Gleam of Darkness

by Elian Tars

  “Count d’Lier won’t let your crimes go unpunished,” the mayor said through gritted teeth. “Ekheim is a free town and not some feudal domain!”

  “I know,” Carl nodded. “You pay him, give discounts to his people and he, in return, guarantees protection from those who don’t mind robbing you. But you have to understand, Elliot. I’m not going to destroy Ekheim. I’ll just make unplanned elections caused by the sudden death of the previous mayor and will destroy the temple of Rugus.”

  Godwin growled like a wounded animal and jerked forward again, but almost lost all of his HP after being punched in the ribs. He exhaled and went limp in the hands of the Iron Faced that were holding him.

  “Fine…” the head of Ekheim muttered barely audibly. “Take it.”

  Somewhere in the back of my mind I noticed that our shackles and the mayor’s stocks were different not only in appearance. For example, I couldn’t feel my inventory at all and couldn’t look into it. I felt sure that I wouldn’t be able to use Tranquility of Darkness that used mana. But I had no doubt that my trump card would remain available to me. Thanks Old Man!

  As soon as the quarter of the stone disk appeared in the mayor’s hand, it immediately disappeared into baron’s inventory. Carl snatched the artifact so fast that no one but him could possibly identify the item.

  I wished that I hadn’t been wrong.

  “BOOM!!!” There was an earsplitting sound, as if a bomb had exploded nearby. The forest around us lit up with a golden glow. I closed my eyes tight and wheezed in pain.

  You have fallen under the effect of “Einar’s Aura”. You receive 50 points of damage every second while in the aura’s zone.

  You have received 50 points of damage.

  “Where?” I had hardly begun to lurch to the side when one of the Iron Faced, who had been guarding the captives, made me get up.

  My body was going numb; my internals felt like they were freezing, and my head was pounding. It took all of my willpower not to teleport at once. With a great effort, I opened my eyes.

  And I saw a God.

  Though, it must have been his projection — the broad-shouldered, 10 feet high figure that resembled a gigantic dwarf looked a little transparent.

  Einar, God of Military Virtue

  And that was all. There was no information about level or HP. The system seemed to think that this knowledge wouldn’t help me in any way, so there was no need to bother with it.

  It looked like I was the only one being affected by the God’s presence, which made the deity pay attention to my humble person.

  “The Great…” the baron muttered barely audibly, and immediately bent his knee before Einar. Arthur, both of the Carl’s guards, some of the Iron Faced and even the captive captain Koyne did the same. The “Followers” of the other Gods didn’t show that much respect, but looked at Einar with obvious apprehension.

  You have received 50 points of damage.

  The God looked at everyone present, and focused his gaze on me for a second. He chuckled and turned back to the astonished baron.

  “I’ve come because I felt that one of my ‘Followers’ had touched a dreadful artifact. The Cradle of the Gods… A part of it… You have to do your best, Carl Tsunter, to bring it to your king. I’ll tell his Patron about your finding. The ‘God of All Kings’, who is my friend and commander, will decide what to do with this disgusting thing. “

  Einar spoke slowly and with dignity. I listened to him, losing my HP and enduring the pain. But I didn’t feel sorry about it, getting used to the idea that I could spend a small amount of rebirth energy for a chance to learn something new from another God. And I also thought that I should have a very serious conversation with the Old Man after rebirth.

  “I name you my ‘Disciple’, Carl Tsunter,” the God of Military Virtue continued. “Fulfill my request. And get rid of the Rugus’s lap-dogs, the world doesn’t need his intrigues. And get information out of this person,” Einar pointed in my direction, which made me lose a hundred HP at once.

  “The Great, excuse my impudence, but if this artifact is so valuable, may be you’ll accept it for yourself?” asked the baron without raising his head.

  “No!” Einar roared. “Do not offer me the Zurtarn! Obey my will, ‘Disciple’!”

  The “explosion” sounded again, and the deity was gone.

  I felt a little better and my HP, which was already at 20%, stopped decreasing.

  Oddly enough, Lade was the first to recover. Running to the baron, he quickly said:

  “We wanted to use Godwin and Anda to get more information about the ‘Followers of Rugus’.”

  “To hell with them! We’ll find others!” Carl coldly said and looked at the captives. “Who is ready to swear their allegiance to me and serve me faithfully and loyally?”

  “Let me be under your authority, ‘Disciple’!” Captain Koyne, who had called Arthur traitor recently, responded. I wasn’t surprised, though. According to the Encyclopedia, aside from common ‘Followers’ and ‘Gleams’, Gods had intermediate members. Those who they talked to and who get extra boons from them and were appointed to rule the flock.

  “I shall serve the town, not an individual,” said the other captain. “And I won’t mind a good fight!”

  “Me too!” the third fell in with the proposal.

  “Set them free!” the baron ordered. The Iron Faced turned to Berg. “And what about you, archer?”

  The ranger silently turned away, signing his death-warrant by doing so. Stubborn as a mule…

  Carl chuckled and turned his gaze to me. He looked at me for a while, judging. Then he said:

  “I’ve heard a lot about your abilities, Bale,” he pointed at Lade with his head. “Besides, the Great himself paid attention to you. I’ll gladly take you under my command. And I’ll reward you amply if you agree to cooperate.” As if proving his goodwill he ordered the Iron Faced that was standing behind me to release me and let me heal. After that, he looked at me again. “You can’t it bear when others heal you, can you?”

  My shackles fell on the ground and I stood up, rubbing my wrists. I checked the system to make sure if twelve hours had already passed. I was lucky — I could drink a Health Potion.

  After recovering my HP, I straightened my back, thinking what to do next. Should I flee? Or should I try to get some more information?

  My eyes caught the sight of the sorceress’s headless body. I clenched my fist till my knuckles turned white. I was reminded of my first day in the dark world — of the defenseless villagers, slaughtered, and trampled by horses, the burning houses…

  A real butcher was standing in front of me! Even if I put on a mask, I wouldn’t go down the same road with him… Running away after what had happened would be inappropriate.

  I looked around again. I noticed Berg’s tense look. The ranger was staring at me, waiting to see what I would do next.

  “Well, why are you looking around, Bale?” the baron asked. “I’m right in front of you. Answer me. And not necessarily with words. Finish Anda off. If you get lucky, you’ll be able to get XP easily.”

  “If I get lucky?” I cautiously asked.

  The baron made a wry face.

  “Some high-level fighters can cast postmortem curses.”

  I chuckled, finally understanding why Godwin and his secretary were still alive. My grin didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Yes, I don’t want to put in danger those who are already loyal to me. But I can test you this way. Even if you get cursed, you won’t die. But so that you don’t get offended, I promise to kill Elliot myself.”

  Hmm, despite all his vileness he was trying to be valiant. Is that what Einar’s ‘Disciple’ was supposed to be?

  “Besides, we haven’t finished our conversation yet,” Carl stopped in front of the mayor of Ekheim and looked into his eyes. “I need the Horn of Righteousness. And the Splinter of Unity. Will you give it yourself, or should I order my people to search your inventory? Think about it while
we are busy killing your assistant. Come on, Bale! Do it! Do you want to stay alive, become stronger, make a name for yourself and earn money? It will cost you just a couple of hits and your loyalty.”

  I stopped in front of Anda. The girl looked up at me and…a smile passed over her lips. Then she said in a tormented voice:

  “Please…finish this…”

  “Come on, Bale!” the baron encouraged me. “That’s her own desire!”

  My head was all messed up — Anda’s strange smirk, the thought of bringing her salvation, the desire to just run away. I materialized the pitchfork…

  “I don’t know why but I expected more from you…” Berg muttered and turned away.

  I don’t care what you expected from me…

  “Come on, do it! Finish me!” Anda shouted.

  Power strike.

  You have dealt 105 points of damage.

  You have defeated State secretary Anda.

  XP received: 103

  You can use the slaying skill on State secretary Anda.

  I received tidbits of XP. The girl must have been defeated one time already and then they recovered her HP a little, just like they did with the mayor.

  I had a different problem, however. I couldn’t finish her, for I would cease to be a “pure creature”. It looked like I had done everything that I could. I knocked her out. Would they finish her off if I teleport now?

  “Finish her! Why are you standing still?!” the baron cried in exasperation,

  “You’re hard to deal with…” a thought crossed my mind. I froze, only now realizing what was bothering me. The voice! My inner voice. It was different. It wasn’t the voice that I was used to. But it sounded very much like the voice this body was speaking with…

  “So you’ve finally guessed? Really? It took you a while. Whatever. She needs to be removed. She’s a high level and there is a high chance that she will drop a Fraction of Patron”.

  “What are you talking about?” I didn’t understand. “And… I can’t kill.”

  “I know, shirker. So move aside… It won’t be my first time”.

  Synchronization with the body: 1 % (temporary)

  Body control mode: guest (temporary)

  Despite my will, my lips stretched in a smile and my hands swung the pitchfork over my head.

  The girl’s head was pierced through.

  Villager Bon finished off the “Gleam” Anda.

  XP received: 2046

  My hand stretched toward the dead body and felt warm when a purple spark flashed before my eyes.

  Villager Bon has acquired the “Fraction of Rugus”.

  Synchronization with the body: 30 %

  Body control mode: host

  “He got the Fraction…” I heard behind my back as I realized, quite unexpectedly, that I could control my arms and legs again.

  I gripped Berg’s shoulder. Standing “behind” Bon I wondered what else I could do and figured out a possible way to help the captive. It was a very risky move, but the archer was sentenced to death anyway.

  Elusive Darkness.

  Black haze enveloped my body, stretching smoothly from my arm to the ranger. Arrows flew at us… Swords clang…

  Then the darkness covered my eyes and all of the sounds were gone…