Everyone was excited about the upcoming battle in a week, especially Blake and Argus. Finally, the chance to kill Drallis Ehr and all his commanders was within their grasp. After a while, the members of the guild started practicing peaceful duels to prepare for the upcoming battle. As Argus was about to start a duel, Maestro called him over and, in secret from everyone else, told Argus about a task he needed to do.
-Argus, I need your help with something of tremendous importance for this battle. You need to go to Etris before all of us.
-Oh, why is that?
-There is someone in Etris trying to establish a revolutionary army against Zi'eer, named Kennith. My request from you is to talk to him and learn as many things as possible from him. He should be somewhere around the Inn. Ask Neo about him, I think he is one of the revolutionists too.
-What will we gain by talking to him?
-He can help you get the key to Duke Erisia's mansion from Zi'eer, the current user of the Forge of Sin, and ask you to bring him the Forge of Sin. However, our goal is not just killing Duke Erisia but also taking the key from Zi'eer and then getting the Forge of Sin from Duke, and instead of delivering it to Zi'eer, using it for ourselves. The power it will provide us will greatly help us to prevent a great drowning.
-Forge of Sin? What's that?
-Forge of Sin is an artifact that has been made by The Drowned God
Of Flame, Korilfiend. The artifact has been kept secret in the Temple
Of Forgotten Flame for centuries until Duke Erisia found it and used
it for his own good. I am not really sure about its side effects but one
thing i know is, after using the Forge; Duke Erisia started to kill his
own people, and Argus, another thing i want you to know is, that
Duke Erisia has a Resonance.
-What is a Resonance?
-Resonances are a result of subconscious effort to prevent death, swearing a Vow to survive. As a result of obtaining your Resonance,
you will be given a bell, a Resonance Bell. Resonance Bells allow the
wielder to perform things that are impossible for the common people. An example of a Resonance Bell is The Duke's Bell, which allows him to create Golems.
-Creating Golems? Do you mean the ones that are on Upper Erisia are all a creation of Duke?
-Yes. Also as i learned long ago, the forge lets Duke to create stron-
ger Golems by using the souls of people. I'm pretty sure Duke uses
his Strengthened Golems and more things just to protect himself
from others. That is all the knowledge I got about Duke. I believe in
your skills, you will find a way to beat him and get the forge into our hands but the thing is not just getting forge and beating Duke, it all
is about time. You have to be quick with it so i can find a way to use
the forge for our good before the great war.
-I see, i see but there is one thing that is stuck in my mind. You talked
about the key that Zi'eer had. Why doesn't he go and take the forge for himself?
-I think it is because of the fact that he doesn't want to lose the Throne Buff he gained.
-Throne buff? What is that?
-It is the buff he gains by just sitting on his throne. The reason of
the buff itself is unknown but I think the throne was another reason why the Ministry sealed the 5th King Of Etrea to Depths. Just by doing that, they gained power and another possible sacrifice to the Drowned Gods below.
-So, that's why King Etrea disappeared. Everything was already planned for the Ministry. I'm starting to see the pattern but another thing
that i don't understand is that people of Etrea don't seem disturbed, they
don't seem like they got a problem with being ruled by a Ministry Prophet other than a few groups.
-The reason behind that is another relic that is used by Zi'eer. He
installed mental barriers to his people, but those barriers only work
for low willpowered ones. Ones with higher willpower already
tried many things to stop Zi'eer but they failed tragically.
Argus replied in grief:
-I know, I know how they failed, I know how they didn't even have a grave of their own…
-If you don't have any other questions, you should leave now, and go to Etris as soon as possible because we don't have much time left.
-Well, I guess it's time for me to leave…
-Be careful, Argus. We need you.
As Argus sailed back to Etris from Erisia, the sea breeze carried with it a sense of urgency and determination. His mind was consumed by thoughts of the upcoming battles and the weight of his mission. The journey that had taken him away from Etris now brought him back, closer to the heart of his vendetta.