Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  The---dwarf---moves---to---the---last---two---weapons,---his---hand---brushing---them,---feeling---them.---One---of---them---has---a---very---light---reddish---yellow---color---while---the---other---one---has---a---completely---wooden---handle---and---sheath.---Uncolored---except---for---the---blade---which---seems---to---be---a---calming---sky---blue.

  “This---one,”---he---points---towards---the---colored---sheath,---“Is---called---Sand---Viper,---a---sword---made---by---[Smiths]---from---the---Hepaltamine---Desert.---The---[Smiths]---from---there---tend---to---use---this---color---for---all---of---their---sheaths---as---it---is---similar---to---the---color---of---the---sands.”

  “All---of---them?---Wouldn’t---skilled---[Smiths]---want---to---make---themselves---unique?---To---differentiate---themselves?”

  The---dwarf---shrugs---his---shoulders,---”Not---sure.---I---just---know---they---favor---that---color.”

  “Blood---to---blood.---Sand---to---sand.---Blood---of---my---sands.---Sands---to---my---blood.”

  Both---Garrus---and---Scarlet---look---towards---Rathic.

  “It---is---a---saying---used---by---those---who---traverse---the---deserts.---They---believe---that---all---life---will---feed---the---sands---with---their---blood---and---the---sands---will,---in---turn,---create---life.---It---is---a---saying---that---symbolizes---death---and---rebirth.---Destruction---and---creation.---Weapons---kill,---and---from---it,---they---dot---the---sand---in---blood.---That---is---why---they---color---their---weapons---in---the---color---of---sands.---Killing---to---them---is---not---merely---taking---life,---but---also---giving---it.”

  As---Rathic---finishes---his---explanation,---he---is---met---with---a---smiling---Scarlet---and---a---thoughtful---looking---Garrus.

  “That---is---good---to---know,”---Garrus---says,---touching---his---beard,---“I---can---respect---that.---I---can---even---respect---the---impressive---quality---of---the---weapon.---But---I---very---much---do---not---respect---the---enchant.”

  The---dwarf---shakes---his---head,---“Sand---Veil.---An---ability---that---creates---a---cloud---of---sand---after---every---swing,---blinding---your---target.---A---very---underhanded---ability,---something---no---dwarf---weapon---would---ever---be---allowed---to---have.”

  “But---it---is---a---good---weapon?”---asks---Scarlet,---eyeing---the---blade---with---interest.---A---weapon---that---blinds---every---swing.---That---is---impressive---and---undoubtedly---useful.---Very---fitting---of---the---name.

  “It---is,---but---this---next---one---might---be---better,”---he---says,---pointing---at---the---other---sword.

  “This---one---is---known---as---Turbo---Ventus,---an---elven---made---weapon.”

  Scarlet---quickly---perks---up.---Though---dwarven---weapons---have---been---known---to---be---one---of---the---best---and---most---resilient---weapons---ever,---elven---weapons---have---been---known---to---have---the---best---and---most---powerful---enchantments.

  “The---[Smith]---did---a---fine---job---on---the---blade,---but---the---[Enchanter]---is---the---one---who---really---makes---it---shine.---Five---enchants.---[Minor---Sharpened---Edge],---[Gliding---Edge],---[Gliding---Current],---[Minor---Light---Metal],---and---the---[Converging---Winds]---ability.”---he---notes---with---a---frown.

  “What---does---it---do?”---Scarlet---asks,---leaning---over---the---dwarf,---her---interest---mounting---quite---a---bit.---Most---weapons---tend---to---have---one---to---three---enchants---of---various---quality.---Anything---more---and---the---enchants---tend---to---be---utter---shit.

  Unless---it---is---made---by---the---elves.

  “Well,---[Minor---Sharpened---Edge]---increases---the---sharpness---of---the---weapon---while---also---removing---the---need---for---a---grindstone.---Weapons---with---this---enchant---tend---to---slowly---sharpen---themselves.---[Minor---Light---Metal]---merely---makes---the---sword---lighter,---usually---around---thirty---percent.---Useful---for---weapons---with---already---a---lot---of---weight.---As---for---the---three---other---enchants,---I---have---no---fucking---clue.---The---enchants---are---much---too---high---level---for---me---to---understand---anything---more---than---that---they---manipulate---wind.”

  Scarlet---puckers---her---lip---before---looking---up---towards---Rathic---who---just---stands---there,---slightly---bored.

  “I---don't---suppose---you---know---what---this---sword---can---do?”---she---asks---hopefully,---bending---lower---to---show---off---a---bit---of---her---breast.

  Rathic---rolls---his---eyes,---“[Gliding---Current]---allows---the---sword---to---ignore---wind---resistance.---[Gliding---Edge]---increases---the---blades---sharpness---based---on---how---windy---it---is---around---the---person.---[Converging---Wind]---creates---a---current---of---air---around---the---user,---increasing---in---strength---after---each---swing.---The---weapon---becomes---sharper---and---sharper---with---each---swing.

  Scarlet's---eyes---light---up---as---she---turns---to---the---dwarf---who---only---chuckles---and---nods.

  Scarlet---quickly---grabs---the---weapon---and---unsheathes---it---before---swinging---it---several---times.---Only---after---the---eighth---time---does---it---become---noticeable---that---a---breeze---had---entered---the---room---and---a---current---of---air---becomes---visible---on---the---blade.---Circling---it,---seemingly---glowing.

  “I’ll---take---it!”---she---yells,---swinging---the---weapon---several---times.---Scarlets---own---sword---is---enchanted,---but---it---only---has---one---enchant.---A---[Dense---Metal]---enchant---which---just---makes---the---sword---heavier---and---harder.---Not---visually---pleasing.

  As---she---continues---to---swing,---Rathic---turns---to---the---dwarf.---“Garrus.---I---have---need---of---an---[Smith]---of---your---skill.---I---have---many---items---that---need---to---be---fixed---up---or---improved,---some---of---which---would---require---your---secrecy.---In---exchange,---I---am---willing---to---pay---in---gold.

  Garrus---looks---at---Rathic---curiously.---A---frown---on---the---dwarf’s---face.

  “Secrecy---does---not---come---cheap,”---he---says---in---a---whisper.

  Rathic---nods.---As---a---[General],---he---understands---the---price---of---silence.---Trust---is---not---something---that---comes---cheap,---and---the---dwarves---are---well---known---to---be---honorable---in---business.---It---is---their---way.

  “What---is---the---cost,”---Rathic---asks.

  Garrus---tilts---his---head,---watching---as---Scarlet---admires---her---new---sword---like---a---child---admires---a---new---toy.

  “Give---her---a---good---shield---and---I---swear---on---my---beard---that---none---of---your---secrets---will---spill---out---of---my---mouth.”

  Rathic---takes---a---moment,---staring---at---the---dwarf's---eyes,---finding---only---honesty.

  Rathic---turns---and---moves---to---a---trunk,---opening---it---and---grabbing---a---certain---item.

  He---takes---it---and---plops---the---shield---loudly---on---the---table,---quickly---grabbing---Scarlets---attention.

  The---shield---is---circular---with---a---blue---crystal---at---the---center---of---it.---The---crystal---seems---to---shine---and---meld---into---the---shield---while---what---seems---like---a---blue---liquid---extends---outward,---turning---a---lighter---blue---towards---the---edges---of---the---shield.

  Scarlet,---confused,---walks---closer,---the---wind---churning---around---her.---As---she---gets---close---to---the---shield,---the---crystal---seems---to---glow---brighter,---the---wind---starts---to---pick---up,---moving---faster.---Scarlet---stops---moving---closer,---her---eyes---on---the---shield.

  Rathic---smiles---and---taps---the---shield,---seemingly---ignoring---the---wind---coming---from---it.

  “This---shield---is---called---Storm---Ventus,---and---is---designed---to---be---used---alongside---that---sword.---The---shield---is---enchanted---with---the---skill---[Tempest---Fortress],---which---guides---the---wind---around---the---person,---protecting---them---from---both---arrow---and---spell.---Useless---unless---you---are---a---[Wind---Mage]---or---i
f---you---are---wielding---that---sword.”

  Rathic---smiles---and---pushes---the---shield---towards---Scarlet---who---looks---at---it---with---wide---eyes.

  “You’re---giving---this---to---me?---Just---like---that?---No---payment?”

  Rathic---shrugs.

  “The---shield---was---made---alongside---the---sword.---It---would---be---useless---in---someone---else's---hands---and---an---insult---to---its---creator---if---they---were---separated.”

  Scarlet---carefully---takes---the---shield,---latching---it---on---her---arm.---The---air---around---her---reacts---immediately,---twirling---around---her,---spinning,---compressing.---It---becomes---slightly---visible.---A---sheen---of---air.---A---seemingly---noticeable---barrier.

  “Wow.”

  One---word,---but---it---means---so---much,---especially---for---those---who---do---not---have---the---gift---for---magic.---Only---able---to---see---it,---but---never---to---control---it.

  But---here,---this---moment,---the---mana---is---infused---into---the---air,---guiding---it,---directing---it,---all---at---Scarlet’s---control.

  “The---longer---you---fight,---the---stronger---the---barrier---becomes.---It---will---react---to---your---thoughts,---strengthening---towards---danger.---Arrows---will---miss---you,---blades---will---find---it---hard---to---strike---accurately.---Magic---will---weaken---before---impacting---you,---possibly---even---disperse---before---then---if---it---is---weaker.”

  Scarlet---takes---a---moment---and---nods---at---Rathic’s---explanation.---She---then---takes---the---sword---and---sheathes---it---into---the---scabbard,---the---wind---quickly---dispersing---around---her,---the---torrent---of---active---mana---losing---its---will.

  Scarlet---takes---a---moment,---smiling---before---turning---to---Rathic.---Her---eyes---look---at---him,---blazing---with---respect.

  “Thank---you.”

  ****************************************

  Chapter---thirty---Six:---Loss---and---Vengeance

  “This---will---be---your---new---home.”

  David---announces---the---declaration---while---gesturing---towards---an---impressive---behemoth---of---a---mansion.---Or---more---precisely,---the---land---in---which---the---building---resides---in.

  Contrary---to---Rathic’s---expectation,---the---home---he---was---given---is---much---larger---than---many---of---the---others.---Rathic---was---expecting---a---multi-story---building---within---the---[Nobles]---corner,---a---place---usually---surrounding---the---castle---where---the---ruling---class---would---live.

  But---the---home---in---front---of---him---is---large,---taking---up---a---significant---amount---of---space.---His---villa---at---his---former---home---was---maybe---only---half---as---large.

  David---steps---forward---and---opens---the---gates,---giving---Rathic---a---better---look---inside,---allowing---him---to---see---the---large---front---yard---before---the---building.

  A---very---unkempt---front---yard.---Clearly,---a---[Gardener]---would---need---to---be---hired---to---fix---it---up.---Overgrown---weeds---galore.

  “I---do---apologize---for---the---rather---untidy---front---yard.---Nobody---has---lived---here---for---several---years---and---[Lady]---Rose---did---not---seem---interested---in---keeping---the---home---taken---care---of.”

  Rathic---continues---looking---at---the---building,---finding---that,---though---it---is---clearly---in---great---need---of---cleaning,---it---is---not---actually---in---any---form---of---disrepair.

  “I---believe---Rose---mentioned---that---this---home---used---to---belong---to---her---uncle?”---Rathic---asks,---immediately---getting---a---swish---from---David’s---tail.---But---it---only---lasts---a---moment---before---it---quickly---relaxes.

  “Ummm,---yes.---Her---uncle---was---one---of---the---[Nobles]---who---had---fought---for---the---leadership---of---the---city…---and---failed.”

  Rathic---looks---at---the---man,---frowning.---It---is---no---easy---feat---to---kill---off---an---entire---population---of---[Nobility]---in---a---city.---While---still---keeping---the---city---from---turning---into---anarchy---no---less.---If---too---much---leadership---dies---too---quickly,---then---an---entire---city---would---suffer.---Only---a---truly---masterful---plan---or---an---amazing---skill---would---be---able---to---keep---a---city---running.

  And---considering---that---such---skills---tend---to---be---only---present---in---[Kings]---or---[Emperors],---then---Rathic---is---willing---to---bet---it---is---the---former.

  After---a---moment---of---silence,---David,---uncomfortable---of---just---standing---at---the---entrance,---ushers---Rathic---down---the---stone---walkway---and---towards---the---home.

  Walking---up---the---steps,---David---opens---the---door---and---enters,---Rathic---quickly---following---suit.

  The---first---thing---he---notices---is---how---relatively---clean---the---place---is.---Which,---when---he---thinks---about---it,---is---very---understandable.---The---building---was---being---used---to---house---injured---[Guards].---It---would---be---expected---to---have---the---building---thoroughly---cleaned---so---as---to---decrease---the---risk---of---infection.

  A---risk---all---the---more---dangerous---considering---the---lack---of---medicinal---potion---creation---here---in---the---borderlands.---With---the---low---amount---of---mana---present,---few---magical---plants---are---able---to---survive---to---be---turned---into---potions---that---could---cure---infection---or---heal---wounds.

  Which---also---means---that---Rathic---must---make---his---own---supply---last.---He---may---even---be---forced---to---water---them---down---just---to---make---them---last---longer.

  Looking---to---the---right---and---left,---his---eyes---widen---at---furniture---stacked---up---on---top---of---each---other.

  “The---furniture?---Does---that---come---with---the---home?”

  David---stops---and---looks---to---the---sides.

  “Of---course.---It---would---not---be---respectful---to---merely---give---you---an---empty---house---and---force---you---to---buy---all---of---the---amenities.---Especially---now---after---you---had---given---our---beloved---[Captain]---such---an---amazing---suit---of---armor.”

  Rathic---nods---and---gestures---for---David---to---show---him---around.

  Twelve---bedrooms,---three---master---bedrooms,---a---library,---a---dining---room,---kitchen,---closets,---and---even---a---rather---spacious---servants---quarters---comprising---of---over---ten---rooms.---A---lot---of---space---and---all---of---the---rooms---have---basic---necessities---like---a---bed,---desk,---and---chair.

  Overall,---the---building---was---turning---into---a---rather---impressive---home---with---no---downsides.

  At---least---until---Rathic---sees---the---basement.

  “Now---[Trader]---Roth,---before---I---take---you---downstairs,---I---want---to---tell---you---that---much---of---the---[Nobility]---that---lived---in---the---city---were---disliked---for---their…---mmmm,---how---should---I---say---it…”

  “Just---show---me.”

  David---nods---and---opens---the---door.---He---grabs---a---lantern---on---the---side,---quickly---lights---it---and---starts---to---head---down---with---the---[General]---in---tow.

  Unlike---the---rest---of---the---house,---the---basement---is---exceptionally---dusty.---The---wood---seems---relatively---old---while---a---rancid---smell---strikes---Rathic’s---nose.

  The---smell---of---dead---flesh.

  Rathic---frowns---but---continues---to---follow---David---while---keeping---his---mind---sharp---and---hand---ready---to---unleash---his---blade---attached---to---his---hip.---It---was---for---this---very---reason---that---he---had---chosen---to---see---the---home---first---before---anyone---else---can---enter.---His---class---and---his---enchanted---items---would---make---it---close---to---impossible---for---him---to---be---easily---ambushed.---Many---[Assassins]---and---[Rogues]---have---tried,---all---had---failed.

  Only---his---two---[Guards]---would---be---able---to---do---the---same,---especially---considering---that---they---used---to---be---[Gladiators
].---Combined---with---their---very---defensive---armor---and---passive---skills,---it---would---be---difficult---to---take---them---down.

  Of---course,---neither---compares---to---himself---in---skill---and---capability.

  Finally---reaching---the---bottom,---David---raises---the---lantern,---allowing---Rathic---to---see---exactly---why---the---basement---reeked---so---bad---and---why---it---was---not---cleaned.

  “This---is---a---dungeon,”---Rathic---says,---looking---down---at---the---cages---and---various---torture---equipment---sprawled---about.---Both---sexual---and---otherwise.

  “Yes,---the---former---owner---had---a---deplorable---taste---in---causing---both---pleasure---and---pain---down---here.”