Chereads / The Artificer and the Capricious Capital / Chapter 12 - Reflections of Chaos

Chapter 12 - Reflections of Chaos

Or it would have, Archeus felt someone try to fracture the world around them and countered it, though not neatly. Luckily, the roof blew outward from the blast and the following noises made him think that most of the debris was flung into the water. The mage had barely managed to repel the blast, and immediately tried to track where the attack came from only to find nothing. Likely a magic item they detonated from afar. I

"Perrin is going to be pissed," Silas whistled. Archeus debated making a run for ir and leaving the fallout to the knight. He was just beginning to cast a teleportation spell when his friend's strong arm wrapped securely around his shoulder. "You can wait for him here, with me."

"What if the mage tries to attack Miss Kiava with another entropy spell? I should be there to dispel it," Archeus argued. It was a poor argument, but Silas was right - Perrin was not going to enjoy the upcoming PR nightmare, as the de facto leader of the quartet such matters fell on his shoulders.

Silas snorted. "Archeus, I know that spells designed to kill don't work on temple grounds. That's why you sent your sister there, after all." He grinned lazily as he spoke, not at all perturbed by his friend's desire to flee from the repercussions of what could have been much worse. "He'll only be mad when he first sees the damage. Once we explain what you did to save all our lives he'll probably forgo a lecture in favor of a Look."

"It's always to save lives!" Archeus argued, having gained his reputation for lacking common sense because of mishaps much like this one. He was treated as if he went around arbitrarily blowing the roofs off warehouses. "It's hardly my fault that actively countering spells is always down to the last moments."

"I've got your back," Silas encouraged cheerfully, "even though you were about to abandon me!"

Archeus winced and changed the subject. "Should we release the spells on the captives?"

"Let's wait for the Healers, they are better trained in dealing with victims of trauma than the knights." Silas shook his head. "That said, we should get them out of the cages and explain what is happening."

"I would like to know that as well," a dry voice called from the entrance, drawing the two men's attention to Perrin as he entered with all three of his aides.

As Perrin received an explanation, the knights began to help the captives from their confines, explaining in soothing voices that Healers were on the way to treat them and the spells on them would be dispelled after they arrived. After the explanation Perrin directed Kleid to arrange a check of the harbor for damages, Simon was sent to set up a temporary camp for the victims until their families were found or they could be placed in more permanent situations. The last aide, a young-looking man named Jered, was sent to the City Security Headquarters to ensure that they sent enough clerks and supplies to document the initial stories of all the victims.

Perrin and Silas discussed the best way to ensure the continued security of the warehouse and the escort of the detained men, as everything about their leader indicated they would attempt to kill them. Archeus' role would be dispelling all the spells and countering any other potential attacks. Then there was the matter of the roof, he sighed, it was going to be a very long night.

Kiava blinked at Theon, surprised by the sudden question, and it quickly brought on a deep blush that stained her cheeks. "Ah, yes, I used to color my hair when I was very young. How do you know about that my lord?"

"When we were sent to war we stopped at the bordertown of Hentra. While we were there, a young apprentice Artificer with black hair gave every soldier in our outfit a Full Ward," he smiled at her, "I always wanted to thank you, those Wards saved all of us at some time or another."

She had given Full Wards to every company that had traveled through. They were fighting a sentient monster that could control and manifest all manner of grotesque creatures and powers through its own corrupted mana - the Monster King. She had wanted to help destroy the source of so much violence, but she'd always been shy and she could not remember once looking in the face of the men and women she gave wards to. She had no idea that she had met the four war heroes before they were famous.

"I am so happy to hear that they served everyone well," she whispered sincerely. She had worried about all the soldiers, especially because some of them hadn't seemed much older than her at only thirteen. Suddenly lethargy swept through her in a wave. Theon's voice became distant.

"Some of the soldiers thought you weren't real, that you were some sort of guardian spirit." In fact, Silas had been the most avid believer in this theory because he swore up and down that she hadn't had a scent when he was presented with his Ward.

Theon studied her and acknowledged that perhaps they still weren't entirely wrong, she was very real but she could very well be a guardian spirit of some kind. The young woman covered her mouth and yawned widely, her eyes already beginning to blink heavily.

The Healer stood and rested a hand on her head. If he were a Priest he would have offered a divine blessing, but he didn't want the responsibilities that came with such abilities. Instead he offered a simple prayer that her dreams be more restful, it was obvious she had been plagued by nightmares since arriving. She was already asleep by the time he finished, so he extended the bed once more to help her rest more comfortably before returning to his office.

Luka had decided she was going to take the temple tour this morning with the other tourists. Theon had tried to explain that the tour was somehow more boring than watching over a sick person, but she had refused to believe him. He expected she would flee from the remainder of the tour after the mid morning break at the Apprentice Healer's canteen.

She did return, but in a surprising circumstance. The paladin escorting her looked annoyed as he held the teen's elbow securely.

"Is this young lady an acquaintance of your High Healer Arvenor?"

It was then that Theon remembered that Luka was Archeus' sister. "What did you do?"

"I wandered away from the group and ended up in a fancy garden, and this guy lost his marbles when he saw me there!" Luka defended herself with a pout of the unjustly accused.

"She was in the Internal Garden of Remona," the paladin added.

The blond man paled. Remona was the goddess of fertility, sex, and music and her Internal Garden was where she was worshiped in the most hedonistic ways. He looked desperately in the paladin's eyes and the other man shook his head - there hadn't been a ritual happening. A sigh of relief lifted Theon's shoulders. Archeus would have killed him if Luka had seen that.

"Thank you Paladin, for bringing her here. I will make sure to impress upon her that certain areas are not included on the tour for valid reasons," Theon assured the holy knight, who released Luka into Theon's custody.

"Be sure that you do, it really would be best for everyone."

Theon could only imagine the man's reaction to seeing a youngster in such a place. It must have been quite the shock. The knight offered one more perturbed glare to the teen before he walked back down the hall.

"So, why did both of you panic that I was in the whatever of Remona?" she asked as soon as the door to his office was closed behind them.

"Because you aren't allowed to be there," was his quick response, not wanting to have this conversation, "there are certain gods that are more secretive and exclusionary in their ritual worship, you need to respect that at the Temple at least. Do not go where you are not escorted."

Luka pouted but nodded. "Fine, I just thought the flowers smelled nice anyway."

Theon sighed heavily, "Please, Luka, just try to follow the rules."