A loud ringing resounded through the room, and a torrent of wind swirled above my head.
"What's this?" the man asked inquisitively.
"Hmm? Hello? Hello? Is this thing working correctly? Can you people hear me?"
Above my head, a large spectral image of Alwyn's head spoke.
"Alwyn? Is that really you?" I asked.
"Ah! Young Lin, how've you been? You're in trouble, aren't you? And is that Liora I see over there?"
"Hi teacher!" Liora waved, still being restrained by Jezebel.
"Alwyn! What a pleasure to see you," Jezebel shouted.
"A pleasure? Why are you putting hands on my dear apprentice? Is that such a pleasure?"
"Ahaha, I apologize, but it was a necessary measure. You know I'm not your enemy, don't you, old pal?"
"Old 'pal'? Do I know you?"
"Of course you do! It's me, Jezebel, from the tower! You know, Ahab and Jezebel, the lightning and thunder duo!?"
"Ehhh... not ringing a bell. Sorry, I guess you weren't that memorable."
"You—!"
"Calm down, Jezebel, that's no way to talk to a celebrity." Amon stepped forwards, "impressive and fair Alwyn, I apologize for any distress this may have caused you, and for the rude words of my colleague. Unfortunately, I'd prefer this meeting to be a little more... personal. Can't you make it here in person?"
"You're ordering me to come meet you? You misunderstand the situation you're in, you've disrespected my apprentices, which means you've spat on my shoes. I should order you to kill yourselves on the spot!" Alwyn laughed.
"No, no we won't do that. See, if you don't comply, we'll kill your entire party," Amon said. His respectful and smooth tone crumbled into a sick flicking of his forked tongue.
"You really think I left two useless kids alone in that city?"
"Aliza is in our hands too, you know. Bold choice of companion, considering what you did to her. That was a separate matter, though. The tower wants her dead."
"...You've really got me, then, don't you?"
"That's right, Everflame. Come meet us at this factory and you can get your little apprentices back. After you've done what we ask, that is."
"And Aliza?"
"Oh, I'm afraid she's going to die regardle—"
In a blink, Amon's head was severed clean off. Instantly, Jezebel let go of Liora. She fell to her knees, trembling, and begged for mercy.
"Fair Alwyn, please spare me. I was only working on behalf of the tower. You know we less talented wizards are at the whims of the tower!"
"Hmmm, yes, that's right. But now you're at the whims of me, aren't you?"
"That's right! I'm your eternal servant! I'll do anything you ask!"
"Eternal slave. Where is the other one? Adam?"
"Ahab! He's washing up! He's sure to be back soon!"
"No, I don't need to see him. The both of you, escort my apprentices. Their orders are my orders, understood?"
"Yes sir!"
"Lin, grab Aliza from wherever they were keeping her and make sure she's all right?"
I didn't even realize he was speaking to me for a moment. I was in awe at the display of power.
Incredible! He saved us and he isn't even in the room! And against three magics too?!
"Yes!"
I ran over to Aliza. She was tied up on a chair, awake.
"MmmmMff!"
I removed the cloth gag.
"Linnie? What're you doing here!?"
"Hey, we're here to save you!" I grinned.
"The three..."
"Alwyn already took care of them."
I untied her and she tried to get up from the chair. She immediately fell back down, however, going into a coughing fit.
"Sorry, give me a second."
"It's fine, we're really in no rush..."
"The sickness. I haven't been able to maintain it from my distance, I'm sorry. I'll try to get back as soon as possible."
I jumped in surprise, Alwyn's floating head had followed me into the room.
"You've been maintaining it with magic and you weren't telling me!? For how long? That must've been incredibly taxing!"
"Don't worry about it. If I don't do it you're dead, so..." Alwyn coughed awkwardly.
It hung in the air that this was all his fault. But I could tell he was trying to make amends. In his own way.
We moved back to the main area, where I spotted Liora dragging the corpse to a secluded corner where no one would have to stare at it. She kicked the head across the floor like a ball...
"Huh? Where am I?"
The prince was finally awake.
"We were attacked, but it's all fine now, long story, doesn't matter," I said, helping him up.
"Wha—! Alwyn!"
"Oh? The prince? I wasn't aware you were in Corvailles, nor that you'd made acquaintance with Lin and Liora already. That makes things convenient, doesn't it?"
"That's right! It's an honor to finally speak with you!"
"Yes, yes, same. I'm afraid though, our conversation must be cut short. We'll talk when I return, shall we?"
"Of course!"
"Alwyn, listen! Something bad is happening here!"
"...I'm aware. But my other duties are unavoidable. Listen, all three of you, if your lives are truly in danger, forget everything and run. Those are my only directions."
"But, the city—!"
"I'm not stopping you from carrying out your heroic mission, I'm just telling you to not die, okay? Trust me, I've been through the same stuff!" he laughed. "Alright, that'll be it! I'll see you guys later!"
Like that, Alwyn's projection disappeared into the air.
What was that about?
"Jezebel!" I shouted.
"Yes, master?!"
Hehe... this is awesome!
"Where is the other one? The thief? Bring him here immediately."
"Yes sir!"
As she was reaching for the door, it slammed open, and the other one, Ahab, came running through.
"I sensed a large surge of mana, is everything alright...?" he quickly slowed, confused at what he was seeing.
"Ahab! Amon, he—he's dead. Alwyn killed him instantly."
"What!? Alwyn's here!?"
"Not exactly... he did it with some strange, long-distance spell. He ordered us to escort the two apprentices. We have no choice..."
"Damn... I knew we were in over our heads. You weren't there at the tournament, you didn't see what he did. I knew it! I knew it I knew it! We never should've messed with him!"
"Shut up! Hindsight is always 20/20, you still went along with it!"
"Jezebel, come give me a foot massage!" Liora ordered.
"...Yes young miss!" Jezebel bowed.
Ahab was stunned, but at the sight of her obedience, he seemed to be convinced and gave a kneel.
This is a surprisingly handy turn of events! With two wizards on our side and Prince's caretaker, there's no way we lose!
"You two, all you have to do is help us stop the cult from terrorizing the reenactment today. It shouldn't be a problem for tower magics like you."
"Of course not, there are few people in this city that could compare to the two of us!"
"Hold on, what's this talk about cults?" Aliza asked.
"It's a long story, but... you should probably go back to your inn. In the state you're in, you'd only—"
"Slow you down, yeah. I get it, you're off to do your own thing. It hasn't been a year and you're already starting to sound like him. Just don't get hurt, alright?"
"You know I'm gonna get hurt," I laughed.
"You're right—you better not die though!"
After sending Aliza off to rest, we came together and started to formulate a plan.
"—and when we finally come across their lord, you'll call for your caretaker. Then, she, Jezebel, and Ahab along with Liora and I will take him out before he can cause whatever destruction he's planning."
"Isn't that a little overkill? Jezebel and I should be enough to take out this guy. It's not like he's a knight or wizard, right?"
"I don't know... he had a wizard subservient to him, a strong wizard. And supposedly... he's 'blessed' by Saint Pischt."
"Blessed by Pischt? Like, an actual blessing?" the wizard asked.
"I don't know, what do you mean by 'actual'?"
"Are you from the sticks or something?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Blessings are a certain power that someone may obtain arbitrarily or through some merit. Many wizards and knights have blessings due to their lines of work, whether it be some simple boon or an incredible ability, it all depends," Prince explained as if he was reciting a passage from a book he read.
"Seriously!? That's a thing? I've never heard of that..."
"Me neither," Liora shrugged.
Jezebel was giving her a massage.
"I suppose that could be it... I can't be sure though," I said. "Either way, it's best to be overprepared rather than, you know, dying?"
"Agreed!" Prince said.
"Does anyone know what time it is?"
"Yes, sir, it's currently 6:50 in the evening. That leaves us about an hour before the reenactment begins."
"Then they must be near the docks already, we should go right now and search for them."
"Shouldn't we split up to cover more ground?"
"No, there won't be any time to meet back up. This is our only shot."
The five of us left the factory. I rode a broom with the prince, Liora rode by herself on her shovel, and Ahab and Jezebel rode together.
"The beach is right over there! Try and spot any suspicious activity in the crowd or along the beach!"
We flew around, back and forth and in circles trying to find anything of note.
"Linnie, do you know what their leader looks like!?" Liora shouted.
Oh, I don't. That's bad.
"No! But I'll know his voice if I hear it!"
The longer we searched, the more I realized how soggy my plan was. I didn't know what their leader looked like, I didn't know where the cultists were, and I didn't know what exactly they were doing. It was starting to seem hopeless, and I felt my face go red in embarrassment.
"Attention, please! Attention, attention! I am Malachai Droswen, your elected captain for this year's Feast of the First Voyage Festival!"
The crowd below us roared in cheer.
No way... that's him!
"Liora! Jezebel! Get over here!"
"What is it, sir?"
"That man! The one speaking to the crowd! That's him! The leader!"
"Oh shit!" Ahab laughed. "That's gonna be an issue! Should we just do a hit and run?"
"In front of the crowd!? We'd be hunted to the ends of the Earth... there has to be something we can do."
No wonder this asshole had the second largest estate in the city! He's a celebrity!
"I don't know if you people have heard, but a great tragedy struck my estate today. Despite that, I still came this fine night to be your captain!"
The crowd cheered.
"Now, like usual, and without need for introduction, the great Duke and his sweet wife and daughter join me on the stage tonight! And with a surprise guest too, our young lady's fiancé, the glorious Crown Prince!"
The crowd went insane when the prince appeared on stage. The duke gave a nervous smile and waved, though his wife seemed less than pleased.
"I've got it! I'm about to be called up on that stage with the other competition winners! I'll get on that ship and tell Marielle and the Duke everything!"
"I'll come with you. I doubt they'd turn me away if I just show up," Prince said.
I flew us down to the crowd and made my way up to the stage, Prince following me.
"We're running out of time, so I'll just call up all of the winners from the festival's daily games~!"
"That's us..."
Prince and I made our way to the stage. When the Crown Prince saw the two of us, or more specifically, his younger brother, he seemed shocked. Marielle had expected my arrival, having been the one to give me the win.
We moved to stand next to Marielle and the Crown Prince, and she seemed kind of annoyed.
"Pssst! Marielle, there's a serious problem!"
"What are you doing? We're on stage! Tell me when we get on the ship," she whispered back.
"Tch, there's no time!"
She stomped on my foot, and I held back a yelp.
"Can I ask for confirmation from the crew that we're ready to board? Is that a yes? That's a yes folks! The reenactment will now begin!"
We followed Malachai onto the ship.
"I thank you people for your undying support this past year! It's been a struggle, but together, we can continue to improve Corvailles, the city of Saint Pischt!"
"YEAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!" the crowd screamed in unison.
The boat pulled out of the harbor and started for the open ocean. Keeping their distance, I saw Liora, Jezebel, and Ahab far above us, watching for my sign like I'd instructed.
"What are you doing here, brother?"
The Crown Prince approached us and questioned his youngest brother.
"Well, I was hanging around with Lin and he told me he was invited to attend. I thought it wouldn't be so bad. Did I overstep?"
"No... you're fine. I was just surprised, that's all. Don't get into any trouble."
The Crown Prince left to go speak with Malachai. He was surely unaware of what was truly happening.
Isn't he practically a knight? This'll be no problem with all the people we've got!
"And you, what did you want to tell me?" Marielle asked.
"Listen, that man, Malachai, he's a bad guy!"
"Yeah, I know. My father has been trying to seize his assets and have him arrested for months now. Malachai has too much sway over the people, though. It's completely useless without hard evidence."
"That's not what I mean! He's actively plotting something! He's leads some cult, that's why he has so much power! It's completely infected the city!"
"A cult...? No, there's no way... but what is he plotting?"
"I don't know exactly, I think he's attempting to summon Saint Pischt herself. Whatever it is, it's going to be bad. He's been sacrificing citizens to Pischt, he's deranged."
"Tch, I should go and kill him myself right now!"
She started to walk towards him, but I grabbed her shoulder.
"No! Calm down. He has some sort of blessing, we have no idea how powerful he is. Could you convince your father and the Crown Prince to come over here with us, though?"
"...I'll try. My father'll probably believe me, but the Crown Prince... he's gotten all buddy-buddy with Malachai these past few days. It might be difficult."
Shit! That's bad...
Suddenly, the ship, only for a small moment, went quiet. The talking ceased and the wind calmed. It was in that moment that I heard something, just barely.
What... what is that? Chanting? From where?
I could barely make out a soft glow coming from beneath the floorboards.
What if his cultists weren't on the beach at all... they've been on the ship this entire time! The crew!
I felt a sharp spike of mana pierce through the ship and instinctually tackled Marielle.
"What're you doing—!?"
"GET DOWN, THEY'RE UNDER US!"
From where we were just standing, a large fleshy tendril tore through the ship. With a groan, the ship came to a halt, and everyone went into a frenzy. Everyone except the captain, of course.