Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “If---the---patriarch---believes---your---chosen---class---is---useful,---then---it---means---I---have---been---mistaken---about---it---my---entire---life.---I---am---sorry---about---that…---son.”

  Arron---looks---at---his---father,---his---proudly---smiling---father,---and---is---left---completely---speechless.---All---those---years---his---father---had---told---him---that---the---[Spy]---class---was---dishonorable,---useless---even.---But---now,---just---because---the---patriarch…

  Oregan---moves---his---gaze---from---his---son,---looking---towards---the---carriage,---“I---have---a---big---day---tomorrow,---so---I---will---go---rest---now.”

  The---[Lieutenant---Guardian]---removes---his---hand---from---Arron’s---shoulder---and---walks---away,---leaving---his---son---to---watch---him---walk---away---with---his---mouth---agape.

  Confused---and---flabbergasted,---Arron---shakes---his---head,---slightly---annoyed.---His---father---is---going---to---sleep---now,---but---Arron---is---now---too---wound---up---to---even---think---about---closing---his---eyes.---In---one---night,---his---world---had---been---turned---around.

  “Fuck.”

  One---word,---but---not---with---a---negative---connotation---considering---the---smile---on---the---young---[Spy’s]---face.

  Chapter---Fifty---One:---Dwarves---Have---a---Saying.

  Garrus---takes---a---slow---deep---breath---and---a---long---look---around.---Roth’s---home---is,---to---his---utter---surprise,---cleaned---up.---He---remembers---this---building.---It---was---used---to---temporarily---house---the---wounded---[Guards]---and---[Soldiers].---It---was---ugly---and---barely---taken---care---of,---especially---the---front---garden---leading---up---to---the---manner.---That---had---been---covered---in---so---many---weeds---and---shrubs---that---Garrus’s---short---stature---of---a---dwarf---made---it---difficult---for---him---to---even---see---the---manor.

  But---today,---as---he---passes---by---the---open---gates,---all---he---finds---are---cut---grass,---organized---hedges,---blooming---flowers,---even---the---ground---seems---to---have---been---recently---paved---with---small---stones---creating---a---rather---nice---walkway.

  A---week.---A---week---since---the---manor---was---attacked---by---[Thieves]---and---[Rogues],---most---of---which---had---been---killed---off,---all---at---the---same---time---when---their---hideout---in---the---slums---had---been---burned---to---the---ground.

  Of---course,---Garrus---knows---that---such---a---thing---is---temporary.---The---slums---will---always---exist---in---any---city---and---that---the---[Viceroys]---dream---of---a---perfect---city---is---just---that,---a---dream.---The---only---reason---there---is---peace---is---because---the---leadership---consists---of---only---[Lady]---Rose.---But---for---how---long,---Garrus---cannot---tell.

  What---he---can---tell---is---that---he---is---walking---towards---Roth’s---home---to---conclude---the---deal---he---is---now---regretting---taking,---unfortunately,---a---dwarven---[Blacksmith]---never---backs---down---from---his---word…

  ...At---least---not---again.

  As---Garrus---reaches---the---door---of---the---manor,---he---lifts---his---hand---to---knock---but---stops---as---the---door---is---opened---by---a---man.

  Tall,---gaunt,---clearly---a---rabbit---demihuman,---the---man---wears---a---black---and---white---suit---accompanied---with---white---gloves.---The---man---smiles---and---does---a---small---bow.

  “Greetings---[Blacksmith]---Garrus,---my---master---has---been---expecting---you.”

  Garrus---looks---at---the---man,---specifically---at---the---enchanted---collar---on---the---man's---neck.---A---collar---which---depicts---the---man---a---[Slave]---but---Garrus---keen---eyes---sees---that---the---collar---lacks---any---enchants---which---would---punish---the---wearer.---On---the---contrary,---it---seems---to---Garrus---that---the---collar---improves---fatigue---and---nothing---else.

  The---[Butler]---moves---to---the---side,---extending---his---hand,---“Come---inside,”---he---says,---turning---away---from---Garrus,---his---eyes---landing---on---a---fox---demihuman---who---looks---to---be---searching---for---something,---“Kasandra.”

  The---fox---demihuman---slightly---jumps,---her---tail---moving---under---her---leg---as---she---turns---towards---the---[Butler].---And---then,---noticing---who---it---was,---her---tail---relaxes.

  “Please---take---Garrus---here---to---master---Ra-Roths’---study.---I---will---inform---the---master---that---he---is---here.”

  “Ye-yes---Alfred,”---Kasandra---stutters,---turning---towards---Garrus.---She---does---a---poor---curtsy,---“Garrus,---uh,---sir---dwarf,---please---follow---me.”

  Garrus---looks---at---the---girl---before---turning---towards---the---[Butler]---still---holding---the---door---open---and---raises---an---eyebrow.

  The---[Butler]---shrugs,---“She---is---new---and---still---learning.”

  Garrus---shakes---his---head---before---entering---and---following---the---rather---nervous---fox---girl.

  As---he---walks,---he---takes---note---of---how---many---of---the---[maids]---are---cleaning---with---smiles---on---their---faces,---many---of---them---chatting---while---working---quickly---and---accurately.---Fast---enough---for---Garrus---to---realize---that---these---[Maids]---aren't---actually---low---level,---which---makes---Garrus---wonder---if---they---even---have---the---[slave]---class.

  After---walking---a---bit---longer,---Garrus---is---directed---towards---a---door---in---which---the---fox---girl---slowly---opens,---revealing---a---room---with---tables,---chairs,---desks,---and---an---impressive---amount---of---books.

  Garrus---steps---inside---the---room.

  “Ok.---Just---take---a---seat---anywhere,”---Kasandra---exclaims---before---walking---out---of---the---room---and---closing---the---door---behind---her.

  Garrus---looks---on,---confused,---“Very---new,”---he---whispers,---thinking---of---his---time---with---his---clan.---A---proper---[Maid]---should---have---directed---Garrus---towards---a---place---to---sit---and---asked---if---he---would---like---refreshments.

  Fortunately,---Garrus---doesn't---mind.---Special---treatment---reminds---him---too---much---of---his---past,---a---past---he---would---prefer---to---forget.

  Taking---a---breath,---Garrus---finds---a---nice---comfy---chair---and---sits---himself---down.---He---looks---forward---and---stops,---making---eye---contact---with---a---young---lady---who---looks---to---be---hiding---under---the---table---in---front---of---him.

  “Ahhh…---hi,”---she---whispers.

  Garrus---lifts---an---eyebrow.

  “Are---you---the---only---one---in---this---room?”---she---asks.

  Garrus---looks---at---her,---the---clear---face,---long---hair,---curious---eyes.

  “I---am…---who---are---you?”

  The---girl---smiles---before---crawling---out---from---under---the---table.---She---stands---up---and---brushes---down---her---dress.---She---turns---to---Garrus---and---lifts---the---sides---of---her---dress---before---performing---a---perfect---curtsey,---“I---am---Izabelle,---daughter---of---Rathic,”---she---stops,---eyes---widening,---“Roth.---Not---Rathic,---Roth.---Yea,”---she---says,---smiling---as---though---she---was---successful---in---covering---up---her---blunder.

  Garrus---smiles---at---her---blunder,---though---he---already---had---a---feeling---that---Roth---wasn't---actually---a---[Trader]---or---[Merchant].---He---lacks---negotiation---skills---and---the---man's---posture---screams---of---professional---military.---But---Rathic,---that---name---doesn't---ring---a---bell,---but---Garrus---is---sure---that---he---had---heard---of---it---before.

  “Soooo,---you---are---a---dwarf,---right?”---Izabelle---asks,---taking---a---seat---right---next---to---him,---a---big---smile---on---her---face.

  “I---am---a---dwarf.---A---dwarf---[Blacksmith]---actually.”

  Izabelle---eyes---widen,---“Really?---So---you---make…---um...---adamantine---weapons?---I---heard---dwarves---use---that---metal---and---nobody---else---can---use---it.---Is---that---true?---Can---you---make---one---for---me?---How---strong---are-
--they?---Do---they---take---long---to---make?”

  Garrus---can---do---nothing---but---smile---at---the---young---girl---bombardment---of---questions.

  Garrus---leans---back,---“Adamantine---is---a---metal---that---requires---very---powerful---classes---to---even---be---able---to---use.---We---dwarves---are---known---to---use---that---metal---because---our---kingdom---has---the---largest---veins---of---adamantine---metal---in---the---world.---It---is---the---sole---reason---we---have---so---many---smiths---in---their---tier---two---classes,”---he---holds---up---two---fingers,---“---and---to---get---smiths---to---those---levels,---they---must---practice---with---either---Mithril---or---Adamantine---metal.”

  Izabelle---seemingly---deflates,---pouting,---“That's---boring.---Can---you---tell---me---a---story?---I---heard---dwarves---have---the---best---stories.---Do---you---know---any.”

  Garrus---can---only---chuckle---louder.---A---dwarf---child---would---be---utterly---happy---to---listen---to---him---talk---about---metals---and---smiths,---but---apparently,---a---young---human---girl---finds---it---rather---boring.

  “Well---then,---have---you---heard---the---stories---of---the---seven---divine---items?”

  Izabelle---nods,---“I---have,---but---those---are---boring.---I---heard---a---looooot---of---stories---about---named---people---and---stories---about---[Hero’s],---“---she---exclaims---while---moving---her---dangling---legs---back---and---forth,---a---sure---sign---of---restlessness---and---boredom.

  Garrus---takes---a---moment,---thinking,---before---stopping---on---a---rather---recent---story.

  “Have---you---heard---the---story---about---[Lord---Admiral]---Rraune---Spectator,---captain---of---the---Haven?”

  Izabelle---stops---moving---her---legs.---Her---hands---go---to---her---lips---as---she---slowly---speaks,---“Maybe…---I---don't---remember.---Can---you---tell---me---the---story?”

  Garrus,---figuring---he---has---a---bit---of---time---before---Roth,---or---better---yet---Rathic,---shows---up---to---talk,---decides---he---may---as---well---entertain---the---man's---daughter.

  Garrus---lifts---his---hand,”---Well,---first---off,---Rraune---Spectator---is---a---dwarf---[Lord]---with---a---slight---obsession---with---ships.---Well,---slight---is---an---understatement,---the---man---was---outright---obsessed.---Now,---the---dwarf---kingdom---does---have---a---naval---force,---but---a---very---limited---one.---They---only---have---it---to---protect---the---waters---around---the---kingdom---and---nothing---else.---Most---dwarves---dislike---water,---preferring---the---ground.---But---Rraune---was---different,---he---preferred---the---seas,---so---much---so---that---he---sold---practically---everything---he---owned---to---build---a---ship.”

  Izabelle---tilts---her---head,---“The---Haven?”

  Garrus---nods,---“Yes.---Rraune---was---easily---one---of---the---wealthiest---[Lords]---in---the---kingdom,---and---he---sold---everything---to---build---the---ship---known---as---‘The---Haven’,---a---ship---built---with---enough---Adamantine---to---buy---a---kingdom,”---Garrus---exclaims,---raising---his---arms---in---the---air.

  Izabelle---leans---towards---the---dwarf,---clearly---interested---now.

  “Now---the---ship,---it---actually---took---several---years---to---make,---mostly---because---the---dwarves---have---very---few---[shipwrights].---So---Rraune---was---forced---to---import---foreign---[shipwrights]---into---the---kingdom---to---work---on---the---ship.---On---top---of---that,---the---ship---he---was---making---was---massive,---several---times---larger---than---any---ship---ever---made,”---Garrus---explains,---taking---a---moment---to---adjust---his---seat---on---the---couch---while---his---legs---dangle---over---like---Izabelles.

  “Normally,---making---a---ship---so---large---would---be---impossible,---mostly---because---the---metal---would---bend---on---its---weight.---But---the---amount---of---adamantine---metal---used---in---its---construction---not---only---allowed---it---to---be---large,---but---it---also---made---it---near---indestructible.”

  Izabelle---shuffles---closer,---“It---can't---be---destroyed?”

  Garrus---chuckles,---“Oh,---it---can---be---destroyed---alright,---but---only---after---an---enemy---is---able---to---get---close---enough---without---getting---shot---down---by---the---ships---hundreds---of---mage---cannons.---But---even---then,---the---ship---has---several---defensive---enchantments---that---would---need---to---be---depleted---before---the---adamantine---metal---would---be---allowed---to---sustain---damage,---if---it---even---could.”

  “Wow,”---Izabelle---says,---sitting---back,---imagining---such---a---huge---ship.---She---had---never---actually---seen---a---ship---before,---but---she---had---seen---pictures.

  “Rraune---called---his---creation---The---Haven,---because---that---is---what---it---was---for---him.---A---home,---a---safe---place---for---him---to---live---the---rest---of---his---life.”

  “I---bet---people---were---jealous.---They---probably---tried---to---take---his---ship,”---Izabelle---exclaims.

  “Ha,”---Garrus---starts,---“You’re---a---rather---smart---girl,---aren't---ya,”---he---says,---reaching---over---and---ruffling---her---head,---Izabelle---giggling---happily---at---the---praise.

  “Rraune---went---anywhere---and---everywhere---he---pleased.---From---the---west---to---the---east---even---to---the---north,---he---saw---it---all---and---found---himself---having---to---always---deal---with---[Pirates]---and---the---occasional---country---navy.---Yes,---an---entire---navy---had---tried---to---subdue---the---Haven---and---had---failed---spectacularly.---By---the---time---Rraune---obtained---his---[Lord---Admiral]---class,---people---had---completely---and---utterly---stopped---fighting---him.---Many---wanted---him---dead,---but---they---could---do---nothing---about---it---while---he---lived---on---his---ship.---Even---named---people---wouldn't---take---the---risk.”

  “Soooo,---what---happened?---Is---he---still---alive?”

  Garrus---frowns,---scratching---his---head.---“Well,---the---story---goes---that---Rraune---had---traveled---the---west,---north,---and---east---oceans,---but---not---fully---the---south.---I’m---sure---you---know---what---is---in---the---south,---right?”

  Izabelle---nods---and---lifts---her---hand.---She---starts---extending---fingers---as---she---says---the---various---names.

  “The---Screeching---Fog,---Gods---Graveyard,---Land---of---Devouring---Smoke,---Demons---Hole,”---she---pauses,---pouting,”---I---think---there---were---a---couple---more.

  “The---Southern---Fog---is---actually---a---more---common---one,---but---the---correct---name---is---Vetiti---Spiritus.”

  “Vetiti---Spiritus?”

  “Yes,---that---is---the---first---and---oldest---name.---It---was---the---name---of---the---continent---in---which---the---fog---now---resides.”

  Izabelle---scrunches---her---eyebrows---in---confusion,---“The---fog---wasn't---there---always?”

  Garrus---shakes---his---head,---“if---the---stories---are---to---be---believed,---then---the---answer---is---no.---But---then---again,---the---stories---are---older---than---most---of---the---human---kingdoms,---so---we---really---aren't---sure.”

  Izabelle---takes---a---long---look---at---the---dwarf,---and---frowns.

  “Rraune---died.”

  Garrus---lets---out---a---long---breath,---one---he---doesn't---remember---ever---holding,---“Rraune---was---overconfident---and---he---believed---that---his---ship---would---protect---him---from---the---fog,---but---it---seems---as---though---the---fog---took---him---and---his---ship---with---it.”

  Izabelle---sags,---“Awww,---I---would---have---liked---to---see---the---ship.”

  But---Garrus,---undeterred---by---her---quickly---changing---mood,---can---only---chuckle.---Every---child,---either---dwarf---or---human,---would---find---themselves---pouting---by---the---end---of---the---story.---Thankfully,---Garrus---knows---how---to---change---that.

  “Want---to---know---something---interesting?”

  Izabelle---looks---up,---“hm?”

  Garrus---smiles,---showing---his---teeth,---“M
y---name---is---Garrus---Spectator---and---Rraune---was---my---grandfather.”

  Izabelles---eyes---widen,---“your---grampa---was---Rrau-”

  “Izabelle,”

  A---yell---is---heard---and---Izabelles---spins---quickly---towards---the---door,---gazing---at---a---frowning---Henrieta---and---a---rather---confused---Rathic---behind---her.

  “Young---Lady,---playtime---ended---an---hour---ago,”---Henrietta---yells---before---noticing---the---dwarf---sitting---next---to---her,---“and---why---are---you---bothering---Roths’---guest?”

  “He---was---telling---me---a---story,”---Izabelle---says,---pointing---at---the---dwarf---as---though---it---was---Garrus’s---idea.