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Vexx
It was about five years since the orphanage, five years since I ran away for the bounty hunter life, and five years since I've gotten sleep in a bunk bed.
As my mind reminisced about my mediocre life at the age of seventeen, a silent shake of my shoulder woke me up from dreaming.
"Vexx." A low voice stated, of the shadow towering over me."It's early morning."
My eyes blinked rapidly, opening slow, as the Drownei rubbed his own with a hand in patience. I sat up on the bottom mattress, stretching my feathered wings.
"Alright then, Black Knight." I told him quietly as I pulled myself to stand. Fixing my white and bluish pale hair. "Take my place. Good night. . . or, day."
I took one step away, and the knight instantly laid himself, barely awake without even removing his armour.
Good, I've done him a favor. I thought. Once he eventually remembers himself, maybe I won't be the first on his kill list.
As noiseless as I could, after putting on my iron helmet and armour, I continued slowly walking towards the doorway. Thankful that the old wooden floorboards don't creak loud.
I eventually made it out from the dark room, hiding behind the wall next to the door to remain unseen. Then I reached for the metal knob, checking to see if anyone was awake and watching, steadily closing the exit shut.
I could finally unclench my breathing. And right there within the hallway, was a wooden clock hung with a rope and nail on the wall.
It's no wonder that everyone, except usually for the others underground, was fast asleep. The time-keeper's moving pointers indicated three in the morning.
My vision was starting to become unblurred under the lanterned light. I gave my eyes a rub one last time before my blinking slowed, and I was awake as ever.
Glancing to my left and right, my hand moved to the closed belt pouch, rummaging through its opening until I held out a tiny potion of white glass.
Without hesitation, I removed its string and cork. And I drank the liquid substance, entirely used to the slightly draining feeling, while putting the empty bottle back to where I stored it.
For good measure, I stretched out my arms in front of my face. Where a Marine's fins would wrap under the leather armor. But obviously, those elements were completely invisible with the rest of myself.
That in mind, I walked to the room nearer to the end of the wall.
The headmaster's, to be exact.
I opened the door to their room, as slow as I could. There was, apparently, an official scroll of the prophecy that one of the troops showcased earlier. Or it looked official when the troops showed it to the front counter guy.
Okay, and sure, we've already been told what's written inside it. But there were other reasons to obtain a paper so valuable.
I was silent enough to keep everybody within the darkened room asleep. A lot of us were spellcasters, which physically exhausts more.
Not me though. The closest of those weapons I had was my good old sheathed fiery dagger.
But that was for later.
Beside the open entrance, another wooden chair, besides the one outside, was leaned against the wall. A soldier snored upon it while sitting with a sword to his side.
Maybe he was meant to secretly keep watch with I and Black Knight. In case we couldn't be trusted. . . which wasn't too far off.
One candle-lit lantern stood on the single small table, beside a few resting troops.
Stepping forwards, I analyzed each of them before my eyes landed on a cylinder. Its silhouette attached with a strap to the soldier's belt.
My magically unseen self moved closer to inspect it, just in case.
The pipe-shaped pouch on his waist was snapped shut. Decorated with the usual swirling gold strokes.
I stretched out my hand, and unclosed their sealed pocket.
The man moved his head from the tiny metallic noise it made.
But sure enough, the scroll was visible. Fitted neatly into its container. And rolled up with polished wooden handles.
For a sacred, divine piece of written fate, passed down to us by an almighty god, the sacred artifact was relatively easy to steal.
So I swept it away as a bounty for myself.
It was pretty common that a questing division would have two to three of them, anyway. And items like these sell for a lot. They predict the future, and what's meant to happen, the Chronicle Order proudly says.
Besides, there might be people waiting for me below the downstairs. They'd appreciate what I was about to provide them. My plan was to get in, recieve the reward, and rush out.
I carefully trudged out the doorway and closed it. Especially before my potion effects can wear off. I could already see the transparent outline of my hand, holding the prophecy.
As I walked towards the staircase, I made sure to open the scroll. There are fake ones everywhere.
I unrolled the pristine white paper, and glistened a golden glow like clusters of flame, a sign of high-level magic that the Chronicle Order is filled with. It read quickly in my mind.
'Heroes of all kinds shall rise against a dark regime
The world helping on their shoulders to destroy those titled supreme
And one will retrieve the power of the crown trusting in each soul
To end the infinite cycle of control.'
Yes. There it is. My thoughts remained, as the glow slowly faded from the ink-written page. Our officially glorified destiny.
I rolled up the paper again, put it back in my belt's bag, and lifted off an inch from the wooden floorboards with my wings, quiet enough for those in the rooms to not hear. Then I fluttered forwards and down the creaking stairs, fully visible but without a sound.
The tables and chairs around the main area was just as empty. Something told me this old inn wasn't getting a whole lot of popularity lately. Especially since those new cavern areas were being made, since the Dwellven are planning a civilization or whatever, like everyone else in the face of Kyronia.
It was a shame, too. Mythin Caverns used to be the best when it was hidden, for black markets, bounty guilds, and even a base or two for organizations. Before all those people and their mother came to stay.
I went up to the back counter of the little bar, hoping that the place I searched for was still up and running.
The one and only man with the apron, Finber, was expectedly sleeping on a stool behind the desk. His pointy-nosed face was tucked into his arms, laid over the narrow table. Waves of long hair covered him peacefully like a blanket, until I spoke in a whisper.
"Finber." I glanced around, leaning closer. "Finber, wake up, I have another request for ya'. . ."
Without saying a word, the Dwellven pulled himself up with eyelids that were barely heavy, standing from his chair and looking at our surroundings.
"Entering the backdoor again?" He mumbled.
"You know it."
That guy has a whole bunch of stamina to stay awake like that.
My inner self commented a once more, as Finber unpocketed his little ring of metal keys.
He speedily trudged over to the main entrance. Opening the doors slightly to peek out, then closing them. And after rummaging through each key to pick, he finally used one to temporarily bind the doorway with a lock.
Then he walked over to the back corner, beyond his counter. There stood a wooden door with merely a bronze latch. It was almost perfectly camouflaged with the brownish walls.
So he opened it with another one of his keys.
As the entry swung wide, the room, at first glance, seemed like your average spare storage room. Piles of dusty crates and barrels littered the place, untouched. A few lanterns on the walls barely lit the shaded area.
I began to tread past the soiled supplies of dishes, glass bottles, and bags of different food.
"Heads up." Finber stayed behind and whispered. His hand latched onto the door handle. "It's not just a base anymore."
Before I could say something back, he quickly closed the entryway from the outside. I heard the sound of a muffled lock. Which was fine, since I knew how to exit, in standard practice.
Finally, I rushed over to the very end of the big storage room. Beside your typical cabinet of utensils, stood a line of a few dozen candles, organized on a wall shelf.
I pulled out my red, flammable dagger.
As I touched the tip of the blade onto a candle's tip, it lit up like expected. This continued from left to right. Except I'd skip a few of them, re-memorizing the code. Some I would light up consecutively, and some unlit, in the same manner.
Then I stood back in anticipation.
Sure enough, the tiny flames illuminated for just a second. Then they remained a steady glow.
The closet of utensils by it began to move slowly, almost without a sound. Another sealed door was revealed behind the furniture. One of the many, many entrances to what was deep underground.
But this time, I opened it without a key, as the hatch swung to a slender staircase leading down.
I closed the entry shut after me. As I heard the cabinet beyond the doorway shift back into position, I ran down the stairs carefully.
A variety of bustling voices from below, slowly growing louder, caught my attention.
A base of the Unity would never be this loud.
The steps made of wood slowly turned into carved stone. Eventually, the torchlight turned brighter as I approached the people's noises.
And I stepped out the narrow halls to even ground.
As I remembered it, the caverns was just as spacious, if not more so. My eyes skimmed the walls, where other openings to this area were. Dozens entered in and away. Way more than usual.
Even weirder, the crowds were of Dwellven people. Of all kinds, too. Bearded or shaved, short or tall, man or woman, they all hung around a makeshift fighting ring regardless.
I continued to walk forward, past some armed patrolling men.
As I did, I looked towards the center arena filled with flat soil, while elevated and framed with stone and wood. Two cave creatures were violently attacking one another. One of them had wings of a beetle, and seemed around my height, fluttering in the air while moving around with the sharp stinger on its nose.
The other beast was a foot smaller. It had ten legs with piercing claws, a single eye covering half its face, and a whistling black mist surrounding its body, like of the dragon Black Knight's brother used back in Valean.
Two people stood on opposite sides of the ring, cheering their fighters on as the audience did.
"Dwellven cave-fighting. . ." I muttered to myself with my sight locked, while hovering above and past the spectators. "I thought the sport was banned for its violence? Good for betting, though. . ."
As the flying creature zipped around the one-eyed arachnid, it stood still, unfazed. Then it dug quickly to the ground with its ten legs, as the beetle charged and stuck its stinger to the soil. It saw the flyer's every move with an eye barely moving.
The spider-like beast dug up from the other side. And it shot a burst of webs, sticking its opponent to the ground.
One side of the massive room yelled in victory. The furry spider crawled over to bite off the insect's stinger, in a bloody sight, as the other side lightly applauded in a respectful defeat.
I shook off the feeling to bet money, and scanned around the cavern for some hints of the Unity. There's no way they just gave one of their bases to this. Although now it was quite a place of union, compared to the chaos and fighting outside.
As I searched around, the walls of rock slightly rumbled, and a single growl was heard in a muffle. It was noisier than before. Like something was caused to slowly awaken.
I didn't think much of it, though.
But sure enough, there was another bar counter along the walls in the distance. And sitting on one of the stools, with iron-armoured guards standing wielding crossbows around them, was another winged Flivian I recognized all too wall.
Eeldrin. The ear-pierced man who took me in as a bounty hunter, and as my Unity contractor, taught me ways to live. I should've expected my high-ranked mentor to be here. Despite the apparent changes.
I flew over in silence, and landed beside his troops.
"Seems they've taken over one of your bases, huh?"
As I spoke with the loudness of the area against my voice, I noticed he was busy talking to someone else. Who had a cloak and cape over his leather armour. They wore a thin mask of metal to cover themself further, for whatever reason. The appearance alone seemed familiar.
What's more, strapped around on their belt was a white-lined helmet, with thorns protruding from it, slightly dented like the one Black Knight used to wear.
A dozen helmeted figures as tall as Drownei stood by, with armours of leather. Both Eeldric and the other familiarly accented man conversed. I slowly approached as they did.
". . .an alliance, eh?" Eeldrin's stroked his white beard, below his face of many past scars. "Well, it appears we have a common enemy, and all. I will speak about this to our other leaders around Midkyron."
"Indeed." The masked figure stated while sitting next to him. "The Chronicle Order and their allies will not stand a chance."
It was hard to tell from his seeming disguise.
But his voice.
Was he. . . Black Knight's brother?
I took a step back, with my armour camouflaging me with the other Unity troops. Forcing myself not to say a word, despite the urge.
"But I'll assure you right here and now. If you Drownei attempt even a sliver of betrayal on us. . ." Eeldrin paused, his eyebrow raised, expecting the correct response.
"There is no reason to. My brother has already betrayed me by joining their quest." He added, confirming my suspicion. "If they plan to wage war for the crown, this alliance will only benefit both our sides."
"Then so be it, Right Hand." The Flivian stretched out his hand, as the Drownei firmly shook it, and the two groups unionized.
But several of the dozens of Unity members, in the far back of the crowd where I was, muttered doubts with each other. Some even in a quiet outrage.
"We're siding with the Drownei??"
"This is not a good plan."
"Eeldric was never trustworthy, anyway!"
"I say we end this alliance, at once. . ."
Now I really had to get this over with, and tell the others.
Or. . . did I really have to side with them that much?
It's not that deep, Vexx. I told myself. Just speak up.
"Hey Eel, it's Vexx." I went over and stepped inbetween both men. Glad I decided to mask myself. "Fancy seeing you here, huh?"
The middle-aged man's eyes faintly widened. "Well, likewise, Vexx! How has my hunter been doin'?"
"Fairly good, since I've obtained something you'd probably want to see."
I said straight to the point and pulled out the stolen scroll. Unrolling it within my hands, I handed the prophecy to him.
His mouth opened as he looked at me, then at the piece of divine paper. Then he took it with an amused smile forming. Before Eeldrin opened it, he glanced at the surroundings, and gestured his troops with a hand to block people's view of us.
He was greeted with the glow after opening it. The official golden glint of the article, as he read the written text.
Even Right Hand stood without a word to say, for now.
"Well, well, I can't say I'm too surprised, boy." Eeldrin said, embracing his shock. "You were always the one for job. And for that. . ."
I watched expectantly as he grabbed one of the small bags tied to his waist, prepared for any bounty, as he tossed over the brown bundle of gold into my hands.
"There's more where that comes from." The Flivian continued before I could back away. "If you could tell us the location of the squad from where you stole this."
Damn it. I thought.
Actually. . . why not?
They were total strangers. One of them was even a wretched Drownei. I'd gain so much handing over those 'heroes'.
I mean, I knew one or two of the questers had families, unlike myself, but. . .
". . .orne Aberra. Thorne Aberra! THORNE ABERRA!"
Cheers grew louder from the audience nearby, snapping me out of it.
From the middle arena, I held my surprise as the Dwellven kid from our group was praised victoriously. His inky, arachnid-like creature, was munching on the corpse of another cave beast.
Thorne greeted all the passing people, while going down the stairs of the high ring.
Then, as he left the excited crowds, his eyes suspiciously locked onto us. Only a distance away.
While he walked to some of the patrolling Dwellven, I glanced back to Eeldrin.
"And all that noise is why this is a good place to remain unheard. . ." He teased a bit.
". . . so, Vexx?"
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Now was a moment where I could be easily found out. If Kallei's brother realizes I'm working double-sided, he could tell Eeldrin, and I'm done for.
"I don't know." I responded. "I nabbed the scroll from a corpse affected by the riots above."
"Him."
My head turned to the voice of Right Hand behind me. The masked Drownei faced forwards, past our shoulders. I looked where he was focused on.
Thorne and other armed Dwellven were now approaching us, as the cave-fighting continued behind them.
"Thorne Aberra." Right Hand explained to Eeldrin. "Heir to Seifer, who is the next leader of the Dwellven, as you've mentioned. And part of the main division for the Chronicle Order's quest."
"Ah, right. . . interesting."
The Flivian commented simply.
I stood back as the bronze-crowned prince stepped in front of his peers. Tens of varying unarmoured individuals of his kind, with their own types of flaming swords, crossbows, or rings.
Thorne silently held out a hand for them to stop, with his tall axe resting on his shoulder.
Eeldrin hid the scroll within his utility belt. Beneath his cloak.
Right Hand reached for his pocket.
And the three groups stood beside one another. In a triangle of silence.
"You know, It's pretty unusual for two nearly non-Dwellven armies to be here." Thorne started with wordy confidence. "Especially since we cleared out the Unity members to reinstigate cave-fights."
"Well, what can I say?" Eeldrin responded. "We travelers are just here to join your legendary sport's rebirth."
Thorne stared at Right Hand's army of covered faces. His eyes narrowed. The Drownei in charge did not move an inch, as the teenager moved closer.
"As the heir to the Dwellven throne, I command you all to reveal your faces."
Deadly silent, Right Hand stood up, towering over the Dwellven. "Or what will you do, boy?"
Thorne's army raised their weapons up. The overconfident axe-wielder took a step back. Trying his best to meet the Drownei's piercing gaze, through the mask.
"I propose a better command." Right Hand calmly presented. "We all leave peacefully at this instant, and nobody needs to deal with any of this."
He then leaned forwards, casually flicking off the soot of his shoulder.
"Comply?"
I slowly backed away within the crowd of Unity troops. As a quarter of them whispered plans to each other.
There was no reason to involve myself. I had the bag. It was time for me to leave.
Thorne stood in place, beside his armed civilians, saying something in their language.
The Dwellven army readied their weapons with another glow, and loaded their bows.
"In the name of Reytus and Dwellven-kind, each one of you will put down your head coverings right now." He pointed his fiery axe at both Eeldric and Right Hand.
I continued to glance at the conversation as I walked off.
Eeldrin's soldiers slowly raised their crossbows. The Drownei men held out their own magic rings, with their longswords.
Then I found myself standing still, with my back towards them all.
What are you doing? My mind repeated. Get out of here.
But I looked back at the Dwellven kid on the verge of being killed. He seemed a few years younger than me. Yet, unlike I, there were still people waiting for him back home.
Of course I had no idea what that felt like. But I supposed it had to mean something. All I knew was that I gave up needing one at this point.
I also had quite a few invisibility potions left, at least.
After glancing back, I flew myself over to one of the cavern entrances, hiding behind the walls. Then I pulled out a tiny bottle from my pouch, uncorking it.
Just this once, Eeldrin. You'll survive anyway. I wanted to tell him.
So I held the substance in preperation. Scanning the details of the conflict, as I peeked around the wall.
Everyone was held at silent gunpoint. All the cave-fighters cheering from afar were too eager to notice in a single moment.
I drank the potion as they all took the first shot.
And I launched myself straight towards Thorne, propelling forwards with my wings, pushing him out of the crossfire as we both fell to the ground.
The crowd's cheers turned into sudden exclamations. Gunshots and noises of sharp clashing metal filled the club.
A line of troops behind Eeldrin fired at him, as he and Right Hand flew behind the counter. Black Knight's helmet, tied with rope to from its facial opening his waist, was shot with a flame.
The Dwellven and Unity troops fired at will. We hid, crouching at the front of the table.
The walls rumbled once again in a reaction to the noise. And the same growling from earlier was suddenly less muffled. Almost roaring.
Thorne was adjusting in shock. "Wha- what is happening-?"
"Quiet! It's me, Vexx!"
I shouted within all the audible mayhem.
His eyes darted around, looking for my voice. "The Flivian?? What are you doing here?"
"I was. . . suspicious." I lied. "Look, I saved you, okay? Follow me so we don't die!"
"I cannot even see you!"
So I glanced around for something the kid could identify me with.
While peeking over the side of the bar counter, the spiked steel helmet of our Drownei quester had rolled over, near us.
I reached out and grabbed onto the oversized armour piece, putting it over my face.
"There. Happy? Now come on. . ." I told Thorne again as we ran off, towards the entryway to the tavern, while his Dwellven army shouted to keep fighting.
We rushed past the crowds of escaping people, hiding behind them as more cover. The cave creatures roamed around the air and rocky ground in panic.
Then, the giant wall of growls in the distance collapsed onto itself.
From the very end of the cavern, ten legs as long as two stories dug their way through.
A single beady eye enveloped half its face of grimy piercing fur. Revealed with its fanged head from the shadows.
The arachnid creatures of the same inky mist approached it.
And an array of webs propelled from the monster's mouth, as I gripped onto the Dwellven kid, by the arm, to alert the others.