Chapter 5: The Unknown

JÒN: Damien! Hey, Damien!

Damien suddenly wakes up and starts looking around him, confused.

Damien: What happened? Where's the stillborn?

JÒN: That's the second time you ask me these exact same questions. He's gone, vanished right after he put you to sleep

Damien: Put me to sleep?... No that can't be! I have so much protection against sleep spells that I should be almost immune.

JÒN: Well I'm just telling you what I saw. Not that I understand as well.

Leah: So would you mind telling me who that stillborn was? And what was that trade he kept going on about?

Damien and I start telling her about our first encounter with Theo

After we're done Leah takes some time to think about what we had just said.

Leah: So let me see if I go this right... Jòn, you traded our lives for one message?

JÒN: Right!

Leah: And we need to deliver it to any robed men that wear an emblem with a picture of an eagle holding a baby with its talons.

JÒN: Yeah, does the description remind you of anything?

Leah: Yes...

JÒN (to himself): She's hiding something again, I know it!

Leah: They are an underground group. Nobody knows who they are or what they do. Most people don't even know that they exist. But rumor has it that they are being backed up by the kings of Avalon.

Damien: What could Theo possibly want with these guys? You simply have to tell them, remember the still night, right? I wonder what that would mean?

JÒN: It sounds like a threat to me. It fits Theo's style perfectly as we've seen for now.

Leah (nods): I agree, he wouldn't have left us alive just to send a message to some old friends. I'm not sure what the still night is exactly, but I'm willing to bet that we'll get attacked the moment after we've finished saying the words.

JÒN: So, we either fight a whole underground group backed up by this continents kings or we fight a crazy overpowered maniac who might just evaporate us within the blink of an eye. Well, the good news is that there's no time limit. So, if we can just avoid meeting these robed men until the end of the tournament, we'll be safe.

Damien: Hold on,... There's no reason to assume that this message is a threat just from the wording. Besides, I think what's more important right now is to figure out a way to beat Theo, not talk about his message.

Leah: And how do you suggest we do that exactly? It only took him half a second to put you to sleep, TWICE, and I'm pretty sure your protections are better than mine in that aspect. That alone would be enough to kill us all, but I hear he has a whole arsenal of other spells.

Damien: So what? Does that mean we should all just bow down to him and do whatever he says?

Leah: That's not what I meant, all I'm saying is we don't have enough information on him to make any possible strategies at this point. Until we find some weakness to that magic of his, we should be grateful of the time Jòn's bought us with his trade.

Damien: Maybe you're right, hopefully the time Jòn's bought for us would be enough to find out Theo's weakness.

JÒN: Leah!... Do you have a minute?

Leah (confused): Of course.

As she follows me out of the cave, Damien winks at me and gives me a thumbs up. Well I'm not surprised, sometimes I wonder if he even understands body language at all.

JÒN: I'm going to ask directly... What's the Institution of Truth?

Leah: Do you really have nothing better to do than interfere with my personal matters?

JÒN: If it were just a matter of privacy, I wouldn't have brought it up. But it's not, is it? You've been hiding things ever since we first met. It was the same when I asked you about the robed men Theo is looking for. I'm asking you because I don't want this secrecy of yours to end up killing us all.

Leah: It won't.

JÒN: How can you be so sure?

Leah (looks away): It just won't. I'm... not planning on keeping this a secret forever. It's just...this isn't the right time. Now, if that's all you wanted to discuss with me, I'll be going back to sleep.

She heads back into the cave, but I don't follow her. Instead I lie down with my back against the floor as I find my thoughts.

JÒN (to himself): A lot has happened since I joined this tournament. People are dying left and right and the organizers are not even bothered. And to top it all off there's that stillborn. What could he possibly want to achieve by joining a tournament like this? What's his endgame?

As I lie there and think, I suddenly hear a lady's scream coming from a distance. At the same time I get a warning message floating in front of my eyes, telling me not to hurt her because she's one of the locals.

Although the tournament didn't tell us not to save a local, but they did say we shouldn't interfere with their business.

This isn't the time to worry about regulations. The lady's life is in danger!

JÒN: Damien! Come quick!

Damien: What? What's wrong?

JÒN: One of the locals is being attacked nearby. If we hurry, we can make it in time to rescue her!

Damien gets a serious look on his face as he grabs his sword and follows me to the direction where I heard the scream.

As we get closer, the monster magical energy intensifies, as we detect that they (monsters) are most likely goblins. There's four of them and they've surrounded the woman, but it doesn't seem like they've drawn blood yet.

As we get within visual range, my suspicions are proven correct. They're goblins alright. Evil and hideous creatures, not taller than five feet, with fangs instead of teeth, crooked noses, pointy ears and green skin. Despite their looks, they are quite intelligent and are usually organized in clans with clearly stated hierarchies unlike other monster races.

As soon as they see us, one of them yells something to his mates, and then they all quickly run away. Clearly, they weren't prepared for an actual fight.

After the goblins are gone, I turn around to make sure the woman we saved isn't hurt in anyway. Now that I get a good look at her, I am briefly stunned by just how beautiful she is. She has long auburn hair, a slim waist, while her facial features are soft and feminine and her light blue eyes radiate kindness. She is wearing an auburn dress to match her hair, and she appears to be somewhere in her mid twenties. The woman bows before us, as a gesture of gratitude.

Rachel: Thank you all so much for your help. I don't know what I would have done without you! My name is Rachel, pleased to meet you!

JÒN: All in the day's work!

Rachel (smiles): Oh? I take it then, that you've joined this tournament to help people in need?

JÒN: Well, I uh...

Damien: Don't mind Jòn. He just like to boast in front of pretty ladies. As you may have guessed, we are participants in the mage tournament that happened to be close by that heard your scream. Anyone else in our position would have done the same.

Rachel: You're too kind, mister swordsman. Many people would have hesitated to help based on the tournaments rule of non-interference. I would have like to repay you for your kindness, but I didn't bring any money with me.

Leah: If I may ask, what were you doing all alone in the middle of the forest?

Rachel: Well, miss, er...

Leah: Leah

She then points towards me and Damien, giving Rachel our names as well.

Rachel: Miss Leah, I was out here looking for some rare herbs that only grow in this part of the continent. There has been an outbreak of hemlock in my hometown, and as a herbalist, I can recognize the plants needed for the cure.

Leah: I'm sorry, what's a hemlock?

Rachel: Oh, I did not know this disease doesn't exist outside this continent, doctors don't know the cause yet but we do know that once a person is infected, he starts having fevers, with nonstop coughing. The only cure is extracted from the very rare plant I've come looking for.

Leah: But why you? Why not anyone else from your family? Or are they infected as well?

Rachel: Oh no... My family is fine, thank the gods. I volunteered to come here and I didn't have enough money to hire a bodyguard. With the death of our priest, the number of sick people increases. He was the last person in our town that knew how to create food using magic, and as much as he tried he wasn't able to pass down the knowledge to any of his disciples. So people die because of food poisoning or they resort to...to... Animal hunting.

Damien: So it's true that animal hunting is prohibited in this continent?

Rachel: It... was. There was a time where Avalon had at least twenty people that could create food using magic. The skill was taught to them by the Master, and they taught their disciples as well as they could. But only people of rare talent could learn the skill, and all of the cities in Avalon for six hundred years depended on the Master to find these talented people. But then, the Master simply disappeared about a hundred years ago, and the number of people who knew this craft started to reduce.

Damien: Call me stupid and all, but, who's the Master?

Rachel: He is... was the founder of our civilization, everything we are today, we owe to him.

JÒN: But, why did the Master disappear?

Rachel: Nobody knows, there are many rumors though. Some say, he went insane for the last few decades of his reign, some say, he was disappointed with humankind and decided to leave, while some say, he died, and the kings of Avalon are covering it up in order to avoid panic amongst the people

She pauses for a while

Rachel: I must be boring you with these stories. I thank you all for saving me back there and I wish there was a way I could repay you

Damien (grins): Well, you'll have plenty of time to think about that on your way home, because we are coming with you.

Leah: What?!

JÒN: As much as I'll love to, don't you think it's worth asking us before making such decisions?

Damien: Come on! What's gotten into you people? We'll be a lot safer inside a town, than out here in the wilderness. Wouldn't it be better to stay somewhere safe until we get our objectives?

JÒN: Going to a city is one thing, escorting a local to one is another. Rescuing her from goblins might not be seen as interfering with local affairs, but becoming her personal bodyguards seems likeable to " outside interference"

Damien: We'll just say we needed a guide. Relax, we'll be fine.

Leah: No, I agree with Jòn. We shouldn't be wasting our time escorting locals. The objectives could be announced anytime.

Rachel: Pls, listen to me. Damien, I appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but I do not want you to fight your friends over it. Trust me, I'll be fine.

Leah: Be quiet... Do you hear that?

Now that she mentions it, I hear a faint whistling, it's getting closer. Suddenly it stops, then we see the whistlers. There's three of them, weapon enchanters by their looks. They'll probably attack us on sight like all the others.

And here I thought we've had our share of pointless fights for the day.

Mage 1: Clover, do you see that?

Mage 2: By the gods, it's a Cortana

Mage 1: Monster! Kill the monster!

The third mage screams and start running towards Leah, with the sword in his hand, ready to run her through. Damien readies his own sword, but before he gets to act, Rachel puts herself between Leah and the attacking mage (Clover).

Rachel: Stop!

Clover: Get out of my way woman, or I'll kill you alongside that monstrosity you so much want to protect.

Rachel:  You can't hurt her. I won't let you, and you can't hurt me either. I'm a citizen of Avalon!

Clover: Hah! You think their dumb rules can stop me? I've killed people before. Let me tell you a little secret, as long as they don't catch you in the act, they have no proof. Don't tell me you actually believe they can teleport me away before I kill you? Anyone one dumber than a rat would be able to call that bluff.

Mage 2: Clover, maybe you should let her be. We shouldn't be going around attacking locals on our second day

Clover: Don't worry, I won't kill her. I'm just going to teach this whore some manners!

Damien: No!

As Damien runs towards Rachel, Leah stretches her arm towards Clover and an ice cone is coming out of her palm.

Clover quickly slashes his knife at Rachel's face and she closes her eyes.

The mage stops his strike inches away from his target, and his body starts vibrating loudly, as it is covered in bright white light and he immediately gets teleported out of the continent.

Mage 1: What did you do to Clover, yo filthy... AARGH!

The mage is interrupted by Leah's ice cones that went through his right shoulder.

Leah: Normally, I wouldn't think twice about killing scum like you, but I'd rather spare Rachel from witnessing a bloodbath. So I'm offering you a chance to retreat, what do you say?

Mage 2: Forget the Cortana,let's get the hell outta here.

Once the two of them get far enough, Leah looks at Rachel

Leah: I've changed my mind. I'll be honored to serve as your escort until you reach your hometown. I'm sorry for how I acted earlier, what you just did was very brave and heroic.

JÒN: Really? Because to me it just seemed reckless and stupid.

Leah who is standing right beside me smacks me in the back of my head

JÒN: What the hell was that for?

Leah: Do you have no manners whatsoever?

JÒN: I have more than you. At least I don't smack people out of the blue for no reason.

Leah: I was trying to be nice and you ruined the mood.

JÒN: Well, being nice doesn't suit you.

Leah: Do you want another slap in the head, cos I'd be more than happy to give you another.

Rachel (giggles): I'm sorry, it's just that you reminded me of my little brother and sister, who always fight like this. You two seem really close.

Leah's blushing. This is the first time I've seen her smile like this ever since we met yesterday.

Damien: I can see why, Jòn's been smitten with Leah ever since he first laid eyes on her.

Leah (surprised): You what?!

Damien: Hey now, you'll have to continue this conversation later, in private! Now that there's four of us, we'll need to rethink our battle strategy. We'll need to make sure nothing happens to Rachel on our way to her hometown.

And so, we ended up spending the rest of the morning on discussing different tactics and strategies.

>>>End Of Chapter 5<<<