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Zeleos
Hidden within the unravaged, thick forests where other creatures used to live, I stationed the hazy guardian beast for later use.
The dragon-like horned Skollur stood in position as I sat atop it. Under an early blue morning.
I analyzed Chronicle Order territory in the shrouded distance. Lines of the average horse carrier travelled through the hilly, village terrain into a mountainside.
It seemed suspicious enough to assume they were entering a base. I've witnessed their last one, destroyed to rubble by the Unity. Another territory almost completely vanquished.
The lands were in our possession, still, but everyone believes what is right in their eyes.
And I believed Kallei needed to return, for the respect I deserved.
But still, I kept the beliefs of the Unity within the back of my mind. They hate the Chronicle Order for their supposedly civilization-ending quests.
It appears we had a common opponent.
My father's bloodstone, shining a red dark mist as I uncurled my palm holding it, shook further while I sensed my brother was nearby.
So I let go of the reins and unmounted the large, fanged creature. The trees and overgrown greenery were barely wide enough to peek through.
Far ahead, the area seemed to be only a massive cave, of natural rock. Pointy-eared Dwellvens of sizes and shapes opened the fortified iron gates. They were allowing people of all kinds inside the tunnel system.
It was a strange sort of union as I watched. Mere civilians under our species joining together inside of the compact place.
We've always had Kyronian Drownei guard the Chronicle Order's surroundings before. But they were told to back off or face the consequences of being attacked, by armies of the prophet organization. My overlord father's past order was to fight and suppress them in return.
However, I've told him before that there was another way for answers, less costly.
It only takes a single right hand man in disguise to figure out what they're hiding.
I pocketed the dark gem, locking it securely within the confines of my leather kidney pouch. My palm struggled to keep it closed. It was tempting to use the power unknown to me, but I fought the feeling for my sake.
I sort of knew, and was told, about what this stone of life and death can do to a mad man. Intensify itself, and the host's inner thoughts.
The inky beast, as tall as the average tree that we covered behind, followed my command as it remained still and vanished from view. I patted the rugged texture of its back once, to make sure the beast was still there.
The Skollur was yet again far from the Crown of Infinity it meant to guard. Its existence beginning to fade away as it flickered in transparency. I decided to let it rest for now.
Without being seen by the civilians of Kyronia below, I put the hood of my cloak on and entered the village Valean. The steel mask I'd always carried around covered my face as well. So the only revealed feature of myself was the slightly less pointed ears of Drownei genes.
Enough to pass me off as more genetically related to the ancient dwarves, rather than the elves before they both mixed centuries ago.
I studied my surroundings within the busy village, as I walked past everything like the average low man.
The overgrown paved streets. Tuniced townspeople of the same kind. Wooden Dwellven huts being built at the side of hills, all in one place as if they were preparing a nation of their own.
Drownei guards agreed to actively patrol on the outer perimeters. There were lines of them from afar. Away from areas like the marketplace that sold remainings of cave creatures, inns leading to the inside of dugout grottos, and musket firing ranges outside for the public.
This village of Valean used to be carefully guarded on the inside, like others under the kingdom. But when one side riots in brutality, and the other doesn't let down, negotiations are forced to be made.
Any more conflict at this point could be the spark of a war. And the overlord needed everyone under control.
Approximately a minute or two passed, with civilians glancing once at my ears, mentally shrugging it off as another odd one out of their diverse species. I approached the front of the cavernous base entrance. Barely a few villagers crossed through this area. All the horse-carried vehicles from before were gone. Which could only mean all the possible members were in.
I knew that I'd collect further suspicious looks, if I went by security without looking the part.
The sounds of men conversed behind me as I turned to the noise. A group of armoured Dwellvens rode a white Chronicle Order supply chariot, towards the cave. Except they weren't riding the horses. Instead, they were drinking glass bottles next to the loaded carrier and a dirty garbage area.
A bunch of drunkards slacking off during their own job.
What's even their use? I thought to myself. All they're doing is wasting away.
The five of them were hidden enough, within the route of old, mossy back alleyways of a tavern. The items at the back wagon were mostly covered by bright fabric, but peeking through the covers were hints of golden-lined Chronicle Order robes and armour.
I wiped off the soot on my cape and armoured steel to approach the commoners. The distinctly short and tall pointy-eared figures noticed my masked self as I came closer, to the dark alley tucked away.
"You, there." I clearly stated to the civilians beside their few tan common horses.
They stared at me with scrunched sharp noses and faces, as I now stood in front of them.
"I assume you're taking this carrier to the Chronicle Order base ahead. They have told me to continue your job from here."
The Dwellvens exchanged looks with one another. One of the shorter ones narrowed his eyes towards my masked steel face.
"Take off your mask then, will ya'?" He said. "You don't even have a uniform of theirs."
"I don't identify myself to workers who drink on the job."
I remained with a neutral tone of voice. Meanwhile, the idler's cheeks slightly reddened more, as I noticed he clenched his fist to the side. He clearly wasn't in the right mind, probably similiar to the rest of them.
One of the other Dwellven quickly stepped forward and pushed him out of the way. Then loudly whispered.
"Cliede! Let's just leave this man and get our pay already-"
"As I said," I simply restated to the lazy and stubborned.
"Hand over the carrier to me, or I'll have your director know of where you've been."
"Oh, that right, eh?"
From the back, another worker leaning on the mud brick wall beside the trash, has been silent but now spoke louder than the others.
"Who are you to talk to us, when you're probably not even a part of the Order."
"Or worse." Another tipsy drunkard added. "He could be a Drownei!"
Time is running out.
My mind repeated over and over again, as I noticed one of the men in the back already sharpening their dagger with another. The drunk Dwellven mumbled to each other about my expensive appearance, beginning to surround me within the shady alley. Perhaps wondering if five armed adults can take on one seemingly unarmed.
There has to be another way.
"Show your face already!"
They declared at me individually. I stood still, and found my palm already clutching onto the dark, bloodstone of power.
Use it. My mind then changed and repeated, blurring out all common sense.
Quickly. They're useless anyway.
They laughed in their tipsy minds and approached in a circling position. In the corner of my now open pocket, the gem shined its misty darkness brighter. It was as if I've always known it. I held the stone tight, eyes closed.
Do what you're meant to, right hand.
By my own controlled will, the rocky surface crumbled beneath the Dwellvens around me. Their faces turned from confidently enraged to panicked.
From the deep ground, dozens upon dozens of skeletal arms stretched out and grabbed the ankles of the men. Their legs were trapped and entangled by the undead.
With a quick blow, and the final suffocating scream of begging voices, the bodies were fully captured, and pulled to the underground.
Then the earth silently closed up again like nothing took place.
I stood there in deaf silence.
The rich cape of my steel armour still flowed to my side, if that's all they wanted somehow.
Without another thought, I quickly shifted my hand out of my pocket and back to my side. My eyes glanced at the waiting bloodstone before closing the pouch. While I mentally tried to shake off a feeling of doubt, a single realization stayed.
The overlord's power was painlessly easy to use.
But I snapped out of it, remembering my heralded task at hand; retrieving Kallei.
So I walked over to the supplies that those unknowing horses carried, putting on shining lined robes of the Chronicle Order to complete my look.
Then, mounting the front of the leather-armoured animals, I pulled suddenly on their reins. Forcing them to rush out of the dark alleyway, neighing while carrying the load behind.
Eventually, I swiftly made it past the overgrown streets and towards the security with their crossbows, guarding what was hidden inside of the seemingly typical cave.
My right hand slid to the top of my closed pocket.
And I entered the order's base of Valean.