Vol. 5: Chapter 60
Aldren Wyrd had spent much of his life traveling across Mythrosia, hunting monsters, breaking curses, and sealing creatures most kingdoms knew only from campfire stories. He often left something behind wherever he went—a page from one of his field journals, a warding diagram, a signed letter, or a brief message written for the people he had helped. References to his work appeared throughout the old records.
Finding an authentic piece was another matter.
Aldren had vanished from the mortal realm five hundred years ago, and Mythrosia had endured several continent-shaking disasters since then. Wars, fires, and magical catastrophes had destroyed most of what he left behind. The few surviving originals were treasured by noble families, military orders, and private collectors.
None of that discouraged Kael.
After leaving Westwatch, he traveled directly to Stonehaven, one of Crescent City’s outer districts. Before long, he was standing once again outside the modest house with an archery range in the backyard.
Kael had come to see Alaric Thorne.
Sophia was sweeping the front steps when he arrived. Kael raised a hand in greeting.
“Sophia.”
She looked up, and her expression warmed when she recognized him. “Dawnbreaker. Grandpa was asking about you a few days ago. Come inside.”
Her welcome put Kael at ease.
During his last visit, Alaric had nearly thrown him out. This time, Sophia was inviting him in before he had even explained why he was there. Maybe the errand would go smoothly after all.
He followed her into the house and found Alaric seated at a broad oak desk. The old general was working with a quill, carefully lettering a short creed onto a sheet of heavy parchment.
Alaric did not look up. He finished the final word, dusted the wet ink, and set the quill aside.
Kael waited without interrupting.
The creed read:
Stand against darkness. Defend the innocent.
Kael studied the bold lettering, then offered his praise without missing a beat.
“Excellent work, General. Every line has weight behind it.”
Alaric examined the parchment and shook his head. “It still doesn’t come close.”
He crumpled the sheet and tossed it into a basket beside the desk.
Then his gaze shifted to a framed piece of parchment hanging on the wall. The same creed had been written across it in firm, confident strokes.
Stand against darkness. Defend the innocent.
Kael understood immediately.
The system had practically placed a spotlight over the quest item.
Alaric finally turned toward him and smiled. “Dawnbreaker. Have a seat.”
Kael inclined his head respectfully and sat across from the desk.
Alaric studied his new elven appearance for a moment but showed no sign of disapproval. Instead, he nodded.
“I heard you destroyed one of the Warchief’s settlements a few days ago. Seems I judged you correctly.”
“You give me too much credit, General. Taking down monsters and protecting innocent people is part of the job.”
Kael had worried that becoming an elf might change Alaric’s opinion of him. Apparently, it had not. If anything, the destruction of Village 9139 had earned him more respect.
Good.
Maybe the old general would cooperate without adding three unnecessary steps to the quest.
Alaric leaned back in his chair. “So what do you need this time? I’ll warn you now, I’m running out of things to give you. At this rate, you’ll have to take Sophia instead.”
“Grandpa!” Sophia’s face went red.
Kael’s attention sharpened.
Wait. Was that actually an option?
Before he could test his luck, Alaric changed the subject.
“I can smell Dragon’s Breath Amber on you. You visited the Seer’s Hall?”
Kael silently mourned the missed opportunity, but bringing Sophia back into the conversation now would make him look far too eager.
“Yes,” he said. “A friend of mine needs to enter Wyrmwatch Peak for his class advancement, but he can’t get past the mountain’s guardian. Diviner Wynn told me to find a piece of [Aldren Wyrd’s Handwriting] and present it to Nineveil.
“I didn’t know where to find one, so I came to ask you.”
Alaric gave a contemptuous snort.
“Wynn is getting greedy. If he truly wanted to help your friend, he could escort him up the mountain himself. There would be no need to involve Nineveil.”
Kael raised his eyebrows. “He can do that?”
“Of course he can. Wynn belongs to Aldren’s Circle. Guiding newly advanced diviners into Wyrmwatch Peak is one of his responsibilities. Nineveil would recognize him and allow them through.”
Alaric glanced toward the framed parchment.
“This story about needing Aldren’s handwriting is nonsense. Wynn wants an authentic piece for his own collection.”
“So you’re saying…” Kael paused. “You won’t give it to me?”
Alaric sighed. “If one of my officers tried something like this, I’d have him cleaning stables until retirement. Unfortunately, Wyrmwatch Peak does not answer to the Mythrosian Empire. My authority means very little there.”
Kael kept his expression neutral.
Then what was the point of that speech?
Alaric pointed toward the framed creed.
“That was written by Aldren Wyrd himself.”
Kael stood at once. “Thank you, General.”
He took two steps toward the wall before Alaric slammed a hand against the desk.
“You shameless little thief. Did I say you could have it?”
Kael returned to his chair with an embarrassed smile. “I may have gotten ahead of myself. From the way you talk about Wyrmwatch Peak, it sounds like the Thorne family has a history with the place.”
Alaric nodded.
“A thousand years ago, my ancestors were hunters living in the southern mountains. One of them crossed paths with Aldren Wyrd and helped him during an expedition. Aldren repaid the favor by training and advising the family.
“With his guidance, the Thornes left the wilderness and entered imperial service. Over the generations, we earned our place in the army and eventually brought the southern frontier under the Empire’s control.”
Alaric described it as though it were a minor family anecdote.
It was anything but minor.
The southern frontier had once been an untamed region controlled by monsters, raiders, and hostile clans. The Thorne family had conquered it, secured it, and transformed it into the four great cities that now anchored the Empire’s southern territories.
“Our families should have remained close to Wyrmwatch Peak,” Alaric continued. “But in recent years, the Emperor has tried to bring Aldren’s Circle under direct imperial authority. He has repeatedly pressured the Thornes to negotiate on his behalf.
“Our oldest family law forbids us from interfering with Aldren’s Circle.”
Alaric fell silent.
Kael understood the rest.
That disagreement had created the growing divide between the Thorne family and the Emperor. If the Thornes had not held such deep military and political influence throughout the south, the capital might already have replaced Alaric as grand general.
Interesting history, but it still did not answer the important question.
Was Kael getting the parchment or not?
He decided to stop circling the subject.
“What do you want in exchange, General Thorne?”
Alaric folded his hands on the desk.
“I can help you—or your friend—enter Wyrmwatch Peak. In return, I want a promise. Someday, you will find a diviner who has reached at least the rank of [Violet-Mantle Oracle] and persuade that person to serve the Crown.”
Kael nearly choked.
“Violet-Mantle Oracle?”
How had a simple trip up a mountain turned into recruiting a national-level expert?
Diviners in the mortal world advanced through five recognized ranks:
[Novice Reader]
[Green-Mantle Seer]
[Black-Mantle Diviner]
[Violet-Mantle Oracle]
[Gold-Mantle Archseer]
Wynn himself was only a [Black-Mantle Diviner], yet Alaric expected Kael to produce someone one full rank above him.
Where was Kael supposed to find one of those?
He complained silently but kept every word off his face.
Then he caught the most important part of Alaric’s request.
Someday.
That meant payment was due later.
The quest item was available now.
Kael smiled.
He would take the parchment first. Future Kael could deal with the consequences.
When he finally left Alaric’s house, [Aldren Wyrd’s Handwritten Creed] rested safely inside his inventory.
Kael stared at it and sighed.
Wizard-boy, you’d better become a [Violet-Mantle Oracle]. Otherwise, I’m taking the cost of this wedding gift out of your hide.