An old power has begun it's resurrection it would seem...hmm I wonder what will happen? They could get noticed by something or someone of worth and rid them from the world or something better but I cannot tell you...I'm a god of the archives. I'm not the god of destiny though I should still be here by this town's end, immortality comes with a couple of perks and I doubt anyone's coming for my head anytime soon...maybe...that's relative when you lived in the pages for so long alas these False Heroes are still young, foolish, dense and dull but they are a fun bunch with the mental state and cunning that reminds me of myself...let's hope now they have started to set themselves up in a new home, they can find a life without death...To themselves from unnatural causes...Oh stop screeching about petty things and let us continue.
The inside of the cave brightened as a visage of Regal and Mathis appeared to Elias, Kyu and Bee watching while finishing the touches on their makeshift homes before disappearing and leaving the goliath in a state of confusion before the fallen one walked over to him and spoke softly,
''I understand friend...this earthly nature magic makes me scared also, shall we hold hands?''
The goliath looked at the angel with even more confusion, contorting his mouth and eyes before he looked over to Bee,
''Oi! You got something a guy like me could sleep in?!''
Bee looked over the quickly crafted three room one story buildings he made and then looked over the spare components left and responded,
''Aye I can build something with this! A blacksmith would be a good help mind! Bird you just hand us what we need!''
The two made their way over to the demons as they started their final project into the night before retiring as the moons raised high into the sky.
As Regal made the visage of Elias dissipate, he looked back at the prince, his face now filled with cold anger before the old man laughed,
''Don't look at me like I killed him or something...Couldn't do that if I tried even in my prime I'll tell you that...I worked with Bocaj before he was a king. I was hired as part of the healing division for a raid party he was leading...Care to guess what one?''
The princes eyes of anger turned soft as he spoke,
''You...Were one of the ones who survived the retaking of Recocto?''
''Survived? I did my job well lad! Your father paid well so I was happy to give it my all…''
Mathis stood and pulled out two bottles of Sand Storm, opening both and handing one to the old man before he sat and spoke,
''So were you close with him?''
Regal took a long sip of the drink, his eyes glancing sideways at the wood elf,
''No not really...We knew each other by name and that was about it...Well that is a lie...When we finished the job and he took the place, he offered people like Chef and Tocs places in his new kingdom...I refused along with a couple others mind ya.''
Mathis looked confused before he continued questioning the dwarf,
''Why did you refuse? Did you not believe in him rebuilding it to prominence?''
''Of course I did...The others I cannot speak for but he knew that to...he also knew that my family have been the protectors of Glassand since it was born into these arid winds many eras ago...He continued to support our rebuild from the shadows and we gave our allegiance to him...He is the one who placed the endless depths of the white and gold sand here...To give us a unbeatable position but we don't even have the men to train...Let's make a deal before I go on boy.''
The two seemed to nod at each other before the circle shined again and showed a vision of Orelia and Baarias now shocked for a second before both smiled and spoke,
''Mathis!''
The prince smiled as the two talked over each other and looked forward into the night as the circle went out and the two began to rest as the moon took its prominent place in the night.
The sun started to rise as Mathis walked out of the blacksmiths carrying the snoring old man on his shoulder, locking the door before heading to the bar and placing him on the counter to Evelyn's anger,
''What do you think your doing?''
''He asked me to leave him here...Oh about that thing he asked me about. I will be here near dusk to collect them but know now...I will not guarantee survival.''
The women seemed shocked but responded with smugness in her voice,
''You don't need to. They can handle themselves.''
The wood elf nodded as he left the bar, now making his way up to the mines where he saw Bee outside on the ship looking far into the distance making the prince shout as he got close,
''Oi bumble Bee! What are you doing?!''
The demon turned as Mathis was now next to the ship and jumped down before he pointed at five black dots on the crimson mourning sky,
''That looks like it is coming here...Should we get ready for a fight as usual?''
The prince smiled before placing his hand on the demons shoulder,
''No friend don't worry...That is something I called in last night...It is building supplies from Recocto to help us make some nice homes for ourselves so just wait five minutes it should be here...also have this...your probably hungry right?''
The demon looked to see the prince pull a piece of salted meat from his bag as the dwarf started gnashing away at it.
Mathis walked inside where the other two were still sleeping, Elias on a large bed made by the door and a hut adorning the same moon symbols Kyu did was seen with it's door still closed as the middle hut had a hammer and the far right was left empty except for a small bed. Mathis dropped his bags inside along with the sound of a bang, making the other two rise and run towards the door before the wood elf called out,
"It's fine! Just supplies!''
Elias and Kyu stop before slouching down. The Goliath yelled loud enough to make the piles of debris from the clean shake slightly,
"TEMPERA DAMN IT MATHIS!! THOUGHT YOU WERE A BLADE SCORPION"
The large goliath screamed as a cold sweat started running down his face, placing his large sword that stood a easy foot above everybody in the cavern but being held in the stance of a child holding a bastard sword for the first time,
"Mathis next time just say you're here. You almost gave me a heart attack."
The goliath said, wiping the sweat off his brow as Kyu walked out mildly shivering looking more pale than usual.
"Hey Mathis, nice talk with Wilt and the nature man"
Mathis looked over at Kyu before walking over, tapping his forehead to the dismay of the Azamaar who almost fell over.
"Ok...you're sick. Back to bed."
He said almost pushing the Angel back into his hut as he tried to fight back with little resistance.
"I'm fine don't worry...I can heal people I'll be fine"
Mathis rolled his multi-coloured eyes retorting back to the bird.
"You got my name right. That never happens with you Kyu. I didn't even need to remind you. Come on now. back to sleep."
Mathis said, pushing Kyu back onto the small bed and throwing him a bottle of Sand Storm.
"Drink up it's medicine"
He said closing the door leaving Kyu in the dark to rest for the day.
He noticed all his companions stood outside the door before pushing a large crate towards it. Mathis sighed as he walked over, touching and turning it to black fire before they wisped past him and reformed the large container near the centre, walking out to see the other two with four identical boxes and a parchment that Bee handed over with a smile before he spoke,
''Looks like we have enough supplies to build a small town. Let alone three nice houses for us. This must have cost a bit ya highness ha!''
''Indeed and that is why you will be doing the building for a small percentage in Tysol Industries...Aren't you lucky.''
The prince read the parchment with a smile as he placed it away before the dwarf looked at Mathis with a look of pity.
"Mathis you do remember I'm also a prince now. So don't try and show off your cash...it's not like I need it.
Mathis could not help but laugh as he responded,
''Your only royalty through MY family! Your money comes from MY family...Please do tell me how you're not in a good position? Tell you what. Once Tysol Industries starts booming I will fund a business of yours as a subsidiary of mine!''
Bee laughed at the comment before pushing one of the crates towards the prince,
"Well my royal asshole what would you have this prince of the skies do."
Bee said, trying to mimic the sound of Jericho's voice but making the prince laugh rather than get the angry response he was expecting as the prince calmed himself and spoke,
''Simple...Build and kill. Two things you seem to know.''
The dwarf looked at Mathis with a twisted smile, pushing the box to Mathis as he made it disappear before he responded,
''Well if you want to make it that easy how can I say no?''
The two smiled at each other while Elias pushed the second to last crate close as Bee went to grab the last before the goliath spoke through the flames.
''So what am I getting for all this work?''
As the flames dissipated he saw the princes looking rather confused as he spoke,
''Well you have your own business so I was thinking of just bringing down some blacksmiths from Recocto...It is a lot of work that I cannot pay full rates for you know.''
Elias seemed angered by this as he spoke,
''This is a piece of Glassand's history being awoken from a long rest...I'll do it for nothing just let me build a house to stay in up here.''
The wood elf smiled as he tapped him on the shoulder and started walking to the demon, making the last crate vanish and move into the cavern as he spoke to the demon on the way in,
''Oi by the way I heard from Wilt last night.''
''Really? He ain't dead? Fair play to the little guy!''
Mathis looked the dwarf up and down before he responded,
''Yes he is alive and he will be here by midday so built his house first okay?''
The demon nodded as they walked in and looked at the big crates before he asked,
''Only a week to finish what he had to do eh? Must of been easy...So what one has my new tools?''
Mathis pointed at the one closest to the centre and clicked his fingers, watching the sides all release from each other and hitting the ground revealing it's contents that made Elias drool and Bee start jumping like a child on their birthday. A whole first rate blacksmiths range of tools and apparatus along with every tool the demon could need for any form of creation that came to his twisted mind but before he could walk towards it Mathis stopped him,
''One second.''
As he spoke the central spot started shooting out fine timbers and fully crafted metals and floating down into organized piles around the centre, Bees black holes for eyes were staring at the materials like a beast that had not eaten for days with an expression to match, raring to start working, A look that seemed to be shared by Elias as he asked the prince,
''So a place for your friend. A place for me and then what do you want? Start checking the actual mines?''
Mathis shock his head,
''No. First we optimize the spots we know are secure like this large opening cavern. Spend the day making this place look good for the potential workers that might want to have a place close to work for a weekly deduction from their pay. Tomorrow we will all go deep into the mines and see what we are working with and then I can start making a estimation on how many Dragons we will be swimming in!''
The goliath looked confused as the prince continued,
''It should be around six or seven full two story houses if we all work through the day and night right? We can take down the small huts and reuse the materials as well if needs be.''
Elias was shocked at how much the prince made sense as he spoke,
''Well it's possible. Between the two of us we should have enough reserves to pull something like that and Bee helping with his fire. But what about the blade scorpions? Don't want to be helpless with them around."
''Well we have our guard...He just arrived right Wilt?''
The goliath jumped when he heard a voice from the pillar behind him as the goblin came into vision,
''How in the infinite hells did you know I was there?! That was some of my best work in decades-''
Wilt stopped as he noticed the prince sniffing him closely with a look of rage, picking up the goblin and looking him in the eye,
''Simple...Now answer my question...Why the fuck do you smell of Paladin?! Where is it?! I'll slaughter it and send it's head to the pits!''
Wilt put his hand on the shoulder and laughed before he spoke,
''Calm down...If it makes you feel any better I got him to call you Lord Mathis…''
The prices look of anger switched to glee before snapping back,
''Fair enough...Now then get to work on guard duty….forty Sand Storms won't come cheap in labour you know.''
He placed Wilt down before grabbing his shoulder with a smile before he shouted,
''Oi Birdie! Bumble Bee! The old goblin has returned!''
Bee was taken out of his daydream as he noticed Wilt, mildly surprised to see the small goblin after seemingly forgetting what the prince said,
"For anger god's sake, how long have you been here? Never mind, I've got stuff to do. Good to see you're alive."
Bee said, grabbing tools and supplies from the pile before starting to drag them to the surface, Wilt tutted at the oblivious demon before turning to the large goliath that was looking down at the goblin only a couple feet to Mathis side,
"Who...are you?''
Elias moved towards as Mathis began the introductions,
''Elias Stone-Fist, meet Wilt Grove. The self proclaimed Babysitter of the False Heroes and our Alchemist. Wilt meet Elias Stone-Fist, Glassand's blacksmith.''
The two shook hands before Elias spoke,
''So you're the normal one in this group then? Be nice to have a normal conversation...Well I should get to helping Bee make mine and Wilt's homes so let me know if there is anything.''
The goliath moved on to the piles as Wilt looked in a state of confusion before he heard Mathis speak,
''I know...But trust me this one is a big baby compared to him...Go on get to work then. If you want to see the bird he is still asleep and possibly sick so...Your choice. I'm going to give those two brutes a hand. Good to see your back.''
Wilt smiled as the prince moved towards them, releasing his aura around the pile to lighten the materials with his reserves.
Wilt decided that he would go see the bird. Finding the idea of a sick Azamaar funny, walking over to the hut with moons carved into the sides, placing his and in the door he heard what sounded like scraping and tapping, slowly opening the door to pear inside, instantly preventing it as tendrils of light enveloped before a darting shaped swept him off the ground, crying and hugging tight around his waist,
"Oh Wilt it's been… so long…. I've missed you"
The angel said his wings now completely wrapped the small goblin, restraining him as he tried to push back against the force of the coiling hug.
"Get off me you stupid bird! I'm not a teddy bear so let go!"
Kyu did as Wilt asked, completely dissipating his wings as the goblin was sent rolling along the floor and into a pillar with a thud before instantly complaining.
"You say you're a healer but my god are you annoying, are you drunk or something?"
The goblin asked with the smell on the angels breath that reminded him of Mathis,
"No no...I don't drink. Myr said that was a bad idea. So no I am not. Why do you ask?"
Wilt rolled his eyes Before he picked himself off the ground and not bothering to wipe himself down as he walked past the Angel into the hut grabbing Kyu's hand as pulling into the room. As he saw a carving of what seemed to be a tall woman standing on the moon looking down at the earth. As Wilt guided Kyu to his bed. Pushing him down be For pulling out a small vial of powder along with a leaf pouring a small line and passing it to the angel. Speaking softly trying to hide his annoyance.
"Hear buddy...here is some medicine. It will make you big and strong again okay?.''
Kyu took the powder and folded the leaf before eating, Wilt raised a hand to stop him but decided not to bother.
"Thanks Wilt. I hope this medicine is as good the stuff Mathis gave me"
Wilt walked through the door before speaking aloud,
"Yeah he's down the mines. It would make him happy if you went to sleep. Now we aren't going to be far so call if you need anything… is that alright Kyu?"
Kyu nodded before turning into his bed.
Wilt smiled as he calmly closed the door before huffing.
"I guess I really am a babysitter, what's become of me Aarc"
The goblin said to himself while looking at the new ring on his hand before he returned to guarding the group finding Bee and Elias setting up supplies and tool stations laughing and giggling as the took no notice of Wilt entering the large cavern taking a perch on top of a decrepit pillar to keep an eye on the two as he pulled out a bottle of Sand Storm opening it with the edge of the stone before Mathis started shouting about his lost stash to the babysitters enjoyment. The sounds of work could be heard long into the day as they started the birth of their new home.
Well it is nice to see someone set a goal and actually try to achieve it...To many times do I start a person's story and get interested only to see their drive and passion could easily be quenched by a handful of Dragons from someone who didn't care for people with that mindset and then becoming another faceless group of pages in my never ending library of tombs...You think that of those fables you read and how much you believed in the protagonists intentions and fire but with this one you can see that the dark flame inside him only grows along with his plans to fund his new empire...He seriously has the intentions of turning not only a forgotten gods legacy from that of a story to a known and respected deity but also turning a once well known trade post in the Badlands into the shining jewel in the resurrection of the Empire of the Seven Sands...He has the materials and weaponry...Hells he even has the know how all he needs is to find men and women, swordsmiths and magic masters to join his cause and build their own defences as we both know that soon this small and now happy land that is enjoying the idea of being able to prosper once more for the first time in eras will have to deal with something that our favourite False Heroes are going to have to overcome in a new way, not just with the brute strength or cunning battle acumen they share...But in all out warfare for the first time this era in which the sands will taste fresh blood in large quantities for the the first time in so long that they might even bleach crimson...The curse being lifted is soon to be common knowledge and it makes me think...Who will us this to their advantage first? Let us see what happens.