13 Gladiator

Eris Kea, Unifier of the Geshian Tribes - Gaia gave us the strength to move forward, to rise above our limitations. Of course there were sacrifices, but they proved necessary for her plan. What is a little blood in the face of divinity?"

Sophia chimed in, “Actually, we haven’t.”

Frowning, Drake said, “I lead the guard that surround the outer wall. I’m also known as the knight of Nern around here.”

I placed a hand on my chest before giving a slight bow and saying, “I am Jericho. I have no last name, and I’ve come here on my journey towards Nelastra. I’ve heard Gaia’s call, and I wish to heed it. Would you mind me staying here for some personal business in town?”

He pursed his lips as I glanced at him, my eyes laughing. Meeting yet another member of the Donovan family shocked me, yet I embraced the surprise with a strange delight. They lived west of Mareovosa, but I never imagined seeing someone so soon. They held a sizable power, though I’d never heard any tangible details of their situation.

My father exiled himself in order to marry my mother, so no ties remained between me and the Donovan family, except our history. This member must have been a nephew of a duke sent out for training and to see the world. I felt no ill will towards him, and even though he held himself in high regard, I often did the same. A man’s pride can carry him through dark times. Drake used it when he needed the motivation.

I understood the man’s skepticism as well, so I stood with a jovial grin, patiently paused. After he crossed his arms, he said, “You wouldn’t mind giving me something more solid form of proof, would you?”

I raised an eyebrow as I said, “What would you have in mind? Perhaps a test for the mind or a few athletic feats?”

“How about a short spar in the city’s colosseum, without any lethal weapons of course.”

The man spoke with a measure of respect, so I said in a tone matching his own, “Sounds fun. I could use a little exercise after all this walking anyway. It’s good for keeping my limbs limber.”

Drake raised his lance as he said, “Alright then. Come with me. I’ll take you there.”

The older guard grabbed Drake’s foot as he said, “Now settle down Drake. We need to check their possessions first to make sure they aren’t in line with the Darkened One.”

Drake brushed off his concern with a wave of his hand as he said, “A man comes heeding the call of Gaia and you spit in his face by accusing him of serving The Darkened One? Sure, he seems part Geshian, but they serve Gaia even more than the Bastion Empire. Quiet yourself, fool.”

“But sir-“

“That’s enough. I am your commanding officer. Stand down.”

The older guard released Drake before apologizing for his rudeness. As we followed him through the streets of Nern, the baking of bread and the warm wind graced us on all sides. Smells of cinnamon and cider danced with the bread, making my mouth water. Hooves and horseshoes clapped on stone along with idle chatter, bathing the town in a dull hum.

The city’s sweet presentation shattered as six men pushed a carriage down the street. Sweat dripped from their foreheads and soaked their ragged, burlap shirts. Their grunts grated my skin, their struggle all too apparent. This town thrived on slavery.

Serfs of all sizes and shapes pushed and groveled in the town. The brands across their foreheads and cheeks left no question of their status, and their worn, weary motions continued with an aimless tedium. The chips in their nails and the cuts on their hands led to the iron muscles of their forearms as they gripped with a quiet strength.

Deluge had healed the brand across my forehead after fusing with me, along with all my other scars, but I still remembered those times. The endless days of exhaustion. The empty horizons without any hope for the future. Being viewed as a person’s property…few things could debilitate so absolutely.

My experience had proved far better than most, but even at my young age, I understood what horrors hid behind closed doors. The Arcanum had taught me that, and I intended on my own form of retribution as revenge.

Those thoughts bashed against the edges of my mind as I said, “It’s rude of me, not naming my other companions as well.” We walked side by side of his horse as I placed my right arm around Joan’s waist while saying, “This is my lover, Joan. She is an able fighter who once practiced gemchaining as well.”

Drake bowed in response as he said sarcastically, “I’d hope for no less from someone paired with the mighty Jericho.”

Frowning, Sophia said, “Who was it that had to tell us their fancy nickname? You, right?”

I frowned as I said, “Let’s not make friends into enemies. My friends are enough for me already.”

Joan leaned on me as she said, “Sometimes I think I’m too much for you.”

I rolled my eyes as I said, “Only when you want to be.”

“Isn’t that always?”

Sophia coughed before Joan and I snapped from our banter. I coughed in my hand before saying, “And my other friend here is Sophia. She’s adept with many fields of study, so ask her any questions you need answering. Knowing her, she’ll answer like a viper’s fangs.”

Sophia crossed her arms with a haughty smile as Drake bowed towards her and said, “Noted. She doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut.”

Sophia replied, “And you seem to know when to keep your mouth open. Always.”

I frowned as I said, “Come now. He gave us a single snide remark. Will you hate him forever for it?”

“No, but I won’t like him for it either.”

I nodded as I said, “Eh, fair enough.”

Drake busted into laughter before saying, “You have fine friends Jericho. They keep you on your toes.”

I shrugged as I said, “I’d rather be on my toes then have a nail in my heel.”

Another deep, full laugh exploded from Drake before he replied, “I can see why you were so popular in Dresdel. Most champions lack charisma, so you must have been a refreshing change of pace.”

Joan chimed, “You seem rather charming yourself.”

I turned towards her as I said, “Come now Joan, you’ll make me jealous.”

With a mischievous grin, Joan replied, “A woman’s heart is an ever-changing thing. You must fight to keep it.”

I rolled my eyes before saying, “Then I devote this next fight to you, oh fair maiden.”

Joan giggled hugging closer to me and saying, “Good. I wouldn’t mind a little spoiling.”

I look overhead before reaching a hand at the sky and saying, “Oh ruler of the skies and owner of the stars, please, heed my call.”

Joan glanced in surprise before I continued with unnecessary volume and sarcasm, “Though I am but a dull insect crawling on the earth, may you please gift me but a moment with this shining queen of beauty.”

Nearby traveler’s glanced in confusion at us as Joan blushed. She punched my side while saying, “Come now, stop it. I was just joking.”

I turned towards her before saying, “As was I.”

“You all have quite...a way with words I take it?”

I turned towards him before I said, “Only when my eyes drink the waters of beauty.” I turned towards Joan before saying, “Fortunately, an ocean of it walks beside me.”

Joan glared at me, embarrassed as I said, “Though sometimes I think the water’s been poisoned.”

A reluctant grin grew on her face as the others laughed before I turned towards the colosseum. Larger than I imagined, the dim roar of the crowd hummed in our heels and heads. The red, aged stone stood with cracks and ruts lining its surface. The scent of sweat radiated while the cool of the rock beneath my feet leaked through my shoe...well, my feet I suppose.

We walked towards the entrance, each person around us frenzied and feverous. Groups of mercenaries walked through the entrance without waiting in line as they waved at the receptionist. We mirrored them as Drake walked up past the line towards the gate. He waved as he said,

“Set up the next fight as Jericho versus Drake – juggernaut versus knight. The crowd will go wild.”

A middle aged man with beady eyes and enough fat for a family replied, “That sounds positively ravishing. I’ll let the organizers know. Is it a real fight or…”

I shook my head before saying, “Just a friendly spar.”

The man grinned as he said, “Of course. Right this way sirs.”

Another man escorted Joan and Sophia towards a set of stairs towards the stands while Drake and I paced downwards. We reached beneath the stadium before two helmeted men walked towards us. Without explanation, Drake followed one of them while I took the hint and followed the other one, though in the opposite direction.

Moving faster than I expected, we reached a set of stairs leading towards a gate, the scent of dried blood leaking from it. The man explained a baseline of rules, though none of them surprised me. No quitting, no running, and no mercy. Simple.

After waiting for half an hour, the crowd’s dull hum peaked into a tremendous roar as the gate in front of me rose. Rows and rows of people screamed, many red in the face. An arena of orange limestone greeted me, large as a small field. At the other side, Drake stood behind a gate, waiting with his arms crossed.

The next gate ahead of me rose. Pacing up the steps and onto the limestone, a booming voice echoed,

“Today, we have a special surprise. You have all heard of Jericho, the juggernaut? Of course you have, he slayed the dragon towards the Northeast. He is the champion of Dresdel, and he has come here to Nern!”

The ground rumbled as the voices peak in anticipation. After letting the crowd die down, the announcer continued, “He has accepted a challenge from our own champion, Drake Donnovan!”

The onlookers found a way to scream even louder before the announcer said, “They have both agreed to an armless duel with gemchains allowed. Are you all ready for a duel of the ages? A fight so fearsome and ferocious that your children will tell tales of this day?”

As he spoke, I peered at Drake. Two gems lined his palms, each glowing bright blue. I frowned at the sight since a gemchainer could easily kill even a master swordsmen. Some spar this would be. Still, after gorging myself on the smell of blood, adrenaline pumped through my veins. Exhilaration engulfed annoyance. The hunt overcame all else.

Grabbing my left wrist with my right hand, I rolled my shoulders before cracking my neck. As if fulfilling a ritual, I cracked the fingers of my left hand with my thumb as I waited. The announcer shouted, “This is he, Jericho the juggernaut, slayer of dragons!”

I spread my arms overhead while flashing a grin at my audience. I’d preformed on many stages in my youth, though this one dwarfed them all. No matter the number of people, I never froze in front of them. I embraced the rush as my muscles tensed with anticipation. Like starving wolves, my fists clasped close, each hungry and ready for war.

The sudden shift from a gentle giant into an animal set Drake off balance. A bead of cold sweat dripped down his forehead before the announcer shouted, “You all know this man. The bandit slayer. The forgotten prince. The knight of Nern, Drake Donovan!“

Drake’s gate rose along with the hairs across his neck. The announcer continued, “Are the competitors read?”

I slammed my fists together, banging like to bricks. Drake nodded before the announcer said, “Then off to battle!”

I let my body fall forward before outstretching a leg forward. Right as my foot touched the ground, the dirt beneath me detonated as I dashed towards Drake. A devilish grin appeared on my face as my steps echoed through the cracking earth. Like a stampede, I rumbled the earth as I ran towards him. Heavy like a hailstorm, each of my stomps crushed the limestone.

Drake’s expression disfigured as fear and horror squirmed onto his face. No thoughts of fighting me came forth any longer, only plots for escape, yet he stood surrounded by walls of red brick. Nothing may save him from me.

As I reach within fifteen feet from him, the familiar crumbling of metal enters my ears as he begins his chains. Spikes of densified earth stab towards me, but lower my charge as they pass overhead.

Lifting up, I smashed through them, each crumbling like toothpicks before a wall of fire shot towards me. Ready and waiting, my heel slams into the ground beneath me as I use the force of my charge for force. My foot channels the power of my rush up through my hips before I torqued my arms overhead.

Right as the flames reached me, I slammed both my fists straight into the ground, fragmenting the earth near me. A shockwave exploded from the strike as shards of rock raised around me, whipping the fire away. I jerked my hands from the crater and laughed.

Gripping a slab of soil six feet tall and a hundred pounds, I lobbed the missile with an underhanded grip towards Drake. He ducked under the projectile before I gripped another with my arm behind me.

Louder than thunder, the sound of shearing iron rips through my ears before I pull my outstretched arm back towards me while pushing the shard of soil overhead. At the same time, particles of ice glow before snapping into the shape of spear in front of Drake. He lept forward while arcing his hands over his head. As he landed, he squatted downwards while pulling his hands downwards.

His arms move as if pulling a heavy stone before the chunk of freshly formed ice slides forward like a bullet. My arm finishes its toss before the earthen shard slams into the speeding spear of ice. The frozen water and earth slam into one another, creating a nova of sound and dust.

Faster than lightning, the spear stabbed through the soil. As I stared at it, time slowed down as the fury of fighting surged in my blood and bones. I leaned forward before slamming my arms together and clenching my hands with enough force to shatter steel.

My fingers gripped onto the cold weapon, and the inertia of the weapon dragged me backwards. Sliding ten feet, I pushed with my arms and shoulders as my muscles strained against the projectile’s momentum. My feet dug deep trenches into the arena before I grinded to a halt.

After taking a breath, I rose from my deep lunge before pulling the ice the ice apart from overhead. Gripping the ice, I slung the shards into the ground beside me before my eyes met Drake’s. He stared with his arms lowered and his shoulders drooping. The scaled hydra skin I wore shined in the sun as I growled,

“Had enough?”

A surprising laugh escapes his chest before he leaned backwards, bursting into a wild, loud laughter. The crowd’s silence accentuated the display before he raised a hand towards me and said,

“I surrender, Jericho. You are the victor.”

The crowd detonates into applause before I stretch my arms wide. Embracing the atmosphere, I roared along with them before pounding my chest with my right hand three times. I saturated in the splendor before I paced towards the wobbling knees of Drake. After reaching him, I said,

“What kind of ice was that? It was harder than iron.”

Drake shook his head while staring at the ground. Glancing at his hands, he said with an unrestrained awe,

“And yet you not only caught it barehanded, you snapped it in half afterwards.”

I put an arm over his shoulder before pulling him towards me and saying, “I’ll be the first to admit I got lucky.”

“And I’ll be the first to admit you're full of shit. You didn’t get lucky. I lost.”

I pulled him up from under his armpit as I said, “No. You fought as a champion.” The wiggling of his knees and the paleness of his skin told me how drained he was. He threw every ounce of strength he had into those chains, and seeing them fail so spectacularly must have hurt his confidence. I wouldn’t allow it.

He warred well. He deserved his confidence. I kept him standing tall and proud as he left, each of us arm in arm while waving and smiling at the crowd. The sportsmanlike display spurred the crowd as we left, and whenever we walked out towards the primary entrance, droves of people pressed towards us.

Questions assaulted us from all sides before I rose a hand and shouted, “Forgive me, my people. We are weary from battle, and we both need our rest after such a fierce fight, but know this.”

Using my free hand, I gestured over the crowd as I said, “Drake lived up to his name in this battle. He fought like fire, and just like a dragon, he faced me head on with all his strength. Praise be to Drake Donovan, the knight of Nern.”

I raised my hand in the shape of a fist while shouting, “Hail Drake.” The crowd around us raised their own hands while echoing my own words.

As I walked while helping Drake, the crowd moved aside before we reached the entrance. No guards or receptionists stood at the exit, so without any goodbyes needed, we skulked out, finding Sophia and Joan. Answering a storm of questions for hours sounded tedious at best, so we left with Drake through several alleyways.

Drake’s exhaustion eventually ended. Whenever he caught his breath, he offered us a stay at his home. We were all too happy but to oblige him. Near the Northern center of town, we reached a walled off estate. Past the stone gates, we entered his extravagant home. A courtyard full of flowers and mosaics of marble laid at the center. A dual set of steel plated steps led up towards a black door embroidered with bronze.

The tasteful surroundings led to a tasteful entrance as we stepped through a wooden doorway. The pleasant cool of the air surprised me as sapphires glowed at even intervals, each gem radiating cold. A chandelier hung from the roof with glowing bits of glass, each piece shining yellow at its center.

Past the chandelier stood a set of stairs covered in a red rug. The fluffy carpet hugged your feet as you stepped across it, and after simmering in the heat of outside, we welcomed the refreshing chill in the air. Comfortable would be an understatement. This was indulgence.

As we stood gawking at the luxury, a maid walked up with a tight fitting uniform accentuating her figure. The unneeded exposure explained itself as she spoke with a sultry, seductive voice, “Master Drake, it’s good to see you. Is there anything you need?”

Drake replied, “Yes actually. If you wouldn’t mind, could you grab a few glasses of juice for my compatriots and I?”

She bowed deeply before saying, “Of course, master. Right away.”

Drake continued, “Make sure their chilled ones as well. We’ll be waiting with father.”

After nodding in response, the maid paced out with a walk both hurried and leisurely. As she slid into a corridor at our side, Drake said, “He’s right up the stairs in the central room.”

We reached a dual doorway before Drake nudged himself from me while saying, “Thank you for the help thus far, but I wouldn’t want my father seeing me in this sorry state.”

Sophia replied, “You fought Jericho. You’re lucky to live.”

Drake replied, “After facing him myself, I agree, but we can talk about the battle later. I want you all to meet a few members of my family. We have a situation that might require might require a group with your...talents.”

Joan propped onto one of her hips before saying, “We’re on a journey of our own at the moment. Kinda busy.”

Drake nodded before saying with a slight and sly smile, “We can make it worth your while. Father will explain it.”

After pacing up the rugged stairs, Drake knocked on a set of dual doors before shouting, “Is father there? There’s something important I need to tell him.”

A maid replied, “Master’s enjoying his evening tea with a guest. I’ll ask him on your behalf, Master Drake.”

He replied, “Thank you, Rosella.”

My chest panged as I froze in place. This was the same Rosella I met at Geralt’s mansion many months ago. We walked through a maze of roses and flowers, but she chose staying alone rather than coming with me. Sophia and Joan eyed me nervously before I bit my lip and said, “Oh man.”

Drake turned towards me and said, “What is it?”

I blinked before saying, “Is that maid new, perhaps hired a year ago perchance?”

Drake raised an eyebrow before saying, “Uhh, actually, yes. How did you know that?”

I shrugged before saying, “We have a history.”

Drake elbowed my side before saying, “Ahhh, you have good taste then. She’s quite the looker.”

I said, “She’s owns a quiet beauty, but we never went past courting. She shot me down before we really started anything.”

Sophia and Joan stared at me before I glanced between them and said, “What?”

Sophia snapped, “What the hell. Are you always after women?”

I frowned before saying, “We only spoke a few times. She won’t recognize me either. That was before I’d grown into…well, what I am now.”

The doors opened as Rose stood before us with her gaze lowered. She bowed towards Drake before saying, “Master has allowed it. He’s this way.”

She turned and guided us down a hallway before we reached a white set of doors adorned with silver. She opened them before guiding us inside, revealing a room with a wall of windows. Light leaked through the glass, lighting a long, empty table. At the end of the table, a man and a women chatted with a jovial atmosphere between the two.

As we followed Rosella, the two nobles glanced at us with surprise struck faces. Reaching them, Rosella bowed deeply before the man at the head of the dinner table said with a booming and bold voice, “Hello there Drake. What brings you here at this time of day? And what’s with the geshian and two girls?”

Drake gave a far shallower bow before saying, “Hello father. There’s three people I’d like you to meet.”

He points towards us while saying, “The robed girl is Sophia. The hooded girl’s Joan, and the tall one’s Jericho.”

As Drake said my name, the man leaned forwards, interested. The man said, “Would this happen to be the Jericho I’ve heard so much about?”

Drake replied, “Yes. We fought in the arena, and even after I used all I had, he still beat me handily. He even carried me out of the arena so I wouldn’t collapse in front of everyone.”

The man’s eyebrows raised before he stood and walked over with curiosity plastered on his face. He reached out a hand, his head a full foot shorter than my chin as he said,

“My name’s Daniel Donovan. It’s good to meet you Jericho.”

I shook his hand, yet my fingers engulfed his like grabbing the hand of a child as I said, “It’s wonderful to meet you as well. I hope we may help one another.”

He nodded before placing a hand on his chest and bowing towards Sophia and Joan as he said, “It’s good to meet you both as well.”

Sophia grabbed the edges of her robe as she performed a curtsy while saying, “I’ve heard much about you, almost all of it good. I’m glad to meet you.”

Joan taps her thighs before saying, “Uhhhhh. Nice to meet you too.”

Daniel grinned before saying, “Would you all enjoy some tea as well? I was having a captivating conversation with lady Isabelle, but I wouldn’t mind your company as well.”

Drake gestured a hand outwards while saying, “I had Elise grab them chilled juice instead. I hope you don’t mind.”

An almost imperceptible change occurred on Daniel’s face as Drake said so. His left eye twitched ever so slightly, but I caught the little glitch. They must have only brought out juice for important guests, which meant they wanted something big.

After the twitch, Daniel continued without dropping a beat, “It’s no problem. We can’t have thirsty guests after all.”

He turned towards us while saying, “Please, sit. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Joan said, “Heheh, Sophia and I will take you up on the offer, but Jericho will just lean on a knee instead. He’ll snap the chair if he sits on it. He’s been drinking too much ale lately.”

I frowned as I glanced at her before she giggled in response. Daniel replied, “I meant no offense with the gesture.”

I replied after lunging onto a knee, “None taken.”

We sit down before Drake tells how we met and the fight that followed. Energy bleeds into his words as he speaks, yet his telling varies from my own. He describes me as a juggernaut running through his attacks with ease before letting him surrender just as he could hardly stand.

I disagreed on multiple points, but Drake denied my claims with a vicious tenacity. Instead of denying his loss, he built up my victory as a feat defying the feasible. He described in vivid detail the fear plunging into his chest at the start of the fight, and how he let loose all of his most powerful chains without holding back despite it being a spar.

I could see his tactic. He wanted his father’s attention while glossing over his defeat as an eventual outcome. Clever. It worked as his father listened with an attentive gaze and open ears before Drake finished with his invitation here. After a moment, Daniel turned towards us and said,

“It seems as though all the rumors were true and even more.”

As he finished his words, three knocks echo from the white door before Elise comes in. She carries a silver tray lined with ornate glass cups, each coated in a thin layer of ice on the outside. From the top of the glasses, a sort of fog emits, pouring over the cups. They looked like a witch’s potion.

After bringing them over, she sets the three glasses in front of us in a single smooth action, both attentive and able. After bowing, she stays at the entrance without a word. I tasted the liquid myself. It’s safe, so the others drink without worry. Deluge can taste any poisons or potions in the juice.

After a couple sips, the tangy, sour taste of the juice lingered in my mouth. Elise leaves with Drake as I grinned while saying, “Fighting’s one of my strong points. The companions you see here round out my faults. They are the unsung heroes of my journey so far, and both of them deserve praise.”

Cupping her cheek in a hand, Isabelle squints her eyes into slits as she said, “So what are you thanking them for specifically? Surely they’ve done more than mundane labor.”

I stretched out a hand and counted on my fingers as I said, “Joan’s mother and father were mercenaries, so she learned all there is too know of gemchaining. She helps me with incorporating various styles of combat into my own while giving me a reference for using gemchains during combat. She’s a powerful fighter in her own right as well.”

I outstretch my left hand towards Sophia as I said, “Sophia, on the other hand, understands soul forging and alchemy. During the fight with the dragon, she assisted with the poisons I used on my blade. She assisted me during the healing process afterward by doctoring my wounds. She also assisted with procuring and enchanting this set of hydra skin I’m wearing now.”

I smirked before saying, “Though now I can’t call them unsung heroes.”

Part of what I said had been true. Joan and I often discussed the best methods for countering gemchaining, and Sophia gave more than a bit of valuable information on the best defensive measures when facing the draconic menace. All of her tips pointed towards not being in its mouth, but learning from advice always proved easier than following it.

Regardless, my poignant response evoked a pleased smile from Isabelle as she glanced in approval. Releasing the side of her face, she leaned towards Joan and Sophia while saying, “So, from what he’s said, you both seem rather talented in your own respects.”

She pointed at me as she said, “You seem able as well. This is quite the set of circumstances since I’ve actually found myself in a precarious situation as of late.”

Daniel placed a hand on her shoulder as he said, “I can explain it from here if you’d like.”

She folds her hand onto his as it rests on her shoulder before looking back at him and saying, “That won’t be necessary, but thank you for the polite offer.”

Without removing her hand, she turned towards us before saying, “Recently, there has been a formation of some cult that follows the Darkened One. I doubt that evil demon has any involvement with them, but they use the thing’s name so that they can attract people drawn to chaos.”

She glanced out the window as she said, “They’ve begun performing terrorist acts against any group with power in several cities, but particularly here in Nern. They’ve been mostly harmless, but they’ve managed to accomplish a rather nasty feat.”

She turned towards me as she said with a grim, solemn tone, “The church procured a set of eight golems, each driven by a sacrificial member of the church. Since the mandate of the oracle, they’ve begun dabbling in forbidden arts in order to counter the Darkened One. The Arcanum’s been using human driven golems for decades, but the church never stooped so low, at least, not before now.”

As if in pain, her head wandered its gaze across the room as she said, “This cult…They managed to corrupt several of these golems…Now…Their rampaging under the city.”

Her voice pinched as she continued, “We can’t stop them…I don’t think I need to tell you how dangerous a rogue golem is, let alone one with a human soul. We have eight of them running around.”

In utter contrast with her solemn mood, a playful smile danced on my lips as I said, “I suppose we could handle them for you.”

She blinked for a moment before the tension in her face leaked away as a dull, unbelieving expression replaced it. She spoke each word with care,

“You’re serious…You think you could stop them?”

A cocky grin spread on my face as I said, “No. I know I can. Rather easily infact.”

Daniel blinked before he said, “If you would do this for us…we would be indebted-“

I cut him off as I stretched a palm out towards him while saying, “There’s something you’ve misunderstood. I am not a mercenary.”

I clenched a fist and continued, “We are the heroes you see spoken of in legends. We are the humble agents of gaia as written in scripture. Like a miracle, we expect nothing in return.”

A drawn out stretch of silence rippled before Daniel said, “Are you actually serious?”

I shrugged before saying, “You can choose to believe me or not. We will show you later. Where are they underground?”

He blinked before turning towards Isabelle and saying, “Wouldn’t you want to know more about us before you help?”

With her high voice piercing into the conversation, Sophia said, “We’ll assess the situation once we’ve seen the actual threats. I know what a rampaging golem looks like. So does Jericho. We’ve stopped them before.”

She leans onto the table before continuing, “We’re trying to help, so if we can tell their threats to the people living here, we will get rid of them. Otherwise, we’ll know you’re both lying. If that’s the case, be prepared. The wrath of a siant is a scary thing.”

Lady Isabelle’s neck twitched as Sophia said, “We’ll figure out if you created the golem’s yourselves too. That’s a crime punishable by death.”

Isabelle’s eyes met Sophia’s before she said, “Oh, really now? You’ll find that to be difficult considering I’m the countess of this city.”

Instead of reeling back, Sophia continued, her eyes sharp as her words, “Which is more powerful, the bishop or the countess in a city? You already know, right?”

Isabelle blinked before Sophia leaned back and said, “I didn’t mean to sound accusatory. I only meant to share our perspective with you, from one party to another.”

A sly grin dances on Isabelle’s lips before she said, “I like you. You have a backbone, unlike everyone else around here.” She leaned back in her chair before saying, “Alright then, I’ll have Drake escort you towards the quarantined area along with a group of his guards. I’m sure you’ll find them helpful.”

I placed a hand on Sophia’s shoulder before saying, “Thank you for the offer. We’ll be going then.” I lifted myself and said, “It was wonderful meeting you both, and I pray we meet again with good news.”

Isabelle replied, “I do as well.”

As we left, Daniel said, “Keep him safe would you? Drake has a way of being reckless when faced with danger.”

Joan said, “Don’t worry. He’s in good hands.”

As we paced towards the door, Elise stood with her arms crossed before she said, “Right this way.”

We crossed through hallway after hallway before we met up once more with Drake, his eyes closed as he slept on a lounging chair. Elise stood dismayed at her choices, so after Sophia rolled her eyes, she walked up and kicked the edge of his seat.

Snapping open, Drake’s eyes darted across the room as he said, “Who’s there.”

Sophia crossed her arms before saying, “We are. You’re father and Isabelle asked us to get rid of some golems. Tell us where they're at and we’ll be on our way.”

Drake blinked his eyes while his mouth stayed open before awareness snapped onto his face as he said, “Oh, right. The golems. They’re in the sewers under the slave district. After I rest for a few days I’ll take you there.”

He leaned onto the side of the chair as he continued, “I’m glad you all accepted his offer. I expected-“

Sophia held out a palm before she said, “We really must be going. We won’t be needing your help, though we appreciate the offer.”

Drake’s dumbfounded stare transformed into a peeved glare as he said, “This is some unwelcome rudeness.” He turned towards me while saying, “What do you make of this sudden change in attitude?”

I shrugged before saying, “She’s headstrong and growing impatient. I wouldn’t agree with her curtness, but I understand her reasoning. We’re stressed for time, so we’d rather avoid dwelling on the details. ”

Drake blinked before saying, “For a woman, she’s rather disrespectful. You should keep her temper more in check, otherwise you may make enemies out people you’d rather have as friends.”

The thinly veiled threat made me smile, but I suppressed it. Joan snapped, “That coming from a man who just glossed over his defeat by talking up Jericho like he’s some god.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder as I said, “Please, keep calm. There’s no need for anger here.”

Joan said, “Hell yeah there is. This guy’s over hear threatening us under his breath right after he just sucked your dick back there.”

A series of snickers escaped me and Sophia while Drake blushed a deep shade of crimson. Right as his embarrassment peaked, he shouted, “You uncouth bitch. I’ll have you hang-“

I jerked at his fancy shirt, bringing him off the ground and eye level with me before I hissed with acid in my voice, “Never speak to Joan that way again. I will warn you once. The next time you do so, I will smash your face into a bony pulp.”

I kept him there for a moment as the red drained from his face. After the burst of anger passed, I set him down and sighed. My temper had always been a problem, but with such a violent outburst, I doubted he would forgive us. I had burned a bridge before crossing it.

At least I thought I had. I looked down at him as I said, “I’m sorry for my outburst. My temper ignites at the worst of times, and I often say what I would never intend.”

As if he were underwater for several minutes, Drake releases a breath as a bone snapping tension leaves his shoulders. After inhaling a slow, drawn out breath, he said, “No…It was my mistake as well. I shouldn’t have said what I did…You were right to defend her after I snapped like that. I’m just not used to such headstrong women.”

I scratched the side of my head as I said, “Let’s leave it at that then. We should stick to fighting with fists rather than warring with words.”

He nodded before I said, “Then until we meet again.”

With the arduous goodbyes gone, we paced through the city before finding directions towards the slave district. As we walked, the hellish heat of the sun simmered. The clamor of the streets continued. Each aspect of the city brimmed with life, from angry mothers chiding their children to the soft murmur of weeping willows as the wind brushed their leaves.

The architecture varied from the towns of before. Few trees stood nearby. Clay composed each of the short buildings, and even though they never towered overhead, these buildings covered vast swaths of land.

Opting for a different approach, this settlement embraced the low and wide way of doing things as the roads left open space for each person walking. This spacious, almost empty sets of roads left us wondering on our own.

There were clusters of people, but you never needed to push your way through any of these crowds. Instead, an average person could walk without worry as they eased through their day.We attracted more than a few gazes as we trotted through the town, but after entering the narrow streets of the slave district, far fewer people had time for gawking. Oxen pulled large carriages full of thin, empty men and women. Chained like prisoners, they sat while leaning on the edges of the bars surrounding them.

I had worn shackles, though I never slept in a cage as they did. My slave master had been assaulted be mercenaries, giving me time for my escape. I fell into a cavern from atop a cliff, but with Deluge’s help, I defied death. These poor souls would never have that chance. At least, if we didn’t give them one.

With Sophia’s help, we may be able to construct an easier method for building and maintaining golems, but that goal still lies far off in the future. The golems ahead presented their own problems, accentuating the flawed system used for their creation. An old adage known throughout Alta describes my point well – survive today before you worry of tomorrow.

In this slave district, we walked into a hidden alleyway before approaching a barred grate on the ground. I bended the bars and before the ladies entered, I said with a strained smile,

“Only one of us has to go. The others can regroup with Aether and Razor to coordinate a method of crushing these earthen monsters. I nominate you both for that role. I’ll find them so we can kill them quickly once we regroup.”

A growing grin jumped onto Joan’s face before she said, “You want to protect us helpless damsels from swimming in sewers? How thoughtful.”

I frowned before jumping into the tunnel and suspending my weight with the bent bars overhead. As I hanged, a grim look plastered onto my face before I said, “I would want to protect anyone from what I’m about to do.”

Before they could reply, I bent the steel back into shape. Sophia said right before I lept down, “Thank you Jack, but just know this. You always take everything on yourself. I know you don’t think anything of it, but it’s hard to watch at times. Let us help you. Please.”

I smiled, my expression pained as I said, “Some burdens will shatter spines. My spine will snap right back into place. Besides, I can’t handle losing someone else. You both, you’re like my family. I protect more out of selfish fear then selfless virtue. Remember that.”

Sophia bit her lip while Joan glanced away and crossed her arms. After a moment, I dropped myself and sunk towards the darkness below.

What I would find haunted me long after I left.