188. Interlude - Edithe's Emancipation
A young redhead sat in a tavern, drinking her sorrows away. She leant back on her chair and sighed. A man approached her, the third one tonight. A short conversation ensued, slowly turning into an argument as she rejected him, and Edithe finally decided it was time to act.
Edithe, the red-haired adventurer, had been watching the young redhead for the past three hours. Edithe was certain she had found the right person. And now that the man was getting rough with the young redhead, Edithe moved.
Getting to her feet, Edithe marched up to the man, tapping a finger on his shoulder.
“Hey, you should leave her alone.”
He blinked and glanced at her.
“Huh? Are you offering yourself up to me, sweetie? Sorry, but you’re too old—”
He tried to grab the young redhead, but Edithe punched him. Edithe wasn’t the strongest adventurer for her level; she was a [Mage], first and foremost. But there was one advantage she held over the man.
He was Level 24, while she was Level 96, having leveled since leaving the Plaguelands. Her [Strength] far exceeded his.
The man went flying as the young redhead stumbled back, eyes wide. Heads turned. A few of his friends drew to their feet, pointing at Edithe. She simply glared at them, her eyes glowing with magic.
“Does anyone else want to bother us?”
They hesitated. Then they returned to their seats, murmuring to themselves.
“Good.”
Edithe smiled, turning back to the young redhead. The other girl stared at her in shock.
“W-who are you? What do you want?”
“You’re Josilyn, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes?”
The young redhead was nervous, on edge. She didn’t look like she was well-off. Her clothes were torn and tattered, clearly suffering wear from overuse. Edithe nodded.
“I was hoping to talk to you about your grandmother, Miranda the Infernal Mage.”
—--
“She was a Diamond Rank adventurer. The only one in my family to have ever reached prominence beyond this stupid, small town. Thanks to her, our family lived a luxurious life. At least, until she disappeared, and my idiotic mother threw all our wealth away.”
“What happened to her?”
Edithe brought Josilyn out of the tavern and to a booth in the Adventurers Guild to speak somewhere more private. A waitress briefly popped in, bringing her a glass of water— no alcohol.
“I… don’t really know. I remember when she left for the Plaguelands— the entire town gathered to watch her go. I was there too, of course. She told me she’d be back in a few months. And we never heard from her again. So… she probably died to the blight, if I’m being honest.”
Josilyn shrugged, uncaring. But not really. Edithe could see through the facade.
“It happened so long ago, so why does it matter? Did she owe your family money or something? Because we don’t have any.”
Edithe nodded. She understood how the other redhead felt. Things were shit right now, judging from her appearance, so why would she care about something that happened a decade ago? Even if it was the root cause for what was happening now, there was no reason to dwell on it.
But still, Jocilyn cared. Edithe knew she cared about it, just not in the material sense.
“Here.”
Edithe placed an object on the table. Truth be told, she knew just as much about both Miranda and Josilyn, even before speaking to the young redhead. Edithe had done her research— she was just making sure the facts lined up.
Josilyn blinked as she eyed the glittering pendant, placed on the table.
“W-what’s that?”
“Take it. It’s yours.”
“Mine?”
“It belonged to your grandmother. She had it on her when she died. It’s a Durability Charm. Wearing it will enhance your [Vitality] by 10 Stat Points. It’s quite the rare and expensive artifact. I believe it’d sell for a hundred platinum, minimum.”
The young redhead blinked.
“Uh, um, erm, what? Why are you giving this to me? Are you serious?”
“I am. Take it.”
Edithe pushed the amulet across the table, insistent. Josilyn hesitated for a second, her hand hovering over the Durability Charm. Her eyes narrowed.
“Wait, who are you, anyways?”
The red-haired adventurer smiled.
“I am Edithe Dawnrise, the Liberator of the Plaguelands, and Diamond Rank Adventurer.”
And Josilyn’s jaw dropped.
Edithe felt satisfied saying that. Not for the reaction— that made her feel awkward. But her name. Edithe Dawnrise. It was bestowed upon her by the Vaun Qieur Empire. From a girl living in the slums of Viechester, to now an honorary noble of the largest empire in the world.
She proceeded to answer all of Josilyn’s questions. And there were a lot of questions. Edithe didn’t mind it, even as the night dragged on and the conversation continued.
Josilyn needed closure, and Edithe came here to give it.
Edithe learned about Josilyn too. How the young redhead had wanted to be an adventurer as a child, but after Miranda’s disappearance, that dream vanished. Now, Josilyn was stuck working as a librarian— a job she hated.
However, despite the time Edithe spared and the answers Edithe gave, there was one thing omitted throughout the conversation. She never once mentioned the state she found Miranda the Infernal Mage in.
Frozen.
An icy statue, standing in the bedroom of a dilapidated castle. Fear in her eyes, staring out the window, and longing to go home.
The memory of it alone sent a chill down Edithe’s spine, although she didn’t let it show on her face. Finally, when Josilyn had run out of things to ask, Edithe bade her farewell and took her leave. Before she did, however, she gave the young redhead a hug.
“I’m sure this is a lot for you to take in. So, I want you to take it all in slowly.”
“But… what do I do with this? Do I just sell it?”
“It’s up to you. You can sell it, or you can keep it. Use it.”
Josilyn raised a brow.
“Why would I need to use it?”
“To become an adventurer. You said it was your dream, right?”
“It’s dangerous! And the pay isn’t exactly the best— I’m not sure if that’s… a good idea.”
Edithe nodded, starting away from the booth.
“You’re right. It’s entirely up to you. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea, afraid of the risks, you shouldn’t do it.”
Then she glanced back, grinning.
“But you didn’t become a Level 12 [Mage] just sit at a desk all day, did you?”
Josilyn hesitated. Then she lowered her head. Edithe nodded, leaving her and exiting the Adventurers Guild.
—--
“That was tiring.”
Edithe sighed, leaving the small town behind her. Belraut. It was a town on the eastern side of the Sunmere Republic. However, it was still further to the west of Viechester. And now, she had to head east. Past Viechester, to where Hadrian, the leader of her company was.
The reason was simple: the Valiant Dreamers Company— her company— was at war with Iron Champions Company. And they were preparing for a proper assault into Nixa.
“You’d think with that Primeval Demon razing down the north of the country, this fucking company war would at least be postponed.”
She muttered, and someone replied in a chipper voice.
“Well, if anything the Iron Champions Company did made sense, we wouldn’t be at war with them in the first place.”
A gust of wind washed over her. A pair of wings flapped softly, like the swaying of the trees during a warm spring breeze. Edithe looked up at the Pegasus as it descended, a pure stallion with dove-like wings. On its back was a man, slightly older than her. He wore a grin on his face, cheery and warm, just like the rising sun behind his back.
“Need a ride?”
[Beastmaster - Lvl. 117]
She stared at him. A dark skinned man with blue eyes and white hair. Ismail Zuland, one of the few Diamond Rank adventurers of the Valiant Dreamers Company. He had been in the Beastmen plains until he was called back by Hadrian. Unlike Uland Gredrun or Abdiel who didn’t respond to the call, he returned as soon as he could.
Rolling her eyes, Edithe hopped onto the back of the Pegasus.
“I still can’t believe you found yourself a Pegasus while away from the Human lands. I thought they were only native to Mount Soulcreep.”
“And I can’t believe you reached Diamond Rank from Gold since I last saw you. Seriously, how’d you double your levels in just a few years? Also— her name’s Dorothy, and she’s not any ordinary Pegasus. She’s mine.”
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry, Dorothy.”
Edithe ran a hand through the Pegasus’ mane, even as they soared through the air. They could’ve flown faster— arrived at their destination in under half an hour. But they took their time. They weren’t in a rush, and Edithe wasn’t fond of flying at high speeds after being taken for a joy ride by Salvos.
“I’m surprised you even remember me. You were almost Diamond when I first joined. I was barely even Silver.”
“How could I not? You left quite the impression, cursing Hadrian out for trying to flirt with you.”
Ismail chuckled. She glowered.
“I didn’t know he was the son of Baris, alright? I’d have turned him down more nicely if I’d known that.”
“He got what he deserved. And at least he’s a lot more mature now that he's the company leader.”
Edithe pursed her lips, remembering when Hadrian first met Salvos.
“Did he, though?”
The pair of adventurers arrived at their destination a few hours later. There were hundreds of adventurers gathered— most of them were Gold Rank, which meant this force was composed of only the best of the best.
A few faces looked up, staring at Ismail as he made his entrance with his Pegasus. They pointed and cheered, glad to see him there. And for Edithe too.
She didn’t realize it until after they landed. But many of the cheers were for her too. They greeted her, calling her name, waving at her as she walked through the camp. Adventurers chatted and laughed while others moved boxes and crates around— not all of them were of the Valiant Dreamers company. She recognized other companies. Allies.
The Northbury Troops had come to their aid, accompanied by the leader, Noah himself. The Crystal Spells sent a regiment of their [Mages] too, helping with the packing process, alongside with creating fortifications around the encampment. The Miners of Graydenn, the Dusk Horns, and even the Steel Crowns companies were here.
Not all of them sent their best. But they sent their aid. And that was enough to raise morale.
“Edithe.”
Baris approached her. The former leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company smiled, welcoming her to the encampment.
“I take it your meeting went well?”
“It went as well as it could’ve, I suppose. But now that all that’s settled, I can finally throw my full weight behind this war.”
“Very good. Come, Hadrian would like to have a word with you and Ismail.”
She nodded at him. While she’d wanted to help the Valiant Dreamers Company since she returned, she’d been busy finding the relatives of all the victims killed by the Lich. While she had never met those women, she felt a sense of obligation to at least tell their descendants of their ultimate fate.
That was why she had gone through the bodies. When the Lich died, the ice freezing their bodies melted, and their corpses instantly began to decay and rot. But most of them had artifacts— trinkets that somehow survived, which Edithe used to identify them.
It wasn’t easy. Out of the dozens upon dozens of women killed by the Lich, she had only managed to identify thirteen of them. And she had only been able to trace seven of their family trees to the modern times.
Jocilyn had been the last of them. So, Edithe could now fight for the Valiant Dreamers Company against the Iron Champions without any apprehension.
Baris led both Edithe and Ismail into a tent at the center of the encampment. A company war was treated like a real war, just with far fewer forces, but typically more specialized and with better fighters. Hadrian sat with a few other Platinum Ranks at a meeting table overlooking a map.
“We’ll want to avoid the Demon’s—”
They glanced up as Ismail waved a hand. Edithe shuffled her feet, slightly uncomfortable at the stares she still got from the Platinums. Especially those she knew like Celine. In a short span of time, she had overtaken them in levels.
It was almost disconcerting. But it wasn’t undeserved— she knew it wasn’t. She remembered every single day she spent in the Plaguelands. Oppressive, exhausting, and near-fatal. She could’ve died multiple times a week, only surviving due to pure chance and her friends’ intervention. And she was rewarded with a high level and a Title that exceeded any of their feats.
Still, she didn’t want them to treat her any different.
But they did.
“Leave us. I have to speak with Edithe and Ismail in private.”
The Platinum Ranks streamed out. Celine patted Edithe on the shoulder, much to the red-haired woman’s relief. At least that relationship was the same. But the one with Hadrian wasn’t. Now, Edithe was a strategic asset.
“Hello, Edithe, Ismail.”
Hadrian greeted them as the tent flapped shut, and Baris activated a ritual circle. Edithe saw strands of mana weaving into themselves to form a barrier around the encampment to prevent anyone from eavesdropping, be it magically or not.
“What’s going on? Why’d you need to speak with us?”
“Before I answer that question, I need to ask the both of you one thing: can I trust you?”
Edithe exchanged a glance with the [Beastmaster]. Ismail shrugged.
“Sure you can. Don’t see why not.”
“Edithe?”
He waited for her to respond. She tapped a finger on her chin.
“It depends on whether you deserve my trust or not. If you are truly someone who upholds the values of the Valiant Dreamers company, then I will trust you.”
“You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”
Hadrian sighed. He glanced over at Baris.
“Well, does it work?”
The older man produced a scroll from his pocket. Its surface was slightly burned, but it wasn’t completely turning to ashes. Which seemed like a good sign, if that scroll was what Edithe thought it was.
“The Scroll of Lies did not determine any substantive lie in their statements. They told mostly the truth.”
“That’s… reassuring enough, I guess.”
Edithe narrowed her eyes, glancing between Baris and Hadrian.
“Wait, why the secrecy? That Scroll of Lies— it’s a High Grade artifact, is it not? It’s got to be worth hundreds of platinum. Why would you use it here?”
Hadrian took a deep breath.
“I know this may seem sudden, but there is quite a pressing matter I need to disclose with the most prominent members of the Valiant Dreamers Company. That which would change the course of the company war. I needed to know whether I could trust the two of you.”
Ismail took a seat, looking at him expectantly.
“Enough with the exposition: just tell us what it is already!”
Hadrian closed his eyes, speaking as he exhaled.
“The truth is… Baris and I are Vampires.”
Ismail’s mouth opened—
“Oh, I already knew that.”
“Same.”
Edithe nodded in agreement. It was quite obvious with how Hadrian had spoken of Vampires in the past. Hadrian blinked.
“Wait, you do?”
“I told you you were never inconspicuous about it.”
Baris grunted, and he shrunk back.
“Wait, wait, wait. You guys are joking right?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
“I mean, I had a strong feeling about it?”
Edithe had been less certain than Ismail. But still, she thought it was likely. Vampires often hid their bloodline because the knowledge of their heritage would result in… well, people would be afraid of them. After all, with what they could do with their [Vampiric Essence]...
The red-haired woman remembered the Vampire she fought with Salvos and Daniel. How the Vampire seemed to control others. But it wasn’t control over actions, but emotions. They could sway how someone felt, which was not something you’d like to know before approaching someone.
Sure, the Skill itself wasn’t subtle. But still, that didn’t stop people from fearing them and treating them differently. Even if it was no longer of scorn as in the past, being secluded was arguably just as bad. So, they hid amongst Humans, as Hadrian did now.
“So, neither of you held any contempt for either Baris or I? That we could be manipulating you to fight for us?”
“Look, I’ll be honest, I barely even pay attention to what you or the old man says half the time .You couldn’t be manipulating me even if you tried.”
Ismail kicked his legs up onto the table, his shoes scrunching up the map. Shaking her head, Edithe spoke truthfully.
“I don’t believe either of you have ever tried to manipulate us, Hadrian, Baris. And while I am glad that you are… coming out?”
“No, you’re making this sound like something else entirely—”
“I can’t see how this matter is important enough for all this secrecy. Just tell us what this is about.”
Hadrian frowned. He looked over at Baris who simply nodded.
“Very well then.”
Snapping his eyes shut, Hadrian spoke softly.
“The Iron Champions Company is run by [Cultists], and we believe they’re trying to link up with the Primeval Demon in Nixa.”
Edithe paused. Her eyes grew wide, and even Ismail furrowed his brows.
“Are you serious?”
The [Beastmaster] sat up as he asked. Hadrian nodded.
“I am.”
“How?”
Hadrian explained.
“A few years ago, a cult appeared in Nixa. An unknown cult that no one has ever heard of. They called themselves the Church of Regnorex. They claimed to have direct contact with the Demon King of the Netherworld himself, using that as a means of inducting new members into their group. Normally, such a cult shows up every few years in various countries. They’re easily dealt with by the local company, or some Demon Hunters sent by the nobility of the area— Vampires.”
His eyes flickered as he spoke. Very few nobles were actually Vampires, but most Vampires were nobles. Then he glanced down at the map, at the spot where the Iron Champions Company’s headquarters was marked.
“The Iron Champions themselves investigated the cult. Bulan Dishar, one of their founding members, directly oversaw this investigation. No one thought anything of it— after all, a Diamond Rank alone could’ve wiped out any upstart group of peasants and [Farmers]. But somehow, sometime during the last few years, Bulan Dishar vanished from the public eye, and the Church of Regnorex continued to grow… until they halted all their activities and disappeared.”
Hadrian shook his head.
“We thought the Iron Champions Company had dealt with them and that was that, but as time continued to pass, more and more cults began to form in Nixa. They were small cults, just like the one that summoned the Greater Demon that terrorized Falisfield.”
Edithe drew her lips into a thin line at the mention of Lucerna. Her entire team was slaughtered. Even now, the memory was still there. Hadrian continued.
“But now, we believe that the Iron Champions Company was overtaken by the Church of Regnorex— that Bulan Dishar was murdered by this cult. And they seized control of the company’s command structure. That is why they declared war with us. Their pettiness is nothing more than a subtext for what they truly desire.”
“And what is it they want?”
Ismail cocked a brow. Hadrian hesitated.
“This is… something Baris only told me recently. But the reason why he formed the Valiant Dreamers Company went beyond just for the ideals it upholds.”
Edithe narrowed her eyes.
“What do you mean, Hadrian?”
She stared suspiciously at Baris who didn’t meet her gaze. Hadrian spoke slowly.
“The Valiant Dreamers Company was formed to… protect something. A great artifact of many millennia ago. Items entrusted to various of the most prominent Vampire families to safekeep— one of them being Baris’ ancestors. My ancestors.”
Ismail leaned forward, and Edithe waited with bated breath.
“The treasures of our Immortal King Alexander. The Crown of Alexander. The Sword of Alexander. The Breastplate of Alexander. The Greaves of Alexander. And the Boots of Alexander. Each of these five items were kept separate, told only to be gathered when Regnorex is at the gates of our Mortal Realm. They are to be protected and given to the greatest warrior then, to fend off the Demon King once more. Because they knew he would return once more.”
“Your family was given one of these artifacts?”
Ismail stumbled to his feet. Hadrian gave him a nod.
“The Sword of Alexander. A Mythical Grade Weapon.”
“That’s… look, if I knew how to use a sword, I’d be asking you to lend it to me right now.”
The [Beastmaster] was in awe. But Edithe took a step back.
“So, you’re saying the Iron Champions Company is using this company war as an excuse to destroy this artifact?”
Hadrian closed his eyes, nodding gravely.
“Yes.”
Edithe gritted her teeth.
“People are dying, not knowing what they’re fighting for. For a cause they know nothing about. And you want to keep this a secret? This isn’t right, Hadrian.”
“I agree with you, Edithe. I was more upset than you when I found out about this.”
“This isn’t something to just be upset about. We need to act. We need to tell the rest of the company about this.”
“We can’t.”
Baris spoke up, breaking his silence.
“If word gets out of this, many of our allies and our own members will abandon this war. They will not fight— not for us Vampires, because they’ll believe we tricked them.”
“That’s because you did.”
Edithe glared at him, but he didn’t flinch.
“Why did you have to form this company? Why didn’t you just keep it protected in some vault and hire mercenaries to guard it?”
“I couldn’t afford it, Edithe. My family was disgraced. We lost our lands, our noble titles, our platinums, all because of my father’s indulgence and irresponsibility as a Vampire.”
Edithe opened her mouth. But her face twisted when the implication settled in. Baris didn’t elaborate on what act was committed, but explained what happened next.
“When I formed this company, I had nothing. I couldn’t protect the Sword of Alexander on my own. I needed others to aid me. So, I sought out like-minded adventurers. I instilled the ideals which I truly believed in into each and every one of us dreamers. The very same ideals which drove me to protect the Mythical Grade Weapon, even when I had nothing. Because it was the right thing to do.”
Baris stood, entrenched in his position. Edithe wanted to argue. She disagreed with him. But she knew nothing she’d say now would make a difference. She was upset, and she needed to cool down to properly think this through.
“It isn’t. No— not when you forced this duty of yours upon us.”
She spun around, starting out of the tent. Hadrian tried to bar her path.
“You said we had your trust. You can’t tell the others, Edithe. We’ll lose this war… and with that Primeval Demon—”
“And you have my trust, Hadrian. I will not tell anyone of this. Not now. But my trust in you is waning. And Baris...”
She looked at the older man. His blond hair was almost white, the stress of the company war and his age accumulating on him. His face was wrinkled, creased with responsibility.
“I used to respect you.”
That was all she said before exiting the tent, leaving the three in silence.
—--
Even as Edithe pondered it over that night, she knew it wasn’t right. She knew this was not something that she could just gloss over. She was going to fight, yes. She wasn’t just going to abandon her friends— give up on the company war— now that she knew the truth.
She didn’t like it: she believed that the rest of the company should find out the truth, and choose for themselves whether they wanted to fight. However, she couldn’t act. If she did… as much as she didn’t want to believe it, Hadrian and Baris would probably restrain her— force her to remain quiet until the company war was over.
That wasn’t an outcome she wanted to suffer. Nor did she think it was the best course of action.
Instead, she looked at Hadrian, and she knew he saw what she did. She’d have to convince him. Get him to tell the truth to others rather than keeping it a secret. It was what she had to do to right this wrong. She had to do it… somehow.
Or if not— if that wasn’t possible— she’d have to win the war all by herself.
“...I wish Salvos was here.”
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188. Interlude - Edithe's Emancipation
A young redhead sat in a tavern, drinking her sorrows away. She leant back on her chair and sighed. A man approached her, the third one tonight. A short conversation ensued, slowly turning into an argument as she rejected him, and Edithe finally decided it was time to act.
Edithe, the red-haired adventurer, had been watching the young redhead for the past three hours. Edithe was certain she had found the right person. And now that the man was getting rough with the young redhead, Edithe moved.
Getting to her feet, Edithe marched up to the man, tapping a finger on his shoulder.
“Hey, you should leave her alone.”
He blinked and glanced at her.
“Huh? Are you offering yourself up to me, sweetie? Sorry, but you’re too old—”
He tried to grab the young redhead, but Edithe punched him. Edithe wasn’t the strongest adventurer for her level; she was a [Mage], first and foremost. But there was one advantage she held over the man.
He was Level 24, while she was Level 96, having leveled since leaving the Plaguelands. Her [Strength] far exceeded his.
The man went flying as the young redhead stumbled back, eyes wide. Heads turned. A few of his friends drew to their feet, pointing at Edithe. She simply glared at them, her eyes glowing with magic.
“Does anyone else want to bother us?”
They hesitated. Then they returned to their seats, murmuring to themselves.
“Good.”
Edithe smiled, turning back to the young redhead. The other girl stared at her in shock.
“W-who are you? What do you want?”
“You’re Josilyn, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes?”
The young redhead was nervous, on edge. She didn’t look like she was well-off. Her clothes were torn and tattered, clearly suffering wear from overuse. Edithe nodded.
“I was hoping to talk to you about your grandmother, Miranda the Infernal Mage.”
—--
“She was a Diamond Rank adventurer. The only one in my family to have ever reached prominence beyond this stupid, small town. Thanks to her, our family lived a luxurious life. At least, until she disappeared, and my idiotic mother threw all our wealth away.”
“What happened to her?”
Edithe brought Josilyn out of the tavern and to a booth in the Adventurers Guild to speak somewhere more private. A waitress briefly popped in, bringing her a glass of water— no alcohol.
“I… don’t really know. I remember when she left for the Plaguelands— the entire town gathered to watch her go. I was there too, of course. She told me she’d be back in a few months. And we never heard from her again. So… she probably died to the blight, if I’m being honest.”
Josilyn shrugged, uncaring. But not really. Edithe could see through the facade.
“It happened so long ago, so why does it matter? Did she owe your family money or something? Because we don’t have any.”
Edithe nodded. She understood how the other redhead felt. Things were shit right now, judging from her appearance, so why would she care about something that happened a decade ago? Even if it was the root cause for what was happening now, there was no reason to dwell on it.
But still, Jocilyn cared. Edithe knew she cared about it, just not in the material sense.
“Here.”
Edithe placed an object on the table. Truth be told, she knew just as much about both Miranda and Josilyn, even before speaking to the young redhead. Edithe had done her research— she was just making sure the facts lined up.
Josilyn blinked as she eyed the glittering pendant, placed on the table.
“W-what’s that?”
“Take it. It’s yours.”
“Mine?”
“It belonged to your grandmother. She had it on her when she died. It’s a Durability Charm. Wearing it will enhance your [Vitality] by 10 Stat Points. It’s quite the rare and expensive artifact. I believe it’d sell for a hundred platinum, minimum.”
The young redhead blinked.
“Uh, um, erm, what? Why are you giving this to me? Are you serious?”
“I am. Take it.”
Edithe pushed the amulet across the table, insistent. Josilyn hesitated for a second, her hand hovering over the Durability Charm. Her eyes narrowed.
“Wait, who are you, anyways?”
The red-haired adventurer smiled.
“I am Edithe Dawnrise, the Liberator of the Plaguelands, and Diamond Rank Adventurer.”
And Josilyn’s jaw dropped.
Edithe felt satisfied saying that. Not for the reaction— that made her feel awkward. But her name. Edithe Dawnrise. It was bestowed upon her by the Vaun Qieur Empire. From a girl living in the slums of Viechester, to now an honorary noble of the largest empire in the world.
She proceeded to answer all of Josilyn’s questions. And there were a lot of questions. Edithe didn’t mind it, even as the night dragged on and the conversation continued.
Josilyn needed closure, and Edithe came here to give it.
Edithe learned about Josilyn too. How the young redhead had wanted to be an adventurer as a child, but after Miranda’s disappearance, that dream vanished. Now, Josilyn was stuck working as a librarian— a job she hated.
However, despite the time Edithe spared and the answers Edithe gave, there was one thing omitted throughout the conversation. She never once mentioned the state she found Miranda the Infernal Mage in.
Frozen.
An icy statue, standing in the bedroom of a dilapidated castle. Fear in her eyes, staring out the window, and longing to go home.
The memory of it alone sent a chill down Edithe’s spine, although she didn’t let it show on her face. Finally, when Josilyn had run out of things to ask, Edithe bade her farewell and took her leave. Before she did, however, she gave the young redhead a hug.
“I’m sure this is a lot for you to take in. So, I want you to take it all in slowly.”
“But… what do I do with this? Do I just sell it?”
“It’s up to you. You can sell it, or you can keep it. Use it.”
Josilyn raised a brow.
“Why would I need to use it?”
“To become an adventurer. You said it was your dream, right?”
“It’s dangerous! And the pay isn’t exactly the best— I’m not sure if that’s… a good idea.”
Edithe nodded, starting away from the booth.
“You’re right. It’s entirely up to you. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea, afraid of the risks, you shouldn’t do it.”
Then she glanced back, grinning.
“But you didn’t become a Level 12 [Mage] just sit at a desk all day, did you?”
Josilyn hesitated. Then she lowered her head. Edithe nodded, leaving her and exiting the Adventurers Guild.
—--
“That was tiring.”
Edithe sighed, leaving the small town behind her. Belraut. It was a town on the eastern side of the Sunmere Republic. However, it was still further to the west of Viechester. And now, she had to head east. Past Viechester, to where Hadrian, the leader of her company was.
The reason was simple: the Valiant Dreamers Company— her company— was at war with Iron Champions Company. And they were preparing for a proper assault into Nixa.
“You’d think with that Primeval Demon razing down the north of the country, this fucking company war would at least be postponed.”
She muttered, and someone replied in a chipper voice.
“Well, if anything the Iron Champions Company did made sense, we wouldn’t be at war with them in the first place.”
A gust of wind washed over her. A pair of wings flapped softly, like the swaying of the trees during a warm spring breeze. Edithe looked up at the Pegasus as it descended, a pure stallion with dove-like wings. On its back was a man, slightly older than her. He wore a grin on his face, cheery and warm, just like the rising sun behind his back.
“Need a ride?”
[Beastmaster - Lvl. 117]
She stared at him. A dark skinned man with blue eyes and white hair. Ismail Zuland, one of the few Diamond Rank adventurers of the Valiant Dreamers Company. He had been in the Beastmen plains until he was called back by Hadrian. Unlike Uland Gredrun or Abdiel who didn’t respond to the call, he returned as soon as he could.
Rolling her eyes, Edithe hopped onto the back of the Pegasus.
“I still can’t believe you found yourself a Pegasus while away from the Human lands. I thought they were only native to Mount Soulcreep.”
“And I can’t believe you reached Diamond Rank from Gold since I last saw you. Seriously, how’d you double your levels in just a few years? Also— her name’s Dorothy, and she’s not any ordinary Pegasus. She’s mine.”
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry, Dorothy.”
Edithe ran a hand through the Pegasus’ mane, even as they soared through the air. They could’ve flown faster— arrived at their destination in under half an hour. But they took their time. They weren’t in a rush, and Edithe wasn’t fond of flying at high speeds after being taken for a joy ride by Salvos.
“I’m surprised you even remember me. You were almost Diamond when I first joined. I was barely even Silver.”
“How could I not? You left quite the impression, cursing Hadrian out for trying to flirt with you.”
Ismail chuckled. She glowered.
“I didn’t know he was the son of Baris, alright? I’d have turned him down more nicely if I’d known that.”
“He got what he deserved. And at least he’s a lot more mature now that he's the company leader.”
Edithe pursed her lips, remembering when Hadrian first met Salvos.
“Did he, though?”
The pair of adventurers arrived at their destination a few hours later. There were hundreds of adventurers gathered— most of them were Gold Rank, which meant this force was composed of only the best of the best.
A few faces looked up, staring at Ismail as he made his entrance with his Pegasus. They pointed and cheered, glad to see him there. And for Edithe too.
She didn’t realize it until after they landed. But many of the cheers were for her too. They greeted her, calling her name, waving at her as she walked through the camp. Adventurers chatted and laughed while others moved boxes and crates around— not all of them were of the Valiant Dreamers company. She recognized other companies. Allies.
The Northbury Troops had come to their aid, accompanied by the leader, Noah himself. The Crystal Spells sent a regiment of their [Mages] too, helping with the packing process, alongside with creating fortifications around the encampment. The Miners of Graydenn, the Dusk Horns, and even the Steel Crowns companies were here.
Not all of them sent their best. But they sent their aid. And that was enough to raise morale.
“Edithe.”
Baris approached her. The former leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company smiled, welcoming her to the encampment.
“I take it your meeting went well?”
“It went as well as it could’ve, I suppose. But now that all that’s settled, I can finally throw my full weight behind this war.”
“Very good. Come, Hadrian would like to have a word with you and Ismail.”
She nodded at him. While she’d wanted to help the Valiant Dreamers Company since she returned, she’d been busy finding the relatives of all the victims killed by the Lich. While she had never met those women, she felt a sense of obligation to at least tell their descendants of their ultimate fate.
That was why she had gone through the bodies. When the Lich died, the ice freezing their bodies melted, and their corpses instantly began to decay and rot. But most of them had artifacts— trinkets that somehow survived, which Edithe used to identify them.
It wasn’t easy. Out of the dozens upon dozens of women killed by the Lich, she had only managed to identify thirteen of them. And she had only been able to trace seven of their family trees to the modern times.
Jocilyn had been the last of them. So, Edithe could now fight for the Valiant Dreamers Company against the Iron Champions without any apprehension.
Baris led both Edithe and Ismail into a tent at the center of the encampment. A company war was treated like a real war, just with far fewer forces, but typically more specialized and with better fighters. Hadrian sat with a few other Platinum Ranks at a meeting table overlooking a map.
“We’ll want to avoid the Demon’s—”
They glanced up as Ismail waved a hand. Edithe shuffled her feet, slightly uncomfortable at the stares she still got from the Platinums. Especially those she knew like Celine. In a short span of time, she had overtaken them in levels.
It was almost disconcerting. But it wasn’t undeserved— she knew it wasn’t. She remembered every single day she spent in the Plaguelands. Oppressive, exhausting, and near-fatal. She could’ve died multiple times a week, only surviving due to pure chance and her friends’ intervention. And she was rewarded with a high level and a Title that exceeded any of their feats.
Still, she didn’t want them to treat her any different.
But they did.
“Leave us. I have to speak with Edithe and Ismail in private.”
The Platinum Ranks streamed out. Celine patted Edithe on the shoulder, much to the red-haired woman’s relief. At least that relationship was the same. But the one with Hadrian wasn’t. Now, Edithe was a strategic asset.
“Hello, Edithe, Ismail.”
Hadrian greeted them as the tent flapped shut, and Baris activated a ritual circle. Edithe saw strands of mana weaving into themselves to form a barrier around the encampment to prevent anyone from eavesdropping, be it magically or not.
“What’s going on? Why’d you need to speak with us?”
“Before I answer that question, I need to ask the both of you one thing: can I trust you?”
Edithe exchanged a glance with the [Beastmaster]. Ismail shrugged.
“Sure you can. Don’t see why not.”
“Edithe?”
He waited for her to respond. She tapped a finger on her chin.
“It depends on whether you deserve my trust or not. If you are truly someone who upholds the values of the Valiant Dreamers company, then I will trust you.”
“You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”
Hadrian sighed. He glanced over at Baris.
“Well, does it work?”
The older man produced a scroll from his pocket. Its surface was slightly burned, but it wasn’t completely turning to ashes. Which seemed like a good sign, if that scroll was what Edithe thought it was.
“The Scroll of Lies did not determine any substantive lie in their statements. They told mostly the truth.”
“That’s… reassuring enough, I guess.”
Edithe narrowed her eyes, glancing between Baris and Hadrian.
“Wait, why the secrecy? That Scroll of Lies— it’s a High Grade artifact, is it not? It’s got to be worth hundreds of platinum. Why would you use it here?”
Hadrian took a deep breath.
“I know this may seem sudden, but there is quite a pressing matter I need to disclose with the most prominent members of the Valiant Dreamers Company. That which would change the course of the company war. I needed to know whether I could trust the two of you.”
Ismail took a seat, looking at him expectantly.
“Enough with the exposition: just tell us what it is already!”
Hadrian closed his eyes, speaking as he exhaled.
“The truth is… Baris and I are Vampires.”
Ismail’s mouth opened—
“Oh, I already knew that.”
“Same.”
Edithe nodded in agreement. It was quite obvious with how Hadrian had spoken of Vampires in the past. Hadrian blinked.
“Wait, you do?”
“I told you you were never inconspicuous about it.”
Baris grunted, and he shrunk back.
“Wait, wait, wait. You guys are joking right?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
“I mean, I had a strong feeling about it?”
Edithe had been less certain than Ismail. But still, she thought it was likely. Vampires often hid their bloodline because the knowledge of their heritage would result in… well, people would be afraid of them. After all, with what they could do with their [Vampiric Essence]...
The red-haired woman remembered the Vampire she fought with Salvos and Daniel. How the Vampire seemed to control others. But it wasn’t control over actions, but emotions. They could sway how someone felt, which was not something you’d like to know before approaching someone.
Sure, the Skill itself wasn’t subtle. But still, that didn’t stop people from fearing them and treating them differently. Even if it was no longer of scorn as in the past, being secluded was arguably just as bad. So, they hid amongst Humans, as Hadrian did now.
“So, neither of you held any contempt for either Baris or I? That we could be manipulating you to fight for us?”
“Look, I’ll be honest, I barely even pay attention to what you or the old man says half the time .You couldn’t be manipulating me even if you tried.”
Ismail kicked his legs up onto the table, his shoes scrunching up the map. Shaking her head, Edithe spoke truthfully.
“I don’t believe either of you have ever tried to manipulate us, Hadrian, Baris. And while I am glad that you are… coming out?”
“No, you’re making this sound like something else entirely—”
“I can’t see how this matter is important enough for all this secrecy. Just tell us what this is about.”
Hadrian frowned. He looked over at Baris who simply nodded.
“Very well then.”
Snapping his eyes shut, Hadrian spoke softly.
“The Iron Champions Company is run by [Cultists], and we believe they’re trying to link up with the Primeval Demon in Nixa.”
Edithe paused. Her eyes grew wide, and even Ismail furrowed his brows.
“Are you serious?”
The [Beastmaster] sat up as he asked. Hadrian nodded.
“I am.”
“How?”
Hadrian explained.
“A few years ago, a cult appeared in Nixa. An unknown cult that no one has ever heard of. They called themselves the Church of Regnorex. They claimed to have direct contact with the Demon King of the Netherworld himself, using that as a means of inducting new members into their group. Normally, such a cult shows up every few years in various countries. They’re easily dealt with by the local company, or some Demon Hunters sent by the nobility of the area— Vampires.”
His eyes flickered as he spoke. Very few nobles were actually Vampires, but most Vampires were nobles. Then he glanced down at the map, at the spot where the Iron Champions Company’s headquarters was marked.
“The Iron Champions themselves investigated the cult. Bulan Dishar, one of their founding members, directly oversaw this investigation. No one thought anything of it— after all, a Diamond Rank alone could’ve wiped out any upstart group of peasants and [Farmers]. But somehow, sometime during the last few years, Bulan Dishar vanished from the public eye, and the Church of Regnorex continued to grow… until they halted all their activities and disappeared.”
Hadrian shook his head.
“We thought the Iron Champions Company had dealt with them and that was that, but as time continued to pass, more and more cults began to form in Nixa. They were small cults, just like the one that summoned the Greater Demon that terrorized Falisfield.”
Edithe drew her lips into a thin line at the mention of Lucerna. Her entire team was slaughtered. Even now, the memory was still there. Hadrian continued.
“But now, we believe that the Iron Champions Company was overtaken by the Church of Regnorex— that Bulan Dishar was murdered by this cult. And they seized control of the company’s command structure. That is why they declared war with us. Their pettiness is nothing more than a subtext for what they truly desire.”
“And what is it they want?”
Ismail cocked a brow. Hadrian hesitated.
“This is… something Baris only told me recently. But the reason why he formed the Valiant Dreamers Company went beyond just for the ideals it upholds.”
Edithe narrowed her eyes.
“What do you mean, Hadrian?”
She stared suspiciously at Baris who didn’t meet her gaze. Hadrian spoke slowly.
“The Valiant Dreamers Company was formed to… protect something. A great artifact of many millennia ago. Items entrusted to various of the most prominent Vampire families to safekeep— one of them being Baris’ ancestors. My ancestors.”
Ismail leaned forward, and Edithe waited with bated breath.
“The treasures of our Immortal King Alexander. The Crown of Alexander. The Sword of Alexander. The Breastplate of Alexander. The Greaves of Alexander. And the Boots of Alexander. Each of these five items were kept separate, told only to be gathered when Regnorex is at the gates of our Mortal Realm. They are to be protected and given to the greatest warrior then, to fend off the Demon King once more. Because they knew he would return once more.”
“Your family was given one of these artifacts?”
Ismail stumbled to his feet. Hadrian gave him a nod.
“The Sword of Alexander. A Mythical Grade Weapon.”
“That’s… look, if I knew how to use a sword, I’d be asking you to lend it to me right now.”
The [Beastmaster] was in awe. But Edithe took a step back.
“So, you’re saying the Iron Champions Company is using this company war as an excuse to destroy this artifact?”
Hadrian closed his eyes, nodding gravely.
“Yes.”
Edithe gritted her teeth.
“People are dying, not knowing what they’re fighting for. For a cause they know nothing about. And you want to keep this a secret? This isn’t right, Hadrian.”
“I agree with you, Edithe. I was more upset than you when I found out about this.”
“This isn’t something to just be upset about. We need to act. We need to tell the rest of the company about this.”
“We can’t.”
Baris spoke up, breaking his silence.
“If word gets out of this, many of our allies and our own members will abandon this war. They will not fight— not for us Vampires, because they’ll believe we tricked them.”
“That’s because you did.”
Edithe glared at him, but he didn’t flinch.
“Why did you have to form this company? Why didn’t you just keep it protected in some vault and hire mercenaries to guard it?”
“I couldn’t afford it, Edithe. My family was disgraced. We lost our lands, our noble titles, our platinums, all because of my father’s indulgence and irresponsibility as a Vampire.”
Edithe opened her mouth. But her face twisted when the implication settled in. Baris didn’t elaborate on what act was committed, but explained what happened next.
“When I formed this company, I had nothing. I couldn’t protect the Sword of Alexander on my own. I needed others to aid me. So, I sought out like-minded adventurers. I instilled the ideals which I truly believed in into each and every one of us dreamers. The very same ideals which drove me to protect the Mythical Grade Weapon, even when I had nothing. Because it was the right thing to do.”
Baris stood, entrenched in his position. Edithe wanted to argue. She disagreed with him. But she knew nothing she’d say now would make a difference. She was upset, and she needed to cool down to properly think this through.
“It isn’t. No— not when you forced this duty of yours upon us.”
She spun around, starting out of the tent. Hadrian tried to bar her path.
“You said we had your trust. You can’t tell the others, Edithe. We’ll lose this war… and with that Primeval Demon—”
“And you have my trust, Hadrian. I will not tell anyone of this. Not now. But my trust in you is waning. And Baris...”
She looked at the older man. His blond hair was almost white, the stress of the company war and his age accumulating on him. His face was wrinkled, creased with responsibility.
“I used to respect you.”
That was all she said before exiting the tent, leaving the three in silence.
—--
Even as Edithe pondered it over that night, she knew it wasn’t right. She knew this was not something that she could just gloss over. She was going to fight, yes. She wasn’t just going to abandon her friends— give up on the company war— now that she knew the truth.
She didn’t like it: she believed that the rest of the company should find out the truth, and choose for themselves whether they wanted to fight. However, she couldn’t act. If she did… as much as she didn’t want to believe it, Hadrian and Baris would probably restrain her— force her to remain quiet until the company war was over.
That wasn’t an outcome she wanted to suffer. Nor did she think it was the best course of action.
Instead, she looked at Hadrian, and she knew he saw what she did. She’d have to convince him. Get him to tell the truth to others rather than keeping it a secret. It was what she had to do to right this wrong. She had to do it… somehow.
Or if not— if that wasn’t possible— she’d have to win the war all by herself.
“...I wish Salvos was here.”
MelasD
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