Chapter 113

Gerrick, known to the other guards as ‘One-Eye-, drained his mug of the strong, cheap ale that made up the bulk of the supplies delivered to the camp, slamming the empty tankard onto the wooden table. Wiping his mouth, he reached over to fondle the scantily clad serving girl that stood next to him.

The guard posting paid like shit, and they were stuck in the ass-end of nowhere for month on end, but it came with perks. Every one of the guards needed to be at least Rank 4, some reaching Rank 6, like himself. That requirement meant higher pay, and concessions like free food, drink, and the women to ‘service’ the bored guards.

It was also the safest posting in the Wilds, possibly even the borderlands. They hadn’t seen more action than a drunken fist fight since they came here. With the barrier overhead, nothing could get in, meaning they could sit back all day, drink, and whore, and collect a paycheck.

Letting out a loud belch, he was about to grab the serving girl and drag her closer when the building started to shake. His empty mug skittered across the table as the earth trembled.

“What the hell is that!?” Another guard shouted, finally feeling the overwhelming amount of mana that was approaching from outside. They had only a moment’s warning before the entire roof was ripped away by a massive hand, belonging to a monster that towered over them.

There was a moment of panic, everyone in the building tried to flee for the exits, or hide from the giant, when an enormous amount of mana froze everyone in their tracks. It was heavy and oppressive, like an ocean’s worth of magic pressing down on them, halting even the smallest movement.

Silence fell on the tavern, only broken by the harsh breathing of the occupants, and the faint creek of the structure as it threatened to collapse in on itself.

Gerrick watched, his eyes the only part of his body that could move, as a figure leapt off the creature’s shoulder, gliding gracefully towards the ground, his mana thick around him like a golden mantle.

It was a young man, covered in blood, looking exhausted and pale. His face was frozen in an icy expression, but Gerrick could feel the anger bubbling just beneath the surface, the rage barely suppressed.

The young man settled gracefully on the ground, studying the occupants carefully, before snorting in disgust. He turned to the creature, his voice breaking the silence that lay thick around them.

“Which one is it?” The young man asked.

The giant creature stared at them for a moment, and Gerrick could swear he could feel the giant’s gaze settle on him.

“Betrayer.” It rumbled, shaking the building. The damaged tavern, already on the verge of collapse, began to cave in on itself. With a casual wave of his hand, the young man blew away the falling walls, leaving the occupants standing on a wooden floor, surrounded on all sides by open air.

“Finally found you.” The young man said, his piercing gaze staring into Gerrick’s own eyes. The young man stepped forward, until he came to a stop just in front of the frozen Betrayer.

“You know why I’m here. You know why it is here.” The young man said, jabbing a thumb at the giant behind him. Gerrick could feel the magic holding him in place loosen, enough that he could move his mouth and arms, although he was still rooted firmly in place on his chair.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Gerrick yelled, and for once, he was telling the truth. He would remember crossing an angry, powerful person like the one in front of him, or a twenty-foot-tall giant made of earth and stone.

“Former Master. Betrayer. Stabbed. Stole Amulet. Gold.” The creature rumbled, and Gerrick turned pale as the realization of who he was facing washed over him.

Years before, he had been part of a small party, searching a ruin for treasure. They had been attacked, and he had been the first to flee. The woman in front of him had an amulet, a valuable thing that she had around her neck. He stabbed her, snatched the item, and ran while the others were overrun.

He pawned it back in town, giving him enough coin to live comfortably for nearly a year. He had told everyone that he was the only survivor, the others falling to a pack of Orcs.

“I…I… don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gerrick stammered, ignoring the creature, and looking at the young man.

“I think you do. My friend never forgets a face.” The young man said, slowly drawing his sword from the scabbard on his hip.

“Wait!” A woman yelled, Sorla and Talah finally catching up and running in front of Gerrick, stopping the young man.

“You can’t do this! We won’t let you kill someone or take them away without proof!” Sorla demanded, protecting the one-eyed man behind her.

“That’s right! And you won’t find any, because I’m innocent!” Gerrick said, his confidence growing once he saw the young man hesitate. Wil stopped drawing his sword, slamming the blade back into its scabbard with force.

“Very well. You swear that you’re innocent?” Wil asked, looking at the betrayer.

“That’s right, I swear!” Gerrick lied. Who would believe a monster over him? He was a guard here, a trusted member of the Guild!

“Then I’ll have your oath, Betrayer.” Wil pulled out a golden coin from his bag. Holding it up, he showed them that one side held the Symbol of Primaris, the Sun God, while the other was of Aruna, God of the Sea.

“Swear that you are innocent, by Sun and Sea. If it’s true, I’ll let you go, and I’ll compensate everyone here for the trouble I’ve caused. But if you’re lying…the gods do not take kindly to those who lie in their name.” Wil finished, holding out the coin.

If Gerrick could move, he would have fled from the coin held before him. Sorla and Talah looked at each other, a silent conversation between them, before Sorla nodded her head.

“Agreed. We’ll leave it up to the gods to decide.”

“This is ridiculous, I refuse-” Gerrick argued, trying to reject the proposition, before he was cut off.

With Sorla’s agreement, Wil tossed the golden coin to Gerrick, who caught it on reflex, his greed for gold overcoming is common sense. He immediately tried to drop it, attempting to fling the item away, but the coin stuck to his skin, refusing to leave his hand!

“Swear an oath on the gods that you are innocent, or I will cut you down where you stand.” Wil threatened, his hand once more on his sword. Swallowing, Gerrick could see that the man was serious.

‘Whatever, I’ve never heard of anyone dying from oath breaking before. Cursed, yes, and filled with bad luck, but no one had died from it.’ Gerrick thought, taking a deep, shaky breath, before starting.

“I swear, on Sun and Sea, that I am innocent of the accusations against me. They are-” Gerrick swore, attempting to continue, before his voice fell silent. The coin in his hand flared with divine light, sweeping out from his hand, and covering his body.

He couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, couldn’t even think, the light was all encompassing. In his mind, his thoughts were filled with a vision of a giant, yellow sun, burning bright, stinging his eyes. He couldn’t turn away from it!

Beneath the sun, an endless sea spread towards the horizons. The waves crashing against one another, the sound overwhelming his senses.

Screaming, Gerrick fell to the ground, holding his hands over his ears, his eyes squeezed shut as his mouth opened in a silent scream. There he lay, as the others watched in horror, while the golden coin fell to the ground, rolling across the tavern floor, before coming to rest at Wil’s feet.

“The Gods have judged you guilty, Betrayer.” Wil said, bending down and picking up the gold coin. The diving radiance faded from its surface, becoming ordinary once more. Wil tucked it into his bag, before turning to Sorla.

“I’ll send you all back through the array, as long as you agree to deliver him to the Guild. They can deal with him.” Wil said, already turning away from the crowd, the giant elemental following him as they walked back towards the Teleportation Array.