"Come on! Times tickin' !" I yelled as Farin and everyone ran towards the waterfall.
This was a drill I had everyone do every now and then.
Yna's students, namely Han, Deag, Volta, Dama and Fìor, would gather everyone at the centre of the residential area where they would conduct a headcount and then make their way to the waterfall via one of the many routes.
They would then enter Ken- the throne room where they would conduct another head count.
I had reinforced the entire structure several times over meaning no one would be able for break in unless they were at least as strong as Yna.
How did I reinforce a cave system?
I poured darkness into the cave and forced into the countless cracks between the rocks. I then hardened it by several folds, meaning that even if the rock shattered, a complex web of darkness would prevent the structure from caving in.
"and once again, Farin, you held everyone back." I said while shaking my head.
"I needed to ensure all my books and tablets were all in order." He said, but I simply wagged my index finger.
"You won't have time to pack in an emergency." I said as I walked towards one of Yna's students. He was the groups leader, Han.
"I know Shiru and Erna take top priority, but grab Farin first next time. We'll see if anything changes." I said with a chuckle, but Han deeply bowed while making a serious face.
"Yes, sir!" He said.
I wanted to tell him to let loose a little, but this wasn't the time for that.
Everyone returned to their homes while continuously inspected Coh. The annoyingly hot sun caused my Dark Marks to itch, but I didn't scratch them, desire be damned.
I shook away all unnecessary thoughts before making my way to the southern wall where I exited Coh before walking to a certain spot.
Also, was it really appropriate to keep calling the Dark Expanse "Dark"?
It was all clean now.
Ah well.
I tapped my hoof, revealing an underground door.
I walked down a dark staircase before arriving at a dark cell.
Within it was a man who was nearly as tall as Yna, although he was far skinnier.
He had ash white skin, but had grey hair and grey eyes.
All we knew for sure about him was that his name was Wolva and he was an Ash Wraith.
For those who didn't read the side chapters, he was a death magician. He went around terrorizing people in Eimval until he was caught by the Ia. Elders Olen and Tal then tried to use him to assassinate Yna and I, but that didn't work out very well.
"Death will soon come to this place and your work will begin." I said.
Wolva raised his head and looked at me. His eyes hidden a messy wall of grey hair.
"Lord Katsíki?" He growled.
"Yes. This is another form of mine." I said before sitting on a nearby bench.
"I see. Well, if the time is drawing near then I'll have to be really close to where it all happens. My range isn't the best." Wolva said.
I nodded before playfully kicking my goat legs.
"Umm… what was life like as an Ash Wraith?"
"Boring. From birth, male wraiths are treated like fragile, small things. We are then sent to the Qualb and there we wait for a life partner. You can imagine just how.. demeaning that is."
"Aren't you given basic necessities in this Qualb place? Didn't you have friends?" I asked prompting Wolva to lower his large head.
"I just wanted to be free."
"And what did that freedom cost?"
"To me? Nothing. I barely remember anyone I killed…"
The room rapidly got darker as Wolva spoke.
"Ahem! But look where that got me. From one cage to another. Maybe this was the way things were always meant to go." Wolva said with a deep sigh.
"Give me some details. What's the Ash Wraith main settlement like?"
"Well, we live in the Ukiwa mountains far to the south. Long tunnels connect small to medium sized chamber's which all connect to the Qualb, the heart where we keep our most prized possessions. Wraiths go out to hunt, but most of what we need grows within the caves and tunnels."
"I see."
"Do you… plan on subjugating the Wraiths as well?"
"Would you care?" I asked with a raised brow, but Wolva chuckled in response.
"Of course not. I just wanted to remind you that any deaths would be most beneficial to our cause."
"It's nice to see that you're enthusiastic about your work." I said before hopping off of the bench.
"Anyway, bye." I said as I left the small prison.
I then sealed it before making sure that all of the air vents were clear.
Satisfied with my conversation with Wolva I made my way back into Coh, the sun was beginning to set, meaning the heat would finally lessen.
I made my way to Farin's place where I lightly knocked on the door.
Farin opened the door and let me in before leading me to his living room.
There we sat and I found myself staring at the empty fireplace.
Cutting down wood for fireplace use would be fine at first, bit that would ultimately lead to deforestation.
I didn't know how many seasons Edenton had or how extreme they were, but with how hot this summer was proving, I wasn't looking forward to winter.
"Is something on your mind?" Farin asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Ah- Yes. I learnt quite a bit about the Ash Wraiths. Wanna hear it?"
"But of course." Farin said with a wrinkly smile.
I the told him what Wolva told me and he digested the information with a thoughtful expression.
That's what liked about Farin.
He was a really good listener.
"I've been doing some thinking." Farin said.
"I think I figured out part of a certain Rendaro symbol." He said as he stood up.
He then grabbed a certain dark tablet that sat on his desk and etched deeply onto it was a burning circle.
I wondered what Farin was using to cut into the tablets, but then I remembered that Yna had given him that strange stone.
"I don't know where I heard it, but the Rendaro once worshiped a fiery god of some sort. Perhaps this was their symbol."
I nodded before placing my small hand on my chin.
"But that isn't the only old Rendaro symbol."
"Ah-"
Farin grabbed another tablet and showed it to me.
It depicted three intertwined circles which all burnt.
"These circles, I believe, depict the old Rendaro tribes. These two are for the Ia and the Foph. I've yet to figure out which tribe this was."
"Could it have been the Ash Wraiths?" I asked.
"Perhaps. But I believe that the Ia and wraiths were part of the same tribe that got separated after Iana disappeared."
"Mmm… have you ever seen an Ash Wraith?"
"No, embarrassingly." Farin said with a chuckle.
"Come with me." I instructed before leading Farin out of Coh.
I then revealed to him the secret prison.
He gasped rather loudly before following me inside.
His eyes nearly popped open as he stared at Wolva who looked at me with a confused expression.
"Behold! Wolva, the Ash Wraith." I said while dramatically pointing at Wolva.
"Is this gonna become a regular thing?" Wolva asked.
"No, don't worry. Anyway, still think the Ia and Wraiths are exactly the same?"
Farin shook his head.
"Do you have any questions?"
Farin nodded.
"Ask away."
"Why is he in this cell?" Farin asked.
"Because he is a death magician and a murderer." I said.
"Oh." Farin sounded before keenly inspecting Wolva.
"I heard only royal family members could grow to be this tall." Farin muttered.
"Funnily enough, you're right. Ken- the- Kenos was actually freakishly tall when we first met. Perhaps the royal family were all a bunch of ash wraiths." I said, prompting Farin to nod mindlessly.
"Any other questions?" I asked.
"What do your people say about the Great Collision, the war… everything." Farin asked.
"Nothing. Only heard about these things after reaching Eimval. The only things about the past that we are taught is how to strictly adhere to the teachings of Laïnne. You know: don't kill your fellow wraiths, don't steal, don't leave the mountains by yourself. Those and so many other rules are all we are taught and I must admit, they are probably the reason why the Wraiths survived down there." Wolva said.
"Who is this Laïnne person?" I asked.
"She was supposedly a great warrior who saved the Wraiths from the brink. I personally think she was made up by the Matrons to do get people to do as they wanted." Wolva said.
"Matrons?" I asked.
"Yes. The leader of the Wraiths is always their strongest woman. She supposed to be the final line between the tribe and death. The current Matron is Nira. That arrogant hag." Wolva said before clicking his tongue.
Farin and I digested everything Wolva said as we stood in the darkness of the prison.
"What you guys doing down here?" Yna asked, startling everyone a little.
"Good evening, lady Yna."
"We were talking about the history of the Ash Wraiths and how their tribe is structured." I said as I walked past Yna, who held in her hands two sacks.
Everyone followed me out of the prison which I promptly closed before leading everyone back into Coh and by this time, it was completely dark out.
Yna and I accompanying Farin back home.
Yna then followed me back to the cabin where she sat on the bed.
She tapped on her lap, signalling that I sit there, but…
"I- I'll sleep by myself tonight." I said as I hopped onto the bed, but just as I got comfortable, Yna grabbed me and placed me on her lap before locking me in her arms.
My eyes trembled as I felt Yna's warmth.
"N- no. Let go-"
"Katsíki… it was just a dream." She whispered.
"I-"
I tried speaking, but I couldn't think of anything to say and so I closed my mouth and curled up into a ball.
Yna then wrapped both of us in a think blanket, covering me in a warm and gentle darkness.
.
..
I awoke the next day and felt a strange joy when Yna's chest rhythmically moved with her every breath.
I crawled out from her embrace and inspected the Black Blade I'd made for her.
I looked at its hollow core and compared it to the complete golden sword next to it.
I wondered if that could be Coh's Crest.
The Golden sword would represent the past and what we can learn from it while the Black Blade would represent the unknowable future.
I nodded to myself before remembering that a certain piece was missing.
Yna woke up with a sweet yawn behind me and she picked me up before taking me outside.
I wondered if we looked strange as we walked down the grassy streets of Coh.
To the uninformed, Yna holding me would usually looked like a woman holding her pet goat.
At this point, I wouldn't blade people for assuming she was holding a demon child.
We made our way to the residential area where we joined everyone for breakfast-
And I could things other than vegetables!
"Here, lord Katsíki." Shiru said as she offered me a plate full of boiled vegetables.
"I boiled them so that you small teeth wouldn't struggle too much." She said with a gentle smile.
Stupid Shiru.