Book 4 | Agent 34 and the Last Gem

Chapter 34 | Secret Room

"I see," The Ar'gual leaned back in his seat, taking in everything Agent 34 had just told him. "It's miraculous that you're still alive after all you've been through," Grime told him.

"Indeed," Agent 34 said. "My brother has been close to killing me on many occasions,"

"I'm surprised he didn't end me instead of setting me free," Ismara told them.

"The biggest question on my mind is," Agent 34 leaned forwards, hands on his knees. "why he took my memories in the first place. They have appeared as no advantage to him whatsoever. In fact, I've managed to help the Zena foil his older plans even without my memories. It's done literally nothing,"

"Ah," Grime grunted. "Yes, it does nothing to Braunick, doesn't help him or anything, but for you—its a tactical disadvantage. Without your memories, you might have forgotten how evil Braunick truly is. Since you're his brother, you probably know more of Braunick than anyone else—his personality, his actions. He probably did something that he didn't want you to know of and just wiped your entire mind instead of just that very memory—of course, this is just a guess on why he did it. But there has to be more than just one reason to why he stole your past,"

Agent 34 couldn't hold it in anymore. He had been waiting to tell someone about his thoughts towards all of that. "I fear I won't ever get my memories back,"

"Not without that final gem we won't," Venon said from outside. "Fáolar gave you the gem, correct?" He asked to Grime.

"Yes," Grime stated, everyone's hopes rising. "and no,"

"What do you mean yes and no?" Ismara asked.

"He gave me a clue to the gem, not the gem itself. Do you really think Fáolar could've traveled all the way over here and back a day before the battle and make it in time to sacrifice himself?"

The Ar'gual had a point. He pushed himself up from the chair, limping to avoid damaging his leg. He went over to the nearby closest and opened the door, pulling a piece of parchment out of it. Grime tossed it to Agent 34, who caught it and opened it.

"What's it say?" Ismara asked.

Agent 34 stared at the paper, the letters appearing as meaningless scribbles to his eyes. "I—I can't read," He told the pair in the living room with him.

"Wha–Since when?" The female elf asked.

"I've never been able to read," Agent 34 confessed, shame falling upon him.

"It's okay," Grime reassured him. "Most people in Renya are illiterate—a few lucky ones were taught a few words or two. Very few can read in this land. I just assumed that someone who has done as brave of things as you've done ought to know how to read,"

"My father taught me how to read at a young age back in Ilrenia," Ismara told him. "I was one of the few children in the village that actually could read. The rest didn't know a thing,"

Ismara walked over to Agent 34 and leaned over his shoulder. She read the paper that was clutched in his hands.

"The...the secret room?" She read it, unsure of herself.

"Yes," Grime told them. "That was all he would tell me. He refused to give me any more details
other than that, and I don't know what he means by the secret room,"

"Well," Agent 34 began. "The gem has to be somewhere in or near the old Zena, correct? There's no way he could've made it somewhere to hide it in time for the battle,"

"Then let's head there. We can go there tomorrow and spend today getting prepared. It looks like your blades aren't as good as they need to be,"

"I've had the same blade since I joined the Zena," Agent 34 admitted.

"Yes, I have some replacements you may like," Grime smiled. "You see...you know the armor you are wearing right now?"

"The Destiny Armor?" Ismara asked, looking at Agent 34's purple and black set. "I had a set as well but it was lost when Braunick took me,"

"No problem," Grime said. "I may have some replacements, as well as a set of dragon armor,"

Venon jumped at the idea. "You have armor for dragons?"

"Yes," The Ar'gual laughed. "As you all know, there are few Destiny Blades and Destiny Armor in Renya. What you don't know, is that I have the material they are made of right in this very own home and can construct blades and extra reinforced armor for you both,"

"Hold on," Agent 34 asked. "You can make Destiny Armor?"

"Ha," Grime laughed. "Not only can I make them. I have made all of the current blades and swords with a material that is only from my home continent, Tramli, and even there there isn't much of it left. Never was to begin with,"

"You made this very armor I wear right now," Agent 34 was taking it all in.

"Yes," he confirmed. "And by the looks of it I didn't make it very well. It looks really banged up,"

"I've been through a lot," He told him.

"Yes, yes. As have we all. I will make the pair of you a set of extra reinforced Destiny Armor and two extra strong Destiny Blades. It should take the rest of the day and half of the night. The dragon can have the dragon armor I made beforehand. If I was to make a fresh set, it'd take a week,"

Grime stood up and descended down the stairs in the corner of the living room and down to his basement to work on the new armor.