Konrad once again found himself in that strange dream, but this time it was different it was more real. The stench of blood and decay was so pungent it made him want to puke, a cold shiver ran down his spine as he noticed the man staring at him seemingly moving closer after every dream. His black hair flowed in the wind, blood dripping from the falchion in his hand. His wounds were visible through tears in his leather armor, wounds no man could ever survive yet he remained standing.
"Son of Icarus. Son of Haedval rise from your slumber" the strange man stated his voice barely a whisper in the wind yet Konrad could hear it so clearly.
Konrad woke with a headache so fierce it would make a grown man cry. As his eyes adjusted to the light of the campfire he wiped the sleep from his eyes as he sat upright a flash of pain hitting him as he did. "Easy boy you expended a lot of mana with your last stunt you're going to feel the withdrawals for the rest of the day," Bellaris says as he sits across from Konrad on the other side of the fire. "Wha..what happened?" Konrad asks his memory vague. Suddenly he jolts to his feet as he remembers the creature that was hunting him a wave of pain hitting him from his sudden movement. "The monster. what happened to the monster?" Konrad says as a lump forms in his throat. "It's dead the real question is why it was chasing you what happened?" Bellaris says in his ever-calm voice.
"I was out collecting firewood when I started hearing this whisper. I ignored it at first, but then it started getting louder. It led me to an ancient clearing. At its center stood a twisted oak, where that creature appeared and said I had to pay for my transgressions." Konrad says, his hair standing on end as he remembers what happened. What was that thing?" Konrad asks. It was a dryad, an old one at that," Bellaris says with a solemn expression.
"I thought dryads lived in the central lands what's it doing this far north?" Konrad asks unsure of himself. "Nothing good that's for sure now go back to sleep we have a long day ahead of us," Bellaris says as he makes his way to his bag a sturdy bag made of hard leather with 2 straps securing its contents inside. He takes out a small metallic ball covered in engravings before heading out to the forest.
(Bellaris POV)
As he heads deeper into the forest he stops at a fallen tree deeming it to be far enough he injects mana into one of the runes. As the mana flows through the orb it starts to glow albeit dimly. "Report Colonel Bellaris." A voice states from the orb. "Im returning to the Capital I found another candidate for project Evolution a dual element of metal and lightning but earlier tonight we ran into a cursed dryad in the forest near the village of Holmstead," Bellaris says in a clear voice. "A draug that far north peculiar indeed for now return to the capital as soon as possible and keep an eye out for any other oddities things have been strange of late." The voice states before the line gets cut no more words are needed.
"Strange oh so strange," Bellaris says as he releases the breath he hadn't realized he was holding in.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The next morning they cleared the camp and set off to continue on their journey. Konrad's legs were already chaffed from the countless hours of riding his tailbone sore and his feet numb from the lack of blood flow. "We should arrive at Holmstead by noon Severus will meet us there," Bellaris says after hours of silence his mood sour from last night's mood.
"Yes sir" Konrad responds half heartedly his thoughts occupied by the words of the man in his dream. "Who is Icarus or Haedval?" Konrad finally asks the question that's been bothering him since last night. "Where did you hear the names of the fallen gods boy?" Bellaris says a seriousness in his tone that Konrad has never heard before. "I heard it in a dream" Konrad responds truthfully. Bellaris gives him a look of uncertainty before he finally relents "They were 2 of the 12 false gods from the Age of Gods Icarus lord of the skies and Haedval lord of the earth but be warned they were no gods and the mere mention of their name is an act of heresy in the eyes of the empire I will only warn you once" Bellaris says the last bit in a non-negotiable tone while looking straight in Konrad's eyes to convey his seriousness.
The day went on without much happening by noon they could just see the walls of Holmstead as they approached. "We will stay in an inn for the night and continue on in the morning the Capital is only a week's journey from Holmstead," Bellaris says as they approach the gate two men standing to guard their shoddy armor and weapons marking Holmstead a poorer town. "State your business," the guard on the left says without any interest in the conversation. " Imperial Envoy Bellaris on his way back to the capital," Bellaris says evenly. The guard seems to choke on air as he realizes who he is talking to "Sorry m'lord meant no disrespect." The guard states before letting them in.
The town of Holmstead was far more impressive than the small village he grew up in the homes made of cobbled stone and wood showing signs of deterioration and decomposition. Making their way through the streets they stop at a building two stories in height music and cheers can be heard from inside the sign reads The Drunken Mare. They make their way to the side of the building where a stable is located they pay the stable boy a copper coin before making their way inside.
As they make their way to the counter they hear the bard performing the empower's grace 'The Emperor has shown his grace to men in war and prosperity doesn't matter when
through trial and tribulations, he claims his stead
the world is his a world of men.
monsters and creatures vanquished and bled
for the Emperor's grace will save your head
kneel to him do not pray instead
for the grace of the Emporer, we have bled.'
The crowd roars as the bard finishes his song. Konrad and Bellaris reach the counter and speak to the man behind the bar "Two rooms and two meals" Bellaris says "That will be 4 coppers for the rooms and 2 for the meals" the innkeeper says as Bellaris hands him the coins "Your rooms are number 2 and 3 on the second floor. Pick a table and your food will be there shortly." The innkeeper says while handing Bellaris 2 keys.
They pick an empty table in the leftmost corner of the room as they wait for their meal. Konrad listens in to the conversation of two men at an adjacent table "You hear what happened to the village of Hofner?" The one asks "No what happened?" The other asks curiously "It got burned to the ground apparently Yulesia has made their move poor bastards couldn't even signal help".
At that moment it felt like Konrad's world had ended his village the only home he had ever known burned his family dead. The sudden news made him lose his appetite so he excused himself and made his way to his room. As he walks it feels like the walls are closing in on him at that moment he knew despair...