A bead of sweat glides down my creased brow. I quickly wipe it away before it reaches my left eye, never once breaking my focus on the object I am crafting.
The Ore shifts between my fingers, turning from a rough, shapeless chunk of stone to a smooth, thin disc. Slowly, a small, intricate mesh of symbols spread on its surface. I pick the seven crystals next to me; they are the size of peas and shimmer faintly in hues of yellow and light green. One by one, the crystals float into the air and settle into precise positions on the array—I send a pulse of my essence into the whole network, and it flares to life.
I heave a sigh and smile faintly at my handiwork. After inspecting the whole array one more time and making sure that everything works perfectly, I place the finished medallion on the floor beside me, adding it to the growing stack of its duplicates.
"Five done… eight more to go," I sigh.
After searching through all the levels of the Atelier of Spells and Incantations and not finding much, we agreed to make several groups to each search the lower floors so as not to waste time.
Kayin and the others were a bit sceptical at the thought of splitting off, especially because I was the only one who knew how to operate the elevator.
That last part was easy to fix; the elevator's consoles are not difficult to use. Anyone can use it—even the warriors—since the whole system is powered by Spirit crystals, and not the user's essence as they originally thought.
They quickly got the hang of it once I showed them which key led to which floor, which not to touch under any circumstances, and which one to use in case of an emergency.
Like that, we were able to explore the remaining floors in half the time it would have taken us if we had searched one at a time in a single group. But still nothing.
When the 'Corrosion' everything went on lockdown, businesses and institutions were closed, and all homes were evacuated. The government notified the people to keep all their valuables in vaults. The same thing went for private and public enterprises. Especially for the more important structures like the Great Archives and the Hanging Gardens.
It was such a chaotic period; everyone was nervous and rushing, and scared.
It was no surprise that we could not access any of this place's resources. It would also be of no use to attempt forcing the locks on any vault.
But eventually, we landed in the Warden's hall. That is where the array network—and in consequence, the wards—of the entire research centre are overseen and controlled.
A critical space like that is usually inaccessible without the proper clearance, but—and I still cannot believe it—the token needed to access it was simply hung on the wall! I have no idea if the key was left there due to inconceivable negligence or a deliberate act. Is it just this building, or are the other ones in a similar predicament?
I suppose even leaving the keys up for the taking is not an issue if the person who finds them does not know how to use them. The people of this era have yet to loot anything… But still…
Anyway, with the token, I could access the defences of the entire tower. The first thing I did was disable the wards of the vaults in the workshop of Craft and Artifices, which is where arcane devices are made and improved. As well as the Spirit crystal storage room.
I was a bit disappointed that there were just a few blue crystals, but no purple and white ones, but when I think of it, it would have been a miracle that they kept such high-quality crystals here, and not at the Momombi Vault. At least there were plenty of green and yellow crystals.
The workshop of Craft and Artifices did not exactly have any materials that could be used to make a… ugh… boat, but it had plenty of empty Spell banks and other trinkets that would be useful, I am sure. We have not sorted out everything yet, but I have a good feeling about this.
We are taking a break for now. After spending several hours—the whole day I think—going up and down without end, it was high time for everyone to call it day and rest.
For me, I am not that tired. I spent most of my time in the Warden's hall, coordinating with rest to give them access to the different hidden rooms.
And since there are plenty of materials at hand, I figured I could use the spare time to work on the protection charms Gamba asked for.
Sazayi and N'jobu suddenly decided they wanted their own charms when they heard I would be crafting them; one for Sazayi's fiancée, and two for N'jobu's parents. Then Azikiwe wanted one since he could not find any powerful artifact in the workshop of Craft and Artifices, obviously. Ewa also decided she wanted two for herself, and Kayin asked for one because… why not. Hence, I now find myself crafting over a dozen protective charms, amulets that will deploy a powerful shield in dangerous situations.
"You really don't have to do this, you know?" I look up, my hand already reaching for another ore, to see Gamba observing me with a troubled face. "I know I'm the one who asked… but you are sick, and your priority should be to rest as much as possible. You can always make these artefacts later."
I smile while the Ore I took starts levitating between my fingers. "I am quite alright, thank you for worrying," I say while I begin shaping the Ore, "Crafting these is not that taxing."
"It is very late already, you should sleep."
"I am not tired just yet, but I will stop when I do, I promise."
He gives me a long look, and I impulsively decide to say, "From the amount you asked for, I observe that you have quite a lot of people you cherish and dearly wish to protect. You are a very loving person."
"What makes you think they are not all for myself?" he asks after a moment of silence, folding his arms over his chest.
"Are they, though?"
We stare at each other for another couple of seconds before he breaks the silence with a sigh.
"They're not," he grunts, "you're right, I want them for my family—my mother and siblings."
"You have six siblings?! F-from the same mom?" I exclaim. He nods. Seriously? Wow! In addition to him, that would make seven children! I don't know whether to be in shock or in awe.
"I'm the eldest, my father left a long time ago, and because of my line of work, I am rarely home," he hesitates before adding, "and also because I'm a mercenary, people who have developed an enmity with me may target them. My hometown is pretty secure; my family can't easily be harmed without consequences… but I still worry sometimes. My mind would be much more at ease if they had something to protect them if anything were to happen." He frowns. "Especially with the more reckless of the bunch."
I can't help but smile. "I see, I should double my efforts then."
He turns back to me with a harder frown. "That is not what I meant."
"I will not overdo it, no need to worry," I chuckle.
We maintain eye contact for a few more seconds before he nods his head and turns away to leave. "Good night Vyswe'eyaga… and thank you."
"Good night, and you are welcome." I smile before quickly focusing back on the medallion when I get to the part where I must form the array.
I had never suspected Gamba to be such a dedicated sibling and son. Under his gruff exterior, he is actually very soft, huh? I should make sure to be extra diligent when making his charms, I will not disappoint.
"I think I will stop here for now." I raise my harms behind my back, stretching them out. Then I step out of my desk with a sigh. I glance down at it, at the pile of dark blueish medallions on it. I have been seated, making these for hours now, I have not kept track of how long, but it was long enough for my legs to start going numb.
"A little walk wouldn't hurt."
With that said I leave the Warden's Hall, straight to the elevator, and as I ponder where I should go, the thought comes to mind that I should go to the first floor. There are baths there, and I hadn't taken one in days.
The fact that the building isn't completely flooded is a relief in itself, but the real miracle is that the plumbing still works—and we even have warm water. I can never be grateful enough to the people who designed it. Bless their souls.
I make my way to the washrooms and take a quick shower. While I'm at it, I scrub my clothes too. They reek, caked in grime from days of neglect. The most stubborn stains are the droplets of dried blood—they won't come off no matter how hard I scrub. But at least my clothes are clean enough.
I also encounter a pleasant surprise as I am getting dressed. My clothes now hang more loosely on my body than they did the first time I wore them. The realization makes me grin with triumph. I have never been on the slender side of body morphology—not the way Sabar is—but for a couple of years I have struggled with weight gain, unable to shed the excess fat despite my efforts. I confess that I let my diet slip after waking up, which only worsened my morale, especially given recent events. That is why it is impossible for me not to feel elated to finally see some progress after years of struggle.
Who would have thought that all I needed was to go on a perilous journey for that? At least now there is a bright side to all this ordeal.
I was about to head back upstairs when something caught my eye; the entrance to the reception hall. The double doors are made of a transparent, glass-like material, offering a clear view of the world outside. And as I approach, a strange feeling washes over me. I stare out into the silent darkness. The streets and houses lay submerged, suspended in an eerie stillness. What once were thriving neighbourhoods now stand as a drowned relic, its new inhabitants grotesque abominations drifting through the depths like they belonged there.
It somehow reminds me the underwater kingdom I heard in stories, home to the Genie queen of water and her spirit daughters. Tales of men who broke their pact with the queen or her daughters, and were spirited away, doomed to serve there for eternity as punishment.
"Huh?"
I catch the sight of something moving outside, between the houses across the street. It was at the peripheral of my vision, just out of my direct line of sight, but despite the darkness I am certain I saw I am fairly certain I caught the sight of something running by… I think it looked like a tail, a fish's tail.
Don't tell me… are there more junjus out there?
I squint to peer into the darkness but get distracted by the sound of footsteps echoing. I turn around and my gut makes a summersault at the sight of Ike standing behind me.
We look into each other's eyes for what feels like an eternity. Not speaking. Not moving. And the longer the silence stretches, the tighter the knot my stomach becomes.
"Good evening," he says.
"Good evening, h-how did you get here?" I cringe. What am I even saying? Of course, he took the elevator. "Please, forget what I just said."
He suddenly steps forward, walking up next to me and stops just near me, peering outside searchingly. And for a time, we just stare at the dark streets outside… at least I am trying to.
Goodness, why am I acting like this?
"Is it not more prudent to cover these… doors? In case something sees us from the other side."
"Oh, the doors were tinted with a special alchemical compound… Nothing can see past through it from the other side, even if someone were to stand really close."
"I see…" he quietly peers outside.
"So… what, what brings you here? I thought everyone was resting by now."
He gives me a side glance. "Standing guard. No matter how safe this building might seem, we never know what could creep in… or what is already inside."
I doubt it. "Still… you must be the most tired of all of us. You could have left the guarding duty to the others."
"Ewa is with the researchers. Azikiwe and Gamba are also on the lookout upstairs, and…" he fully turns to me, a hint of a smile on his face. "I am not tired at all."
I frown. "You sure do love to brag, don't you?"
"I am just stating a fact, nothing more."
"Hmph…"
"'Hmph' what?"
"'Hmph' nothing."
His smile broadens, and it annoys me.
"How are you so strong anyway? Those beasts back then… they were not like the others, they were strong, far stronger. You fought both without so much as a scratch."
He gives me a long look before answering, "I was trained by the best. I told you about my mentor, remember?"
Ah, yes. The old woman who taught him how to cook, the one he is seemingly afraid of.
"I do not mean to boast, but I had plenty of talented mentors myself, as well as vast amounts of resources at my disposition, but I am not nearly as mighty as you are. You are also quite young… this speaks long on how talented you are… It must be nice, to be so powerful. There must be hardly anything you fear."
I had never been bothered that I was not the most powerful Practitioner, nor the type of genius that would appear once every millennium. I never even cared for it. All that mattered to me was that I could do what a love, studying sorcery… and achieve something that I could me proud of, and be a useful member of society.
All of it seem so meaningless now.
The memory of that entity I sensed in the mist resurface, causing shivers to run down my spine. When I remember that bloodlust. How petrified I was. How inconceivably small I felt.
I have been trying not to think about it, but…
"I am scared," I suddenly say, "all the time… I feel so helpless. Like an insignificant insect trying to navigate through a storm, without knowing where I am going, all that while trying to state afloat. I… I don't know what I am doing, I don't know what I should be doing. And I am thinking, maybe if I were stronger like you are, I would feel less scared, I would be more confident, and… I don't know, not be how am right now."
"Nothing guarantees you would feel any different if you were powerful, you know?" He pauses, then says, looking straight into my eyes, "You are very brave already. I think that is enough for now."
"—I am not brave," I scoff.
"You are," he insists, "You are very brave. You are brave because you are here right now despite being as scared as you say you are. You are brave because you keep trying to move forward, despite how hard, and dreadful the path ahead seem. You wouldn't be here, if it were not for your own bravery."
I smile, a self-deprecating smile. "I wouldn't be here if it were not for Kayin," I shake my head, "I would be ignoring the duty Tchio gave me—to this day. I would be acting like nothing had happened trying to go about the days and maybe searching for the cause of the fall of my home."
"But you went with him, didn't you? Despite your fears." His fingers goes to my chin, softly nudging my face up. "Have some faith in yourself. You are managing well enough so far."
I force a laugh as a pretence to look away. "I would still feel more at ease if I had the ability to vanquish monsters in an instant like you."
He shakes his head, turning my head back to him. "Power is not the solution any problems. In fact," his gaze darkens, "If you are not careful, you could end up making things worse… and hurt the people you care about."
His expression turns guilt-ridden, and melancholic. Is he just speaking wise words… or is he talking out of experience? I am curious, but I do not want to pry, it might be memories he does not want to recall.
"Alright, I understand." I take a deep breath, and distance myself when a realize how close we had been. "Sorry… I was acting out."
He stares into the empty space between us, as if trying to solve an invisible equation. Then he looks up at me, "Don't be."
His legs move. I think for a brief instant that he was going to close the gap between us once more, but he instead heads to the reception counter and sit down against it, his spear propped to his right. He taps the space to his left, and my body moves on its own, and I am sitting on the floor beside him.
"You are incredibly skilled when it comes to all these wards and arrays subject. You are also an incredibly well-learned and educated. Tell me…" his elbow is propped on his knee, resting his head against his hand, "Were you a princess in your old kingdom, or perhaps one of the elites?"
"What?" I laugh, "Me? A princess?" I shake my head, "No, I was just an ordinary citizen."
He looks at me like he does not believe me.
"I am not lying. Apart from my ability to wield sorcery, there is nothing unique about me."
"You mentioned having plenty of talented mentors, as well as vast amounts of resources at your disposal—that is not something everyone gets to have."
"Believe it or not but everyone did." I pause, considering my words carefully. "There was a certain point in time when we had far more resources available than people. As a result, anyone could pursue any path they wanted without too much trouble."
"Your life must have been very peaceful, then. The junjus didn't exist at that time, right?"
"Y-yes… Life was… very peaceful?" I say awkwardly. We did not know the fear of the night, nor the despair of facing certain death at the appearance of a monstrous creature. Compared to now, our lives were almost blissful. My life was almost blissful.
"No need to feel bad about it," he says, having somehow read my mind. "It is something to be only grateful for."
I nod slightly.
"Why did you become a mercenary?"
He thinks about it for a second. "The first reason; money, I was broke. The second reason is that my mentor simply went off one day without warning. I had nowhere to go… no real purpose… and again I had no money. Mercenary work is usually the go-to for warriors with nothing."
I hug my legs tighter.
I want to ask him why he had nowhere to go. What happened to his family and friends? Is he an orphan, and why? Did he… hurt the people he held dear and was forced to leave as a consequence? But I don't think I should ask him that part of his life just yet. It is not my business, and we are not that close to the point I can ask him such sensitive questions. No matter how curious I am.
"You said your mentor was old. How could she have disappeared without you noticing?" Then an idea comes to mind. "Was she perhaps… abducted?"
Ike gapes at me for a solid five seconds before bursting into a fit of laughter. He voices rumbling deep in his throat… Again, I feel that strange flutter in my bowels.
"Abducted? The world would have to flip upside down before it ever happened—even then, it would be hard to believe." He shakes off the last of his laughter. "No, she probably got bored with me at some point and decided to leave."
"Just like that?" I gasp.
"Well, she did say she would train me until she found something better to do. She took under her wing on a whim," he shrugs.
Still, that is not how a mentor is supposed to behave with his pupil. I can't imagine Teacher doing something that to me…. Not voluntarily.
"I was no child at the time," he says, "well past my thirties. I managed just fine, as you can see."
I bit the corner of my lip.
I have mixed feelings about it. Even if he was in his thirties, he was still far too young. Yes, he was independent enough, but… I don't know what I had do without the people I hold dear. Left to my devise. All alone.
The hours slip by as we drift from one topic to another. The atmosphere is slow, and casual. I feel relaxed like I had not been for a long time. It had been a while since I had talked so candidly with someone. Not since I awoke in this strange new era.
I did discuss on many things with Kayin, Ewa, and uncle Owono, but it always felt… transactional, in a way. Because of my Nchāren origins, and because all that remained of them were old relics, there was naturally a lot they wanted to know about us, and I was the only one with seemingly all the answers. Thus, it always felt like an exchange of information.
It was more complicated with Kemfak. I genuinely enjoyed our talks, but I always had to restrain myself. To avoid telling too much about myself, evade a question I could not honestly answer, or fabricate a believable lie.
But right here, right now, I am myself. I am not exchanging for a piece of information he sought, and I do not need to lie. We talk because we want to, no strings attached… and it is refreshing.