Everyone is looking for someone else

Solanthus’s downtown – Heroes’ Park
Late night

Sitting on the marble of the recently renovated marble fountain, Eldemar Valenstar observed the crystalline waters starting to freeze in the icy grasp of the winter’s night. For a while, he remained still, then he shrugged.

«Will this chase go on for… how long?»

The question pierced the night and for a rather long time nothing happened. Then, a shadow stepped out of other shadows. The slender woman walked slowly until she stopped some meters away from the blonde Archangel. Turning, Eldemar Valenstar observed her elven traits, the violet of her eyes almost shimmering under the silvery moonbeams. Her beauty was striking… but the aura of mystery and dangerousness enveloping her was almost more intriguing that beauty itself.

«Who are you, my Lady? Why have you been following me for so long?»

«it seems the rumors about Archangels’ training is well deserved, after all» she replied, her tone distant and gelid.

«You’ve been wandering all around our HQ… no chance you could have remained unnoticed for too long, Lad y Assassin. We’ve been observing you for a while, trying to understand whom you were looking for»

«And despite that, you’ve come here… alone. No companion guarding your back… nothing of nothing. Were you my target, you could well be dead, now» she whispered, her eyes scrutinizing the man in front of her, looking for a possible reaction of fear. Or at least the stiffening of someone preparing for battle. Neither of them came.

«I am your target. But you’re not here to kill, Lady Assassin. That’s why I’m here. I suspected you would have felt more… at your ease, with less ears eavesdropping. But now, please… who are you?»

For a moment, only a gentle breeze answered his question, but then the elven woman grinned.

«I am Kodachi»

Drakkengaard – Secured areas around Imperia
Imperia’s International – What’s left of it, at least – In the meanwhile

As the shuttle finally received the tower’s clearance for a quick take-off, Lorenzo Khazardi glanced outside, leaning against the back of the comfy seat trying to finally find a bit of rest. Despite the impressively high level of magic in the country, the whole Drakkengaardi could have hardly considered the expected gain-gain operation they had planned.

The Pit itself was lost. Structures, men, equipments and opportunities alike. The Chantry, together with whatever the Pit was hiding, was buried under countless tons of the hardest basalt ever seen in the world. The goal of taming the demon had miserably failed and the creature itself had had to be annihilated, which had won Khazardi an amused smile coming from that cursed Rachel Penteleimon.

The Guild of Pyromancers was rather annoyed for the loss of so many prominent elements… for what they considered a nothing. Right now, they were basically retiring to their headquarters on the sun’s surface and a titanic diplomatic effort would have been needed to re-involve them in future operations.

As if this wasn’t enough… Drakkengaard was a mess. The surge of magic had simply come with unexpected quickness and even their best Acolytes had failed in trying to discipline it. Something had been captured, sure… but it had been like intercepting a raging river with a couple of buckets. You definitely get some water, but you cannot fail to note you’ve basically wasted a good 99.99% of it. Moreover, it hadn’t just been wasted. It had become an undisciplined fury unleashed against Drakkengaard.

They had hoped for a magic surge… and they had to fight hard for their very lives, the country being ravaged by lightning storms, unforeseeable Urthquakes… and then, the creatures. Come out of the darkest nightmares, their swarming had made Lower Malev coming out as the funfair. For days and days the Uranium Guards had fought block after block trying to secure at least the most important bits of the country… and then, with their Packilvanian allies going back into inactivity once again, they had finally had to do what they surely wouldn’t have ever thought to. They had called for EPTO’s help. And even more ironically, it had been the Rezielans the first ones answering the call… they, which were probably the most heated sustainers of a policy of ‘Either with the Pax or with EPTO’, strongly vouching for Drakkengaard being kicked out of the Organization.

Right now, the situation was getting far calmer… but the damages were evident. ‘Civilian’ victims, if the term could make sense in a country like that, could be counted in the range of thousands. The army and the air force had basically lost a good quarter of their effectiveness, with the navy being the one force having been ‘spared’ by the internal conflict. And their beloved Prince, that foolish Apprentice… he was still missing. Which wasn’t such a good thing, for the Khazardi-Drakkengaard relations. Which was, in the very end, the ultimate reason for the recent meeting in Imperia.

Meeting… bah. He had been basically put under examination, his planning and his guide being questioned and doubted. His leadership… examined by filthy humans which not so many months before had crawled till his door, requesting… no: begging him to be their teacher. To share his House’s knowledge about magic, to… and now, everything was going to garbage just because of the disappearance of a hot-headed Prince or another. Missing.

Missing.

Everyone seemed to be missing. Black Valentine had vanished from the very face of earth. And then… Kantar. He was having headaches just thinking at him. The dark knight had been such a delusion. For years, Khazardi had hoped the knight would have been the key to a new knowledge… but in the end, he now had to admit the whole thing had been an utter failure. The knight had taken from him far more than vice-versa… and Khazardi hated being the one with the littlest gain, whichever the business.

Above all considering… Kodachi. She had left, too. Looking for the knight, undoubtedly. He should have known. He should have expected. He should have done something to avoid it. Left. She couldn’t left. She was… his. His. She was a pawn. A… property. She couldn’t left.

But she had.

Solanthus’s downtown – Heroes’ Park
Late night

«Ko… that Kodachi?»

«How many elven women do you happen to be looking for, Archangel?» her reply came as sharp as the two blades at her sides and Eldemar couldn’t do anything else but nodding silently as he observed her walking slowly towards the fountain and then leaning against its polished marbles, her left hand skimming gently the icy surface of the waters while her violet eyes remained steadily and hypnotically chained with his sapphires.

«You remind me of someone, Archangel» at that, he was finally able to break the enchantment, focusing back his own attention.

«Someone… who?»

«I do not know. I hoped you could have told me. That’s why I’m here. Answers»

«Answers… about what? Honestly, it’s me the one who has come to Kandarin looking for…» interjected Eldemar, frowning slightly because of the puzzlement.

«Ladies should come first, shouldn’t them?» grinned Kodachi. At that, he couldn’t avoid chuckling back.

«It seems you’re rather familiar with our traditions, as if…» suddenly, he told himself he was being a fool. No need for any ‘as if’. The woman had spent a lot of time with one of them… the woman knew Kantar Uth Mackan. The woman… she had been there, when Ki’jo and the fallen knight… then, he started understanding bit more «You… I’ve heard your name. Kantar’s mind was focused on it while… focused on it. Which is the link, between the two of you?»

«I’m not here to talk about the Uth Mackan… not yet»

In the dark and lightless depths all around the Kandarinese capital, the ability to detect the most discrete noise could make the difference between life and death. The very fact that Kodachi, first assassin of the Damis house, was still alive after countless years in those obscure alleys… well, it was the best proof she had developed a good ability for said detections. And that was why she caught the approaching steps far before Eldemar.

Discretely, she prepared for a possible battle, her hands moving right over the hilts of her daggers… only to stop when a slender white-dressed silhouette emerged from the shadows of the nearest trees. Even if the furry hood of her anorak was hiding the most part of the woman’s head, Kodachi couldn’t miss the red flash of her hair… and she had the needed confirmation when Eldemar finally noted the approaching woman and spoke.

«Lady… Lady De Varel, this is definitely a surprise»

«Not as big as finding an Archangel meeting a dark elf at deep night» she replied dryly, stopping a number of steps away, her gaze searchingly observing the elven Assassin.

«Why are you here, woman?» asked Kodachi, who didn’t abandon her battle stance. Somehow, she knew the other woman could have been a danger.

«I could reciprocate the question, elf. But… I am here because I’ve sensed the presence of Kantar Uth Mackan»

For a moment, both Eldemar and Kodachi remained still. Then, the Assassin smiled devilishly.

«It seems you Iremians are obsessed by your fallen knight. Who, rather obviously, is not here, Lady De Varel» smirked Kodachi, interrogatively raising an eyebrow as the Observer reciprocated the devilish smile.

«Yes… I can see it. And indeed, I understand it wasn’t him, the one whose presence I was sensing. It’s… the nemorah at your side» she replied, grinning as Kodachi’s frowning went even deeper «And considering you seem not to be understanding what the hell I’m talking about… well, the situation has just become even more interesting»

Feeling fooled around, Kodachi stiffened, her hand closing on the dagger’s hilt. Immediately, Eldemar moved between the two women, hoping to avoid a confrontation whose outcome was more than obvious.

«Lady Kodachi, please. I’m sure Lady De Varel didn’t mean anything offensive» he interjected before turning towards the white-dressed Observer «And please, Lady De Varel. There’s no need to be… well, I mean: Lady Kodachi is probably rather unfamiliar with the discussed topic. And I have to admit I myself am rather surprised by your reference. It’s… it’s not a term we hear on a daily basis»

Nodding, Marika went to sit over the cold marble of the fountain, her nostrils inspiring the icy cold air of the winter night while her eyes remained focused over the still sheathed dagger. Eldemar was right. It was uncommon. And the fact she didn’t know… it was inexplicable. An utter waste of powers… which was definitely out of Kantar’s strings. Something unclear was going on, and somehow the elven woman was the key to understand it.

«Lady Kodachi… Lord Valenstar is right. My reference was… out of place. Nemorah is probably an unknown word for you… and it only makes sense. But… what if I tell you… nimurrai?»

Suddenly, Kodachi frowned. Telessa. The ancient language of the underground elves. And now that the red-haired woman was pointing at it… nemorah and nimurrai. The pronunciation was rather different, but… the possible link was there. Nimurrai.

«Love token» she whispered.

Solanthus’s downtown – Marika De Varel’s apartments
Very late in the night… or very early in the morning

«Your right to your own privacy is unquestionable, Lady Kodachi»

Glancing at the blonde Archangel, the elven assassin puffed, a crooked smile appearing on her face. It wasn’t a matter of privacy. It was just a matter of… nonsense. Kantar Uth Mackan had had his own reasons to give her the dagger… the nemorah… the nimurrai. But love wasn’t a part of the equation. It wasn’t. It just… couldn’t be. Couldn’t.

«Eldemar… Lord Valenstar, please. You’re missing the preliminary point. Whichever reason Kantar had… the whole thing of creating a nemorah without even explaining to Lady Kodachi its functioning is… nonsense. Really. One doesn’t…» Marika De Varel looked for the best possible words. As she had already noted, the elven woman was rather irritable… and despite her denial, her internal turmoil wasn’t of help at all. Feelings were boiling inside her. Too many… too conflicting between each other. Despite her fanatical training, she seemed to lack the very basis of a disciplined mental training. But after all, her battleground were the dark alleys of the underground city of Malev. She was a killer. Probably, the very existence of similar feelings were a real surprise to herself.

«Mind going on, mage?» Kodachi’s voice came sharp and cold as a blade, bringing Marika back to reality. Sharp and cold… and full of the Kandarinese scorn for ‘foreign’ magic users.

«Forgive me, Lady Kodachi. I do not know how to better say it. One just doesn’t create such a complex and powerful artifact with the intention of handing it with no explanation. It’s…»

«It’s exactly what has happened. Kantar didn’t even tell me it was magical»

«Well… ‘magical’ is reductive. That’s… that’s a symbol of Kantar’s tie with… the Mother. Earth, to make things simple. Kantar… he’s an ancient being, whose origins are rooted deep in the very heart of the planet. That dagger…»

«What does it do, Lady De Varel?» interjected Eldemar Valenstar.

«It… it really does nothing»

«Wonderful. Typical of Kantar’s» grinned Kodachi.

«No… wait. It doesn’t do anything. But it says a whole world of things. Basically… it says all around that you… you belong to Kantar»

«What?!?»

Outside time and space… but in a very hot place

The flaming embrace was all around him. Light and darkness. Heat and pressure. And then… the distant lullaby. He was feeling comfortable. Energy was flowing inside him… inside. Outside. Inward. Outward. As if he was being… or was it ‘they were’? One or hundreds. Singularity seemed so… purposeless.

The flaming embrace was all around him. Ancient memories seemed to focus, as the powers were coming to replenish… him? Them? Everything was so blurred. Peace and oblivion seemed so near, but despite that… something had to be done. Still. Again. The perception of time was warped, if time had any meaning at all. The depths were calling and their call was so… seductive. Things could have been forgotten. It would have been so easy.

But somehow… the awareness was there. It simply wasn’t the time. Yet. Still. The energies were coming. Overwhelming. Resistance was futile. But then… something was preventing him to sink. Something was anchoring him to… somewhere else. Another time. Another space. Him… and another. So near, but so distant. A presence. Familiar. A cousin. A twin. He really couldn’t say. The flaming embrace was all around him. It simply wasn’t the time. Yet. Still.

Solanthus’s downtown – Marika De Varel’s apartments
Definitely very early in the morning

«Older than Malev, than elves… basically, older than anything else but an handful of gods and the planet itself» grinned Kodachi, her eyes shimmering with irony as she observed the white-dressed red-haired woman «You know, De Varel… one could just dismiss this whole thing as a good-night tale»

Frowning, the Observer seemed on the point to answer when the elven Assassin waived her right hand as to dismiss as completely irrelevant any possible comment of hers.

«Could, De Varel… I’m not saying I will. After all… yes, your good-night tale seems to have some points. For example, it will explain why Lorenzo Khazardi has brought Kantar to Malev. And I have to admit that Kantar’s link with the rocks is… undeniable to be euphemistic. Accepting he’s some kind of demonic dark paladin fighting for the soul of the planet could be…»

«I’ve not said…»

«Irrelevant, De Varel. You have my point. Whatever you’ve tried to say he is… it will be difficult to accept. I’m a Malevian dark elf. I will not look at this dark knight of yours as the initial source of everything my civilization represents. We’ve not come out of the dark caves as a weak and half-primitive uncivilized population. We…»

«No, sure» smirked Marika «You’ve been generated from the essence of magic, technologically and culturally advanced ten thousands years ago just as you’re right now. You do not evolve. You do not learn from experience… and from nobody. You’re the powerful…»

«Enough, De Varel. Your points are clear. Honest, I do not care about who’s come first. One hundred years ago, one thousand, one hundred thousands… who cares. What I really care about is one thing only: Kantar’s whereabouts. Where is he?»

For a moment, the white-dressed Observer remained silent, her glance moving on the Archangel who had remained still and silent during the whole conversation between the two women. Moving on him, as if she was hoping for an help she knew he wouldn’t have been able to give.

«I have no idea» she admitted in the end.

«Which brings us to the next question…» interjected the elven Assassin, her violet eyes flaming with irritation.

«…how do we find him, and hopefully them?» concluded the Archangel.

The Northern Grand Duchy - Solanthus
Five days later - The Observers’ Library

Annoyed, Kodachi slammed the old book, coughing slightly when the old pages puffed a soft cloud of dust on her face, as if the book was complaining for that rude handling.

«Aside eating a ton of Iremian dust, have we managed to get something useful, round here?» she asked, raising her violet eyes on the red-haired woman and the blonde Rezielan Archangel sitting at her same oak table. When none of them spoke, she grinned.

«I had imagined. We have two options, here. Either this Brotherhood of the Observers of yours is a bunch of complete idiots, unable to collect anything useful in centuries of observing… or they’re just hiding us everything»

«Hiding? I’m and Observer myself!» protested Marika De Varel «Why should they…»

«Because the two of us… we aren’t, Marika» interjected Eldemar Valenstar, his tone soft and gentle as usual «And… just think about it. Not only we’re not Observers, but we are…» he begun, looking for a kind way to word his thoughts.

«…the enemy» finished the dark elf, a diabolic grin on her face «A… which is the name? Shadow Noble, methink. Yes. A Shadow Noble and a dark elf. Definitely not their best idea of trustworthy people. Why should they disclose anything useful to us?»

«My mission… they…»

«Oh sure, red one. What should have they told you? You’ve gone to them saying you were trying to locate your vanished god and your arch-fiend Kantar. Had they a single chance to deny their… blessing? After all… wasn’t this exactly your Brotherhood’s purpose?»

«Which is your point? What are you trying to imply, elf?!?» Marika’s irritation was palpable. Everything was so frustrating. They were having no improvements. Their effort seemed purposeless. They were… in a dead end. And now, Kodachi’s assumptions…

«My point, human?» smiled the elven Assassin, putting all of her despise in the last word «My point is we’re wasting our time. My point is your Brotherhood has no cursed reason to give us any possible help. Kantar was a menace. He is a menace. The longer he remains hidden in the deepest hell, the better. If, incidentally, your precious Lord of Thunder has gone too… that’s not a problem of theirs. Nothing of anyone’s business, as long as they’re concerned. Things are fine just as they are and…»

«So what? What should we do, in your enlightened opinion? This was the one place on earth where we could have found information. If this doesn’t work, we’re screwed. Understood? The one place!» cried Marika.

«No. There’s another one»

As the two women turned towards him, Eldemar noted curiosity shimmering in Kodachi’s eyes… and fear in Marika’s emeralds.

15000 kms North of The East Pacific - Irem, Capital City of the Ziganian Confederation
Twelve days after - inside the perimeter of the former Imperial Palace

As she observed the blonde Archangel, Kodachi frowned slightly. It was utter nonsense. She could easily understand they were inside what had once been the man’s homeland… but his expression showed such a… relief. Yes. As if each single day which had passed since his leaving had been a physical pain. And that was what she couldn’t…

«We were just… over there. It was night. The moon-rays making and their silver gaze. It could have been a romantic picture, hadn’t it been for the Protector’s words. I have to go. Four words, and our world had vanished. Everything we had trusted in… gone. Suddenly, we had to face problems we had never thought about. Mixed loyalties. We, the almighty Archangels, the champions of the Empire… we that had always known the right thing to do… we didn’t anymore. Elistar… he was going to abandon his place. What… what were we expected to do? Our loyalty… our oath… we had sworn to protect the Ruby throne. But then… he was Dragonhunter. He was our leader. And what had happened… we changed our oath, after that»

«And finally we were there, under the walls of Zigan. We triumphed, but we learnt the shame of blind obedience» nodded Marika De Varel, meeting Eldemar’s nodding back.

«Yes… blind obedience. Our hands were stained with the blood of so many. But again, obedience was part of our own self. In the very end, had Elistar ordered us to go with him, things would have been far easier. But he wasn’t ordering anything. He was just…»

«Respecting your free will, Eldemar»

«Yes… that’s sure. But at the time, we didn’t… I didn’t feel ready. I really didn’t know what to do. I was…»

«In the end, you’ve followed him, didn’t you?» interjected Kodachi.

«Y… yes. Me, my brother, Ileana… even Storm. Probably, that was what pushed the most part of us towards the final choice. Lachdanan Uth Reiser, Storm… the Prince was going to abandon his own father. His own throne… to follow the Protector. That had to mean something»

«Did it?» asked the elf «And if it did… why that I’m back home shimmer in your eyes, Archangel?»

«Because I am back home, Lady Kodachi. Despite everything else… this is where we all belong. This is our root. This is where we’ve come from»

«And this is where we’ve now come back» finished Marika De Varel, her eyes moving over the ancient marble temple in the distance.

Outside time and space… but in a very hot place

When a sound seemed to thunder over the roar of the flames, he felt his own consciousness focusing back. There was something… calling him back. He could feel the ancient familiarity with the immediate surroundings, but their call was so… ancient. Old. Ancestral. This new call… it was far nearer. Far younger. But strong and rooted anyhow. It was a call he couldn’t ignore. It was… him. Beloved between… but then, another one was so near. The link was of different kind… wasn’t it?

The turmoil inside his own self was… yes, he had to go. His presence was needed. His brethrens needed… were they, his brethrens? Or perhaps… that place. That presence. That command. It simply wasn’t the time. Yet. Still.