A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every day at noon PST by ~400 words.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Friday, May 30, 2025
Page 3866
“Soul division,” said Caster. “One becoming two. Or three. Or ten, even. Though that would be quite extreme. And then those can go off, blend and merge, twist and change. In fact, I would say it is even more likely for them to do so, once they’ve diminished the first time. They need to amass new strength. Or at least, that is my limited understanding of the rather opaque process.”
“...Did you ever go through that?”
“Me? No, of course not. I am an unchangeable monolith. Eternal.”
More bullshit.
“...Okay, fine. In truth, I do not know. Do you remember anything from before you were born?”
“I’m not sure that’s a fair comparison when you’re an ancient, reincarnating entity.”
“Perhaps.”
Hector waited.
“Or perhaps not.”
There it was. “Alright,” said Hector. “Let’s move on. You mentioned something about a monstrous wolf earlier.”
“Yes. The Eternal Hunter. As I understand, he has been dormant for many years, but as ever, he has returned. Reborn just the other day in the midst of the storm which has caused devastation around the world. That should tell you something about how dangerous he is.”
“And you think he’s coming after you?”
“Oh, I know he is.”
“What’s his problem with you, exactly?”
“Problem? As in, morally? I doubt he harbors such thoughts. He is a beast of instinct. And we simply have opposing natures. He was created for the Hunt. That is his life’s purpose; and as far as I know, none have ever swayed him from it.”
“It’s what he was created for?” said Hector. “How do you know that? And who created him?”
“We have been studying him for millennia, trying to discover a method of dealing with him permanently. In the beginning, it was just mayhem. No understanding or reasoning. Just war. Blood and death. But over time, we came to connect dots. The nature of his power, for example, has striking similarities to our own. It is quite likely, therefore, that he sources it from a similar place. Meaning his creator would also be one who is familiar to us: the God of All That is Not. The antithesis of not just us, but of existence itself.”
Damn, that was a lot to take in. Hector was trying to not get lost in the weeds here, but that name. The God of All That is Not. He recognized that one well enough.
That was another name for the Void. One of many.
“...Did you ever go through that?”
“Me? No, of course not. I am an unchangeable monolith. Eternal.”
More bullshit.
“...Okay, fine. In truth, I do not know. Do you remember anything from before you were born?”
“I’m not sure that’s a fair comparison when you’re an ancient, reincarnating entity.”
“Perhaps.”
Hector waited.
“Or perhaps not.”
There it was. “Alright,” said Hector. “Let’s move on. You mentioned something about a monstrous wolf earlier.”
“Yes. The Eternal Hunter. As I understand, he has been dormant for many years, but as ever, he has returned. Reborn just the other day in the midst of the storm which has caused devastation around the world. That should tell you something about how dangerous he is.”
“And you think he’s coming after you?”
“Oh, I know he is.”
“What’s his problem with you, exactly?”
“Problem? As in, morally? I doubt he harbors such thoughts. He is a beast of instinct. And we simply have opposing natures. He was created for the Hunt. That is his life’s purpose; and as far as I know, none have ever swayed him from it.”
“It’s what he was created for?” said Hector. “How do you know that? And who created him?”
“We have been studying him for millennia, trying to discover a method of dealing with him permanently. In the beginning, it was just mayhem. No understanding or reasoning. Just war. Blood and death. But over time, we came to connect dots. The nature of his power, for example, has striking similarities to our own. It is quite likely, therefore, that he sources it from a similar place. Meaning his creator would also be one who is familiar to us: the God of All That is Not. The antithesis of not just us, but of existence itself.”
Damn, that was a lot to take in. Hector was trying to not get lost in the weeds here, but that name. The God of All That is Not. He recognized that one well enough.
That was another name for the Void. One of many.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Page 3865
Maybe all this stuff was just what Zirat wanted people to believe.
Or maybe just some of it was. Key parts. Stuff that would be difficult to pinpoint as false. Things that would swing the overall narrative in a more favorable direction for him while still allowing for deniability.
Yeah.
That seemed likely. And as much as Hector wanted to be able to trust these new aura reading senses of his, he didn’t think they guaranteed anything, especially with this guy’s own fortress-like aura around him.
But he supposed they could move on to another pressing topic. There was only one more line of questioning that Hector was curious about before they did. “...Is Skapa still alive?”
“I don’t believe so, no.”
“You don’t sound certain.”
“When it comes to him, I never have been.”
“How did he die?”
“My peers hunted him down. It took quite a long time, as I’ve heard the story told.”
“And you don’t think he... could’ve reincarnated, like you?”
“No. But as I said, with him, I’m never sure. Perhaps he secretly stole that from us, as well.” Caster’s expression twitched. “Excuse me. Replicated.”
Hmm. “...So if servant powers come from you guys, then where do your powers come from?”
“We are simply born with them.”
That sounded like bullshit.
“Heh. You doubt me?”
Hector didn’t feel like dancing around it. “Yeah. I do.”
Caster breathed half a laugh. “Fair enough. And while I was not lying, I will admit to being somewhat... loose with terms, perhaps. A very old habit, you see. Difficult to stop doing.”
“Loose how?”
“Well, after all, what actually constitutes one of us being ‘born?’ That is a rather murky concept, even for us.”
Hector also noticed that the man was still not using the term ‘Primordial,’ either, even though he was sure that’s what was being continually referred to here. Maybe that just wasn’t how they referred to themselves. A question for later, he supposed. “You don’t know how you’re born?”
“There is no set path to godhood,” said Caster. “Our origins are as varied as we ourselves are.”
“...How many of you are there?”
“Oh, I lost track long ago. Sometimes, we lose ourselves and blend together within the bowels of Chaos, and when we reemerge--if ever we do--it is as someone new. Not just a new incarnation like me, but an entirely new being with new values and motivations. And other times, the exact opposite occurs, instead. So a number can be quite difficult, you see.”
“What do you mean by the opposite occurring?”
Or maybe just some of it was. Key parts. Stuff that would be difficult to pinpoint as false. Things that would swing the overall narrative in a more favorable direction for him while still allowing for deniability.
Yeah.
That seemed likely. And as much as Hector wanted to be able to trust these new aura reading senses of his, he didn’t think they guaranteed anything, especially with this guy’s own fortress-like aura around him.
But he supposed they could move on to another pressing topic. There was only one more line of questioning that Hector was curious about before they did. “...Is Skapa still alive?”
“I don’t believe so, no.”
“You don’t sound certain.”
“When it comes to him, I never have been.”
“How did he die?”
“My peers hunted him down. It took quite a long time, as I’ve heard the story told.”
“And you don’t think he... could’ve reincarnated, like you?”
“No. But as I said, with him, I’m never sure. Perhaps he secretly stole that from us, as well.” Caster’s expression twitched. “Excuse me. Replicated.”
Hmm. “...So if servant powers come from you guys, then where do your powers come from?”
“We are simply born with them.”
That sounded like bullshit.
“Heh. You doubt me?”
Hector didn’t feel like dancing around it. “Yeah. I do.”
Caster breathed half a laugh. “Fair enough. And while I was not lying, I will admit to being somewhat... loose with terms, perhaps. A very old habit, you see. Difficult to stop doing.”
“Loose how?”
“Well, after all, what actually constitutes one of us being ‘born?’ That is a rather murky concept, even for us.”
Hector also noticed that the man was still not using the term ‘Primordial,’ either, even though he was sure that’s what was being continually referred to here. Maybe that just wasn’t how they referred to themselves. A question for later, he supposed. “You don’t know how you’re born?”
“There is no set path to godhood,” said Caster. “Our origins are as varied as we ourselves are.”
“...How many of you are there?”
“Oh, I lost track long ago. Sometimes, we lose ourselves and blend together within the bowels of Chaos, and when we reemerge--if ever we do--it is as someone new. Not just a new incarnation like me, but an entirely new being with new values and motivations. And other times, the exact opposite occurs, instead. So a number can be quite difficult, you see.”
“What do you mean by the opposite occurring?”
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Page 3864
‘What does that mean, exactly?’ said Garovel. ‘How does it come from you?’
“It was replicated from my abilities. Stolen, others might argue, but I’ve personally never felt that way. In fact, perhaps I would even be flattered, if the results hadn’t been bungled so miserably.”
‘How was it copied from you? And by whom?’
“How, you ask? Oh my, now that is indeed a question for the Ages. I have often wondered that myself. If you ever discover the answer, please be sure to inform me. As for who was responsible, that I do know. Perhaps it will be a familiar name to you: Skapa the Deceiver. Or Skapa the Savior, if you prefer.”
Welp.
‘Holy fucking shit times two,’ said Garovel, again privately.
And at that, Hector couldn’t help taking a moment aside with the reaper. ‘Garovel, I seem to recall you telling me that all these ancient, godlike beings never actually existed.’
‘Alright. Yeah. Well. Shut the fuck up. Have you thought about that?’
And despite the tense circumstances, Hector snickered under his breath.
‘Also, I never said Skapa didn’t exist. I’ve always thought he was a real dude.’
‘Yeah, okay.’
Caster was chortling again. “Yes, of course you recognize that name. Whenever I reincarnate, I think that perhaps he has finally been forgotten, but that never seems to be the case, no matter how many times someone tries to make it so.”
That made Hector curious, but he also wanted to be careful with his words here. Plenty of memories from the Candle were bubbling up in his mind at the mere mention of Skapa’s name, but there wasn’t time for that, right now. “Do you still hold a grudge against him?” asked Hector.
“Still? Oh, I never did. Unlike many of the others, I have always remained rather fond of the man.”
Hmm. “Really? Even though he ‘bungled’ the replication process, as you put it?”
“Heh. Yes, well, we all make mistakes.”
Difficult words to trust, Hector thought.
But man, now there were so many more questions coming to mind. And this guy, oddly enough, seemed like an open book, right now. It was almost overwhelming. Hector was more accustomed to dealing with cryptic and cagey dudes like Rasalased and Malast. This felt extremely strange, by comparison.
And it gave him pause, as well. Maybe this guy was being a little too forthcoming with these ancient secrets of the world that even old reapers like Garovel didn’t know about. Why might that be?
“It was replicated from my abilities. Stolen, others might argue, but I’ve personally never felt that way. In fact, perhaps I would even be flattered, if the results hadn’t been bungled so miserably.”
‘How was it copied from you? And by whom?’
“How, you ask? Oh my, now that is indeed a question for the Ages. I have often wondered that myself. If you ever discover the answer, please be sure to inform me. As for who was responsible, that I do know. Perhaps it will be a familiar name to you: Skapa the Deceiver. Or Skapa the Savior, if you prefer.”
Welp.
‘Holy fucking shit times two,’ said Garovel, again privately.
And at that, Hector couldn’t help taking a moment aside with the reaper. ‘Garovel, I seem to recall you telling me that all these ancient, godlike beings never actually existed.’
‘Alright. Yeah. Well. Shut the fuck up. Have you thought about that?’
And despite the tense circumstances, Hector snickered under his breath.
‘Also, I never said Skapa didn’t exist. I’ve always thought he was a real dude.’
‘Yeah, okay.’
Caster was chortling again. “Yes, of course you recognize that name. Whenever I reincarnate, I think that perhaps he has finally been forgotten, but that never seems to be the case, no matter how many times someone tries to make it so.”
That made Hector curious, but he also wanted to be careful with his words here. Plenty of memories from the Candle were bubbling up in his mind at the mere mention of Skapa’s name, but there wasn’t time for that, right now. “Do you still hold a grudge against him?” asked Hector.
“Still? Oh, I never did. Unlike many of the others, I have always remained rather fond of the man.”
Hmm. “Really? Even though he ‘bungled’ the replication process, as you put it?”
“Heh. Yes, well, we all make mistakes.”
Difficult words to trust, Hector thought.
But man, now there were so many more questions coming to mind. And this guy, oddly enough, seemed like an open book, right now. It was almost overwhelming. Hector was more accustomed to dealing with cryptic and cagey dudes like Rasalased and Malast. This felt extremely strange, by comparison.
And it gave him pause, as well. Maybe this guy was being a little too forthcoming with these ancient secrets of the world that even old reapers like Garovel didn’t know about. Why might that be?
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Page 3863
‘Holy fucking shit,’ said Garovel privately, which made Hector want to ask the reaper for details, but Caster wasn’t done.
“Every new incarnation requires a unique name,” the man said. “I am thinking that mine will be Casterat, though I am still deciding. Ziraster has a nice ring to it as well, I feel. As my soul continues to unify and evolve, my mind will eventually settle on one or the other. Hopefully.”
Huh. Hector wondered if Royo would have another new name when they met again. The guy had already used the alias “Eleyo” beforehand.
Still, Caster continued. “As for the power that allowed me to take and manipulate this ship: it was a combination of my servant ability, that of so-called ‘Destruction,’ and one of my nascent abilities as an incarnation. That being, my ability to mold, store, and reform geometry.”
Geometry? Hector felt compelled to ask something now. “How does Destruction combine with that in order to accomplish what you did?”
Caster chortled. “You are thoroughly intrigued, I see. It has been quite some time since I bothered to explain these things to anyone. I’d forgotten how enjoyable it can be to provide insight to attentive listeners.”
A man after Garovel’s own heart, Hector thought.
“Perhaps Avar had a point, after all. In any case, I digress. ‘Tis a little-known thing, but Destruction, as it is commonly known, is something of an incomplete ability. Granted, such a case might be made for all servant abilities, but Destruction is of particular note here, because it was originally conceived of as a means of building networks, and yet after all this time, it has not fulfilled that role in the slightest.”
What in the hell?
“I believe this was because it was sabotaged in its inception, rendering only the first half of its capabilities usable while the rest remained unrealized.”
Hector was blinking inside his helmet, trying to process all of this information. “...You’re saying that all Destruction users are supposed to be able to do what you did to this ship?”
Caster bobbed his head. “Well... yes. Exactly so. Given enough time to grow and learn, of course.”
Garovel decided to chime in now. ‘But you believe it was sabotaged. Why do you think that?’
“Because it comes from me,” said Caster. “I should know how it is meant to be.”
“Every new incarnation requires a unique name,” the man said. “I am thinking that mine will be Casterat, though I am still deciding. Ziraster has a nice ring to it as well, I feel. As my soul continues to unify and evolve, my mind will eventually settle on one or the other. Hopefully.”
Huh. Hector wondered if Royo would have another new name when they met again. The guy had already used the alias “Eleyo” beforehand.
Still, Caster continued. “As for the power that allowed me to take and manipulate this ship: it was a combination of my servant ability, that of so-called ‘Destruction,’ and one of my nascent abilities as an incarnation. That being, my ability to mold, store, and reform geometry.”
Geometry? Hector felt compelled to ask something now. “How does Destruction combine with that in order to accomplish what you did?”
Caster chortled. “You are thoroughly intrigued, I see. It has been quite some time since I bothered to explain these things to anyone. I’d forgotten how enjoyable it can be to provide insight to attentive listeners.”
A man after Garovel’s own heart, Hector thought.
“Perhaps Avar had a point, after all. In any case, I digress. ‘Tis a little-known thing, but Destruction, as it is commonly known, is something of an incomplete ability. Granted, such a case might be made for all servant abilities, but Destruction is of particular note here, because it was originally conceived of as a means of building networks, and yet after all this time, it has not fulfilled that role in the slightest.”
What in the hell?
“I believe this was because it was sabotaged in its inception, rendering only the first half of its capabilities usable while the rest remained unrealized.”
Hector was blinking inside his helmet, trying to process all of this information. “...You’re saying that all Destruction users are supposed to be able to do what you did to this ship?”
Caster bobbed his head. “Well... yes. Exactly so. Given enough time to grow and learn, of course.”
Garovel decided to chime in now. ‘But you believe it was sabotaged. Why do you think that?’
“Because it comes from me,” said Caster. “I should know how it is meant to be.”
Monday, May 26, 2025
Page 3862
Banda Toro had done the same, although the context had obviously been quite different. This felt much more solid. Much more controlled.
It was also reminding Hector of Royo Raju, as well--or at least, it was reminding him of that brief window of time in which Royo had spoken to them after “merging” with Secho, the so-called God of Growth. In a background thought process, Hector found himself wishing that he’d spoken longer with Royo, if only so he could make a better comparison with this guy here.
There was definitely something eerily similar at play, but Hector couldn’t quite pinpoint it. With Royo, Hector’s knowledge of aura had been almost nonexistent, and the “blessing” of Domain that he’d received from Malast had only just been given.
Hmm. Royo had also offered to welcome him back into the Higher West Layer of the Undercrust, should he ever decide to go down there again. And now, after meeting this dude, maybe it was time to consider that. It might be a very useful learning opportunity. And an inevitable one, as well, if Warrenhold was ever to truly become a “hub” between the surface and the Undercrust, as its builder, Stasya Orlov, wished for it to be.
All of that was in the back of Hector’s mind, though. In the foremost part of it, he was still focused on how Caster was going to respond.
“...I did tell you that I am a new man,” said Mr. Egmond. “And it even seems as though you can tell that I am not lying about that, no?”
“New doesn’t necessarily mean better,” said Hector.
“Heh. An understandable point of concern, I suppose. I was quite the scoundrel before. If I am to be worse than that, then I would have to be truly wicked indeed.”
There was no utility in responding to that, Hector decided. His point was still lingering, and he was still waiting on Caster’s decision. Either the man would tell him about his mysterious new powers, or he wouldn’t. And Hector didn’t intend to compromise there, not unless Caster came up with something else to change his mind.
A few more moments of silence arrived, until at length, Caster exhaled heavily. “Very well. If you are going to be such a wall, then I will take the first step in building trust between us.” He glanced at Loren again before returning to Hector. “I am no longer Caster Egmond. You may continue to call me that if you wish, as will many others, I am sure, but in truth, I should take a new name, as I have merged souls with Zirat, the God of Sight, Shapes, and Stone.”
It was also reminding Hector of Royo Raju, as well--or at least, it was reminding him of that brief window of time in which Royo had spoken to them after “merging” with Secho, the so-called God of Growth. In a background thought process, Hector found himself wishing that he’d spoken longer with Royo, if only so he could make a better comparison with this guy here.
There was definitely something eerily similar at play, but Hector couldn’t quite pinpoint it. With Royo, Hector’s knowledge of aura had been almost nonexistent, and the “blessing” of Domain that he’d received from Malast had only just been given.
Hmm. Royo had also offered to welcome him back into the Higher West Layer of the Undercrust, should he ever decide to go down there again. And now, after meeting this dude, maybe it was time to consider that. It might be a very useful learning opportunity. And an inevitable one, as well, if Warrenhold was ever to truly become a “hub” between the surface and the Undercrust, as its builder, Stasya Orlov, wished for it to be.
All of that was in the back of Hector’s mind, though. In the foremost part of it, he was still focused on how Caster was going to respond.
“...I did tell you that I am a new man,” said Mr. Egmond. “And it even seems as though you can tell that I am not lying about that, no?”
“New doesn’t necessarily mean better,” said Hector.
“Heh. An understandable point of concern, I suppose. I was quite the scoundrel before. If I am to be worse than that, then I would have to be truly wicked indeed.”
There was no utility in responding to that, Hector decided. His point was still lingering, and he was still waiting on Caster’s decision. Either the man would tell him about his mysterious new powers, or he wouldn’t. And Hector didn’t intend to compromise there, not unless Caster came up with something else to change his mind.
A few more moments of silence arrived, until at length, Caster exhaled heavily. “Very well. If you are going to be such a wall, then I will take the first step in building trust between us.” He glanced at Loren again before returning to Hector. “I am no longer Caster Egmond. You may continue to call me that if you wish, as will many others, I am sure, but in truth, I should take a new name, as I have merged souls with Zirat, the God of Sight, Shapes, and Stone.”
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Page 3861
Hector didn’t know what that might mean, and he wasn’t liking the feeling that he was getting from it, either. “Why do you say that?” he decided to ask.
“Oh, because I will merely be keeping the Fellowship apprised of my actions. I do not need to seek permission.”
Hmm. That made sense. Something was still bothering him, but he couldn’t think of any justifiable way to say so. There were more pressing concerns, anyway. “Alright. Well, since it looks like we really might end up working together, I also want you to do what you mentioned earlier. Tell me about this new power of yours. How were you able to manipulate this ship the way you did?”
“Mm. Going straight for the trade secrets, huh? You ask much of me, right from the start.”
“You said you’d tell me if we became allies.”
“True. But have we? This all seems to be moving rather quickly, and despite having already offered some concessions of my own, I’ve yet to receive anything in kind. A partnership must go both ways, no? Are you willing to tell me about how your abilities function? I am certain you have some new ones of your own.”
Damn. Hard to argue with that. Hector still intended to try, though. “The reason you have to make more concessions than I do is because you have a lot of horrible things to make up for.”
“So I just have to assume that you are trustworthy? While you get to make me continually prove myself? That hardly seems fair.”
“Maybe not to you, but it absolutely is. You know what would really be unfair? A guilty person getting the same treatment as an innocent person.”
At that, Caster merely stared at him for a lingering moment. The smile on his face diminished somewhat, and Hector could sense a fluctuation in the man’s aura.
What was that? Conflict? Uncertainty?
Thus far, Caster’s aura had been a peculiar thing. From the first moment that Hector had sensed it, he could tell that it was heavily guarded. A fortress in its own right. Far more developed than maybe anyone else he’d met so far.
But he’d still been able to glean a few things. Some stuff was all but being advertised, after all. If the man’s aura was like a fortress, then those things were like banners and flags adorning it.
Such as the fact that this guy was reading his aura right back.
“Oh, because I will merely be keeping the Fellowship apprised of my actions. I do not need to seek permission.”
Hmm. That made sense. Something was still bothering him, but he couldn’t think of any justifiable way to say so. There were more pressing concerns, anyway. “Alright. Well, since it looks like we really might end up working together, I also want you to do what you mentioned earlier. Tell me about this new power of yours. How were you able to manipulate this ship the way you did?”
“Mm. Going straight for the trade secrets, huh? You ask much of me, right from the start.”
“You said you’d tell me if we became allies.”
“True. But have we? This all seems to be moving rather quickly, and despite having already offered some concessions of my own, I’ve yet to receive anything in kind. A partnership must go both ways, no? Are you willing to tell me about how your abilities function? I am certain you have some new ones of your own.”
Damn. Hard to argue with that. Hector still intended to try, though. “The reason you have to make more concessions than I do is because you have a lot of horrible things to make up for.”
“So I just have to assume that you are trustworthy? While you get to make me continually prove myself? That hardly seems fair.”
“Maybe not to you, but it absolutely is. You know what would really be unfair? A guilty person getting the same treatment as an innocent person.”
At that, Caster merely stared at him for a lingering moment. The smile on his face diminished somewhat, and Hector could sense a fluctuation in the man’s aura.
What was that? Conflict? Uncertainty?
Thus far, Caster’s aura had been a peculiar thing. From the first moment that Hector had sensed it, he could tell that it was heavily guarded. A fortress in its own right. Far more developed than maybe anyone else he’d met so far.
But he’d still been able to glean a few things. Some stuff was all but being advertised, after all. If the man’s aura was like a fortress, then those things were like banners and flags adorning it.
Such as the fact that this guy was reading his aura right back.
Friday, May 23, 2025
Page 3860
Yeah. It was sometimes easy to forget, since they were all so strong and proud, but he had a responsibility to them, too. They were his guests. They were his friends. And they’d all been through hell. The absolute last thing he wanted was to bring more problems their way.
He couldn’t be timid here. The play wasn’t to trick this guy into leaving. The play was to face him head on.
Terms. That was Caster’s question. What other terms did Hector have for him?
The biggest concern, at the moment, was this dude’s loyalty. He may have been with the Freemen Fellowship, but he was still part of Abolish. Going against Morgunov was obviously going to be an important point. So what could Hector ask for to help alleviate some of that concern?
“...I also want information on the Mad Demon,” said Hector. “Everything you know about him.”
“Ah. Everything, eh?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. But I have been in Abolish for quite a long time now. There is much to share. More than can be covered in a single conversation, certainly.”
“That’s fine. I want it all in writing, anyway.”
Caster snickered. “You want me to write a report for you? You truly are demanding.”
“And not just on Morgunov, either. Every piece of intel you can provide on any influential members of Abolish, I want.”
“Hmm. Quite greedy. Giving all of that away certainly won’t help the Fellowship’s already-strained relationship with the other sects.”
“I need proof that this alliance is the real deal. If you can’t provide genuine, actionable intel that compromises Abolish’s position, then I can’t be sure that this isn’t just some ploy.”
“Of course, of course. You want assurances. Very well. I shall begin drafting some dossiers for you. But this will take time, you understand. And I will want to consult with some other Freemen, first. Better to keep them in the loop. You are familiar with one, are you not? A Ravi Zaman?”
“I am.”
“Might you to be able to put me in touch with him?”
Hector cocked an eyebrow. “I can. But why do you need me to do that for you? Don’t you have your own channels you can go through?”
“I do, but I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him. With you as our go-between, we will immediately gain a certain... understanding of one another.”
“I don’t know how high-ranking of a member he is within the Fellowship. He might not have much influence.”
Caster’s smile seemed to morph into a knowing one. “That will not be a problem.”
He couldn’t be timid here. The play wasn’t to trick this guy into leaving. The play was to face him head on.
Terms. That was Caster’s question. What other terms did Hector have for him?
The biggest concern, at the moment, was this dude’s loyalty. He may have been with the Freemen Fellowship, but he was still part of Abolish. Going against Morgunov was obviously going to be an important point. So what could Hector ask for to help alleviate some of that concern?
“...I also want information on the Mad Demon,” said Hector. “Everything you know about him.”
“Ah. Everything, eh?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. But I have been in Abolish for quite a long time now. There is much to share. More than can be covered in a single conversation, certainly.”
“That’s fine. I want it all in writing, anyway.”
Caster snickered. “You want me to write a report for you? You truly are demanding.”
“And not just on Morgunov, either. Every piece of intel you can provide on any influential members of Abolish, I want.”
“Hmm. Quite greedy. Giving all of that away certainly won’t help the Fellowship’s already-strained relationship with the other sects.”
“I need proof that this alliance is the real deal. If you can’t provide genuine, actionable intel that compromises Abolish’s position, then I can’t be sure that this isn’t just some ploy.”
“Of course, of course. You want assurances. Very well. I shall begin drafting some dossiers for you. But this will take time, you understand. And I will want to consult with some other Freemen, first. Better to keep them in the loop. You are familiar with one, are you not? A Ravi Zaman?”
“I am.”
“Might you to be able to put me in touch with him?”
Hector cocked an eyebrow. “I can. But why do you need me to do that for you? Don’t you have your own channels you can go through?”
“I do, but I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him. With you as our go-between, we will immediately gain a certain... understanding of one another.”
“I don’t know how high-ranking of a member he is within the Fellowship. He might not have much influence.”
Caster’s smile seemed to morph into a knowing one. “That will not be a problem.”
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Page 3859
Almost being the operative word. He remembered how terrifying Caster Egmond’s power was. A destruction user who could harness pan-rozum. Frankly speaking, Hector had no idea how he would deal with that in a direct confrontation. Not to mention, it was clear that there was even more to be worried about than just that, too.
Was this guy really confident enough now to think that going against Morgunov was a viable option?
‘Touched by the divine,’ the man had said. Those words were sticking with Hector. That was certainly one way of putting it. A lofty, overly nice way, perhaps, but a way, nonetheless. Hector’s imagination was not doing him any favors with regard to what crazy shit this dude might be able to pull off now, especially when thinking about the fate of the giant cruise liner here.
Things were going to get complicated. He’d been racking his brain the whole time, across multiple thought processes while also consulting Garovel privately, trying to figure out the best way to handle this incredibly uncomfortable reunion.
There were so many questions that he’d been thinking through as quickly as he could. Should he really try to convince the Rainlords to accept this guy? Would that even be possible? Not without something very compelling to convince them.
The Sandlords were different, though. It was mainly just Hahl Saqqaf that would need convincing, and Abbas actually seemed pretty open-minded when it came to odd, otherworldly stuff. Maybe it was still a bit early to say that Caster here qualified, but there was also the fact that, unlike the Rainlords, the Sandlords other than Asad hadn’t been involved in the battle at Dunehall, so--
No, wait. That wasn’t right, was it? That whole thing had kicked off with a “mysterious” death, for which Ibai Blackburn had initially received blame.
And the person who died had been one Fuad Saqqaf.
Well, fuck.
Alright, maybe he was thinking about this in the wrong way.
First, it wasn’t a matter of convincing anyone. He could worry about that later. The more pressing issue was protecting everyone from this guy. Sure, he was clearly different from how he used to be, but different didn’t necessarily mean better.
In fact, for all Hector knew, it might actually mean worse.
Before convincing any Rainlords or Sandlords of the viability of this alliance, he still needed to convince himself.
Was this guy really confident enough now to think that going against Morgunov was a viable option?
‘Touched by the divine,’ the man had said. Those words were sticking with Hector. That was certainly one way of putting it. A lofty, overly nice way, perhaps, but a way, nonetheless. Hector’s imagination was not doing him any favors with regard to what crazy shit this dude might be able to pull off now, especially when thinking about the fate of the giant cruise liner here.
Things were going to get complicated. He’d been racking his brain the whole time, across multiple thought processes while also consulting Garovel privately, trying to figure out the best way to handle this incredibly uncomfortable reunion.
There were so many questions that he’d been thinking through as quickly as he could. Should he really try to convince the Rainlords to accept this guy? Would that even be possible? Not without something very compelling to convince them.
The Sandlords were different, though. It was mainly just Hahl Saqqaf that would need convincing, and Abbas actually seemed pretty open-minded when it came to odd, otherworldly stuff. Maybe it was still a bit early to say that Caster here qualified, but there was also the fact that, unlike the Rainlords, the Sandlords other than Asad hadn’t been involved in the battle at Dunehall, so--
No, wait. That wasn’t right, was it? That whole thing had kicked off with a “mysterious” death, for which Ibai Blackburn had initially received blame.
And the person who died had been one Fuad Saqqaf.
Well, fuck.
Alright, maybe he was thinking about this in the wrong way.
First, it wasn’t a matter of convincing anyone. He could worry about that later. The more pressing issue was protecting everyone from this guy. Sure, he was clearly different from how he used to be, but different didn’t necessarily mean better.
In fact, for all Hector knew, it might actually mean worse.
Before convincing any Rainlords or Sandlords of the viability of this alliance, he still needed to convince himself.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Page 3858
Darksteel took his time answering. Caster began to grow somewhat impatient. The more Darksteel thought about it, the more likely it seemed that he might give a favorable response, which Caster had frankly not been expecting. Could this actually work?
The anticipation made Caster’s mind wander even further afield. Two emperors had just been removed from the game. Much was up for grabs, right now. In particular, Korgum and the Nualist Republic of Dozer were going to be in an interesting position. The Korgumites, if they learned of Dozer’s death, would doubtless seek to seize on the opening to win their own ongoing war--even if that death later turned out to be false.
Hmm. Perhaps that was Dozer’s play here. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d faked his death.
And on the other side, ambitious Abolishers--such as himself--would also see this as a chance to acquire Dozer’s land and resources for themselves. Either way, that area of the continent was likely to explode soon, either metaphorically or literally.
Until now, Caster hadn’t really been considering throwing his hat into that ring. It was going to be a mad dash for power, regardless, and he hadn’t thought himself quite in a position to pursue such a dangerous prize.
But now?
If he could actually form an alliance with Darksteel and the lords of Sair?
Which wasn’t even mentioning the Freemen Fellowship. They were going to be in an even more precarious position, now that Ettol was out of the picture.
Heh. Maybe Zirat should try taking the moniker of the God of Luck. KamÃr wasn’t using it, anymore. He hadn’t reincarnated since the Third Age. Apparently, one encounter with the Beast of Ardora had been enough for him.
But no. Of course not. A fourth moniker would be playing with fire. He didn’t want to be like Xixa. He wanted to remain sane.
“...Alright,” Darksteel finally said. “That sounds agreeable to me.”
Caster’s smile returned in full, broader than ever. “Excellent. Then I find your proposal amenable. Do you have any other terms?”
-+-+-+-+-
Aw, shit. This was actually happening, wasn’t it?
Agh. When he’d first suggested they retake Sair together, Hector hadn’t really expected Caster to say yes. If anything, he’d thought it would give the guy all the more reason to leave them alone. Giving him a glimpse of the threat level that Hector and everyone else were already dealing with. That would’ve scared away most dangerous weirdoes, right?
But now, Hector almost wished this had devolved into a fight, instead.
The anticipation made Caster’s mind wander even further afield. Two emperors had just been removed from the game. Much was up for grabs, right now. In particular, Korgum and the Nualist Republic of Dozer were going to be in an interesting position. The Korgumites, if they learned of Dozer’s death, would doubtless seek to seize on the opening to win their own ongoing war--even if that death later turned out to be false.
Hmm. Perhaps that was Dozer’s play here. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d faked his death.
And on the other side, ambitious Abolishers--such as himself--would also see this as a chance to acquire Dozer’s land and resources for themselves. Either way, that area of the continent was likely to explode soon, either metaphorically or literally.
Until now, Caster hadn’t really been considering throwing his hat into that ring. It was going to be a mad dash for power, regardless, and he hadn’t thought himself quite in a position to pursue such a dangerous prize.
But now?
If he could actually form an alliance with Darksteel and the lords of Sair?
Which wasn’t even mentioning the Freemen Fellowship. They were going to be in an even more precarious position, now that Ettol was out of the picture.
Heh. Maybe Zirat should try taking the moniker of the God of Luck. KamÃr wasn’t using it, anymore. He hadn’t reincarnated since the Third Age. Apparently, one encounter with the Beast of Ardora had been enough for him.
But no. Of course not. A fourth moniker would be playing with fire. He didn’t want to be like Xixa. He wanted to remain sane.
“...Alright,” Darksteel finally said. “That sounds agreeable to me.”
Caster’s smile returned in full, broader than ever. “Excellent. Then I find your proposal amenable. Do you have any other terms?”
-+-+-+-+-
Aw, shit. This was actually happening, wasn’t it?
Agh. When he’d first suggested they retake Sair together, Hector hadn’t really expected Caster to say yes. If anything, he’d thought it would give the guy all the more reason to leave them alone. Giving him a glimpse of the threat level that Hector and everyone else were already dealing with. That would’ve scared away most dangerous weirdoes, right?
But now, Hector almost wished this had devolved into a fight, instead.
Okay, I'm just gonna make noon PST the default time for now
Maybe I'll change back to midnight eventually. Maybe I won't. I'll just try this out for a while and see how it goes. Anyway, thanks for reading, as always.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Page 3857
Caster spared another glance at Loren. His young ward. How confused the lad must have been, right now. How confused the lad must be all the time, given how little Caster had deigned to explain to him.
It wasn’t Loren that was the concern, though. It was the reaper. Rezolo.
Reapers were always difficult to trust. Their loyalties were always murky. Their true heart, always hidden. Caster was waiting for a moment when he might be able to see the truth there, such as after he reestablished contact with the Unwavering Gaze. But that could be a while, especially if the new tower’s construction ended up delayed, which was an unfortunately common occurrence with construction projects.
In the meantime, he couldn’t reasonably expect these two to keep following him while remaining in the dark indefinitely. He might need to take a gamble and start explaining more to them. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Rezolo turned traitor, after all.
Or would it? The Beast’s presence did complicate matters.
Bah.
Perhaps Darksteel could be useful for this purpose, too. If nothing else, another pair of discerning eyes might help him crack Rezolo wide open, even if Darksteel himself did not prove viable as a long-term ally.
“Would you also be willing to assist me in the construction of my network?” said Caster.
“Assist how?” said Darksteel.
“However you like. I need materials. I need to process and refine those materials. The physical labor will also be quite time-consuming. I’d even be willing to let you help with the mapping stage, if you are interested in that sort of thing.”
That last part in particular was actually quite the concession to make and risk to take, offering to bring this veritable stranger in on the project so intimately, but he suspected that hardly anyone would see it that way.
A difficult and expensive quagmire of dubious value and murky motives: that’s how most people would view this endeavor, no doubt. Not something to spend their own time, energy, and resources on.
But if Caster’s instincts were right about this fellow, then Darksteel might know better. He might see this the way Caster did. As a monumental opportunity. And if he could see that, unaided, then maybe he really was the kind of ally that Caster wanted to have on his side. Maybe this was a partnership that had real potential.
It wasn’t Loren that was the concern, though. It was the reaper. Rezolo.
Reapers were always difficult to trust. Their loyalties were always murky. Their true heart, always hidden. Caster was waiting for a moment when he might be able to see the truth there, such as after he reestablished contact with the Unwavering Gaze. But that could be a while, especially if the new tower’s construction ended up delayed, which was an unfortunately common occurrence with construction projects.
In the meantime, he couldn’t reasonably expect these two to keep following him while remaining in the dark indefinitely. He might need to take a gamble and start explaining more to them. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Rezolo turned traitor, after all.
Or would it? The Beast’s presence did complicate matters.
Bah.
Perhaps Darksteel could be useful for this purpose, too. If nothing else, another pair of discerning eyes might help him crack Rezolo wide open, even if Darksteel himself did not prove viable as a long-term ally.
“Would you also be willing to assist me in the construction of my network?” said Caster.
“Assist how?” said Darksteel.
“However you like. I need materials. I need to process and refine those materials. The physical labor will also be quite time-consuming. I’d even be willing to let you help with the mapping stage, if you are interested in that sort of thing.”
That last part in particular was actually quite the concession to make and risk to take, offering to bring this veritable stranger in on the project so intimately, but he suspected that hardly anyone would see it that way.
A difficult and expensive quagmire of dubious value and murky motives: that’s how most people would view this endeavor, no doubt. Not something to spend their own time, energy, and resources on.
But if Caster’s instincts were right about this fellow, then Darksteel might know better. He might see this the way Caster did. As a monumental opportunity. And if he could see that, unaided, then maybe he really was the kind of ally that Caster wanted to have on his side. Maybe this was a partnership that had real potential.
Monday, May 19, 2025
Page 3856
It was a new and dangerous world that they were living in. Both exciting and terrifying. Caster might have hoped that after merging with the God of Sight, among other things, he would have gained a more complete understanding of the world around him, but he had since learned repeatedly that there were always more questions to be asked.
Always things that went unseen. Things that hid. Things that deceived.
It was a struggle in its own right, trying to discern the truth from what was visible. And of course, it didn’t help that this merge was still so new. In time, of course, their powers would grow and unify, but even then, that was no guarantee of complete worldly knowledge.
“The lords of Sair,” echoed Caster flatly. “I am not seeking a deal with them. I am seeking a deal with you.”
“Unfortunately for you, they’re my allies. I won’t ally with you unless you first make peace with them.”
Not budging on that at all, eh? How uncommon. Loyalty was not typically made so obvious. Could it be bluster? An ostentatious show to conceal how fragile that relationship actually was?
Maybe. But if he was wrong and pushed harder, then the blowback would be tremendous. Any further attempt at negotiation might well prove impossible. He needed to choose his words carefully.
But he also wasn’t prepared to give ground just yet.
“If I were to help them with their reclamation,” said Caster, “then how much information should I expect from you?”
Darksteel paused. “...I know of a few different locations that might pique your interest.”
“A few, eh? That’s a bit too vague for my taste. By my recollection, a ‘few’ typically refers to any number between three and ten, though context might add some variation. And some folks even use that term for as little as two. So which is it, then? Be more specific, please.”
“...More than three.”
“Ah. Better, but still not being exact, I see. Is there a reason for that? Or are you purposely trying to annoy me?”
“Just being cautious. Maybe I tell you about a place, but when you go there, it doesn’t meet your standards. I don’t want to overpromise.”
“Heh. That is fair, I suppose. So that means you’re certain of at least three locations, then?”
“I’d say so, yeah.”
Interesting. Were three new locations worth all that trouble at such an early stage of this incarnation? Almost certainly not. But if that trouble was going to find him, anyway? Perhaps he should take what he could get.
Hmm.
Always things that went unseen. Things that hid. Things that deceived.
It was a struggle in its own right, trying to discern the truth from what was visible. And of course, it didn’t help that this merge was still so new. In time, of course, their powers would grow and unify, but even then, that was no guarantee of complete worldly knowledge.
“The lords of Sair,” echoed Caster flatly. “I am not seeking a deal with them. I am seeking a deal with you.”
“Unfortunately for you, they’re my allies. I won’t ally with you unless you first make peace with them.”
Not budging on that at all, eh? How uncommon. Loyalty was not typically made so obvious. Could it be bluster? An ostentatious show to conceal how fragile that relationship actually was?
Maybe. But if he was wrong and pushed harder, then the blowback would be tremendous. Any further attempt at negotiation might well prove impossible. He needed to choose his words carefully.
But he also wasn’t prepared to give ground just yet.
“If I were to help them with their reclamation,” said Caster, “then how much information should I expect from you?”
Darksteel paused. “...I know of a few different locations that might pique your interest.”
“A few, eh? That’s a bit too vague for my taste. By my recollection, a ‘few’ typically refers to any number between three and ten, though context might add some variation. And some folks even use that term for as little as two. So which is it, then? Be more specific, please.”
“...More than three.”
“Ah. Better, but still not being exact, I see. Is there a reason for that? Or are you purposely trying to annoy me?”
“Just being cautious. Maybe I tell you about a place, but when you go there, it doesn’t meet your standards. I don’t want to overpromise.”
“Heh. That is fair, I suppose. So that means you’re certain of at least three locations, then?”
“I’d say so, yeah.”
Interesting. Were three new locations worth all that trouble at such an early stage of this incarnation? Almost certainly not. But if that trouble was going to find him, anyway? Perhaps he should take what he could get.
Hmm.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Page 3855
“I don’t know if the information I’m asking for is worth risking a fight against Morgunov,” said Caster.
“Nothing less than that will convince the lords of Sair that you are not their enemy,” said Darksteel.
Driving a hard bargain, as expected. Caster had to consciously avoid frowning.
But of course, there was a good chance that such a fight with Morgunov was inevitable, regardless. Caster wasn’t yet sure if he genuinely believed that himself, but Ettol certainly had.
Unfortunately, even now, it was difficult to gauge how that line of thinking had worked out for the pompous bastard. He’d wanted a fight with the Mad Demon, and he’d gotten it alright. So was his fate his own fault? Or had this actually been inevitable, just like he’d said? Was Morgunov always going to come for them, sooner or later?
Without more details about how everything had unfolded, Caster was still undecided.
One thing was clear, though: the Beast of Ardora was now free. The Prime Hunt, therefore, was back on--and worse than ever, seemingly, if both Sai-hee and Dozer had been laid low by it.
That was another part that Caster didn’t know if he believed yet. Zirat clearly did, but in this case, it was Caster Egmond who was the one with personal memories and experiences to pull from. The Peacemaker and the Living Void had been unflappable fixtures on the world stage for hundreds of years. The idea that they had both been killed was almost unfathomable to him.
Surely not. Surely, they were just gravely wounded and having trouble recovering. Or running some kind of scheme, perhaps. Politicking, as usual. To what end, though? To draw out Sermung? Where was the Crystal Titan during all of this, anyway?
And even stranger still, Zirat had no idea who that was. How could that be possible when he seemed to know about so many other big figures in the world? How could the biggest have escaped his notice?
So many things were not adding up. They needed to meet with their contemporaries and exchange intel, but that, too, was a major risk. The more of them that gathered, the easier it would be for the Beast to find them. At least this Darksteel fellow didn’t appear to be an incarnation. That shouldn’t attract the Beast’s attention.
Theoretically, anyway.
Perhaps the old rules no longer applied. The Beast had clearly changed in some significant way.
“Nothing less than that will convince the lords of Sair that you are not their enemy,” said Darksteel.
Driving a hard bargain, as expected. Caster had to consciously avoid frowning.
But of course, there was a good chance that such a fight with Morgunov was inevitable, regardless. Caster wasn’t yet sure if he genuinely believed that himself, but Ettol certainly had.
Unfortunately, even now, it was difficult to gauge how that line of thinking had worked out for the pompous bastard. He’d wanted a fight with the Mad Demon, and he’d gotten it alright. So was his fate his own fault? Or had this actually been inevitable, just like he’d said? Was Morgunov always going to come for them, sooner or later?
Without more details about how everything had unfolded, Caster was still undecided.
One thing was clear, though: the Beast of Ardora was now free. The Prime Hunt, therefore, was back on--and worse than ever, seemingly, if both Sai-hee and Dozer had been laid low by it.
That was another part that Caster didn’t know if he believed yet. Zirat clearly did, but in this case, it was Caster Egmond who was the one with personal memories and experiences to pull from. The Peacemaker and the Living Void had been unflappable fixtures on the world stage for hundreds of years. The idea that they had both been killed was almost unfathomable to him.
Surely not. Surely, they were just gravely wounded and having trouble recovering. Or running some kind of scheme, perhaps. Politicking, as usual. To what end, though? To draw out Sermung? Where was the Crystal Titan during all of this, anyway?
And even stranger still, Zirat had no idea who that was. How could that be possible when he seemed to know about so many other big figures in the world? How could the biggest have escaped his notice?
So many things were not adding up. They needed to meet with their contemporaries and exchange intel, but that, too, was a major risk. The more of them that gathered, the easier it would be for the Beast to find them. At least this Darksteel fellow didn’t appear to be an incarnation. That shouldn’t attract the Beast’s attention.
Theoretically, anyway.
Perhaps the old rules no longer applied. The Beast had clearly changed in some significant way.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Page 3854 -- CCXII.
Chapter Three Hundred Twelve: ‘The Gatekeeper and the Knight...’
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Caster Egmond laughed heartily. When was the last time he’d heard something so bold as that? Such a brazen thing to ask. Made with no apparent reluctance or modesty.
It seemed Caster had been correct in his assessment of this man, which just made him feel all the more delighted. One who would not be easy to push around or manipulate. One who knew how to make demands and take decisive action.
Such an ally might be difficult to deal with, certainly. Difficult to get everything Caster wanted out of. Perhaps even impossible, if that fearsome and mysterious aura was anything to go by.
But in matters such as these, a true ally had to have such qualities. Caster knew it. Zirat’s memories told him so. Ancient instincts. Learned over the course of several difficult incarnations.
Above all, an ally needed to exhibit competence and toughness. Not just strength but resilience, too. Zirat had seen plenty of individuals with incredible power at their fingertips, power that should have theoretically rendered them all but untouchable to their foes.
And how had they ended up? Too often, all that power amounted to nothing, as they became putty in the hands of others. Sometimes, those hands belonged to “enemies,” like Karugetti or Skapa. But just as frequently, those hands belonged to “allies” like Makirë or Ettol.
Manipulators were on all sides. An ally who could not guard themselves against such forces was no ally at all. Just another piece to be moved. A tool to be used.
Of course, it was still far too early to be making any truly definitive judgments in that regard, but so far, Caster was pleased by what he was seeing here.
That didn’t mean things were going to go smoothly, though. Far from it, in fact. That was the whole point.
When his laughter finally settled, Caster leveled a heavy stare at his conversational opponent. The smile diminished from his expression, though he did not allow it to leave entirely. “Bloodeye is one thing. But making war against Morgunov is an entirely different matter.”
“Trust is a hard thing to come by,” said Darksteel. “And you’re asking for a lot of it.”
“Am I? I’m asking for a bit of information regarding land. Nothing more.”
“Downplaying your intentions isn’t going to help your case. Nor will lying, if that’s your next move.”
“My ‘case,’ is it? Have I stumbled into a trial, all of a sudden?”
Darksteel bobbed his head. “No. But you haven’t stumbled into a birthday party, either.”
Click to display entire chapter at once -- (mobile link)
Caster Egmond laughed heartily. When was the last time he’d heard something so bold as that? Such a brazen thing to ask. Made with no apparent reluctance or modesty.
It seemed Caster had been correct in his assessment of this man, which just made him feel all the more delighted. One who would not be easy to push around or manipulate. One who knew how to make demands and take decisive action.
Such an ally might be difficult to deal with, certainly. Difficult to get everything Caster wanted out of. Perhaps even impossible, if that fearsome and mysterious aura was anything to go by.
But in matters such as these, a true ally had to have such qualities. Caster knew it. Zirat’s memories told him so. Ancient instincts. Learned over the course of several difficult incarnations.
Above all, an ally needed to exhibit competence and toughness. Not just strength but resilience, too. Zirat had seen plenty of individuals with incredible power at their fingertips, power that should have theoretically rendered them all but untouchable to their foes.
And how had they ended up? Too often, all that power amounted to nothing, as they became putty in the hands of others. Sometimes, those hands belonged to “enemies,” like Karugetti or Skapa. But just as frequently, those hands belonged to “allies” like Makirë or Ettol.
Manipulators were on all sides. An ally who could not guard themselves against such forces was no ally at all. Just another piece to be moved. A tool to be used.
Of course, it was still far too early to be making any truly definitive judgments in that regard, but so far, Caster was pleased by what he was seeing here.
That didn’t mean things were going to go smoothly, though. Far from it, in fact. That was the whole point.
When his laughter finally settled, Caster leveled a heavy stare at his conversational opponent. The smile diminished from his expression, though he did not allow it to leave entirely. “Bloodeye is one thing. But making war against Morgunov is an entirely different matter.”
“Trust is a hard thing to come by,” said Darksteel. “And you’re asking for a lot of it.”
“Am I? I’m asking for a bit of information regarding land. Nothing more.”
“Downplaying your intentions isn’t going to help your case. Nor will lying, if that’s your next move.”
“My ‘case,’ is it? Have I stumbled into a trial, all of a sudden?”
Darksteel bobbed his head. “No. But you haven’t stumbled into a birthday party, either.”
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Page 3853
“That is a sensitive matter,” said Caster, sparing a glance in Loren’s direction before settling back on Hector, “but I suppose in the interest of building trust between us, I can share it with you. I only ask that you do not go spreading it around.”
Hector merely waited.
“I seek to construct a grand network for travel,” said Caster. “A profound and powerful new method, spanning the entire continent. And even beyond it, one day. The entire world, perhaps. Though, admittedly, that is but a far-off dream, still.”
“What ‘new method’ of travel are you talking about?”
“It is rather complicated to explain. And perhaps a bit tedious. But it involves a vast array of nodes connecting to at least one centralized tower wherein the fabric of space can be stretched and folded.”
Loren had to blink a few times as he processed all of that.
And perhaps Hector was doing the same within that helmet of his, because he was taking a moment to respond. He did eventually get around to it, though. “...You’re talking about teleportation.”
“Functionally speaking, yes, it would work as such.”
“That’s... quite the ambitious plan,” said Hector.
“Indeed. Lesser ones are not worth our time. Would you not agree?”
“I’m sure many people would find such a project very appealing and want to help you pull it off. So why the secrecy? Why not tell everyone and recruit as much aid as possible?”
Caster chuckled. “You may be right. But you also may be wrong. And seeking help from untrustworthy sources is an invitation to sabotage. Ultimately, I do not require aid, so even if it might speed things along, I do not think it worth the risk.”
“And yet you’re asking me for aid, right now.”
“I am. Because you seem a trustworthy source. Am I making a mistake?”
“No. But you’re asking a lot of me for nothing in exchange.”
“Ah. Heh. Well, I was hoping that the kindness of your heart might be motivating enough.”
“I’m afraid not. You attacked my allies, remember? Pissed off some people that I’ve since come to care about quite a lot.”
“I can only apologize. I am a new man now with a new view of the world.”
“That’s nice to hear. But I also feel like you can do a lot more than just apologize.”
“Oh? Like what?”
“...Well, among other things, I suspect you could help my friends retake their ancestral homeland from Bloodeye and the Mad Demon.”
Loren’s eyes just about popped out of his head.
Hector merely waited.
“I seek to construct a grand network for travel,” said Caster. “A profound and powerful new method, spanning the entire continent. And even beyond it, one day. The entire world, perhaps. Though, admittedly, that is but a far-off dream, still.”
“What ‘new method’ of travel are you talking about?”
“It is rather complicated to explain. And perhaps a bit tedious. But it involves a vast array of nodes connecting to at least one centralized tower wherein the fabric of space can be stretched and folded.”
Loren had to blink a few times as he processed all of that.
And perhaps Hector was doing the same within that helmet of his, because he was taking a moment to respond. He did eventually get around to it, though. “...You’re talking about teleportation.”
“Functionally speaking, yes, it would work as such.”
“That’s... quite the ambitious plan,” said Hector.
“Indeed. Lesser ones are not worth our time. Would you not agree?”
“I’m sure many people would find such a project very appealing and want to help you pull it off. So why the secrecy? Why not tell everyone and recruit as much aid as possible?”
Caster chuckled. “You may be right. But you also may be wrong. And seeking help from untrustworthy sources is an invitation to sabotage. Ultimately, I do not require aid, so even if it might speed things along, I do not think it worth the risk.”
“And yet you’re asking me for aid, right now.”
“I am. Because you seem a trustworthy source. Am I making a mistake?”
“No. But you’re asking a lot of me for nothing in exchange.”
“Ah. Heh. Well, I was hoping that the kindness of your heart might be motivating enough.”
“I’m afraid not. You attacked my allies, remember? Pissed off some people that I’ve since come to care about quite a lot.”
“I can only apologize. I am a new man now with a new view of the world.”
“That’s nice to hear. But I also feel like you can do a lot more than just apologize.”
“Oh? Like what?”
“...Well, among other things, I suspect you could help my friends retake their ancestral homeland from Bloodeye and the Mad Demon.”
Loren’s eyes just about popped out of his head.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Page 3852
Loren again felt like there was more subtext there that he was missing. And Hector wasn’t giving him anything more to work with, either. The man was sticking with the silent treatment.
Caster moved on. “I will be frank,” he said. “I am looking for information. I want to know if you have visited any fertile lands, recently.”
“Fertile lands?”
“You know of what I speak, surely? Land that is particularly... ripe. With memory. With Significance.”
Wow, Loren actually understood what was being talked about now. Partially. This was, supposedly, why he and Caster had been traveling the continent, after all. They were searching for places that Caster could “commune” with, whatever that meant.
And even though the Marauder had not explained much more beyond that, Loren had at least been able to connect a few of those dots on his own. Back before their journey began, when the two of them first met in that club full of Freemen, Caster mentioned wanting to build a “tower.”
At first, Loren had thought that perhaps Caster had just been trying to find the perfect construction site, according to some arcane, unknowable criteria. But over time, after having visited so many different places and witnessed Caster “communing” over a dozen times, he’d instead come to believe that there was more to it than that.
Because surely, they must have visited at least one viable location by now, right? So maybe it wasn’t just about finding the right spot. Maybe Caster actually wanted to find lots and lots of them.
And then, of course, there was this cruise ship. Caster had sheared off some of its body and then disappeared. That hadn’t been the first time Caster had done something like that, either. Loren had seen him shear off many things before, seemingly at random. A building, a truck, a big tree, a giant boulder, and more.
But despite his best efforts, Loren had yet to see any commonality between them all. His only thought was that perhaps Caster had been gathering materials for the construction of his tower, even if that didn’t make much logical sense to him.
Maybe logic simply didn’t factor into it, though.
Agh.
“...What do you intend to do with such land?” said Hector.
Holy shit, he just came right out and asked immediately. Loren had obviously tried that before, and it hadn’t worked out, but maybe this strange fellow would have better luck? Loren was trying not to look too eager as he listened closely to his boss’ next words.
Caster moved on. “I will be frank,” he said. “I am looking for information. I want to know if you have visited any fertile lands, recently.”
“Fertile lands?”
“You know of what I speak, surely? Land that is particularly... ripe. With memory. With Significance.”
Wow, Loren actually understood what was being talked about now. Partially. This was, supposedly, why he and Caster had been traveling the continent, after all. They were searching for places that Caster could “commune” with, whatever that meant.
And even though the Marauder had not explained much more beyond that, Loren had at least been able to connect a few of those dots on his own. Back before their journey began, when the two of them first met in that club full of Freemen, Caster mentioned wanting to build a “tower.”
At first, Loren had thought that perhaps Caster had just been trying to find the perfect construction site, according to some arcane, unknowable criteria. But over time, after having visited so many different places and witnessed Caster “communing” over a dozen times, he’d instead come to believe that there was more to it than that.
Because surely, they must have visited at least one viable location by now, right? So maybe it wasn’t just about finding the right spot. Maybe Caster actually wanted to find lots and lots of them.
And then, of course, there was this cruise ship. Caster had sheared off some of its body and then disappeared. That hadn’t been the first time Caster had done something like that, either. Loren had seen him shear off many things before, seemingly at random. A building, a truck, a big tree, a giant boulder, and more.
But despite his best efforts, Loren had yet to see any commonality between them all. His only thought was that perhaps Caster had been gathering materials for the construction of his tower, even if that didn’t make much logical sense to him.
Maybe logic simply didn’t factor into it, though.
Agh.
“...What do you intend to do with such land?” said Hector.
Holy shit, he just came right out and asked immediately. Loren had obviously tried that before, and it hadn’t worked out, but maybe this strange fellow would have better luck? Loren was trying not to look too eager as he listened closely to his boss’ next words.
Monday, May 12, 2025
Page 3851
Loren couldn’t help feeling like a child, all of a sudden. A child listening to a conversation between adults who didn’t want him to comprehend everything that they were saying.
That couldn’t be the case, though. Hector must’ve had his own reasons for being so silent, not just because he was concerned about what Loren might think.
“We could continue this dance for days, I imagine,” said Caster. “But there is a far more pressing matter which we should discuss. A warning I should provide, in case you are not already aware. The world has just become a more dangerous place for people like us.”
“People like us?” said Hector.
“Those touched by the divine.”
And Caster left him an opening to respond again, but Hector elected to remain quiet.
Caster resumed. “The great storm in the Luthic Ocean that has shaken all of Eleg--that was no mere natural disaster. It was a turning point. A deciding moment of this Age. From it, a terror has been born and now roams the world freely. Do you know of what I speak?”
Still, Hector said nothing.
“A ravenous monster in the form of a wolf,” said Caster. “It is hunting us with a ferocity that is entirely unmatched in this modern era. Even the so-called ‘emperors’ of this realm have been falling to it.”
Okay, now Loren was really lost. A wolf in the ocean? What? Was this some kind of metaphor?
“Perhaps you will think my warning mad,” Caster went on, “but in time, it will become clearer. I am sure more news will break of the terror’s exploits, though it may again be muddied by the fog of war and the simple disbelief of common people. This is a problem so foreign to the general imagination, so unfathomable to the normal mind, that an average person could look upon it with their own two eyes and still not see it for what it is.”
Was Loren one of those average people? It didn’t seem like he was supposed to qualify, but he sure felt like he did, right now.
“...You want something from me,” said Hector.
“I want your friendship,” said Caster. “If there is any hope of surviving this ordeal, it will be together. Alone, we stand little chance.”
“...No, that’s too vague. You want something more specific than that.”
It was Caster’s turn to pause. Then he gave a curt laugh. “You have a discerning eye. Perhaps even a piercing one, hmm?”
That couldn’t be the case, though. Hector must’ve had his own reasons for being so silent, not just because he was concerned about what Loren might think.
“We could continue this dance for days, I imagine,” said Caster. “But there is a far more pressing matter which we should discuss. A warning I should provide, in case you are not already aware. The world has just become a more dangerous place for people like us.”
“People like us?” said Hector.
“Those touched by the divine.”
And Caster left him an opening to respond again, but Hector elected to remain quiet.
Caster resumed. “The great storm in the Luthic Ocean that has shaken all of Eleg--that was no mere natural disaster. It was a turning point. A deciding moment of this Age. From it, a terror has been born and now roams the world freely. Do you know of what I speak?”
Still, Hector said nothing.
“A ravenous monster in the form of a wolf,” said Caster. “It is hunting us with a ferocity that is entirely unmatched in this modern era. Even the so-called ‘emperors’ of this realm have been falling to it.”
Okay, now Loren was really lost. A wolf in the ocean? What? Was this some kind of metaphor?
“Perhaps you will think my warning mad,” Caster went on, “but in time, it will become clearer. I am sure more news will break of the terror’s exploits, though it may again be muddied by the fog of war and the simple disbelief of common people. This is a problem so foreign to the general imagination, so unfathomable to the normal mind, that an average person could look upon it with their own two eyes and still not see it for what it is.”
Was Loren one of those average people? It didn’t seem like he was supposed to qualify, but he sure felt like he did, right now.
“...You want something from me,” said Hector.
“I want your friendship,” said Caster. “If there is any hope of surviving this ordeal, it will be together. Alone, we stand little chance.”
“...No, that’s too vague. You want something more specific than that.”
It was Caster’s turn to pause. Then he gave a curt laugh. “You have a discerning eye. Perhaps even a piercing one, hmm?”
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Friday, May 9, 2025
Page 3850
Abruptly, Caster puffed his chest out and shouted. “Lord Darksteel of Warrenhold! I come in peace! Please, let us speak! There is much I would say to you!”
And they waited.
Loren watched as Hector slowly descended toward them, though the armored man never actually touched down and instead remained hovering in the air.
Caster was the one to break the silence again. “Do you recognize me?”
“Caster Egmond,” said Hector. “The Marauder of Calthos.”
“We crossed paths at Dunehall, as I recall,” said Caster.
“We did.” Hector descended a bit further. “But that’s not the entire story, now is it? Caster Egmond is who you were, but is that still you? You’re different now. I can tell.”
Oh, Void. Loren tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Aha. I have undergone some changes, yes. As have you, it would seem.”
Hector made no response.
“I know we were on opposite sides during that conflict, but we need not be so now,” said Caster. “Now that I am with the Fellowship, my obligations to Abolish are significantly altered. And yes, it is also true that I have had certain changes in... matters of the heart. In fact, forgive me if I am being too bold, but I feel that I may now have more of a kinship with you than with all my previous comrades in Abolish.”
What in the world? Where the hell was all this coming from? Loren didn’t understand.
Hector took his time. “...This cruise ship,” he said. “You’re the one who intervened the other day.”
“I am. Apologies for not announcing myself then. The situation was rather chaotic. It didn’t feel like the appropriate time. We both had our hands full.”
“What did you do with the passengers?”
“Did my man not tell you? They were taken in for medical care. Sadly, not all survived the ordeal, and many were injured.”
Why was Hector asking about that again, Loren wondered? Ah. Double-checking their story, maybe? Trying to see if Loren and Rezolo had lied to him.
“How did you make the ship disappear like that? That’s not like any kind of power I saw from you back at Dunehall.”
“Heh. Of course you are curious about that. And if we become allies, then perhaps I will tell you more. But until then, I’m afraid that information shall remain with me alone.”
“...And what exactly was it that caused this ‘change of heart’ of yours?”
“Perhaps that, too, would be best left unsaid. After all, you already know the answer, don’t you? Or at least have some idea, yes?”
And again, Hector made no response.
And they waited.
Loren watched as Hector slowly descended toward them, though the armored man never actually touched down and instead remained hovering in the air.
Caster was the one to break the silence again. “Do you recognize me?”
“Caster Egmond,” said Hector. “The Marauder of Calthos.”
“We crossed paths at Dunehall, as I recall,” said Caster.
“We did.” Hector descended a bit further. “But that’s not the entire story, now is it? Caster Egmond is who you were, but is that still you? You’re different now. I can tell.”
Oh, Void. Loren tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Aha. I have undergone some changes, yes. As have you, it would seem.”
Hector made no response.
“I know we were on opposite sides during that conflict, but we need not be so now,” said Caster. “Now that I am with the Fellowship, my obligations to Abolish are significantly altered. And yes, it is also true that I have had certain changes in... matters of the heart. In fact, forgive me if I am being too bold, but I feel that I may now have more of a kinship with you than with all my previous comrades in Abolish.”
What in the world? Where the hell was all this coming from? Loren didn’t understand.
Hector took his time. “...This cruise ship,” he said. “You’re the one who intervened the other day.”
“I am. Apologies for not announcing myself then. The situation was rather chaotic. It didn’t feel like the appropriate time. We both had our hands full.”
“What did you do with the passengers?”
“Did my man not tell you? They were taken in for medical care. Sadly, not all survived the ordeal, and many were injured.”
Why was Hector asking about that again, Loren wondered? Ah. Double-checking their story, maybe? Trying to see if Loren and Rezolo had lied to him.
“How did you make the ship disappear like that? That’s not like any kind of power I saw from you back at Dunehall.”
“Heh. Of course you are curious about that. And if we become allies, then perhaps I will tell you more. But until then, I’m afraid that information shall remain with me alone.”
“...And what exactly was it that caused this ‘change of heart’ of yours?”
“Perhaps that, too, would be best left unsaid. After all, you already know the answer, don’t you? Or at least have some idea, yes?”
And again, Hector made no response.
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Thursday, May 8, 2025
Page 3849
“Someone showed up,” said Loren. “A guy named Hector. Doesn’t seem hostile, but I also can’t get a good read on him, either.”
“Aha,” said Caster with a smile. He had a tendency to look quite pleased with himself at all times, but at the moment, Loren couldn’t help thinking that he seemed even more so than usual. “So he returned, after all. I was hoping he would.”
“You know him?”
“A bit. We met for the first time recently, in fact, though it was only in passing. But since that short time ago, he’s been making quite a name for himself, especially among the Abolish higher-ups.”
“He’s with Abolish? His reaper said he wasn’t.”
“Oh, no, no,” said Caster with a chortle. “He’s been making a name for himself as one of our great enemies.”
Oh.
Uh-oh.
“His reaper must be recognizing my soul signature by now,” said Caster. “I wonder if they will attack.”
The tension that Loren felt earlier was back and somehow worse than ever, despite Caster’s presence.
“It seems they’re mulling it over,” said Caster. “A good sign, perhaps. They’re not blinded by rage, at least.”
“Why would they be blinded by rage?”
Caster ignored the question. “You’ve heard about Ivan being captured, yes? That was this man’s doing.”
“What? I heard that was the Sunsmith.”
“It was both of them.”
Fuck.
“We thought his involvement might’ve just been a fluke, at first. Then we heard about him slaying the Man of Crows, and most recently, Banda Toro.”
Double fuck.
“Did you tell him we were with the Freemen Fellowship?” said Caster.
“Y-yes.”
“Good. Maybe that’ll help smooth things over. Assuming Zaman hasn’t cocked up our relationship, already.”
“They mentioned a Zaman. You know him, too?”
“Never met him.”
“What? But then how do you--?”
Caster looked up at him with a side eye, as if to say that there was no point in asking that next question.
Loren held his tongue. Of course. Despite the fact that they’d been traveling around the continent nonstop, Caster always seemed to know much more than he should have. The man didn’t have a phone, either, so it wasn’t like he was researching things online in his free time.
That was just another mysterious thing that made this little man so frightening. It was impossible to tell how much he knew about anything--even things he shouldn’t conceivably know about at all.
“Aha,” said Caster with a smile. He had a tendency to look quite pleased with himself at all times, but at the moment, Loren couldn’t help thinking that he seemed even more so than usual. “So he returned, after all. I was hoping he would.”
“You know him?”
“A bit. We met for the first time recently, in fact, though it was only in passing. But since that short time ago, he’s been making quite a name for himself, especially among the Abolish higher-ups.”
“He’s with Abolish? His reaper said he wasn’t.”
“Oh, no, no,” said Caster with a chortle. “He’s been making a name for himself as one of our great enemies.”
Oh.
Uh-oh.
“His reaper must be recognizing my soul signature by now,” said Caster. “I wonder if they will attack.”
The tension that Loren felt earlier was back and somehow worse than ever, despite Caster’s presence.
“It seems they’re mulling it over,” said Caster. “A good sign, perhaps. They’re not blinded by rage, at least.”
“Why would they be blinded by rage?”
Caster ignored the question. “You’ve heard about Ivan being captured, yes? That was this man’s doing.”
“What? I heard that was the Sunsmith.”
“It was both of them.”
Fuck.
“We thought his involvement might’ve just been a fluke, at first. Then we heard about him slaying the Man of Crows, and most recently, Banda Toro.”
Double fuck.
“Did you tell him we were with the Freemen Fellowship?” said Caster.
“Y-yes.”
“Good. Maybe that’ll help smooth things over. Assuming Zaman hasn’t cocked up our relationship, already.”
“They mentioned a Zaman. You know him, too?”
“Never met him.”
“What? But then how do you--?”
Caster looked up at him with a side eye, as if to say that there was no point in asking that next question.
Loren held his tongue. Of course. Despite the fact that they’d been traveling around the continent nonstop, Caster always seemed to know much more than he should have. The man didn’t have a phone, either, so it wasn’t like he was researching things online in his free time.
That was just another mysterious thing that made this little man so frightening. It was impossible to tell how much he knew about anything--even things he shouldn’t conceivably know about at all.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Page 3848
‘Tell you what: how about you give us your phone number, and then we’ll give you a call once we run it by the boss later? In the meantime, you can head over to Gargrand and see the surviving passengers for yourselves.’
‘An interesting offer. But that’s an awfully long trip and quite a bit of hassle to go through when we’re already right here. I don’t see why your boss should have any problem with us going through the wreckage a bit, especially if he didn’t give you any specific orders to keep people out.’
Hector was moving closer again, and it seemed like Rezolo was struggling to come up with another counterpoint.
Loren felt compelled to interject privately. ‘I think we just let them have a look,’ he told the reaper.
‘Caster didn’t leave us here to watch over the ship for no reason,’ said Rezolo.
‘Sure, but as long as it’s still here when he gets back, it’s probably fine, right? Unless these two try to steal the wreckage somehow, I don’t think it’s worth risking a fight.’ Loren watched as Hector left the ground again and flew overhead, presumably to go inspect the ship from above.
‘...They make me uneasy,’ said Rezolo, still with the echo of privacy. ‘What do your senses tell you about them?’
Loren finally stepped out of the ship’s shadow in order to get another look at Hector over the ship. ‘Nothing normal. It’s not like it is with Caster, but your intuition is definitely correct. There’s something off about them. We shouldn’t fight unless we have no other choice.’
‘It’s times like this when I wish Caster would carry a damn phone,’ said Rezolo.
Loren could only agree. He’d have to broach the subject again later, though he doubted it would do much good.
The strangers’ investigation into the wreckage continued for a while, while Loren and Rezolo merely observed in silence. Loren didn’t expect them to find anything odd or problematic, but the more things drew out, the more uncertain he began to feel.
This sure would’ve been a nice time for Caster to show up out of nowhere, like he often did.
“What do we have here?” came the familiar voice from behind him.
And this time, Loren did not jump, having both been hoping for and even expecting it to happen. When he turned and saw Caster standing there, he very nearly smiled with relief.
‘An interesting offer. But that’s an awfully long trip and quite a bit of hassle to go through when we’re already right here. I don’t see why your boss should have any problem with us going through the wreckage a bit, especially if he didn’t give you any specific orders to keep people out.’
Hector was moving closer again, and it seemed like Rezolo was struggling to come up with another counterpoint.
Loren felt compelled to interject privately. ‘I think we just let them have a look,’ he told the reaper.
‘Caster didn’t leave us here to watch over the ship for no reason,’ said Rezolo.
‘Sure, but as long as it’s still here when he gets back, it’s probably fine, right? Unless these two try to steal the wreckage somehow, I don’t think it’s worth risking a fight.’ Loren watched as Hector left the ground again and flew overhead, presumably to go inspect the ship from above.
‘...They make me uneasy,’ said Rezolo, still with the echo of privacy. ‘What do your senses tell you about them?’
Loren finally stepped out of the ship’s shadow in order to get another look at Hector over the ship. ‘Nothing normal. It’s not like it is with Caster, but your intuition is definitely correct. There’s something off about them. We shouldn’t fight unless we have no other choice.’
‘It’s times like this when I wish Caster would carry a damn phone,’ said Rezolo.
Loren could only agree. He’d have to broach the subject again later, though he doubted it would do much good.
The strangers’ investigation into the wreckage continued for a while, while Loren and Rezolo merely observed in silence. Loren didn’t expect them to find anything odd or problematic, but the more things drew out, the more uncertain he began to feel.
This sure would’ve been a nice time for Caster to show up out of nowhere, like he often did.
“What do we have here?” came the familiar voice from behind him.
And this time, Loren did not jump, having both been hoping for and even expecting it to happen. When he turned and saw Caster standing there, he very nearly smiled with relief.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Page 3847
Hector was stepping a bit closer now, Loren noticed. Using the nattering reapers as a distraction, perhaps? To do what, exactly?
Probably nothing, honestly. But Loren still intended to keep a close eye on this armored oddity. A fully armored medieval knight that had descended from the sky was the not the type of person you just stopped paying attention to.
‘Do you think your boss will be difficult to find on our own?’ said Garovel.
‘Oh, I don’t know. Tough to say.’
‘So he’s not the type to make a big splash and draw attention to himself then, huh?’
‘Well, he’s had his moments. I truly cannot predict him at all.’
‘Might it then be in our best interest to simply wait here with you until he shows up?’
Rezolo hesitated on that one.
Damn. Loren wanted to help, but he wasn’t sure how.
‘...It could be quite a while,’ said Rezolo. ‘Days, perhaps.’
‘He’ll leave you out here by yourselves for days?’ said Garovel. ‘And without any idea of why you’re watching over this ship?’
‘It is what it is,’ said Rezolo. ‘Our role is not to question why.’
Loren wondered if the other reaper was actually buying that. He had a feeling not.
‘Well,’ said Garovel, ‘alright, then. Sucks to be you, I guess. Can you at least tell us where the passengers of the ship were taken?’
That information, Loren saw no reason not to part with, and indeed, Rezolo arrived at the same conclusion.
‘Westrock Hospital and Medical Center in Gargrand,’ said Rezolo.
‘Gargrand, eh?’ said Garovel. ‘Pretty far from here.’
‘What hospitals remain all along the coast are already at capacity or over it,’ said Rezolo. ‘Better to take them to a big city further inland.’
‘Wise. Bit inconvenient for you, though? Carrying so many people all that way? Ship’s pretty big. How many were aboard?’
‘We didn’t stop to do a headcount.’
‘Fair enough, but I’d have to imagine that a ship that size would’ve had at least a couple thousand people on it. That’s quite a lot to move and take care of, even for someone very powerful. Impressive work, I must say.’
‘That’s our boss. Eccentric but impressive.’
‘Do you mind if we take a closer look at the ship?’
‘Ooh, I don’t know about that,’ said Rezolo. ‘On that point our orders are a little murkier.’
‘Sounds like wiggle room to me. We promise not to touch anything.’
Probably nothing, honestly. But Loren still intended to keep a close eye on this armored oddity. A fully armored medieval knight that had descended from the sky was the not the type of person you just stopped paying attention to.
‘Do you think your boss will be difficult to find on our own?’ said Garovel.
‘Oh, I don’t know. Tough to say.’
‘So he’s not the type to make a big splash and draw attention to himself then, huh?’
‘Well, he’s had his moments. I truly cannot predict him at all.’
‘Might it then be in our best interest to simply wait here with you until he shows up?’
Rezolo hesitated on that one.
Damn. Loren wanted to help, but he wasn’t sure how.
‘...It could be quite a while,’ said Rezolo. ‘Days, perhaps.’
‘He’ll leave you out here by yourselves for days?’ said Garovel. ‘And without any idea of why you’re watching over this ship?’
‘It is what it is,’ said Rezolo. ‘Our role is not to question why.’
Loren wondered if the other reaper was actually buying that. He had a feeling not.
‘Well,’ said Garovel, ‘alright, then. Sucks to be you, I guess. Can you at least tell us where the passengers of the ship were taken?’
That information, Loren saw no reason not to part with, and indeed, Rezolo arrived at the same conclusion.
‘Westrock Hospital and Medical Center in Gargrand,’ said Rezolo.
‘Gargrand, eh?’ said Garovel. ‘Pretty far from here.’
‘What hospitals remain all along the coast are already at capacity or over it,’ said Rezolo. ‘Better to take them to a big city further inland.’
‘Wise. Bit inconvenient for you, though? Carrying so many people all that way? Ship’s pretty big. How many were aboard?’
‘We didn’t stop to do a headcount.’
‘Fair enough, but I’d have to imagine that a ship that size would’ve had at least a couple thousand people on it. That’s quite a lot to move and take care of, even for someone very powerful. Impressive work, I must say.’
‘That’s our boss. Eccentric but impressive.’
‘Do you mind if we take a closer look at the ship?’
‘Ooh, I don’t know about that,’ said Rezolo. ‘On that point our orders are a little murkier.’
‘Sounds like wiggle room to me. We promise not to touch anything.’
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Okay, I lied; Need a bit mor time. Next page on the 6th.
Sorry for the confusion. And thanks for reading, as always.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Page 3846
‘Who is this boss of yours?’ said Garovel.
Loren’s jaw clenched.
‘I’d love to tell you,’ said Rezolo, ‘but I don’t think he would appreciate us giving his name out to strangers.’
Phew.
‘How mysterious,’ said Garovel. ‘So why are the two of you hanging out by this shipwreck while your boss isn’t around?’
‘Orders are orders.’
‘He ordered you to wait here by yourselves?’
‘Indeed.’
‘Do you know why?’
‘We’ve given up on asking for clarification on his reasoning.’
‘Sounds like a tough gig, being left out of the loop so much.’
‘We’ve had worse.’
‘Heh. Everything is a matter of perspective, I suppose. The reason I said it sounded tough is because I’ve had a few jobs like that, myself. And I slowly grew to despise them.’
‘Well, here’s hoping things turn out differently for us, then. Like we said, we’re still rather new to this type of work.’
‘Ah. Just trying to keep your heads down, eh?’
‘Something like that.’
‘In that case, joining the Freemen Fellowship seems like an odd decision. From everything I’ve heard about your group, you guys have a habit of ruffling feathers everywhere you go--or at least, as far as the other sects of Abolish are concerned, that is.’
‘There is truth in your words. But as low-level grunts, we don’t get to be the ones doing the ruffling. That’s the privilege of our superiors.’
‘Mm. Hence the aforementioned ‘mysterious boss.’’
‘Perhaps you will think I am merely being evasive, but there truly is not much we can tell you.’
‘Sounds like if we want to know more, we’ll need to speak with your boss, then.’
‘Perhaps so, yes.’
‘In which case, I suppose you’ll have to tell us his name, after all. So we can go and talk to him.’
Loren tensed again, though not as much this time. He’d begun to see Rezolo’s game here. The reaper could probably tell that these two were dangerous, as well, and was doing his best to not give them a reason to attack while also not giving away any vital intel. Better to lean into their roles as know-nothing subordinates, especially considering how much truth already existed there. All the easier to exaggerate with.
‘Another fair point,’ said Rezolo. ‘But alas, we do have our protocols to abide by. I’m afraid we can’t share that information, no matter how much sense it might make to do so.’
‘Pity.’
Loren’s jaw clenched.
‘I’d love to tell you,’ said Rezolo, ‘but I don’t think he would appreciate us giving his name out to strangers.’
Phew.
‘How mysterious,’ said Garovel. ‘So why are the two of you hanging out by this shipwreck while your boss isn’t around?’
‘Orders are orders.’
‘He ordered you to wait here by yourselves?’
‘Indeed.’
‘Do you know why?’
‘We’ve given up on asking for clarification on his reasoning.’
‘Sounds like a tough gig, being left out of the loop so much.’
‘We’ve had worse.’
‘Heh. Everything is a matter of perspective, I suppose. The reason I said it sounded tough is because I’ve had a few jobs like that, myself. And I slowly grew to despise them.’
‘Well, here’s hoping things turn out differently for us, then. Like we said, we’re still rather new to this type of work.’
‘Ah. Just trying to keep your heads down, eh?’
‘Something like that.’
‘In that case, joining the Freemen Fellowship seems like an odd decision. From everything I’ve heard about your group, you guys have a habit of ruffling feathers everywhere you go--or at least, as far as the other sects of Abolish are concerned, that is.’
‘There is truth in your words. But as low-level grunts, we don’t get to be the ones doing the ruffling. That’s the privilege of our superiors.’
‘Mm. Hence the aforementioned ‘mysterious boss.’’
‘Perhaps you will think I am merely being evasive, but there truly is not much we can tell you.’
‘Sounds like if we want to know more, we’ll need to speak with your boss, then.’
‘Perhaps so, yes.’
‘In which case, I suppose you’ll have to tell us his name, after all. So we can go and talk to him.’
Loren tensed again, though not as much this time. He’d begun to see Rezolo’s game here. The reaper could probably tell that these two were dangerous, as well, and was doing his best to not give them a reason to attack while also not giving away any vital intel. Better to lean into their roles as know-nothing subordinates, especially considering how much truth already existed there. All the easier to exaggerate with.
‘Another fair point,’ said Rezolo. ‘But alas, we do have our protocols to abide by. I’m afraid we can’t share that information, no matter how much sense it might make to do so.’
‘Pity.’
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Page 3845
If there was one thing Loren Lighteyes had grown accustomed to during his time in Abolish, it was not relying on his superiors to provide a steady, guiding hand for him in life. Sure, it would’ve been nice if Caster was different in that regard, but oh well. Loren couldn’t be terribly surprised.
Here and now, though, in front of this stranger, Loren was mostly just worried about what new madness might be about to befall them. Even if this fellow turned out to be friendly, how would Caster see it? Loren had the feeling that the man was always watching, somehow. Even if he was not immediately present, he could show up at any moment and turn things upside down.
The break in the conversation drew out even longer, which did nothing for the mounting sense of tension and awkwardness in the air, but Loren had no intention of doing anything about it. He was completely fine with remaining silent.
To his surprise, however, Rezolo was the one who spoke up next from behind Loren’s shoulder. ‘Are you with the Vanguard?’ the reaper asked.
‘No,’ said the other reaper. ‘And before you ask, we’re not with Abolish, either. How about you?’
Oof. Loren really didn’t want to answer that. Why had Rezolo even broached the subject in the first place? That was uncharacteristically bold of him. And sloppy, too, potentially.
Perhaps the reaper was thinking the same, because he paused before continuing. ‘We are with the Freeman Fellowship. Are you familiar with it?’
‘As it so happens, yes. We have another acquaintance from your group. Ravi Zaman.’
‘Oh. I’m afraid we’re still rather new members, so that name means little to us.’
‘That so? Perhaps you can give us yours, instead. Mine is Garovel, by the way.’
‘Rezolo. A pleasure to meet you.’
‘Likewise. What brings you all the way out here?’
‘A very good question. I’m afraid only our boss would be able to answer that. And even we haven’t been able to get it out of him, so I doubt you’ll have much luck.’
‘I see. Do you know why part of the ship has been sheared off?’
‘That was also the work of our boss. We’re not sure why he did that, either. He and his reaper are quite the strange pair.’
Loren couldn’t help feeling tense about how forthcoming Rezolo was being. Technically, the reaper wasn’t actually telling them very much, but still. It was making him uncomfortable.
Here and now, though, in front of this stranger, Loren was mostly just worried about what new madness might be about to befall them. Even if this fellow turned out to be friendly, how would Caster see it? Loren had the feeling that the man was always watching, somehow. Even if he was not immediately present, he could show up at any moment and turn things upside down.
The break in the conversation drew out even longer, which did nothing for the mounting sense of tension and awkwardness in the air, but Loren had no intention of doing anything about it. He was completely fine with remaining silent.
To his surprise, however, Rezolo was the one who spoke up next from behind Loren’s shoulder. ‘Are you with the Vanguard?’ the reaper asked.
‘No,’ said the other reaper. ‘And before you ask, we’re not with Abolish, either. How about you?’
Oof. Loren really didn’t want to answer that. Why had Rezolo even broached the subject in the first place? That was uncharacteristically bold of him. And sloppy, too, potentially.
Perhaps the reaper was thinking the same, because he paused before continuing. ‘We are with the Freeman Fellowship. Are you familiar with it?’
‘As it so happens, yes. We have another acquaintance from your group. Ravi Zaman.’
‘Oh. I’m afraid we’re still rather new members, so that name means little to us.’
‘That so? Perhaps you can give us yours, instead. Mine is Garovel, by the way.’
‘Rezolo. A pleasure to meet you.’
‘Likewise. What brings you all the way out here?’
‘A very good question. I’m afraid only our boss would be able to answer that. And even we haven’t been able to get it out of him, so I doubt you’ll have much luck.’
‘I see. Do you know why part of the ship has been sheared off?’
‘That was also the work of our boss. We’re not sure why he did that, either. He and his reaper are quite the strange pair.’
Loren couldn’t help feeling tense about how forthcoming Rezolo was being. Technically, the reaper wasn’t actually telling them very much, but still. It was making him uncomfortable.
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