Book 4 | Agent 34 and the Last Gem

Chapter 41 | The Next Clue

Deathbringer led them to the Zena, leaving Venon outside since he couldn't fit in. He walked through the roughed up corridors, making sure they were behind him the entire time. He seemed paranoid and very tense as he walked, often looking past the Destigems as if he was trying to spot something behind them.

Eventually, he stopped halfway to the cafeteria. He turn to the left, beginning to knock at the wall lightly. "Help me," he told them. "See if you can find something hollow,"

Everyone did as told, knocking the stone wall. Ismara knocked against a part farther up the wall, making a different sound from the rest of the group's knocking.

"Bingo," Deathbringer said, going towards Ismara and pushing her back. He cracked his knuckles, black energy forming in them. He shot it at the wall, the energy flying off his hands and engulfing the stone into a door-like shape. He pulled his hands backwards, the door pulled away from the wall and revealing a spiral staircase that led down into darkness.

"Aw, memories," He said, sighed as he retracted his hands and the blackness disappeared from the door. Deathbringer descended down the staircase, not watching to see if the Destigems followed.

Grime went down after him first, Ismara and Agent 34 going together. She gripped his hand as they began, shooting him a mental message. What are we going to do when he finds the gem?

We don't have a choice other than to steal it from him and kill him, Agent 34 told her.

Killing him was supposed to be Evilslayer's job.

Maybe he doesn't deserve the title anymore, Agent 34 replied, squeezing her hand.

He's powerful in Black Magic. We are mortals, we can't kill him.

We need to try whenever we get the chance.

If we die... she started, but didn't finish her sentence. Ismara quickly brushed her lips against his and let go of his hand, the two of them reaching the end of the stairs.

Deathbringer snapped his fingers, a ball of fire appearing above his head and hovering there. It illuminated the room, bringing light to the darkness.

The room seemed to be ransacked and trashed. Boxes thrown across the floor, cracks crawling up the ceiling and the walls.

"The apocalypse has taken a toll on this place," Grime mentioned.

"Nope," The cloaked man replied. "Always been like this since that damned Calvin decided to come and destroyed the place. Anyways, where's the gem?"

Agent 34 looked around the room, trying to eye a green gem lying somewhere. After not finding one, he simply shrugged.

"I'll ask again, and I'll ask you personally," He pointed to Agent 34. "Linx, where is the gem?"

"I-I don't know," Agent 34 stuttered.

Deathbringer menacingly walked towards the elf, black energy forming around his fists. Agent 34 looked around quickly, trying to spot a green gem with no success.

"Look," Ismara called. Everyone stopped and spotted her pointing at the wall, the only one without cracking crawling along it.

Deathbringer walked over to it, the fire above his head following and shining upon the wall. Words were written on it, illiterate to Agent 34.

"Renya is in doom and you have found the secret room. Go to the city by the sea or let it be. The gem lies there," The red cloaked man read, tracing his finger along each word. "The hell does that mean?"

"There is no city on the coast," Grime stated. "At least, not that I know of,"

"The Zena was planning on expanding and starting a village there for trading and such," Agent 34 explained. "but that's it. Nearest city that's close to the coast is Durmist, and I bet that place is in shambles,"

"Who is the one who hid the gem in the first place?" Deathbringer explained.

"The same person who hid them in the first place," Ismara said.

"That's literally what I just said," The cloaked man said, crossing his arms.

"But you didn't let me finish. It's the same person who hid them before: Fáolar."

"How the hell did that old coop get his hands on a gem? Much less was allowed to keep it?"

Ismara's fist clenched, her teeth grinding. "He wasn't an old coop,"

"He was if he decided to hide a gem instead of using it or giving it to someone more worthy,"

"Fáolar fought for what he believed in and did what was right!" Ismara slammed her foot down. "My father died in the fight for freedom from Braunick and I intend to avenge him and support his cause until I am in the ground!"

"And who might your father be?" He asked, tapping his foot.

"My father is none other than Fáolar, Sir of the fallen village of Ilrenia and hider of the gems!" Ismara blurted out, anger fueling higher.

"The truth comes out," Deathbringer said calmly, shrugging his shoulders. "I knew you weren't the Traverials. Thad would never abandon the current Zena just to reunite with his boy band. Plus, he isn't an Ar'gual. You really thought you had me fooled?"

He had an eerie smile as he clapped his hands together and said, "Lights out." The fire above him disappeared, the room going to dark.