Brodin looked at Lucian as they approached a town, "How good are you with Sorcery?" He finally asked him
Lucian shrugged, "Decent, I guess."
They had been in silence for the rest of the walk to Rivertown, Brodin had been on guard the entire time. He didn't bring up the fact that Lucian was a Cursed One. He wasn't so sure how to go about that conversation, considering the foul reputation they had.
Brodin nodded, "Hm."
"You? What kind of magic was that you use?" Lucian asked, "Conjuration?"
"You know about the Sorcery Trees?" Brodin asked
Lucian nodded as Lucy chirped on his shoulder, "A little bit. Since I am more of an elemental sorcerer, I was only taught more of that." He said, "I can only pull off fire magic...and a bit of lightning."
Brodin stopped and looked at him, "You." he said seriously, "You're a Cursed One."
Lucian stopped as well, his face hardening, "Hm...." He said simply as he didn't make eye contact with him
They were in the road that led to Rivertown, a small town next to a river. It consisted of a couple of large buildings and some houses off in the outskirts. The town was mostly a checkpoint for traveling merchants in the Bull Kingdom who needed rest, the main inn being the source of money.
They were only a couple dozen feet away from the entrance to the town and Brodin decided he had to get that out of the way.
"I heard of a rampaging Calamity not too long ago." Brodin continued, "Nearly decimated a milling village deeper in the country. That was you?"
Lucian gave him a serious look, "What's it to you?"
"I figured that it was odd that you have a baby royal wyvern with you." Brodin said, "But I felt the odd amount of ether back there....and the way you handled that Oni....it was not something a fresh Traversed could do."
"Traversed could be capable of great things, can't they?" Lucian asked
"I already told you." Brodin said, "Not many have that luck."
"And you consider me lucky? Or unlucky?" Lucian said, "I didn't choose to be a Cursed One. I didn't ask for this Calamity."
"That Calamity is a danger, Lucian." Brodin said seriously, "The Dragon Calamity is not something that those in high places will overlook."
"What are you saying?" Lucian asked
Brodin gestured at the town, "This will be where we part ways." He said, "But I warn you, many will come after you. Especially Valkren."
"Valkren?" Lucian asked
"The Demon Lord." Brodin said, "That was an Oni we fought. One of his generals must've sent it to the Bull Kingdom to scout it out for powerful Traversed, especially Cursed Ones. I don't doubt there would be more roaming about."
"I don't give a shit about them." Lucian walked past him
"You had the seals placed on you, right?" Brodin asked
Lucian stopped and looked at him, "What?"
"I know that if you were in Lunaris's captivity, she placed the 64 Seals of Infernis on you." Brodin looked at him, "By the looks of that wyvern, you've at least broken the first one, gaining access to the Calamity. You're strong as you are now, yes, a bit inexperienced but strong. But in your current condition, you won't last much longer."
"What are you trying to say?" Lucian asked the old man
Brodin sighed, "If Valkren's forces are to search for you, you'll need the help." He said
"What? You want to team up? Lucian responded
"No." Brodin said, "I leave back to my home."
"I'm not interested in dealing with Valkren's conflict."
************************
[Lunaris's Camp]
Lunaris stood in front of what looked like a spectral figure that was before her inside a building.
The figure was a tall man wearing black and gold armor, his head covered in a hood, his face hidden by what looked like shadows.
This was an astral projection transmission, one of the main ways that the Order communicates with its Sects.
"You.....Lost the Cursed One?" The Man said with his voice slightly distorted, "And he was a Dragon Calamity at that.....Lunaris, explain yourself!"
Lunaris's wings fluttered slightly as she sighed, "My apologies, Arch-Magus." She said, "He.....I don't know how it happened but his first seal broke and he escaped during the intense storm. It's as if his Calamity's influence leaked through the seals, speaking to him. He came at me with a very dangerous killing intent, I responded exactly how the Calamity wanted to."
"His Calamity must be an extremely powerful one if it can manifest through the seals." The Arch-Magus said, "This is worse than I thought. We need this Cursed One to be reigned in by the deadline, Lunaris. If you don't show results by the end of this month, I'll send one of your peers and her men to aid you."
Lunaris frowned, "Arch-Magus....do not send her." She said, "I can handle this by myself! This was just a hiccup, I can sway him to our side! If you send any of the others, they will enslave him!"
"I will have no choice." He responded, "According to my sources, Valkren's General, Tryke, has dispatched Onis around the Bull Kingdom to search for Traversed. If one of them encounters the Cursed One, Tryke will know. And he will send reinforcements to retrieve them."
Lunaris sighed, "I figured it would come to that. I have my riders spreading out to search for Lucian." She said, "My best guess is that he wandered to Rivertown or one of the other nearby villages. He won't make it that far in the wilderness, he needs to seek out civilization."
"Do NOT let Tryke get his claws on him." The Arch-Magus said, "Lunaris, you are strong, do not allow a mere Cursed One to get the best of you. Your kindness holds you back sometimes, use force if necessary, without breaking his seals. We need to regulate his power to use it against Valkren. That is all."
The astral projection disappeared, and the transmission ended, leaving Lunaris standing there by herself as she hung her head while crossing her arms.
"This is great." She whispered, "I can't believe I let him get the best of me. I won't let it happen again."
She turned around and walked out of the room.
**************************
[Rivertown]
Lucian sat down at the table of the tavern he had entered, Brodin accompanying him.
"I thought we were parting way." Lucian said as the old man sat in front of him
"Someone has to explain why you have a Wyvern with you." He said while pointing at Lucy, "And trust me, if they hear the truth, it will only attract bad attention to you."
Lucian shrugged, "I don't care."
"You should." Brodin said, "You're in the Bull Kingdom. While it could be peaceful at times, so you wouldn't worry much, there are multiple factors at play; The Darklight Sect, Valkren's forces, The Bull King's Armies, and The Imperium."
Lucian raised his eyebrow, "Huh?"
"This may be a Free Kingdom, but the vast majority of the land is separated from its Capital, Minotaurus." Brodin explained, "So it's quite hard for news to reach the King or any of the leaders of the Kingdom should trouble arise. This could call for many criminal activities to pick up but the Armies are spread out. If something comes up, they will move to investigate but it will take time, considering the land is big. Not only that, The Order is also active in this area, helping the Bull Kingdom out with troubles relating to Demons."
Lucian nodded, "I get that much." He said, "The Order is in some sort of alliance with the Free Kingdoms to aid them in any demonic activities that they can't easily handle. And I'm assuming that Demons would just pop out here and there.....but what I don't get is the Imperium.....what's their deal?"
Brodin cleared his throat as he looked around, "The Imperium occasionally sends some of their representatives around Terra." He said, "To seek out strong individuals to recruit them to their ranks. Traversed are the main focus, especially Cursed Ones. Much like the Order and Valkren's Armies, they will be interested in the Dragon Calamity. And the Bull Kingdom will use such power to leverage against The Order, Imperium, and even the Demons."
Lucian frowned, "So to them, I'm just an object, huh?" He said with distaste in his voice, "How crude."
Brodin nodded, "They don't see you, they see the Calamity." He said quietly, "But you need to understand one thing; The Imperium is the last thing you want to encounter. They are strong, they are powerful...."
"And they bring ruin to everything."