by Jackson Bale
“Grand---Elder---Silva---has---a---tendency---to---[Teleport]---instead---of---walking.---It---is---why---many---of---the---other---Grand---Elders---find---her---annoying,---especially---when---she---just---appears---next---to---them---without---warning.”
I---nod---towards---Sarena---who---stares---at---me---expressionlessly.---Her---usual---cold---demeanor---is---ever---present---once---more.
I---stand---up---from---my---chair,---my---eyes---scanning---the---room---one---more---time.---I---frown---when---I---don’t---find---what---I---was---looking---for..
“I---don't---suppose---you---have---some---better---clothes---for---me---than---this---flimsy---gown?”
Sarena---opens---her---mouth,---eyes---slowly---widening---in---realization.
“Oh.”
___________________________________________
The---city---of---Aesir,---known---to---be---the---home---to---Odin's---most---fervent---followers,---is---currently---in---a---state---of---uproar.---[Paladins]---and---[Inquisitors]---are---running---through---the---streets,---looking---around,---asking---questions---to---everyone---they---can---find,---all---in---an---attempt---to---locate---the---[Hero]---Franky---who---had---seemingly---disappeared---overnight.
Even---the---[Guildmistress],---who---had---returned---from---her---trip---that---same---night,---had---been---unable---to---sleep---for---even---an---hour---before---her---presence---was---demanded---at---the---church.
Thankfully---for---the---people---of---Aesir,---the---city---is---full---of---[Inquisitors],---a---class---not---only---known---for---their---impressive---combat---potential---but---also---for---their---wide---range---of---information---gathering---skills---like---[Detect---Lie]---and---[Force---Truth].---Thus,---where---other---cities---would---have---been---forced---to---resort---to---more---unsavory---methods,---the---city---of---Aesir---was---able---to---quickly---gather---information---without---any---bloodshed.
But---that---is---only---a---small---win---compared---to---the---massive---loss---of---a---[Hero].---Franky---had---disappeared,---and---Bernard---may---very---well---be---the---one---to---be---held---responsible---for---it.
“Bernard,---relax,---I---am---sure---the---[Grand---Chancellor]---will---not---blame---you---for---this---travesty,”---Olivia---exclaims---in---a---bored---tone---while---drumming---her---fingers---on---the---table.
Bernard---shakes---his---head,---looking---towards---the---other---four---people---seated---at---the---table.---Olivia,---Andarin---and---Joshua---are---the---other---[Archpriests]---responsible---for---the---other---three---[Heroes].---As---for---the---last---person---who---is---wearing---a---set---of---large---golden---armor,---that---is---[High---Inquisitor]---Orethon,---the---leader---of---the---[Inquisitors]---and---one---of---the---most---influential---people---alive.---The---fact---that---he---had---been---called---to---attend---this---meeting---add---to---Bernards---unease.
“Two---Shadowravens---were---killed,---and---then---the---[Hero]---was---kidnapped---the---following---night.---Bernard---has---much---to---fear---since---he---was---responsible---for---both---the---[Hero]---and---the---Shadowravens,”---Andarin---exclaims---in---a---deep---rumbling---voice.
Bernard---looks---at---Andarin,---staring---at---the---colossus---of---a---man.---Seven---feet---tall,---muscles---bulging---under---his---robe,---a---thick---black---beard---and---eyes---as---brown---as---the---darkest---sand.---Few---would---ever---believe---Andarin---to---merely---be---an---[Archpriest],---but---he---is---and---his---physical---prowess---is---all---thanks---to---his---[Minor---Strength]---bloodline.
“I---would---not---blame---Bernard---for---the---disappearance---of---the---[Hero]---though.---That---blame---should---be---assigned---to---the---head---of---security---here---at---the---church.---The---fact---that---someone---was---able---to---sneak---in---and---take---someone---from---us---is---a---far---more---dangerous---matter,”---Joshua---exclaims---as---he---touches---his---long---beard,---smoothing---it---down.
All---Bernard---can---do---is---rub---his---temples,---taking---a---peek---at---Orethon---who---is---sitting---is---his---chair---with---his---arms---crossed,---frowning---at---the---door.
And---then,---he---uncrosses---his---arms---and---straightens---his---back.
The---door---opens---and---Bernard---finds---the---[Grand---Chancellor]---walking---in,---neither---smiling---nor---frowning.---He---merely---enters---and---sits---down---at---the---head---of---the---table,---no---doubt---accompanied---by---many---unseen---[Assassins]---spreading---throughout---the---room.
“Well---then,---I---am---sure---that---you---all---already---know---why---you---are---here,”---the---Chancellor---exclaims,---his---hand---flicking---out---to---the---side.
An---[Assassin]---materializes,---placing---a---crystal---goblet---filled---with---red---wine---in---his---hand.
More---[Assassins]---materialize,---placing---the---same---in---front---of---all---those---seated.
The---chancellor---takes---a---sip---and---then---swirls---the---glass,---“Good---wine.---I---quite---like---it,”---he---says---before---placing---the---goblet---carefully---on---the---table.---None---of---the---other---attendees---go---for---the---wine,---preferring---to---wait---until---the---end---as---is---customary---in---these---types---of---meetings.
“First,---on---the---subject---of---the---two---deceased---Shadowravens,”---the---chancellor---starts,---looking---towards---the---wall,---his---eye---pulsing---with---mana,”---please---inform---me---of---the---results---of---your---investigation.
A---man---appears---seemingly---from---thin---air,---a---mask---covering---his---face.---The---moment---he---manifests---the---light---from---all---the---candles---in---the---room---seems---to---become---significantly---dimmer.---Bernard---can---only---gulp---as---he---summons---his---aura,---protecting---his---mental---health---from---the---now---darkened---room.
This---man,---who---seems---to---create---shadows---with---his---mere---presence,---is---the---leader---of---the---Shadowravens.
Umbra---Denos,---the---Suffocating---Shadow.
A---man---having---earned---his---named---status---for---his---ability---to---be---able---to---slaughter---entire---kingdoms.---His---classes---and---levels---are---unknown,---but---it---is---clear---that---he---is---someone---not---to---be---messed---with.
Umbra---looks---around---for---a---moment---before---speaking,---his---voice---coming---from---everywhere---at---once,---the---candlelights---flickering---as---he---talks.
“The---two---members---responsible---for---keeping---an---eye---on---the---[Hero]---Franky---were---found---dead.---Nothing---was---taken---from---their---bodies,---nor---was---there---any---trace---of---the---perpetrator.---The---men---were---killed---without---even---realizing---they---had---been---attacked.”
The---Chancellor---frowns,---gazing---strongly---at---Umbra.
“Would---you---have---been---able---to---do---the---same?---To---kill---two---high---level---[Assassins]---without---them---even---being---able---to---react?”
The---Suffocating---Shadow---takes---a---moment,---a---small---pause,---the---shadows---flicker.
“...No.”
The---Chancellor’s---frown---deepens,---his---hand---turning---into---a---fist,---“I---see.---You---are---dismissed.”
The---shadows---disappear---as---fast---as---they---had---come,---light---freely---enters---the---room---once---again.---Only---now---Bernard---notices---that---he---had---been---holding---his---breath---during---the---entire---exchange.
He---breathes---in---quickly,---taking---a---look---at---the---others.---All---but---Orethon---look---like---they---too---had---been---unable---to---speak.
The---Chancellor---takes---a---deep---breath,---grabs---his---wine---and---chugs---it---down.
“This---is---disconcerting,---it---seems---as---though---three---[Divine]---items---were---momentarily---present---in---the---city.”
Bernards'---eyes---widen.---There---are---only---seven---[Divine]---items---in---the---entire---world.---Why---would---almost---half---of-
--those---be---in---one---city?
Bernards'---eyes---roam---to---the---Chancellor’s---chest,---finding---only---the---chain---which---connects---to---the---Necklace---of---Ultimate---Sight,---one---of---the---legendary---[Divine]---items---that---allows---the---wearer---to---view---the---complete---information---about---its---target.---Classes,---Levels,---Stats,---and---Skills.---All---is---revealed,---even---thoughts.---Combine---this---item---with---abilities---that---let---you---see---long---distances,---and---few---would---be---able---to---hide---from---your---view.
“How…---how---do---you---know?”---Olivia---asks,---unsure.
Bernard---was---wondering---the---same---thing,---but---did---not---want---to---voice---his---thoughts---out---loud.
The---Chancellor---takes---a---moment,---grabs---his---Goblet---and---holds---it---to---his---right.---An---[Assassin]---appears---holding---an---open---bottle---to---pour---more---wine---into---his---goblet.
“Well,---two---[Assassins]---were---killed---in---such---a---way---that---not---even---Umbra---could---replicate.---Which---can---only---mean---that---the---perpetrator---is---in---possession---of---the---Cape---of---Inexistence.”
“Vampires?---Why---is---a---vampire---here?---Shouldn't---they---be---in---the---shrouded---lands?”---Andarin---quickly---voices,---seemingly---having---been---angered---by---this---revelation.
Bernard---thinks---back,---remembering---that---Andarin---had---been---captured---by---[Slavers]---before---being---sold---to---the---Vampires.---He---eventually---escaped,---but---still---harbors---great---hate---towards---them.---As---for---the---specific---reason,---only---the---Chancellor---seems---to---know.
“Dear---Andarin,---Vampires---have---no---reason---to---attack---this---city.---They---are---content---to---sit---in---their---lands---and---play---politics.---No,---the---problem---here---is---that---the---Cape---of---Inexistence---was---stolen---from---them---about---two---years---ago,---around---the---same---time---that---the---gods---agreed---to---a---[Hero]---summoning.”
The---chancellor---takes---a---sip---and---places---his---goblet---down,---but---doesn't---remove---his---hand---from---it.---Instead,---he---stares---down---into---the---red---wine.
“And---the---last---[Divine]---item?”---Olivia---adds.
The---chancellor---does---not---move---his---sight---away---from---the---goblet---for---many---seconds,---before---turning---and---looking---at---the---[High---Inquisitor].
“Orethon,---please---inform---them---of---what---you---figured---out---regarding---the---one---responsible---for---stealing---the---[Hero]---from---us.”
Orethon---grunts,---clearing---his---throat---before---he---begins,---“Our---anti-teleportation---wards---were---overpowered---as---an---individual---appeared---within---the---[Heroes]---room,---grabbed---the---sleeping---[Hero],---and---teleported---out---just---as---fast.---Normally,---a---Shadowraven---would---have---been---able---to---intercept---the---kidnapping---and---buy---time,---but---the---Shadowravens---were---killed---earlier.---The---teleportation---was---done---instantly---and---without---any---chants.---They---arrived,---they---took---the---[Hero],---and---they---left.---We---immediately---ordered---the---city---gates---shut---and---activated---the---city’s---defense---shield.”
Orethon---takes---a---breath,---clearing---his---throat---once---more,---“In---the---several---hours---afterwards,---my---[Inquisitors]---questioned---everyone---in---the---city,---eventually---pinpointing---two---suspects.---The---elf---female---Sarena---and---the---human---female---Jessa.---Both---individuals---are---part---of---a---team---that---has---dived---into---the---dungeon---alongside---the---[Hero]---Franky.---Jessa,---a---level---63---[Rogue]---was---found---scaling---the---church's---outer---wall.”
Confusion---emanates---from---everybody.---A---level---63---[Rogue]---is---far---too---low---of---a---level---to---even---attempt---to---sneak---into---the---church.
“We---interrogated---this---Jessa,---and---found---out---that---she---had---been---attempting---to---sneak---into---Franky’s---quarters---to---have---sex---with---him.”
“Oh---my,”---Olivia---voices---with---a---smile,---her---cheeks---turning---red.
But---Orethon,---professional---as---ever,---continues---speaking.
“The---other---individual,---Sarena,---was---difficult---to---find.---Eventually,---we---were---able---to---find---her---place---of---residence---thanks---to---her---teammate---Brock.---It---was---at---her---residence---on---a---third-floor---apartment---that---we---found---the---remnants---of---a---massive---portal.---We---called---in---[Archmages],---and---they---were---able---to---ascertain---that---the---portal---originated---from---the---Elven---lands.---There---is---a---high---probability---that---the---[Divine]---item,---Staff---of---Bending---Worlds,---was---used---to---create---an---enormously---long---distance---portal.”
After---Orethon---finishes---his---report---all---remain---silent.---Apparently,---the---elves---had---stolen---the---[Hero],---but---Bernard---cannot---even---begin---to---imagine---why,---or---even---why---only---one---[Hero].---It's---clear---they---would---have---been---able---to---grab---more.---Was---it---only---Franky---because---of---his---capability?---But---that---wouldn't---make---sense.---Franky---is---currently---only---the---second---highest---leveled---[Hero].---The---Olympian---gods---have---an---even---higher---level---[Hero].---Why---not---take---theirs?
Too---many---questions,---too---little---information.
“Though---we---lost---a---[Hero]---yesterday---night,---I---do---have---some---good---news---to---share,”---the---Chancellor---exclaims,---raising---his---eyes---from---his---glass,---“Odin---has---found---out---that---the---Olympian---gods---failed---in---their---summoning.---Though---they---summoned---eight---heroes,---twice---as---many---as---Odin---has,---it---seems---that---only---two---were---summoned---to---the---designated---location.---The---others---have---appeared---randomly---across---Orbis.”
Eyes---widen,---mouths---fall---open,---even---Orethon---shows---a---reaction---in---the---form---of---a---frown.
“Which---is---why---I---will---focus---on---pinpointing---the---locations---of---any---stray---[Heroes]---so---that---we---may---take---them---into---our---custody,”---the---Chancellor---explains---with---a---smile.---“We---stand---to---gain---much---from---their---mistake.”
The---Chancellor---grabs---his---glass---of---wine---and---raises---it---into---the---air,---“A---toast,”---he---says,---taking---a---moment---as---all---the---other---members---grab---their---untouched---glasses---before---them,---“Though---we---may---have---lost---one---[Hero]---today,---we---have---the---opportunity---to---gain---many---more.---To---Odin's---Might!”---the---Chancellor---exclaims,---downing---his---glass---of---wine---all---at---once.
“To---Odin’s---Might,”---the---others---yell,---downing---their---own---glasses.
The---wine---goes---down---strong---but---smooth,---with---a---nice---raspberry---aftertaste.---A---testament---to---the---high---level---of---the---[Winemaster].
Bernard---licks---his---lips---and---frowns---before---being---forced---to---burp.---He---opens---his---mouth---to---say---something,---but---stops---when---he---finds---the---room---spinning---around---him.---The---crystal---chalice---falls---on---the---floor---first,---rolling---some---distance---away---before---his---own---body---slides---from---his---chair---and---hits---the---floor---with---a---thud..---He---attempts---to---call---on---his---mana---but---finds---it---unresponsive.
“Bernard,---Bernard,---Bernard,---did---you---expect---that---I---would---forget---your---mistake?---You---were---responsible---for---the---safety---and---training---of---the---[Hero]---Franky.---And---now,---that---[Hero]---is---gone.”
Bernard---moves---his---head,---lifting---it---slightly,---finding---the---Chancellor---standing---before---him,---looking---down.---Behind---the---Chancellor---he---can---see---the---other---[Archpriests]---watching---him---with---fear---evident---on---their---faces.
The---Chancellor---bends---down,---grabbing---the---crystal---goblet---which---had---not---shattered---from
---the---fall.
“There---is---an---interesting---enchantment---on---this---goblet.---Any---liquid---inside---it---will---have---its---poisonous---effects,---if---any,---suppressed.”
Bernard’s---eyes---widen,---he---attempts---to---speak,---but---the---pain---quickly---flares---up---at---even---the---slightest---movement.
“So,---if---I---were---to---add---Manabreak---extract---and---Painbreaker---venom---inside---the---goblet,---then---no---[Detect---Poison]---skill---or---enchant---would---go---off.”
“But---I---am---not---without---mercy---or---forgiveness.---Yes,---you---failed,---but---I---know---very---well---how---loyal---you---truly---are,---which---is---why---I---only---added---Painbreaker---venom---and---not---Heartbreaker---venom.---The---poison---is---moving---through---your---body---now---and---will---quickly---increase---in---intensity,---so---much---so---that---most---people---develop---Madness.”
The---[Grand---Chancellor]---places---the---crystal---goblet---on---the---table,---taking---one---last---look---at---the---now---twitching---Bernard,---as---nerve---after---nerve---sends---pain---signals---to---his---brain.