"Oi old man. Are you awake yet?" I spoke mentally in my head, but just like yesterday I received no answer.
Letting out a disappointed sigh I pulled out my communication orb and called Angie.
"Yo," Came her reply and I just chuckled in amusement.
"For Gods sake you act like a boy sometimes. It's funny to remember your family origins," I chuckled and as soon ast that comment left my mouth I felt a chill that traveled down my spine.
"My my. It seems like yesterday's lesson was not enough huh,"came her sweet voice, but after knowing her for hundreds of years I can tell what lies behind that tone.
A demoness
"Alright jokes aside I need to discuss something with you," I told her and she just hummed before the call was disconnected.
"Damn even if she's fifty years younger than me she still gives me the creeps," I shivered, standing up I changed my clothes to decent ones.
Unlike me she had been secluded from the open world for a long time. The first time I met her brother was six hundred years ago, and I met her one hundred years later when she was finally allowed to roam the outside world.
Such a weird family custom, but I can't say that considering my own family.
Dark memories that I tried to suppress started to try and resurface, but I just shook my head and thought about something else quickly before those memories fully resurfaced. It's in the past now. Just forget it and focus on my goals, there's no use to dwell in the past.
I double checked my stuff and made sure I didn't lose that communication orb. With all my stuff in place and completed I opened the door and waited for Angie in the living room. Looking around the room I finally had time to appreciate the simple yet delicate woodcrafting of the furniture and walls.
Even though from the outside this place looked like a normal hut, the inside was very different. They took the time to carve every inch of the wall and made random abstract art on it, but managed to connect them together from one log to the other. From this distance I didn't notice it at first, but after stepping forward a bit closer to inspect the carving had a few hidden defense runes in them.
The furniture was no different, they also had some defense runes hidden within the abstract art. It seems like these people are far from simple if they're able to do this.
Getting a bit more curious I started to inspect the rest of the room, until I was standing in front of a vase that couldn't be moved sitting on top of a fireplace. Looking around it, it was a normal flower vase with no runes nor decoration, just a simple clay vase. Wrapping my hand around the vase I began to try and twist it clockwise, but it didn't move, but when I twisted it counter clockwise it turned and I kept on turning until I was able to lift up the vase and a small hole was left on top of the fireplace.
Using a bit of my mana I channeled some into the hole until I felt something. Wrapping said item with my mana I managed to pull it up to reveal a bottle with a piece of paper rolled inside it, but I didn't dare to touch it as it contained grade nine runes that would blow the whole house if I wasn't careful enough.
Not wanting to explode the entire house I slowly and carefully placed the bottle back to its place and returned the vase to its original position.
"It's not like I can ask it directly to the chief, nor does it have anything to do with me. I mean that thing must've been here for decades just from seeing the bottle condition. It was very dirty and dusty, even the color of the glass was murky and no longer transparent.
This village is starting to give me the creeps ever since I saw that thing.
As I was looking around, soft footsteps resounded behind me. Turning around I was met by A familiar woman with red hair, ruby eyes, and red horns coming out of her temple downwards.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Angie asked me and I gestured to the living room chair and we made our way and sat down for a long discussion.
"This village holds more secrets than meets the eye," I told her and she seems to also agree as she didn't look surprised by my statement.
"Indeed, I have made a discovery of some notes during my initial perusal of this space. It appears that several individuals occupying this space have attained varying degrees of renown, either in the past or in the present day, although perhaps not quite reaching the status of most of the famous individuals from our plane," she expounded, imparting her reflections and revelations gleaned from her inaugural day here.
"Today the chief came to visit me," I started and she looked at me to continue.
"He came and put forth an urgent request, one that he carried with great desperation," I proceeded to explain, prompting a crease to form on Angie's countenance. Her furrowed brow was a familiar sight, reserved for times when she found herself backed into a corner and in need of intensive mental exertion, or when besieged by frustration.
"Although we have three more weeks until the rift widens enough for our forces to leave, we are severely limited in our provisions. In the wake of the cataclysmic aftermath, our ranks have been decimated, dwindling to a mere fraction of what they once were," she lamented in a despondent tone, tinged with mounting vexation.
"Your hypothetical musing is irrelevant now. There was no way you could have known or anticipated the unforeseeable. After all, the edifice was designated as an Ancient Primordial Temple for a reason," I interjected, my voice taking on a consolatory note, as I seized hold of her trembling wrists. As our eyes met, I perceived the flickering embers in her gaze, as if on the brink of extinction, and hastened to offer reassurance. "Take solace in the fact that it was not your fault. Please, do not be too hard on yourself." I relinquished my grip on her arms and resettled myself, drawing alongside her in a gesture of camaraderie.
"Always remember that I am always ready and willing to lend an ear to your grievances. Do not harbor your anger within, but unleash it upon me instead. Strike me if you must, injure me if you may, pummel me if that shall assuage your ire. I couldn't care less about my own physical wellbeing, but you must heed my warning, you must never under any circumstances inflict harm upon yourself." My voice started in a gentle and soothing manner, but with each additional utterance, my intonation grew heavier and more resolute.
"I had given my word to both your parents and brother alike, that I would assume the mantle of your protector. I pledged an oath to guard and shield you against all harm. You are my sole confidant and cherished companion, and as such, I implore you, do not turn your wrath inward. Direct it instead towards me, if it will appease your tumultuous emotions." My voice was tempered with concern, as I witnessed the resurgence of vitality in her gaze, coupled with the onset of tears that swiftly welled up and coursed down her cheeks.
I pulled her to me and let her cry on my shoulder.
This was the facet of Angie's character that I held in the utmost disdain. The aspect that assumed complete culpability, even when unwarranted. The aspect that would rather succumb to self-annihilation than subject others to peril. The aspect that would unhesitatingly go to great lengths to safeguard the lives of those around her, no matter the personal cost."
"Please take solace in the assurance that I am here for you, now and always. Do not hesitate to release your emotions and shed as many tears as you need to," My voice was delivered in a soothing and comforting tone, which appeared to have assuaged her somewhat. However, her sobs persisted for several moments before she eventually slowly regained her composure."
"Your empathy is appreciated, Razark. I find comfort in knowing that I can always turn to you or my kin for solace. However, at times it can be challenging to move past the blunders I have committed. But for the present moment, let us table this topic and instead focus on the entreaty put forth by the village chieftain," Angie concluded, her tears now dried and replaced with a faint, fragile smile meant to put me at ease.
"As I was saying. This village's chieftain wishes for us to help him on a raid. He said that an entity lurks in this plane, and it's strong enough to even decimate our cities. I've seen one of their forces and let me just tell you. Their aura was not at all pleasant, unlike our mana, their reek of death and chaos," I recited the request of the Village's chief as well as some of my individual input on the situation.
"I see. This entity, do we have any records of it in the past? Any relevance with the thing you encountered?" Angie asked me as her face frowned and her eyes were intense in thinking.
"Indeed, Angie. We do not have any prior records of this entity, nor do we have any indications of its relevance to the force I encountered. However, its power is not to be underestimated, and it is imperative that we heed the village chieftain's call to action as the consequences of the entity escaping this space is unimaginable," I responded, noting the gravity of the situation and the need for prompt intervention.
"The ramifications of that entity's escape from this space are beyond measure. One cannot fathom the magnitude of terror and atrocities that it would unleash on our space," I spoke once more pressing the danger that would come if the being was not slayed, despite having speculation that we share the same power, the power differential between me and this entity is vast and imposing, making it all the more imperative that we take swift and decisive action to prevent its escape, but in the end it is her call not mine.
"We'll help them, we can't just stand by idly and watch as innocent people suffer can we?" She spoke, her voice a bit shaky, but her determination clear, her face accompanied by a forced smile.
"Good. I'll start to gather more information while you gather up our members," I told her, still a bit not sure to leave her alone.
Noticing my concerned gaze she turned to me and nodded, "Go, I'm alright for now," She reassured me and although hesitant I nodded and left the hut to find the others.
But just after I exited the door a soft whisper resounded in my head.
"Come find me," It said, accompanied with a headache.
Angie POV
Sorrow
Disappointment
Regret
Anger
Many negative emotions were flowing inside me, but the soothing words of Razark managed to calm me down, out of the three of us Razark was always the one who was able to always keep a cold head and analyze the situation first before jumping into action.
But that was in the past. These past few days he's been more reckless. More Barbaric. I'm worried that my mistake would cause his demise. I'm worried about a lot of things, because my weakness is always worrying about things that could happen.
"Calm down child. Further worrying will only cause much more distress to your mind," An angelic female voice spoke in my head and I looked up to see my contracted spirit.
"How the fuck am I supposed to calm down Alice. I'm a failure of a leader. The weakest amongst my close ones. The most protected," I spoke in a sorrowful tone as I hugged my knees and buried my face in my legs.
"You're right, you may be the weakest amongst them, but you are by no means a failure of a leader. Had it not been your strategic way, I'm afraid even lesser people would come out of that tomb alive," Alice tried to reassure me, I tried to calm down a bit, but to no avail, my heart, emotion, and mind was ruined, even after saying those words to Razark, I am pathetic.
"As your boyfriend said, do not dwell too much on the past and start seeing ahead, focus more on what's to come" She spoke, but the only thing that registered in my mind was that one word.
Throwing a pillow that was beside me I cursed at her, I felt my face very hot and my heart beating at an abnormal speed.
"We..we're not like that," I screamed and she just chuckled before picking up the pillow and sat beside me.
"Sister, I've watched over you for hundreds of years. I see the way you gaze at him, the way you act around him," Alice spoke with a soft, but teasing tone and I just pouted and turned the other way.
"But Razark is not one to settle down. Not after that happened to his family. Even now he is still hunting down the remaining traitors of the Imperator house," Alice spoke and it was as if a slap to reality, I knew she was right. I couldn't deny it. Razark's thirst for revenge was so big that it took me and My brother twenty years to calm him down.
"Yes and are you not a bit curious how at such a short period he managed to get that powerful?" She asked me and I nodded.
"I knew it wasn't just me who realized that. Razark's aura was so much different, the gap that resides between us became wider and I don't even know the reason how he got his newfound strength," I admitted and she chuckled before taking out an apple.
"Your friend made a contract with something old, that's as much as I can tell you, because even I don't know what kind of being he came into contract with, I can only tell that it's an ancient being," She told me, "This is an apple from a world tree. Consume it and cultivate it for a day," She grabbed my hand and placed the apple on top of my palm.
"I..I can't accept this," I tried to return it, but she held her position.
"I have consumed too many fruits from the world tree to give me any more boosts. It might be more useful for you, and don't you want to catch up to him?" Alice insisted and I looked at the red apple in front of me radiating so much power.
"Thank you. I really can't express how much I'm grateful for this," I hugged her and she hummed and hugged me back.
"Grow stronger, I will always be there for you. Until the end of all time. My dear sister," Alice spoke before she returned to the spirit realm.
Putting the fruit in my ring I decided to absorb it after I got out of this hell hole. I started to calm myself and look further into my ring to see if I had anything that would help us in this fight. What I found disappointed me a bit, just a few high grade healing vials and rage pils.
"I should've packed more," I grumbled, pulling out my ring and putting it in my pocket, I went to my room and went to my bow, hitting the riser with my mana, a little black ring dropped to my palm.
Accessing the contents I found many medical supplies as well as buff potions.
"Let's just pray this is all we need, after this I should go to seclusion in a cave somewhere," I chuckled as I thought about the fruit Alice had given me, but for now I should think about this request first, so first stop. The chieftain's cabin.
Taking a few checks of myself to make sure I came in presentable I walked towards the door and exited the hut, outside the busy streets bustling with people trading, chatting, drinking and doing other variety of activities.
As I made my way to my destined location I started to watch the area for any clues of these people. Since this new information came to light I have this itchy feeling that this village is not as simple as it seems, and the chieftain is more than a merchant.
"Lady Angelica, are you enjoying our village?" The familiar voice of Ragnar was heard beside me and I turned my head to the right to see him holding a bag and was covered in a bit of sweat.
"Yeah, your village is a lively one even though you all live in pressing circumstances," I spoke whilst making small hints that he understood.
"I see that SIr Razark has discussed my request with you and I'm guessing you are here to ask me the details?" he asked and I nodded, but seeing the bag on his hand I raised my hand.
"Don't mind me for now and please finish what you have to finish for now, I will be waiting outside of your hut Ragnar," I told him and he nodded in satisfaction before walking past me.
Not walking straight to his hut, I went to the settlement they prepared for the rest of my party members to discuss with them about this request. It may be a bitch for me to discuss them just now after my resolution to help them, but I must remember that they are my men, not slaves.
Walking through the simple village I start to find that their buildings were in slightly bad condition as signs of fire were seen on the rooftops, their roads cracked and broken.
But despite the bad condition, sounds of children running and playing could be heard and a soft smile painted my face as I saw those innocent children running around the village with their sticks playing to be warriors or mages.
"One day I'll be a great warrior like my dad and I'll fight those monsters," One of the boys spoke and I chuckled softly.
It's so nice to be naive. If only we can live like that without bearing the consequences.
"Captain?" A familiar female voice called me, feeling a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Camy, her green eyes stared at me, most likely analyzing my visit. Her golden hair seems damp, some sweat could be seen on her horns that came out of her temple curing in a circular motion upwards, and her body covered with sweat.
"Did you exercise?" I asked and she nodded in confirmation at my guess.
"Well I'm here to discuss something with the others. Do you mind calling them all to meet at your place?" I told her and she immediately pulled out a white orb and started to call them one by one whilst asking for them to do the same and call the others.
After a few minutes of calling whilst walking, with me also helping we managed to alert everyone and we were almost there.
"So any weird activities in this village?" I asked her, Camy is kind of an observant type of person, she can't just see someone once without analyzing their expression, personality, behavior, and emotions. Sometimes it's either she's too paranoid or she saves our asses from stupid decisions. Well thankfully it's mostly the latter.
"Nothing yet to note, other than the fact that even though this village seem to have a lot of people, they rarely repair their damaged structures," She answered and I nodded, "That is what I'm going to discuss with you later in your hut," I simply spoke and we arrived in front of their hut outside of the village borders.