Far north of where Freya was dropped was the Havensguard Empire. This empire is primarily responsible for the summoning of most Otherworlders. In the highest tower of the imperial castle, there was a meeting being held about a recent event. Seated at the table in the center of the room was the Havensguard cabinet which consisted of the empress, the captain of the knights, and five heads from the noble houses of Havensguard. These houses being Watson, Finn, Wickes, Rowley, and Spencer. On the outskirts of the room were the elite knights who directly served the empress. These knights were painstakingly trained by Osman Mintz, the current knight captain. The empress, Gwendolyn Havensguard, began the discussion.
"I believe you all know why you were summoned here today. A mass summoning took place two days ago." She stated. "Unlike the summonings we conduct, this one seems to have been done on a much larger scale, and we are unaware of a territory capable of pulling such a thing off." Nervous chatter and whispers began filling the chamber until the knight captain spoke up.
"Your highness, do you think that priest could have been correct with his warning?" He asked. The warning Osman was referring to was given to them by the church not too long ago. It warned of an age-old prophecy falling into place in the near future. Gwendolyn was not one who believed in superstition, and this bit of information was brushed off.
"Perhaps he wasn't far from the truth after all. However, if we are to believe him, we must collect them as soon as possible." Gwendolyn began again, "If another kingdom got their hands on these people, their power could prove formidable. Perhaps eventually… unstoppable." One of the knights under Osman stepped forward.
"Forgive me, your highness, but I find it hard to believe these people will prove to be much of a challenge in their current state. We will easily be able to dispatch them before anyone even knows their identities." He said, gleaming with pride. "We already know where three of them are. The outlaw city of Rogue's Landing, the Enchanted Forest, and the dwarven city of Maldir. Give us some time and they will be wiped from this world." The empress smiled.
"I'm impressed, I will say however, there are two in the Enchanted Forest. Another resides in the demon territory." The empress stated. As she began to mull it over, she began to like the idea quite a lot. This vanguard consists of some of the strongest people in the empire. Surely they were capable of this. They were trained by Osman, after all. "Very well, Savant. I will grant this request. Show me what you've got."
The knight bowed deeply and spoke again. "You have my thanks, your highness. We will begin our hunt immediately." The knights lining the room bowed and filed out of the room. A woman at the table spoke up as soon as the last knight left.
"So. They've finally done it. What are the bastards upstairs attempting to accomplish?" This was Sylvia Watson, leader of one of the five great noble houses of Havensguard. "I mean, it had to be them, right? I knew that priest was telling the truth."
"Precisely." Echoed Lawrence Rowley. "We must stop focusing on new summons. The path ahead is guaranteed with the power lying in these new anomalies!"
"You seek to control them? Preposterous." Lucious Finn added. "If these are truly playthings of the Gods, they must be destroyed. They cannot be reasoned with."
"You speak so lightly of them?" Began Lorelai Spencer, "careful with your words. They might just strike you down right here." She clasped her hands together and began whispering.
"It's truly a shame we weren't the ones to pull this off. I would've loved to train one or two of them." Osman added. "We have better techniques now than the ones used on the current roster. I can only imagine the strength." The empress raised her hand and the room regained its composure. Although Osman was right, it was very dangerous to try and apprehend the unknown. Especially if that unknown was an Otherworlder. The skills born from these individuals have seemingly endless possibilities due to the environment the person was raised in, and the user's own personal desire. Not that the cabinet knew the true origin of these new powers. Despite her cabinet's ramblings, she would honor the deal she made with the Savant.
"Savant's request stands. If you wish to formulate your own strategies, by all means go ahead, but Savant has one month for his own strategy. Only then may you begin to move." The empress stated.
"Yes, your grace!" The room responded.
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Finding the teleportation sigil so quickly seemed like a boon, but why weren't we outside the labyrinth? Instead, we were now in a fancy looking room that had to be owned by someone who was very wealthy. Beautiful paintings lined the wall, and there was very nice furniture strewn about. As we were admiring the decor, the doors at the top of the lobby staircase opened and out came many butlers and maids. They lined up in front of us and bowed.
"Welcome, Echo of Divinity! Please, join us for dinner!" They said in unison, motioning further inside.
"Echo of what now?" I asked. The group however, didn't respond, instead they started to file behind us and escorted us down the main hallway of the building.
"Hey! What the hell is going on?" Zal'gus asked. "Before you ask Freya, this is a new one! I have no fucking clue what's about to happen!" This time, we got a response.
"The Echo and companion shall join the Master for a meal!" They said with a smile. Man these guys are fucking creepy.
At the end of the hall was a set of tall double doors, which swung open to reveal a dining room built for ceremony as much as for meals. The chamber was long with high ceilings, its walls carved from pale stone and draped with heavy banners bearing the crest of a bat stitched in gold thread. At the center of the room stretches a massive dining table made from a single slab of dark polished wood. The surface gleams in the candlelight, reflecting rows of silver plates, crystal goblets, and carefully arranged cutlery. Dozens of high-backed chairs line the table, each carved with curling vines and small mythical beasts hidden in the patterns.
A chandelier hangs above, wrought from iron and shaped like twisting branches. Dozens of candles burn along its arms, their flames dancing gently and filling the room with warm golden light. The scent of melted wax mingles with roasted meats, baked bread, and rich spices drifting from another room. Along the walls stand tall cabinets in a display of wealth: delicate porcelain dishes, ancient goblets, and trophies brought back from hunts or distant lands. Servants move quietly along the edges of the room, placing steaming platters onto the table. Zal'gus and I were ushered towards the end of the table, and then we saw her. Gorgeous flowing white hair, striking ruby colored eyes. Sipping wine quietly at the end of the table. She looked over in our direction and smiled.
"We finally meet, Echo of Iris, please have a seat. Enjoy this wonderful meal while I pick your brain." She said. As she spoke, I noticed she bore fangs. A vampire?
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Now I can't say I've ever met a vampire before, but I can definitely say I was expecting something more monstrous. The woman sitting with Zal'gus and I was stunning to say the least. Her silky smooth white hair was almost reflecting the light that was hitting it. Her clear, pale skin didn't have a single blemish, and her ruby eyes looked as perfect as gemstones. If I had seen her on the street I wouldn't think she was a day over twenty five. Although, I'd imagine if she's been down here, she's ancient. There was one last thing I could discern with my new vision, she was strong. Magical aura was surrounding her in a display of power. If we were going to fight, it would most certainly mean our demise. The meal in front of us was a feast. There were only three of us here, but the food stretched across the table like this woman was hosting a party.
"Please! Eat up!" The woman began, "don't be shy at all, there's plenty to go around!" She snapped her fingers and a few servants came by and began loading our plates with various meats and vegetables, some of which I couldn't recognize. Zal'gus looked up at me, hesitant to start. I tried to gauge the vampire for any tells of bad intentions.
"What? Not to your taste? I don't know what you had to eat in your previous world, so I tried to have my servants make a bit of everything…" She noticed that still didn't convince us. But I'm intrigued on how she would know about my past. She wouldn't have seen me arrive since she was down here, right? Although, she did already comment on Iris.
"I promise it's not poisoned! Why would I have such an extravagant meal prepped if I was to soil it?" I looked at Zal'gus and nodded, and we started to dig in.
"Great! I'm glad you guys came! As soon as I felt your presence in the labyrinth I had to make preparations for your arrival. I can't believe you found your way here so soon! What brings you snooping around my home in the first place, though?" The vampire said.
"We didn't actually come here on purpose. We came across a Cerberus in the forest, and we ended up falling down here whilst running away from it." I responded.
"A Cerberus, huh?" The vampire asked. She nodded over to Zal'gus. "Does he have anything to do with it?" Both of us looked over at Zal'gus, who was stuffing his face with food. He looked up at us, and pointed at himself with a questioned expression. "Yes, you." The woman said. Zal'gus took a large gulp of wine to wash down his mouthful.
"How would I have anything to do with it?" He asked.
The woman laughed. "I mean, you are a demon, not many of you folk hang around these parts from what I remember." The vampire stated. "Those monsters tend to live around your neck of the woods, do they not?"
"I can assure you I have nothing to do with it. I've been a slave as long as I can remember. I have no memories from my own lands." Zal'gus said, diving back into his meal. The woman turned to me, not truly satisfied by the answer, but continued on.
"Well, nonetheless, I wanted to speak with you, miss Echo. Oh, and where are my manners! My name is Era. Although I have several titles, I won't bore you with them."
"I'm Freya, and this demon with no manners is Zal'gus." I responded. This whole situation was throwing me off. Just a few minutes ago, we thought we were out of here. I was getting kind of upset after being continuously walked over since I arrived here. What could this person possibly want with me? "So, how can I help you, miss Era?"
"Do you have any idea what it's like to live as long as I have?" Era asked.
"No, I've only been alive for twenty five years myself." I responded. "Have you been around long?"
"Three hundred and twenty years." Era answered. "Back when I lived on the surface, there was a large war between my kind and mankind. A great betrayal on our end was the cause of the war ending in human victory."
"It must suck being the only one left you can trust." I'd like to keep her talking, although I don't really like the way this is sounding.
"Although I may sound in the wrong, I was trying to stop this war. The betrayer, my brother, killed our father and aided the humans to end the war in favor of them." She sighed. "The killing of our father was not done out of necessity, but out of haste. My brother was truly in the wrong for committing such an act. I was framed for the murder, and hunted down by humans and my own species alike." She took another sip of wine before continuing. "I created this labyrinth for my own safety and have been holed up in here for the last two centuries. I have no doubt my brother is still up there, living a completely comfortable life earned entirely by betrayal and greed."
Betrayal. Something everyone in my field has a deep rooted fear of. We were all disposable, yet it was always a feeling we harbored as assassins. I guess this is why her story resonates with me the way it is right now, or maybe I just plain feel bad for her.
"I'm sorry for your loss. But forgive me for asking, you believe I can solve this for you? I'm very inexperienced in the sense of this world. I've only been here for two days." I said.
"You see, with beings such as myself, it takes a certain caliber of person to create a good working relationship with. Iris has done a wonderful job, bringing you to Zuter. Although this might not have been her original intention, I'll be sure to help you in return for you helping me." Era stated.
"What exactly are you asking me to do for you?" I asked. I couldn't imagine what a three centuries old vampire is asking from someone who learned what magic was a few hours ago.
"All I ask is that you help me eliminate my brother. I will help you with anything on the way and even share some of my power with you." Era responded. "We'll enter a contract together, how does that sound?"
I looked over at Zal'gus for some kind of support. He gave me a shrug. "This isn't my strong suit, do what you feel is best."
I liked the idea of gaining more power, especially from a strong species, but I still struggled to see how she was benefiting from this scenario.
"I just want to state again that I'll need to train a lot more. How would someone like me be of benefit to you?" If she couldn't give me a straight answer, I'm not going for it. If she's gonna follow me around from now on, I need to be able to trust her.
"Well, an Echo like yourself can take on other beings as, well, we'll call them what they are. Subordinates." Era continued, "the contracted being and yourself will offer each other different traits or powers from being in this relationship. The one thing I'm after is your ability to walk in the sun. I can offer you three things, my undying loyalty, my charm abilities, and blood magic."
"Doesn't that seem like you're getting the short end of the stick?" I asked. "You'd follow me forever just to be able to walk in the sun?"
"I haven't been outside this labyrinth in over two hundred years. It's a needed ability to be able to kill my brother and restore my honor. That to me is priceless. Also, I wish to see what's become of the world I once knew." She said. "Besides, I could help you train as well. You're clearly lacking at the moment but I see great potential in you. What's more help to me than another strong individual who can watch my back out there?"
At this point, I saw no reason to decline. Not only was I getting stronger for free, but I would gain a new ally to help me on the road ahead. She'd also probably have a lot of knowledge on this world, albeit a bit dated.
"Alright then." I asked, "where do I sign?" Era smiled, elated.
"Perfect! Take my hand, please!" I took Era's hand and felt a bond start to form. I started to feel myself connecting to Era, almost as if we were one being. A strange matching symbol now lay on both of our hands. They faded away after a moment.
"A pleasure to be working with you, Freya! I am at your command." Era stated, bowing. The servants around the room began to bow as well. Zal'gus must've felt left out because he copied the others. Damn, now this is a weird feeling.