--------------------------------------
Black Knight
". . .and so, apparently, my brother claimed me to be the Dark Lord's heir."
The rest of the questers within the covered, moving horse carrier stared at me, with varying expressions implying they thought I was mentally unwell.
Aside from my lack of memory.
Aziel, namely, glanced away as I looked back at her lightly freckled face. But Headmaster Chronisius was the most active listener, to the story of my prior conversation with Zeleos. The grey-haired leader tilted his head to present his intrigue.
"So," Vexx, who froze sharpening one of his daggers with another, butted within the silence. "We keeping him, or. . .?"
"Of course we are!" Asserted the young wizard girl Jade. "A son of the overlord turned good? That's a story for the ages!"
I blinked at them. "Wait, I'd like a say in this. What happens if I'm not kept?"
"You die." Her brother Thorne casually stated, his arms crossed. "Or. . ."
He then narrowed his eyes, focusing upwards without moving his head that almost reached the ceiling, and shrugged.
"No, that's really it."
Vexx forcefully cleared his throat with a hand. "Actually, captured Drownei do make a good bounty-"
"Oh, come on, people." Chided Aziel, immediately lowering her voice slightly after calling out."It's almost like you want him to leave. We specifically need a Drownei for the quest, remember? Whether we like it. . ."
Then she gave another exchanged look at my confused self, pursing her lips, and directing her gaze towards everyone else.
". . .or not. . ."
Quietness filled the air for a few moments. My mind ruminated on the confusion of whether or not, in the first place, I was supposed to be spared.
My sights were drawn to the outside of the clopping vehicle in the meantime. The sun was setting once more, as we seemed to have entered more bustling cavern-like settlements.
We passed by cave systems of rock, being mined by those with pointy ears, with fiery weapons and pickaxes. The tunnels through the hilly terrain were as high as the average house, having various shorter Dwellvens with their diverse appearances entering in, along with exiting out.
But I noticed some of the tall ones refusing to, fleeing away from the direction where we're headed. Yet there were still the same village structures outside of the grottos.
I thought it was strange, but my brief inner monologue was interrupted.
"Well, if I am to say anything," Headmaster Chronisius finally spoke up to lighten the silence."I see great potential in the Dark Lord's son destined for righteousness, if what all was said is true."
With another one of his friendly smiles, he met my eyes without a single hint of doubt or nervousness.
"We do need you, after all."
In the moment, I couldn't help but allow the hint of a smile in return.
But then a shot of a gun shrieked. The horse carrier stopped running, and we jolted in place.
I exchanged glances with those startled around me.
"Don't tell me we're being attacked once more." I told them, hand shifting over my double-edged blade's hilt, forgetting I don't know where the helmet went to cover my deep green face.
More harsh noises of bullets fired. Everyone within the enclosed vehicle ducked their heads towards the wooden flooring.
Nearby at the unseen front outside of us, the sound of flames slowly rose.
After Aziel quickly asked Jade if she was alright, who was covering her ears with her pointed hat in visible shock, she turned to face everyone else.
"We can't stay here. Someone peek out if you can, and see what's happening."
Vexx sighed.
"Pray to your gods I don't get my head blown off."
He muttered for all to hear, as the sharp sounds echoed in the distance.
Then the young winged person launched himself outside of the white cloth covers, without hesitation. There was a second or two of fluttering and we all waited.
He came landing back inside while retracting his wings, with a serious expression replacing his cocky scaled face.
"Our driver's shot in flames. There's tons of people fighting outside."
I crouched up from my seat, gripping my sheathed weapon. "Are we their targets?"
"Not that I know. I think they're all just Dwellvens, somehow."
"Let's head out. We're caught in a crossfire." Headmaster Chronisius ordered. "Take cover behind our carrier."
Vexx pulled out his flintlock. "There's our other carriers too, no?"
Then he flew out again, possibly expecting us to follow.
But I noticed Thorne giving Jade a wide-eyed warning look with apprehension. Then I figured out they were speaking a language different from the one I knew. At least it definitely wasn't the common speak.
The older sibling's tone was demanding, as if he knew what he was talking about. The wizard girl stayed silent and merely nodded with scrunched eyebrows.
Their father wasn't here, as I was told by them he's dealing with political manners. But he trusted and supported his children, enough to embrace and let them go, for now. He was apparently chosen as the future leader of Dwellven-kind.
Aziel listened to their conversation as well, then surprisingly said something with the same language in a gentler voice. She gestured towards the exit of the vehicle.
That seemed to lighten the tension after a hushed moment, as they stood up with her rings glowing and their weapons held out.
I stood in place as my head bowed against the ceiling. Was something up with them?
"Black Knight." The headmaster mentally snapped me back, calling as I followed.
All the questers stepped out. The daylight sky was turning into a deeper blue by now.
Gunshots were heard loud and clear now, beyond the front of our small army, ringing in my ears in a familiar sensation. Perhaps it's simply a sound I've been accustomed to. Maybe it always has been.
The troops from the few other horse-drawn carriers gathered around us. While Aziel and the Dwellven siblings stayed with mostly everyone and myself, covered behind the wall of vehicles on stone pavement, Vexx peeked his head forward to where the violent noises occured. His firearm was pointed towards the area.
I stared around as the remaining townspeople ran past us from afar.
Families holding their children in a panic, men holding their tools and belongings, and even those armed with guns and weaponry were escaping from the brick buildings.
One of the armoured guards ran over towards us with a limp, holding his exposed arm like it had been scarred. The man was taller than the rest, with a gritted, scarred face and tied-up hair.
Some of the other figures with the same sooted covering, of different stature, with bits of maroon fabric, followed behind him with their weapons out. They seemed dented, rushing over and removing their helmets decorated with metal thorns.
My two-edged sword was drawn to my side.
Instead of another horde of Drownei, the pack drew near and revealed themselves as also Dwellven.
". . . it's the Chronicle Order, again!" The tall one with the dusted scars spoke with a thick, sort of slurred accent."Have they sent more heroes to deal with the battles?"
Us questers exchanged glances, as I was beginning to step forward to ask questions about what was even going on, until the headmaster went up towards them before me.
As they saw his robed, seemingly familiar appearance, their heads bowed with eyes now fully attentive.
"You must be Headmaster Chronisius the 7th." The same Dwellven who greeted us in a hurry readjusted himself straight.
"Ah, yes, you must've had help from our other squads."
"We've been tryna' diffuse the situation." He continued. "Citizens started shooting at each other out of nowhere again."
"Let me guess. . ." Thorne came up to us with Jade following him. He met his eye level, with the fiery axe fitted diagonally into the scabbard on his back."Dwarf and Elven traditionalists?"
The Dwellven guard briefly lowered his sight and nodded.
"We've tried to sort it out ourselves. It seems as though the feud has worsened, since the revolution has been secretly underway. After all this time some still detest our unity."
Secret revolution. My head raced as I glanced away at the man staring at my appearance.
My apparent brother was there during the announcement in the cavern base. That or I merely felt his presence. Does he know all about the quest now?
More blasts and nearby explosions shattered our eardrums. We crouched beside the carriers covering ourselves. In a rage, noises of fighting men clashed nearer with sharpened blades, along with smoke rising in the distance, engulfing a view of the cold sunset.
"Well, we got to run out of this area before bursting into flames." Vexx said, as he used his feathered wings to boost himself near us.
"Is there a safe way to pass this village?" I stepped ahead to ask the few battered Dwellven soldiers.
They were hesitant to respond for a bit, eyeing each other at the sight of my unmasked head, even glancing down at my neck where scales began to show. In the same vein as Aziel has been doing since the first meeting. Then the troops turned their heads towards Headmaster Chronisius, with questioning looks.
"No need to fret, folks." He reassured them with a hand and a confident smile. "The Drownei's with us."
"O- Of course." The tall, scarred Dwellven with the tied hair responded again, and faced me with an extremely neutral face. Even as everyone else was listening too.
"There is that ol' cavern system of Mythin that is safe to pass. One of its entrances is nearby, I think. But, ah, that settlement has been sort of shady recently, even more than usual. . ."
Vexx's face lit up, but he closed his mouth after opening it.
Thorne spoke instead. "As one of the questers, I'll lead them out of harm. I'm well adjusted to the ins and outs."
His smaller sister perked up her head with a raised eyebrow. "Hello? I happen to know this place well, too!"
Despite the bandaged little scar on her cheek, she seemed the same as ever.
The brother gave a little eye roll, while walking over to the side, peeking out the corner of the horse carriers.
"Follow my lead." He turned his head towards us again.
As the Dwellven unsheathed the tall axe on his back, Vexx scoffed jokingly.
"Alright guys, you heard what the fifteen-year-old said." Vexx, who seemed just a bit older but shorter in height, muttered for all to hear.
Thorne glared at him specifically. "Is that meant to be insulting, a joke, or both? I'm fourteen."
The winged person nodded with a smug smile. "Exactly."
Thorne's glare persisted.
"You don't look much older. And if anything happens to my 'oh-so-young' self," The axe-wielder continued, standing straight for the Dwellvens watching with us. "Then I'll die in the lead out of dignity."
"Indeed it is a true show of bravery, Dwellven warrior." Headmaster Chronisius spoke in a sense of approval, but also to perhaps move things along. "I believe as Niytri does in the work of heroes. Guide us if you must."
That caused the claimed hero to smile in pride, before he stopped it to bow his head.
"I won't let you or the order down, headmaster."
He briefly faced everyone else with seriousness.
"Now follow."
The Dwellven peeked out towards the clear area. Then as the battered city guards wished us well with a wave, he ran over to the back of one of the empty brick buildings as we trailed behind.
In the distance as we peeked, the varying citizens threw torches at each other sparked with flames, along with their arrows. We passed through building to empty dim-lit building, staying hidden within the riots.
Our group was eventually led to a fenced alleyway. Beside a building situated with a hillside of rock behind it.
The headmaster had ordered his troops beforehand to take another route, where they can remain unseen. As more yelling and lines of smoky bullet trails came past us, Aziel covered Jade and herself behind one of the rows of barrels, and we all did the same in the darkness.
Beside where I crouched, was a wooden barrel toppled to its side, with larger equipment of dark steel spilling out. I inspected the rusted daggers and armour with my eyes. Layered beneath was another helmet almost similiar to the one I wore. Smaller thorny spikes protruded from the top, with lines of deeper white along the sharp edges. I suppose people collected these sort of materials for themselves.
To protect my own head, I put the slightly dented helmet over my greenish face, flattening the spiked dark hair reaching the scales of my neck. I would need the protection for whatever was happening right now.
"I don't understand." I whispered to Thorne beside me about what my mind questioned. "You spoke about traditionalists battling with each other once more. Why must they do that?"
He slowly turned his only slightly shorter head at me, with a baffled expression.
"Seriously? Do you not know?"
"I've encountered amnesia."
Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at the others nearby. Vexx shared a similiar face of raised brows, while Aziel shrugged and nodded.
Jade beside her lit up and began."I can explain it for you no problem-"
"In short terms," Thorne started quick before she could go on. "Two species, dwarves and elves, were stuck on a continent, almost wiping themselves out fighting for it. They eventually united into one kind. But unfortunately there are some who believe in their 'greater' divine roots."
"We believe in the uniting Dwellven god, Reytus, who made the Rube of Ignite gemstone." His wizard sister added factually. "All our fire magic comes from there!"
"Yes, and-"
"Dwarves are stronger and elves are more intelligent."
"None of that is helpful, Jade."
I blinked in place. "So, that means you must have a lot of subspecies."
"A lot of different elf ones!" The excitable girl whispered loud.
"Basically, sure, whatever." Her brother finished as he stood up, heading quietly towards the backdoor of the building we hid beside."Now come on. There should be an entry to Mythin Caverns inside."
We opened the creaking door.
Tables of plates and shattered bottles were dispersed, along the stone brick flooring. Seats and tables of unlit candles were organized around the room. The small chandliers above weren't lit as well, creating a surrounding dimness. A counter with shelves of drinks behind it stationed at the back. Thorne immediately went towards the area, and I followed with the headmaster at the rear.
Then noises of people whispering stopped me again in my tracks.
Right next to me, embedded into the solid wall, was a sizeable closet closed shut.
Focused on the sight, I hesitated. But as I knew it was worth investigation, my hand reached out steadily to open the folding door. My other hand unsheathed the double-edged sword.
So I yanked the doorway's latch agape.
From out the shadows, the first thing I saw was a crossbow pointed directly at my face.
I raised my blade forwards. About to strike first with no hesitation.
Until the familiar voice of a woman shouted.
"Wait!"
And two hands gripped onto mine, lowering the weapon down as I tried to resist at first.
My vision focused on the person holding the firearm towards me. A tall, witnessing figure as he shook, with the average tunic and clothes, instead of the same armour as the other Dwellven guards we met. Behind his protection stood a shorter pointy-eared person with tied hair, clutching to her child with an arm.
I followed as my sword was lowered. My gaze turned from Aziel's palms quickly slipping away from mine, to her freckled face beside me giving the most stern look.
She then gave a cautious, comforting tone of voice, as she stepped forward and spoke the Dwellvens' language.
The others and I watched as the son and mother took her hand and left the dark closet, along with the one guarding them.
Still, the door we entered through was barged open, swinging with a crash as it hit the wall. Men with crossbows shouted and pointed their weapons. Not at us, but at the similiar-looking person guarding the family of two.
I jolted and threw my pointed sword at one of the attackers. Before it was possible for him to pull the trigger and release the fiery arrow, the heavy spike zipped through the wind and impaled straight through his chest.
My breath became heavier as the two other Dwellvens backed up in horror.
As they shot at me desperately in response, I lifted up a wooden table nearby and covered us with it like a shield. The furniture immediately flared up in flames. But for a Drownei like me, I could only feel the warmness of adrenaline.
The room was turning darker as the daylight did. At this point, everyone's sight would begin to become useless in pitch black. I charged straight ahead behind the flammable object.
Without relent, I felt something impact the table before the fire completely ate it out. The victim was knocked out unconcious, or possibly, dead.
There was not time to think twice about it, as I heard movement right behind my shoulder. I dodged out of the way as their dagger swung. Then I noticed the other body next to me, and my sword lodged through them.
The surviving Dwellven moved towards where I was. When I nudged to the other direction, their aimless weapon struggled to find my black armour, camouflaged with the darkened area.
I slowly shifted back to the corpse, attempting to keep silent.
With a match from their pocket, the figure sparked it with another material, lighting up a lantern attached to his belt. An enchanting red glow from the iron container allowed the fire to grow large.
They noticed me within the illumination.
And I pulled out the sword from the dead for another kill.
But as I closed in to trap them within the corner, they spoke.
I slowed as the speaking turned into desperate pleas I couldn't understand. I noticed the terrified expression of a mere teenager-looking up close. He almost seemed grown in his stature from afar, and was now removing some of his materials to the floor.
I stood there in hesitation as I picked up the lantern, and when I looked back, I heard movements of the doorway quickly opening. The Dwellven was gone, running away from the Drownei of the order who killed the others.
But I knew we weren't the enemy.
As I turned towards the rest of the questers, with the light carried by my hand, they stared at me with mixed expressions. Some smiled like Vexx and the headmaster, like they witnessed what they came for. Others were cautious, sticking together like the group of Dwellvens we saved. Aziel glanced at me unsure.
"Excellent work, Black Knight."
Headmaster Chronisius reassured. And I walked forward to join everyone else with a silent nod.
One of the shelves behind the counter of the room was latched open. Revealed within the walls that it covered, were a batch of candles within an area where bricks were removed, with writings painted with gold surrounding the set.
Thorne stood beside all of it, using the tip of his fiery battle axe to touch the candles. Next to him, Jade pointed her bronze scepter towards the same place to help out, although I didn't know how much assistance that would bring.
The other shelf smoldered in vibration. And it opened to showcase a tunnel through rock, tall enough for us to perfectly squeeze and pass within. Then Thorne looked around, past ourselves and the survivors.
"Hurry inside. I'll close it from behind."
Vexx yawned in response. "Might as well 'dwell' there for a bit, huh? I yearn for a sleep or two."
"Good one." He stated with no emotion.
"Aw, shucks, don't mention it."
Behind all the supposed heroes, I entered last, as the shelves slowly began to shut on their own.
As Aziel led the survivors with her, I focused on the Dwellven with the crossbow following too. He was being hunted down for protecting those who don't look like him. At least from what we've seen.
Somehow, I knew exactly how he felt.
His eyes trailed back, facing the closing entryway where those akin to him died.
The man looked at me once again, and faced the other way for dear life.