Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Invisible enemy

Warkmon cursed inwardly when he failed to contact the shadow. It was the third in a short time, and in a place quite far from the previous ones. It was impossible for them to have gotten there without being seen, so it had to be another group.

"Go see what happened to the shadow of the ruined city," he ordered one of his children.

"Yes, father, I'm going," he obeyed.

He wasn't very powerful, but there shouldn't be any danger. The corrupted beings wouldn't attack him, and the miasma wasn't a problem either. Besides, he wasn't on the ground, but flying, so he could hardly be in danger. Warkmon was convinced that he was safe in the sky.

Of course, that conviction vanished when he received an urgent call a few hours later. It was the same vampire he had sent to investigate.

"Father! Something is attacking us! I don't know what it is! Aaaaaaarggh!" he explained, panicked, before the communication was abruptly cut off.

He could feel as the link that bound him to his son broke. There was no doubt that his son had died, attacked by a mysterious enemy. He had no choice but to call his father again. He had already warned him of the disappearance of the shadow, and it was something that hadn't put him in a good mood.

"Warkmon, have you discovered anything?" he asked him as soon as he made contact.

"My scout has been attacked. He died before he could explain who the enemy was. It seems that they were so fast that he didn't even see them," he explained.

Kan Golge frowned. That new group, and it was already the third, hadn't only killed a shadow, but attacked their scouts. They were plotting something.

"I'll take care of it. Let me know if anything else happens," he cut off communication with his son.

That had put him in an even worse mood. Lately, everything seemed to be going wrong. Therefore, he wanted to make sure by calling one of his most powerful children. He didn't have many left.

"Take your brother and go to the ruins of the city in sector H9. Something has killed a shadow there, and also the explorer who went to investigate. He was weak, but we have no idea who the enemy is. Report immediately if you find anything," he ordered.

"Yes, father," she complied.

The connection was closed after that sentence, and she hurried to call her brother.

"Wake up, we have a mission. An unknown enemy of unknown power," she urged him.

"I love working with reliable information," he said ironically.

Nevertheless, he got up immediately, and both of them went to their wyverns, their mounts. They were fast and powerful, so they would reach their destination in a few hours.

Once there, the vampires found that the ruins were more devastated than when they had been there the last time. Apart from that, it was deserted.

There was only a Walking Fortress, which was still trying to dig itself out, and a badly injured armadillo. They ignored them. They could get no information from these corrupted beings, and it wasn't worth the trouble to help them.

The vampires informed their father, and continued exploring the surroundings. They didn't notice that, high above them, an albino bird was watching them. The vampire's enemies were aware of their presence, but they found no trace of them.

They continued to search the area around the now even more ruined city, and were widening their search range little by litlle. Despite this, they found nothing. Whoever had attacked had vanished.

"That staff is incredible. Are you interested in selling it?"

"Who made it? I'd like to contact him, or her."

"How's it so effective?"

These were some of the questions they were overwhelming Krinia with. After witnessing her performance in battle, the interest from the mages had been disproportionate. Although it was understandable.

The reptilian mage was well known. Therefore, the appearance of the staff, and the more than apparent improvement in her power, had aroused curiosity, amazement and even greed. More than one was planning to try to steal it, although it wasn't an easy task. Not only was she powerful, but she was protected by her friend's imperial forces.

However, if she didn't put an end to that, danger would always be around. Besides, it was a predictable reaction, so she was prepared for it.

"The staff was made especially for me. It wouldn't be of any use to anyone else. I can't reveal who made it, although I can pass on your requests. Send them to the court of our empire, to me, and I will pass them on. Although, it'll have to be after this campaign," she explained.

"Just for you?" a mage whose body had no hair but feathers hesitated.

"Try it yourself" she threw the staff at him.

He caught it on the fly. He was surprised that she let him have it so easily, but he didn't hesitate to circulate his mana through it. To his surprise, the result was much worse than hers.

"Let me try it, I'm of the same element," a mottled green-skinned mage took it from him.

In her case, it was a little better, but not too much. Several tried, until Krinia decided to recover it, afraid that it would disappear. It was getting further and further away.

Unexpectedly, the staff flew towards her. Eldi had added Return, which was very useful if, for whatever reason, she lost it in the middle of battle. It couldn't be cast continuously, as it took a while to recharge the necessary mana.

He had created the staff specifically for Krinia, so only she could squeeze out its full potential. Also, to avoid problems, obstacles had been artificially added to mana other than hers, so it seemed to be much worse for others. These obstacles could be removed, but one had to know they existed first. Not to mention that it would probably take a master in staff making to get rid of them.

It was a safety measure they had deemed necessary. It was easy to imagine that it would cause some commotion, so countermeasures had been created. Now, they were bearing fruit.

Seeing that it wasn't useful to them, the mages finally lost interest and dispersed. Although more than one was determined to try to contact that mysterious craftsman. There was none so outstanding in the Kroquia's empire or its surroundings. Of those who were known, they lived far away, and it wasn't easy to get their services.

"The staff he made for you was striking. Do you think he'll make me one?"

"A bow for me?"

"And me...?"

Krinia, who had finally been able to sit down to rest, found herself with a new group that she couldn't avoid. After all, they were her children, apprentices or friends of these. She sighed.

"Go to level up a little more. After that, we'll ask him," she put them off.

They insisted or protested, but ended up giving up.

"A massage?" her husband Krongo offered, as he put his hands on her shoulders.

"I'll take care of the feet," Kruloz, her other husband, took off her boots.

She was finally able to relax, although someone else approached.

"I'm supposed to be the empress. Why're you better served?" Kroquia complained, half laughing.

"You chose wrong!" her friend also laughed.