Of Wisdom and Legacy

She was glaring at Arthur, the Lizardman met her gaze, he didn't seem frightened by her evil stare, infact he was irritated, not just him, everyone around us was irritated, even the fee humans here were irritated by her.... just what did she do to get this much hostility direct at her?

"Arthur.... good to see you again," The Rooster woman, Jamie said with a smile plastered on her face, it was quite menacing.

".....Junior, let's go, the shop is over there," Arthur's Automaton spoke.

"O-okay,"

We went on our way, we got a few steps in when I heard her yell, "Tell Georgie I said hi!" I turned around and saw a couple of Orcs dressed in bluish green Suits grab her, she hurled profanities their way as they lead her outta the market.

The shop was.... kinda basic, a couple of electronic parts were littered here and there, Arthur picked up one, a small box, it was the size if my pinky, he haggled with the store owner, another Lizardman in their native tongue before forking over 22,000 Dashies to the store owner, We soon left the store and headed our way back to the group, Arthur said we'll meet at their Favourite restaurant, a place called Bam Bam's Booming Burgers.

"...Arthur?" I said, the Lizardman held a finger up, he was tinkering with the Automaton again, it's voice box, it took a few minutes before he was done with whatever he did.

"There!" The Automaton said, it's voice.... actually sounded a lot like Arthur's real voice now, it had that same mean hiss to it, he smiled at me, "By that reaction, I'll say it was a success! But is that really how I sound like? Kinda disappointing really..." He sighed.

"Say Art?"

"Yeah...?"

I take a deep breath, "What's the deal between Jamie and George?"

".....Junior, how much do you know about Gallahan's Legacy and the Wisdom Seekers?" the Automaton asked, Art was staring at me now, dead in the eyes, a serious glint in that Reptilian gaze.

I shrugged my shoulders and he burst into laughter.

"Bloody hell! Bradley was right! You are sheltered!" he shook his head in disbelief.

"Are you gonna tell me or what?"

He sighed, "It's best I start from Who Gallahan is..." He cleared his throat.

"Gallahan Stormsby, Born in year 788 A.D.D(After Damien's Dynasty), He was a king of one the old Human exclusive empires, the Stormsby Empire, He was a man concerned with the future of his empire, the future of humanity in general and that was because they lacked something that the other races had, a right that was lost to them..."

"....the support of their god?" I asked, Art nodded.

"Gallahan wasn't content with the way things were, he thought miracles was the last ingredient humanity needed in other to get ahead of the other races.... so he sought out on a quest, a quest to win their god's favour and have them welcome humanity back into it's fold..."

"What did he do?"

"Conquest! He sought conquest! He thought a show of unity from humanity to conquer the other races would please his god so much he would send miracles down his way!"

"..... it ended in a spectacular failure didn't it?" I asked, Arthur laughed and laughed and laughed, wow.... I feel sorry for Gallahan's citizens, they must have paid the price for his selfishness.

"Yes, yes.... the Stormsby empire was destroyed and gradually overtime the last of the human empires merged with their neighbors... However that's not where Gallahan's story ends!"

He paused for a bit and looked to the sky.

"You see fast forward to approximately 490 years and two factions are born from that legend, Gallahan's Legacy, a cult obsessed with fulfilling his dream of human supremacy and The Wisdom Seekers, humans who also seek the return of their god, albeit they do so by studying the culture of other races, who better would know about the ways of gods than people whose gods still favour them.... sadly this philosophy hasn't made much in the way of progress,"

He seemed quite pleased with himself, does he like to show off his intellect through trivia? well now I know how to get on his good side.

"Lemme guess.... Jamie is the former and Sir George is the latter?"

"Good boy! I'll praise you!" The Automaton said sarcastically while Art chuckled, his mean side is starting to show, Great....

"Still... there's something more to it right? something about George's brother?" I asked, Art paused, "... yes, the tale of how it became the Wormeater...."

"I thought She-"

"It!" The Automaton snapped, "It! Junior! Jamie... it may look like you, speak like you and breath like you, but it is no human, just a thing!" Art's eyes glowered with rage.

"Okay.... I thought Sammie or Lord Darius came up with that name," I said.

"...They're bestowers so they made the name official, as well as the..... quirks that come with it, but that creature got the name before it came here...." He sighed.

"....so what's the story?"

".....Darrenday! an city with an impregnable defense, a barrier so powerful, it could survive a hundred Sun Bolts did something unexpected.... they sought an alliance with the Camen Coalition!"

"What's so surprising about that?"

"Well.... for decades they were a city ruled by human mages that signed contracts with willows... an empire that once subscribed to Gallahan's Legacy, however.... a deadly plague nearly destroyed their city a decade ago.... they had to abandon their pride lest they be destroyed, they sought help from the Coalition, they were aided, now they needed to honour the deal for said aid.... an alliance!"

"What.... what did Jamie do?"

Art spat, "You see... a splinter cell of Gallahan's Legacy learnt about the alliance, they weren't too keen on seeing it happen, so they had some of their best assasins infiltrate the city, they disguised themselves as vassals of some nobles of Camen.... Jamie happened to be under the noble Jeremiah Gastard.... George's little brother...." the Automaton Said and I looked up to the sky.

"I thought his brother was sent here as a prisoner?"

Art shook his head, "Jeremiah was pretty famous among the races of Garland unlike George, he was a celebrity, he'd often visit dangerous and exciting places, I don't think there was anyone that knew the Camen coalition that didn't know Jeremiah, he even met some of us here years before we were sent to this shithole!" he chuckled.

"....anyways, Jeremiah was one of the nobles sent as a representative of the coalition, he and his vassals were to be witnesses to the treaty... the assassins took advantage of their cover, they destroyed Teleportation circles, poisoned their food supply and water and finally unleased an even deadlier virus, they also trapped the inhabitants in the barrier.... they aimed to slaughter everything there, to send a message to anyone that dared turn their back on Gallahan's Legacy, even if it meant suicide!"

"...But Jamie is still alive...."

"Yes.... millions perished within the week including Jeremiah.... those that managed to survive did so by grace alone.... except Jamie.... that creature was the only Survivour from the assassins, by some luck it developed an immunity to the disease..... it sunk to deep levels to escape hunger and thirst though...." Art's lips curled up into a smile.

"C-Canibalism!?" I shouted, Art laughed.

"That creature's pride wouldn't let it devour human or any sentient being's flesh..... instead it ate the maggots and bugs that it encountered...." He spat.

".....Are you serious?" I asked, he nodded his head, "the survivours confirmed it!" The Automaton said.

"After about a month, the coalition was able to enter the empire, with no one to charge the barrier it ran outta power, they arrested the creature and speculated on how best to humiliate it.... they settled on practicality instead and sent her here.... a big mistake though...."

"Why?"

"She might meet with the Tainted Prince..."

".....?"

"He's Gallahan's direct descendant and believes wholeheartedly in his ancestors philosophy!"

"!? then isn't anyone too lax!?"

".....That's why we're Thankful for Lord Darius, as far as he's alive we won't need to worry about that happening," The Automaton said, we walked the rest of the way in silence.

Hmmm.... I wonder why Lord Darius chose such a horrible person as his disciple and why he's going against his father I'm general.... I need to know, Lord Darius doesn't seem the type to answer Such questions so I'll need to find a way to make him.... maybe I'll challenge him in another game.

"Junior..."

"Yeah...?"

"We're here...."

"....yeah," I look up to see a shabby looking restaurant with cracked old walls and faded white paint, even it's signboard of a Rooster eating a Burger twice it's side looked rusted and old.

"Best burgers on site 3!" he chuckled, "I answered your questions as patiently as possible.... when we ask ours, I'm sure you'll do the same in there?" the Automaton said, Art's eyes glowed with curiosity.

".....Yes," I nodded.

We both strolled inside.