Part - 1
Velra's eyes widened as she saw the weapon on display. Her heart skipped a beat, it was the same weapon she had glimpsed at the Drunken Boar, the one that belonged to that man. She approached the dwarf, curiosity and awe in her voice.
"Where did you find this weapon?" she asked.
The dwarf glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I don't know much about it," he replied. "I was exploring the Sanctum of Solmeryn, the old temple dungeon. This was in a chamber after south of the temple. I brought it back, but the sharpness… it isn't good. It barely cuts anything. When I tried to smelt it to forge a new weapon, it wouldn't melt. The material isn't normal."
Selvara leaned in, curious. "Velra, do you know anything about this sword?"
Velra shook her head subtly. She didn't want to reveal the connection she had. "No," she whispered to Selvara. Then, louder to the dwarf, she added, "I'm actually interested in buying it. It looks antique, it would suit my house as a decoration."
The dwarf gave her a long look. "I am Hegren," he said. "And yes, I can sell it. But it won't come cheap. Three gold coins."
Selvara's eyes went wide. "Three? Three? That's too much!"
Hegren's gaze hardened. "You don't know how difficult it was to coming alive from that dungeon was. Pay, or leave."
Velra sighed, reaching into her pouch. "Fine, fine," she said, handing over the coins. "Consider it done."
"Good doing business with you," Hegren said, and the transaction was complete.
Velra and Selvara stepped out of the shop, the sword wrapped carefully.
Selvara shook her head. "Velra, you paid way too much for that sword!"
Velra smirked, holding the weapon carefully. "Oh, you have no idea what you're looking at. Three gold coins? That's less than this sword is worth." She glanced down at it, a faint thrill running through her.
The group returned to the inn. Velra carefully placed the weapon in her room. Lethan and Rahim were already asleep, while Orren and Nadir had still not returned from the brothel. Selvara and Velra, exhausted from the day's errands, soon fell asleep as well, knowing they had to be ready for the next day's journey.
Morning came quickly. Everyone was prepared to head to the palace in Velmora to meet the representative. But Orren and Nadir were still absent. They debated whether to wait.
Rahim finally said, "We shouldn't waste time. Who knows how long it will take for them to come back?"
After a brief discussion, the group agreed and followed Lethan's lead toward the palace. Upon reaching the front gates, the guards stopped them.
"What is your business here?" a stern guard demanded.
Lethan stepped forward confidently. "I am from the Great Library of Mnemonrae, here to deliver a an important message."
The guards eyed his robes and accoutrements. "Do you have identification?"
Lethan produced a letter signed by Master Maerlin. The guards scrutinized it, then nodded. "Very well," they said, allowing the group to pass and leading them to the waiting room.
Minutes later, a man entered. He looked noble, dressed in white and blue robes, his hair a striking white, and his age seemed around 22 or 23. He greeted them with a polite nod but his eyes were sharp and calculating.
Lethan asked cautiously, "Who are you? Can you tell us first?"
The man's gaze bore into him. "I am the man you wished to meet.
Lethan hesitated. "Are you currently leading the government of Velmora?"
The man's expression darkened. "What if I said no? Would you still tell me what is this important information?"
"I… I was told to only give this to Ashwak Araveth. Are you him?" Lethan asked nervously.
The man's eyes narrowed. "No. But you will tell me anyway." Suddenly, he raised his Rha, drawing a knife and pressing it against Lethan's neck.
Before it could touch him, Velra's rapier shot out faster than his strike, knocking the knife aside. Rahim stepped in front of Lethan, shielding him, while Selvara's hand gripped her staff, ready to unleash her magic.
The man staggered back a step, smirking. "Flow, huh?" he muttered. Velra's eyes flicked to him, how did he know?
Without warning, he lunged at them again, this time targeting Velra. She blocked his knife with her rapier, but the strikes grew heavier, more forceful.
"You're new to Rha, aren't you?" he taunted, forcing her back with relentless strikes.
From the side, a sudden punch slammed into him. He barely managed to raise the knife, but Rahim's strike shattered it into pieces. He stumbled back, landing on his knees.
A faint glow surrounded him, Selvara had invoked Time's Shackles. He froze, surprised, his movements now sluggish.
The man's eyes flicked between the group. "Interesting… Flow, Fury, and a sorceress. Let's see if you're better than the instinct of a beast."
Part - 2
The man had drew another knife, man's knife glinted in the dim sunlight filtering through the palace hall, his white-and-blue robes rippling as he circled them like a predator. "Flow, huh?" he sneered, his voice low and sharp. Velra tightened her grip on her rapier, her pulse of Rha flaring as she readied herself.
Selvara murmured under her breath, "Time's Shackles," and a faint, sluggish aura began to distort the air around the man's legs again, slowing his movement even slightly. He staggered but still pressed forward, eyes narrowing.
Rahim stepped forward calmly, fists igniting with his Fury Rha. "Raging Strike!" he roared, lunging at the man. His punch collided with the knife, shattering it in a spark of steel fragments. The man stumbled back, but only slightly, and kept his balance with unnerving precision.
Velra danced forward, using her Flow Rha to glide across the floor. She slashed with her rapier cutting arcs through the air. Sparks of energy hit the man's robes, but he countered with a sudden, spinning knife strike, grazing her shoulder. Blood bloomed through her sleeve, but she barely faltered.
Selvara's staff glowed as she kept continuously amplifyed Time's Shackles and forcing the man to hesitate for a brief moment. He snarled, striking again, and this time a glancing blow hit her side, leaving her staggered but still fighting. "Not enough!" she hissed, repositioning.
The trio moved fluidly, Rahim combining strikes with Velra's Flow-enhanced mobility and Selvara's slowing curse. But the man was cunning, his movements weren't fast, but each strike was precise, as if he anticipated their attacks. Velra's foot was nicked, Selvara's arm bruised, yet Rahim remained largely unscathed, his Fury Rha keeping him just out of reach.
Velra ducked a knife swing and countered with a backflip stab, Selvara sent a sweeping wave of arcane energy from her staff.
For a tense moment, it seemed the fight was evenly matched, with the man adapting to each new attack. Then, with a roar, Rahim shouted, "Blazing Tiger Fist!" He launched forward, fists ablaze with Rha, connecting with the man's chest. The impact rattled him, and he staggered.
Velra seized the moment, spinning with "Riptide Edge," her rapier striking his side. Selvara followed, her staff striking a final pulse of "Temporal Bind" that restricted the man at one place.
The man's eyes widened in alarm as he realized he was overwhelmed, suddenly his Rha became furiously pushing back everyone and his eyes became like that of a beast. Others realized, he was not serious till now and not this is going to be a real deal. Then, a shadow fell over him. Orren appeared suddenly, his boots hitting the marble floor with authority, and without hesitation, his fist shot forward in a move he called "Judgment's Strike."
The punch landed squarely across the man's chin, sending him flying backward through the air. He slammed into a stone pillar with a resounding crack, sliding down to the floor in a daze. Dust rose around him as Orren stepped forward, calm and deadly, while the trio caught their breath, bruised but victorious.
Velra wiped blood from her arm, Selvara flexed her aching wrist, and Rahim cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming. Orren looked down at the defeated man and said simply, "You'll learn respect soon enough."
Part - 3
Orren looked over his team, eyes scanning each of them. "Are you all alright?" he asked. Each nodded. Then his gaze returned to the man on the floor as he slowly rose.
"So… you want more, huh?" Orren said, his tone cold.
Before the situation could escalate, a figure came rushing from behind. "Stop! Everyone, stop it!" the man shouted, his white-and-blue robes fluttering as he approached.
The man stopped in front of Orren, his eyes sharp but calm. "Warden, calm down. I am Ashwak Araveth, and this is my youngest brother, Eindra Araveth," he said firmly.
Orren's eyes narrowed, voice laced with anger. "Is this how you treat your guests? What about the neutrality deal with Mnemonrae, huh? You're breaking that?"
Ashwak held up a hand. "No, I wish to apologize on his behalf. Now, Eindra, step back before I get angry." The younger brother retreated immediately, bowing slightly as he went.
Ashwak then turned to Orren. "Warden of Dust, Orren Zahad, again, I apologize for this, and we will pay for any damages."
Nadir, just arriving behind them, perked up at the mention of money. As Orren opened his mouth to reply, "It's not about..." Nadir interrupted immediately, grinning, "Oh, we'll take it then."
The tension eased, and the discussion shifted. Lethan stepped forward. "Sir, actually the important information we are here to deliver is that the rank changed and the two new names in the Crimson Ledger appeared and that too in top 10 at 2nd and 5th position."
Ashwak listened carefully. "Ah… I see. This is crucial information," he murmured. He realized the significance immediately. If he could ally with even one of them, the Iron League wouldn't be able to challenge Velmora's ruling faction effectively.
Lethan, still catching his breath from the earlier scuffle, asked cautiously, "Sir… can I ask why your brother attacked us? I was terrified."
Ashwak's expression darkened. "Well... actually he is a disciple of the leader of the Iron League."
Everyone exchanged shocked glances. His own brother had joined an opposing faction and was disciple of that faction's leader.
"It's a long story, actually..." Ashwak began.
Orren waved him off. "We don't want to hear it. We're leaving soon."
Ashwak nodded. "Very well. Wait...your reward." He signaled to an attendant, and a small chest of gold coins was brought forward. "1,000 gold coins for the information, and 500 extra for my brother's mistake."
Nadir practically danced in place, ecstatic at the sudden fortune.
After collecting the coins, the group began to leave the palace. Ashwak called after them, "Before you go, Mr. Lethan, do you by chance know these two individuals: Halric and Aurelius?"
Lethan shook his head. "No, sir. Master Maerlin said he hadn't heard of their names before."
Ashwak gave a brief nod. "Alright, then. Farewell."
With that, the group exited the palace gates, their path set for the next destination, carrying both gold and information that could change the balance of power in the realm.
End of Chapter.