“Do you want a coat?” asked Marcus, whispering to her.
“Is it clean?” replied Udania, feeling slightly uneasy about the offering.
He rolled his eyes.
“Yes, I bought it recently. I’ve never worn it, so it's as clean as it gets.”
The man handed her a black leather coat. There was only one issue with it. The clothing had a very distinct smell of the used material. She held on to it for a while, and only after the wind intensified did the woman put it on.
“So… Which captain did you choose?” asked Dantenium.
“That’s a good question. I’ll answer it when we arrive at our destination,” the knight muttered, somewhy anxious.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Here.”
The paladin handed the crimson-haired a letter with a red stamp.
“Do you think it is what I think it is?” the excited man said, ripping open the paper.
“Perhaps.”
Laudis got closer to the Fire sorcerer, wondering about the contents of the document.
“Can I see it or not?” the boy asked.
“Why not?”
The Warrior of Hades took out the contents of the package, unfolding the writing. All the letters were written in high cursive with black ink. The men noticed the scent of citrus fruits. After all, it was common for the aristocracy to perfume the letters. After some time, Infernatus differentiated the words:
“Luxirius, July 17th, 593
Greetings to you, Dantenium the Warrior of Hades Infernatus
We once again sat down with our government to discuss your name change. After your fifth appeal, we give up on our objection to that matter. It is due to the two facts. Firstly, His Majesty, King Leopold, allowed us this time to have our own opinion on the situation. Secondly, we do not fancy unreasonable disapprovals; therefore, we fancy your request. From this day forward, your name is changed to Dante Infernatus.
Best regards,
William Locksmith
p.p. Leopold the Great”
“Finally!”
The boy raised an eyebrow.
“Why bother so much about something so trivial?”
“It’s a name strongly connected to my past, from which I wanted to cut off. I don’t want to share it, but it wasn’t that fun to begin with.”
“Oh, I see.”
After five minutes, they arrived at the port. The one-eyed and handicapped sailors were giving them a cold glance. Nonetheless, they followed Gladius. He stopped in front of a ship named ‘Grand Jack’. The letters were inscribed with white paint on the side. The whole craft was fifteen metres long and ten metres tall. Its sail, originally white, was grey with black horizontal stripes. The Crusaders didn’t find anything wrong with the ship’s condition. Of course, there were some barnacles and withered algae, but they didn’t think much about them. It was a sight as common as brothels in Piscaria. After all, the country was named the homeland of whores for a particular reason. Nevertheless, it was an older model, but usable, solid, and well-preserved. To put it shortly, a fine piece of craftsmanship
“So, where’s the captain?” wondered Marcus, looking around.
The knight took a deep breath, scratching his neck.
“There isn’t any. I couldn’t get anyone to sail with us, so we have to do it on our own.”
“Oh… What? Do you think we can voyage on the sea alone?” burst out Dante.
“If you were me, what would you do? Drop the mission, because there isn’t any willing person to navigate us? Shut your mouth and put the packages on the deck, before I make tea with them!”
“What does he mean by ‘make tea with them’?” wondered Solisia.
“It means he’ll drop it into the water. Quickly get them on board before he loses his temper.”
The boy hopped on the ship with Marcus. The crimson-haired was giving them luggage, and they were receiving it. They received eight bags in total. The youth moved them to the cabin. With every step, the planks creaked, giving him goose bumps. Solisia and Udania joined them soon after. Gladius turned around, looking for loose baggage. When the knight was certain, he went on board. He kicked off the wooden plank. connecting them to the land.
“Dante, pull up the anchor,” the paladin muttered, going to the steering wheel.
“Aye, captain!”
Pho! A bag flew near his head.
“One more time anyone dares to call me that, and I’ll throw them off the damn ship!”
Nightwood came to the Warrior of Hades, helping him with the chained anchor. Soon, Laudis went to them. With their efforts, the steel was lifted and secured over the sea bed. Gladius spun the wheel three times to the left, taking off from Seebadeen. The rising sun started shining on them, giving them a bad feeling. The Crusaders and Marcus began their voyage…
‘Dammit. I’ve been walking for three days straight. I had no food, besides a mere squirrel. The water from ponds is undrinkable. I can’t think. Apostles don’t consider me a real threat. Fuck… No one dares to help me, the Bearer of the Curse. As soon as they hear my name, they run away. My fate was selected at random. If only I weren’t the one chosen by them. I’d live a normal life. My family’d still be here. I have no one. The Apostles took everything from me. I took a path of no retreat. I’ll kill them, and after I’m done, I’m going to turn myself in. But where? Ah… To hell with the overthinking,” thought Nathan, walking down a busted road.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The image was blunt even for him, who had read one book twenty-two times. The man suddenly stopped his walk, noticing a poster. It was the fraction of the organisation Deck of Cards, Cartes de Pique:
‘Want to earn quick money?
You found a good spot to do just so!
Join the Cartes de Pique!
We offer a stable salary with little to no risk!
We’re looking for middlemen willing to partake in our operations.
Requirements:
- no tattoos,
- no scars,
- over sixteen years old,
- athletically built, but not bulky.
The salary starts at 500 golds per month with possible bonuses.
Dame de Pique
p.p. As de Pique.’
“Interesting. I wonder if they’d be willing to help me with the Apostles. They seem like a more organised group of mercenaries with a strict hierarchy. I have to find them. Still, it’s a good idea to find a place to stay. The clouds are grey as hell, and the wind starts to blow faster.”
He wandered to the fields, finding an empty granary. It was made out of wood with steel-laced doors. The inside was filled with cobwebs and the odd must, probably caused by fermented grains. Stokes went outside to pick up a few bunches of wheat. He cut them with the stolen sword, collecting a fine amount of them. He put them into a sack, making an improvised bed. He lay down on the grains, closing his eyes. However, the man had problems falling asleep. With the slightest move, the crops crumbled below his weight, rustling and spiking into his body. The rain started pouring down from the sky. At first, it wasn’t an issue, but then water started leaking from the ceiling. Nathan moved the construction to the other side of the barn. After thirty minutes, he was finally able to fall asleep. The man dreamt about his past, about the absurdity of his fate…
The night was quiet and peaceful, or it seemed that way. One building was filled with grand personalities. In the middle was the contemporary king of the Kingdom of Pontusia, Dara Muctun. Next to him stood the representative of dragonkind, hidden beneath a hood. The Apostle War entered through the door. The three figures were awaiting each other. The monarch took out a box with a two-hole lock. The dragon used a ruby key, and the Apostles used the sapphire one. The inside of the box was filled with a wrapped thing. The mana emissions from the artifact were strong enough to make the only human here back down to the corner. One of them was holding the item, while the other was unwrapping it. With every untangled centimetre of the special, greyish-blue ribbon, the aura grew more dominant. After a while, they completed the unwrapping.
“There it is, the Right Hand of Gaia. The one which healed gods and killed thousands of vampires,” stated War, holding the object.
The hand was pale green, releasing the divine mana. The nails were long, stolen by the previous beholders. After all, even the hair of the Olimpian God could have given you unnatural properties.
“You say that the seal is breaking, right?” the dragon asked.
“Indeed. The guards watching over it experienced convulsions, nausea, or even death. We tried searching for the one who made the previous seal, but there is literally no information about them, or even the seal itself. The parchment seems to be made out of something other than paper or animal leather. The inscriptions are also strange to us. They look nothing like the letters, runes, or any other writing system known to us. Do you have an idea of what to do about the situation?” replied Dara, sweating nervously.
“What about if we destroy it?” the Apostle suggested.
“The explosion would blow up a third of the country,” the dragon responded.
“What about if we send someone with it to the Vampire King?”
“Vampires can sense mana even better than humans. Even with the double seal, it still emits mana so strong that it can kill a man from a distance.”
“...”
The silence was loud and clear. They were having a hard time deciding on the possible solutions. After a while, the king got an idea.
“What if we bless someone with it?”
They glanced at him, astonished by the proposition.
“What do you mean by that?” The hooded figure came closer to him.
“I don’t know if it’s possible, but once the artifact is used for a blessing, a curse, or an aura, it usually disappears. The effects are only regarding the bearer—”
Thuck! The Apostle struck the table.
“What about the Aura of Gravitius?!”
“The user can manipulate the gravity around him. He compressed an entire city in one minute! It was made with his left foot! If he had an entire body, then he could have compressed a whole country. It’s phenomenal that the Marked One was near the man. He executed the guy with his obsidian daggers. If Gaia’s artifact can heal or kill one at will, then it’s a terrible timeline to exist in!”
“Have you got another idea?” The dragon put a hand over his shoulder.
“No…” He sat down on a wooden crate.
“Now, I have to find a Light sorcerer strong enough to do this.”
“I’ve got a gal who’ll do it,” the Apostle muttered.
“Okay. Now, who shall be the bearer?” The dragon scratched his neck.
“Wouldn’t a child be optimal enough for it?”
“Why not an old hag? the king proposed.
“The curse or the blessing won’t deteriorate in a few years. With such a strong artifact, we have to count at least three decades.”
“I see… I’ll take care of it, then. After all, it was I who located the object,” said Dara, leaving through the door.
“What about the hand?” the hooded figure asked.
“Wait with it. I’ll come back in an hour.”
The time flew faster than it seemed. The king returned with a baby, not older than four months. He was crying loudly because of the strong smell of rotting flesh.
“How did you find anyone willing to—”
“Confidential. I’ve got what I’ve got. How fast can the Light sorcerer come here?”
“Three days.”
“I see… I’ll wait here with the dragon. One of my servants knows about this place. He’s ordered to bring food here every day. Hurry, please.”
“Yes.”
War jumped on his horse, rushing through the streets of Pontusia. The days were long, longer than usual. Still, the time had come. A Light sorceress entered the building. She was no older than sixteen, yet the girl had a white robe. The symbol of high status, given to a narrow group of Light sorcerers in Mundusia. She had blonde, medium-length hair, and golden earrings; her eyes were as blue as the sky.
“I know the situation. I advise everyone to leave the room. It’s hard for me to control an artifact so strong.”
They didn’t protest. The figures left the sight. She placed the hand next to the baby.
“I invoke a sacred power I cannot control.”
A white light was summoned over her wooden staff with a blue gem.
“Please, o merciful Gaia, let me bless this child with yer power! Please, o merciful Gaia, let him be a bearer of yer strength!”
A small red thunderbolt flew above her head, scaring the child.
“Please! Let him bear yer power!”
Tsh! The crimson lightning bolt pierced through the child’s heart, blessing him. The Right Hand of Gaia crumbled into dust. A small stream of blood poured down his mouth. The sorceress fainted. The Apostle rushed to the site, hearing the fall. He took care of the girl while the dragon healed the child. After a while, both of them were healed.
“Did it work?” the king asked.
“I think so. The artifact is gone.”
“Alright. Thank you. I’ll send you money as soon as we leave the place.”
“Okay…”
The scenery faded into darkness…
“Argh!” shouted Marcus, waking up.
“The origin story, huh? Strangely, I can remember everything that happened there. I can remember everything while the hand was unsealed. The seal was pretty strong, after all. I’m better off leaving the place. The rain seems to have stopped a while ago,” he continued, standing up.