Brig. Gen. Damien Renzellern January 1731 City of Ber, Province of Ciresia, Osterian Empire.
The building reeked of debauchery, a scent which I was all too familiar with. A scent that left me in utter disgust as my mind settles in familiarity.
The man, or Gorgi as he called himself, gave us a charming grin. "Well, gentlemen. Welcome to the House of Pleasure. Will you follow me inside?"
Forst nods gruffly as I follow behind them, my eyes roaming through the establishment as the familiar sights leave me shivering in apprehension.
We walk through five flights of stairs. The sounds of moaning, groaning and endless festivities almost left me nauseous, disgusting memories coming to mind.
It took a few minutes of walking to arrive before a door, a highly decorated door guarded by two men, three heads taller than me, a good use of intimidation, if anything else.
"So, what do you need from me?" asks Forst as we entered Gorgi's office. His face was in deep thought and consternation as he looked at the man before him.
"Well, I would've thought you could tell me." He smiles cryptically as he walked to his table.
That was enough for me, enough evidence to know something was amiss, so in turn, magic subtly flared, creeping steadily around us, with the most silent control I can muster, leaving before me unaware.
He then looks in my direction, "Though, are you sure a boy his age should be here?"
Forst glances at me, "He's here because I want to."
"Oh, haha. Of course, of course. Though I didn't know they allowed in youngsters his age. Is he a relative?" says Gorgi, his hand reaching for the drawer behind his table as he nervously smiled.
I give a hesitant nod, "Uncle helped me."
"Oh? Is that so?" He says with a genial smile.
He takes out a ring, a ring with red crysm in its center, an unusual if not a rare color. The moment he wore it was the moment his confidence returned, his nervous smile vanishing as he smirked.
He leans back in his chair, "I was unaware that the chamber operates within the Drissian Military. Though, with the way things are there, I shouldn't have been so shocked."
The Chamber? What Chamber? Is it an organization? One that he would assume has enough power to hold sway and operate within the Drissian Military.
I glance to Forst, wondering what he would do, only to see him act so brazenly and unfazed that he would look like a man that knew it all along.
"Of course, the Chamber goes where it wants and where it desires. It does not need to inform you of it's plans."
Gorgi nods with a sheepish smile, "I see, though showing off so much power, wouldn't it capture the attention of the empires around Drissia?"
He then gestures to himself, "I may not understand the Chamber's plans, but this seems quite different from their normal operations."
Forst nods in understanding, "That is because our plans are that of our own. Every move, merely furthering our goals, goals that are unknown to you and shall be for the foreseeable future."
"Haha, yes. Though before we continue, could I at least identify you both? Though it might be a bit rude for me to do so, but it still eases the mind, you see?"
He rolls his shoulder, "After all," He takes something off of his coat and lowers it to the table, "I can't exactly tell your my masters about men I've never met."
The table taps from the sound of a pendant bearing an insignia, one eerily familiar, one that took my breath away. It was a skull, laughing, drowning the sun behind it into darkness, leaving me frozen as the realization clicks in my mind.
He knows.
My mind turns abuzz, red drowns my sight, only for my hand to clench, wrenching control over the emotions bursting within my chest.
This action was seen by the two men before me.
Gorgi chuckles in amusement, "I must say this was the first time I've seen someone react so violently over the pendant."
He then leans back, "Though, I must say this does not bode well for you both."
Forst glares, hoping to wrest control over the situation, "How dare you!"
Gorgi waves his hand dismissal, "Oh please, stop it with the act. I am now fully assured that neither of you are a part of Chamber."
He taps the pendant before us as he smiled, "Though I must admit you had me fooled. For a second there, I thought that some high official was standing before me yet, you are both nothing but men pretending to reach greatness."
He smirked, "You even have me reveal such sensitive information. Fortunately, I can have that rectified."
He snaps his fingers and two men enter, magic dripping from their hands. I glance to Forst to see him glaring daggers as he stood beside me, ready to defend.
Meanwhile, I sat, frozen, my mind nothing but a mess as I corroborated everything I knew.
It was a pendant, a pendant bearing the insignia that once held my mother in fear. An insignia the King of Drissia had no knowledge of, the insignia that could hold the secret to her death.
My first step to the truth.
Such thoughts were interrupted, "Take these two men out of the premises, no witnesses."
"Take these two men out of the premises, no witnesses."
Those words were enough for the two men to dash, swords in hand as their eyes light up in magic.
Forst unsheathes his saber in a quick flourish, he dashes in, fireball on hand as he thrust both his hand, the fireball exploding in light as a barrier shatters.
The man shouts in agony, a saber sticking out of his neck as his comrade dashes in to help.
"FORST! GET OUT OF HERE!" shouts Damien.
Forst glances at him before running out of the room, the man following right after.
Shouts and screams erupt outside as the battle spread through the building, Forst chased by Gorgi's men, leaving the two alone.
"Oh my, how noble of you." says Gorgi, the red crysm in his finger lighting up as a barrier then shimmers into existence, "Unfortunately, I'm not a man so easily killed."
Damien turns his head to him, the mana that had been creeping through the room suddenly turned erratic as he muttered.
"boom."
Like a fuse, the world around him comes alight and a deafening sound rips through as winds blow with enough power break through walls as the heat melts what was left, half of the room exploding into a sea of flames as winds bursts forth, leaving the decorated room into a chaotic mess.