giving her a reassuring hand on her shoulder, he escorted her to her room. Knowing how certain people may act seeing the highly respected 'Lady Cassie' in such a vulnerable manner.
Walking back from her room, Aldric couldn't help but chuckle. It was so easy to see past what she was attempting to do. This was not a webtoon based around young awakened coming into their maturity. Characters were not one-dimensional.
From the clothing of choice, the prolonged eye contact, the physical touch, and vulnerability. Playing the damsel in distress.
Aldric knew.
This was most likely Cassie playing her final card. Knowing that she already chose Nephis over Sunny, this was her playing it safe. Giving up her responsibility in a way. Introducing a final variable to make sure things did not go out of hand. While she could have asked Effie or Kai, neither of them were in the same league as Nephis and Sunny. Caster was not a choice to even consider based on his allegiance. Where as Aldric was in the perfect position to do something. An attribute that acted against fate and the power to act.
It made him wonder how much of their friendship over nearly a year led up to this request.
"I understand your motivations, Cassie. But something like this won't stop me."
Going back to his room, he removed his robe and entered his cool bed.
Inhale
Exhale
He fell asleep.
**********
The next morning was surprisingly calm. Everyone went about their morning. Most had breakfast one last time. Others did not have the appetite. After eating his breakfast, Nephis asked her group, including himself and Seishan, to follow her.
Entering into a small room deep within the castle, she spoke.
"It's time. Summon your memories."
All those that harboured the memories relating to the seven heroes summoned them. In a coalescence of light, a beam began to form between them as they got closer.
That was all that Aldric could see before the show finished. Sunny, Effie, Nephis, and Seishan had all received some kind of feedback as they were obviously staring in their runes.
To confirm this, Nephis spoke.
"We're ready."
----------
A few hours later, a large procession of over 600 sleepers left the Bright Castle. Marching through the culled streets of the Dark City, the castle behind them collapsed in flames. The idea was not theirs but the residents of the castle. Aldric did not care either, but he helped them. He always had pyromaniacal tendencies when he was younger. It was fun to watch things burn.
It would be a long march, but they would make it.
West.
To the Crimson Spire.
**********
Thank you for reading.
We are in the final stretch. You guys ready for this?
Cassie tried it. Your boy was not falling for that.
Haze_Plank: I get you to be honest. I've done that with fanfics that crossover a verse I haven't watched. Trust me though, Shadow Slave is peak.
That is all, till the next one.
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