Chapter 11: The Path Back

Noah awoke the next morning to find Shannon clinging to him tightly. After everything that had happened during Knight’s Day, her shaken heart drove her to seek Noah and Valia’s comfort. They spent the night immersed in passion, helping alleviate her anxiety. Rather than getting up, Noah stayed there for a few minutes, holding her close and stroking her hair, with his gentle affection causing her to stir like a flower opening its petals to the rising sun.

“My Lord,” she murmured, doing everything she could to get even closer to him.

“Good morning,” he whispered, kissing her.

“Well, don’t the two of you look adorable?” said Valia, entering the bedroom, as naked as when she went to sleep. She climbed back into bed, but instead of lying beside Noah with him in the middle as they usually slept, he curled up against Shannon, sandwiching her between them. “How’d you sleep?” she asked as her hand slid under the covers and caressed Shannon’s soft skin.

Shannon hummed from Valia’s touch. “Wonderfully.”

“You sure seem to be in good spirits now,” said Noah, his hand slipping between her legs.

Shannon began to pant as their gentle caressing became more daring, with the sensual flames of the previous evening once again coming alight. As Noah and Valia’s lips found her supple breasts, she began to whimper happily while their fingers entered her and fought for space in her pussy. Her hand grasped Noah’s member, solid with morning rigidity and waiting for her to fulfill her duties. She got on his lap, his cock entering her and finding the reservoir of seed he had deposited the previous night. Having just woken up, she wasn’t quite ready to start bouncing, so she took it slow and gentle while watching her Lord and Lady share a passionate kiss to welcome the morning.

They had just gotten started when there was a knock on the front door.

“Who in the world could that be?” Valia asked, annoyed.

“That’s not the knock of someone coming to make an arrest. Maybe if we just don’t answer, they’ll leave,” replied Noah. However, the knocking continued and refused to be ignored. Noah grudgingly got out of bed and put on a robe, making sure his erection wasn’t pointing out. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“My Lord, let me,” said Shannon.

“No, you stay there. I’ll finish you off in just a minute.” He went downstairs and answered the door, finding a royal messenger there.

“Sir Noah, your presence is requested at the palace by Sir Berholm and Sir Tarnas.” He handed Noah a notice of summoning, and Noah skimmed it. It didn’t say he was in trouble, only that he was needed.

“Very well, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Noah shut the door before the messenger could say anything more and then promptly returned upstairs, where Valia and Shannon were waiting for him. After a thoroughly lustful cavalcade, Noah, Valia, and Shannon got dressed, had a quick bite to eat, and made their way to the palace, where they met Berholm and Tarnas in the War Room.

“Multiple assassination attempts were made on Prince Seraph last night,” said Berholm.

“Assassination? Did you apprehend the culprits?” Valia asked.

“Most of them were drunk. One of them was a mage, barely able to stand, launching fireballs at the prince’s window and calling him a beastman lover,” said Tarnas.

“That is neither surprising nor dire, so why call us?” Noah asked.

“Because that is merely a fraction of the people with a bone to pick with the prince. Fortunately, you managed to prevent a riot during his speech, but after you left, plenty of angry people were still directing their wrath at Seraph and even tried to attack him. Sir Tarnas and I have decided that he is not safe in Colbrand.”

“Is he really in that much danger? Don’t you have guards for that kind of thing?” Shannon asked. Berholm and Tarnas both glanced at her but said nothing. Though she wasn’t invited to this meeting, it was too late to object.

“It’s not the public you’re afraid of; it’s Ziradith, isn’t it?” Noah surmised.

“Correct,” said Tarnas. “Though he has regained a small amount of his original power, Seraph’s still at the level of an average paladin. He also has no militaristic or domestic achievements, a tainted record on top of being humiliated in the arena, and his speech last night angered a lot of people. At the moment, Seraph is more of a liability than an asset, both for our side and Ziradith’s. We can’t hope to put him on the throne, not as long as Galvin is alive, and Ziradith knows this, but he also remains a potential threat to her, and a source of criticism from the public. He’s a weapon she can’t use but can be used against her, meaning if she has any sense, she’ll try to get rid of him, perhaps turn him into an example or a martyr for her cause.”

Noah rubbed his chin in thought. “Regardless of the demerits, he’s too important of a piece in this game to risk losing. I told Ziradith I’d give her a chance to prove her quality to rule, but that’s only until she screws up. We’ll have to hold off on removing her and Galvin until we can turn Seraph into a worthy candidate, someone the people will back. There is only one way to do it.”

“Find a way to return his powers,” said Valia.

“I’ve been trying to do that for a year. The embers remain, but the fire refuses to burn,” Tarnas growled.

“Maybe you need a different approach,” said Noah.

“Is Galvin still not awake?” asked Valia.

“No, which is another problem we have to worry about,” said Berholm. “It should be possible for Seraph to use the Wassengel manacle if the need arises, but considering Ziradith’s threat, I’m hesitant to remove it from Galvin’s arm. Noah, what did you do to him?”

“I inflicted pain that wouldn’t leave a mark, but it was no different from what I did to the guards in front of him, so unless they’re comatose like he is, the problem resides elsewhere, likely due to Ziradith’s mind control, or perhaps its absence. However, the fact that Galvin is indisposed may be a stroke of luck, at least regarding Seraph. Ziradith said she could control the Wassengel, either through Galvin or by using his blood as a catalyst, but there is no way to know how well she can do it, if she was even telling the truth. If the Wassengel can’t be activated under present circumstances, then Seraph is our one remaining hope for using it, to us and Ziradith. She likely won’t make a move against him, at least until Galvin is awake.”

“And until then?” Shannon asked.

“I’ll look for possible solutions to restoring Seraph’s power. I have a couple of ideas, though that’s all they are. Let’s meet again, once I have something substantial.”

“Agreed,” said Berholm.

Noah, Valia, and Shannon then departed from the palace. As they left, Noah received wary and fearful glances from everyone he passed, and looks of shock that he hadn’t been arrested. Bronze and silver-ranked knights, those who had scoffed at the rumors and reputation following him, now stood at attention as he walked. Those who had faced down the basilisk would never forget the pain that Noah inflicted on them, and the fact that Noah could use that technique whenever he wished made them rightfully afraid.

“To think, I now have to undo what I did at the last Knight’s Day. What a pain,” Noah said as they stepped outside.

“Let that be a lesson to you, then. The next time you decide to punish someone and think you’re going easy on them, you aren’t,” Valia chided.

“Yes, dear, whatever you say.”

“What should we do?” Shannon asked.

“What if we were to take Seraph to Sylphtoria? Maybe the light of the star you made could return his powers,” Valia offered.

“That star simply reflects and augments the holy energy of the Nadoku’s prayers, elven energy. Besides, it would take months to get there and back. If he was an elf, I would say it’s a good idea, but I don’t know if it could restore him. If the title of Light’s Emissary is befitting, then we need something more ... divine, something more closely related to Lumendori. However, that gets me thinking. Perhaps the church might know of such a source of divine light, something that can reignite the flame. Let’s speak with my contact in the church. Maybe she knows something.”

“Your contact is a woman?” Valia asked with a raised eyebrow.

“It’s someone you know, and I haven’t slept with her if that’s what you’re wondering. After our last meeting, I can’t imagine she’d be too eager to test the legend, so to speak.”

Valia giggled. “The legend?”

Noah smiled and shrugged. “Hey, I got a reputation. Ask the people who live on our street; you’re a part of it.”

Valia averted her gaze, just as her neighbors often did when she passed by, all with red cheeks and hushed whispering.

Shannon clung to Noah’s arm. “I love being part of your reputation,” she said sweetly.

“Well, I certainly hope so, or I’m not doing my job.”

The trio then set off towards the center of town with Noah in the lead. In his hand, he held a compass he made, but the needle didn’t point north. It was actually pointing to a corresponding gem that he had stuck on Bojena’s clothes when she attacked him. It was a prototype he hoped to someday use to find Valon or the Profane base, but magical tracking got exponentially more difficult as the distance increased. He theorized that mana in the environment caused interference, requiring more powerful materials and craftsmanship. The gem he had given Bella was the same kind, and would hopefully be able to transmit her location once she found the base and he improved the compass.

They eventually arrived at a tea house, where Bojena was drinking at a table outside. Summer was fully upon the city, but she remained hooded and cloaked to hide her identity. Bojena was shocked when Noah, Valia, and Shannon sat across from her.

“How did you find me?” she cursed.

“You act like I’m some bounty hunter out to collect your head, or a stalker that’s madly in love with you. I’m here to talk business.” He raised his hand, calling over a servant girl, and ordered a cup of tea.

“It’s good to see you, Bojena,” said Valia.

“You as well. I was disheartened when you left us to pursue your brother, but I understand. After all, I, too, have obligations higher than that of the knighthood.”

“Still, it breaks my heart that you ended up at war with the Knight’s Sheath, trying to kill Alexis and Sophia. I knew you were a devoted member of the church, but I never imagined you’d commit such crimes in its name.”

“Do not ask me to apologize for doing what I believe is right. The will of the gods is my conscience, and I still believe that Cyrilo’s book program will do more harm than good.”

“We’re not here to talk about faith,” said Noah. “You told me before that your superiors wanted Galvin out of the way and Seraph put on the throne. I want to help.”

“You do?”

“Yes, but something needs to be done about his current condition. At the moment, Seraph is despised and mocked by most of the city. Our only way to remedy that and get him some support is to return his powers as Light’s Emissary. I’m hoping that somewhere deep in the church’s archives, there is a secret that may help us.”

Bojena was silent for several moments. “I may know of something that might help, but like you said, it’s a secret I’m sworn to maintain. I shouldn’t even be talking about it, especially to someone like you.”

“Someone like me? Then would you tell someone like Adwith Tarnas and Marcus Berholm?”

“So that they can arrest me the moment they see my face? Not likely.”

“What if I could ensure that wouldn’t happen?”

“And how can you do that?”

“Valia and I are gold-rank knights, and contrary to how various officials might feel, that entitles us to a certain level of authority that you once possessed. Besides, so long as you agree to help restore Seraph and defeat the Profane, I’m sure they’ll agree that locking you in the dungeon would be a waste of your skills and talent.”

Bojena mulled it over. “I’ll have to confirm with my superiors. Assuming they agree and allow me to divulge confidential knowledge, then I will help you. I should have a response by tomorrow.”

“Excellent. I expect to hear from you soon.”

Bojena left some money on the table for her tea and departed, leaving Noah, Valia, and Shannon.

“What now?” Valia asked.

“Even if she refuses to divulge, I can simply use truth serum to get her to reveal what she knows. That said, we shouldn’t assume that she’ll bring the answers to our prayers. We should keep looking for solutions. I suggest splitting up. The two of you go to the academy and see if Elyot might have any ideas or can suggest some books from the library. I’ll go to the Knight’s Sheath. Cyrilo’s book collection is the second largest source of knowledge in the city, and hopefully, there will be something we can use.

“Lewis should be busy with classes, but perhaps he’d be willing to take a break to help us on official business,” said Valia.

The group split up, with Noah journeying to the Knight’s Sheath. He arrived to find that business was still halted, but different activity was happening inside.

“Noah, hello,” Sophia said with a tired smile, relieved to see him.

“How are things here?” he asked.

“We’re about to go bury Melinda. Would you care to join?”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I can’t say I knew her very well, and after all the funerals I’ve been to in my life, I’ve become a bit picky about which ones I attend.”

“I understand. Besides, you already did enough for her yesterday. I heard about what happened during Seraph’s speech. Thank you for everything you said about the citizens of Welindar.”

“You didn’t know them.”

“No, but I’m always grateful to those who stand up and tell the truth, who shed light on that which the masses choose not to see. The people of Welindar were never properly mourned. They have no graves, no markers, no kind words spoken by loved ones in their memory. Their lives were taken from them even before they died, and they were cursed and condemned after their deaths for being turned into monsters.

But what you did for them, what you said about them, I hope it brought them comfort. I hope they can rest in peace, knowing that their story was told, that they were vindicated by the man who fought to protect them.” Sophia paused, unsure, before throwing herself forward and hugging Noah tightly. “Thank you for coming back. Thank you for not forgetting them, or us.”

“I could never...” Noah trailed off. He wanted to say he could never forget her, but the fact remained that he knew he could, just as he had forgotten so many other people who were important to him, including the woman Sophia reminded him of. “I don’t ever want to forget you,” he said, returning the embrace.

As much as Sophia wanted to hold and be held by Noah until the end of time, she reluctantly let go, afraid of what her racing heart would compel her to do. “I ... should go find Alexis,” she said, her face downcast, not wanting him to see the infatuated red of her cheeks.

As she departed, Cyrilo arrived. “Are you coming to the funeral?”

“Actually, I’m looking for information and was hoping to peruse your library.”

“Everything I have is at your disposal. Help yourself. Just please look after the place while we’re gone.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. And thank you for everything else.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Sophia already did all that.”

“Well, now I am. You know, I so often forget that I’m a member of the beastman race. I’m one of the few who can use elemental magic, even though it’s only runecraft. For so long, I only saw shamanism as a way to circumvent my curse, whether I was in full cat form or this state. I remember when you talked about your past bodies and said that it was never a matter of pride or identity for you, and that’s how I felt. But now, seeing how things are changing, seeing how ... my people ... are at risk in this country, it’s given me a new sense of perspective. You helped me find that perspective, just like when your lecture motivated me to start the Age of Knowledge. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Unfortunately, it’s also given me pause for concern ... and guilt. Most of my girls didn’t know they had the affinity until I tested them. They could have gone their whole lives free of this drama, but I saw it as a way to make money and draw in customers. Though they can hide their beastman traits whenever they want to, they can’t unmake what they are. They will never be safe in a world run by the people like what we saw yesterday, and that is my burden to bear, for putting them at risk. Until now, beastmen were simply looked down on because of religious reasons and centuries of fighting over land, but this deep hatred I’m seeing in this city, it’s different, and it scares me.”

“It should. A long time ago, I was in the country of Trent while trying to find a thief who had stolen fissile materials from a government facility and was linked to various terrorist organizations who he was likely ... forget it; none of that matters. Anyway, it was a poor, dusty nation in the midst of an ethnic cleansing. If you don’t know, ethnic cleansing is the mass expulsion or killing of members of an unwanted ethnic or religious group in a society.

One day, I’m walking down the street and see a child running with a bundle in his arms, being chased by some angry men. I assume he’s a street orphan who got caught stealing and was about to get the shit kicked out of him. For a moment, I thought he would escape them. He was fast, and the street was crowded. Then he tripped, and the men caught up with him. I expected some punches and kicks, but nope, they all drew machetes and just hacked the kid to pieces right there in the middle of the street. He had just enough time to scream once before his voice cut out. He wasn’t a thief; he was just a child born to the wrong family and chased by men born to the right ones.

Then they seized the bundle he was holding, which turned out to be a baby, perhaps a younger sibling the boy was trying to save. It was crying like you’d expect, until one of the men grabbed it by the ankle and beat its head against the side of a building like he was hammering a nail. The whole time this was happening, no one in the street bothered to intervene. No one even gave a second glance. The men who butchered this child were completely stoic the entire time, like they were cutting up meat for dinner, except they just left him there for the buzzards to feed on. I don’t want that kind of thing to happen here.

I wish I could tell you I was shocked by what I saw, but it was nothing new, not to me, not to that country, not to mankind. Amazing, isn’t it? The horrors that people can unleash upon each other, the depths of their depravity, all of their own free will, without some outside force like the Profane guiding them. Like I said, I wish I could tell you I was shocked. I wish there was still some horror, some evil, some atrocity that I could say I haven’t witnessed, that I haven’t experienced, that I could refuse to believe is possible. But ... there’s nothing, nothing left.”

After Noah spoke with Cyrilo, she and everyone else at the Knight’s Sheath departed to hold Melinda’s funeral. All alone in the brothel, Noah poured himself a drink and went to work combing through the library. Suffice it to say that Cyrilo’s collection was quite impressive. She hadn’t just copied the books with alchemy; she’d had them first rewritten and edited with fresh parchment and binding, using beautiful calligraphy. Such fine work didn’t come cheap, but with alchemy diamonds, price wasn’t an issue. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find what he was looking for. These lands were steeped in myth and legend, but none could restore Seraph’s power.

He was still reading by the time everyone returned, at which point the Knight’s Sheath was open to customers. Curiously, all the men and women who spotted him made a point to approach. “Sir Noah,” they’d say with a reverent bow of their heads. It seemed all of his actions from the previous day had granted him some added prestige and respect. Eventually, Foley and Roc made appearances.

“Oi, Noah,” the dwarf grunted.

“Hey, what’s new with you two?” he asked.

“We’re each heading home. Well, tomorrow.”

“I guess I can’t convince you to stay and help fight the Profane?”

“No, but I’m convinced of their danger. I’m returning to the Ashok Mountains to warn all the tribes about them. We won’t be caught unprepared.”

“Well, I suppose that’s still some good news.”

“We wanted to stick around another night and enjoy a few more drinks,” said Foley.

“I was also hoping to spar with you again,” Roc added.

“Sure, sounds like fun.”

They weren’t the only people leaving. Other warriors like Saimallah were turning down the offer of knighthood and returning home. It was unfortunate, but hopefully, they’d keep fighting the good fight against the Profane in their territories. The trio stepped out behind the Knight’s Sheath just like before. This time, a few more people had gathered to watch.

“Did anyone give you trouble today?” Noah asked as he and Roc stretched.

“Some dirty looks, but that’s it. After all, I did show the entire city what happens to those who pick a fight with me.”

“You mean those who pick a fight with you, aside from me.”

Roc gave a dry chuckle. “For now. This time, I’m not holding back,” he said, extending his wings and donning his talons. “Come at me.”

“Famous last words.”

Noah approached Roc, who immediately became tense. The way Noah walked and faced him left no openings. He didn’t favor any particular side, put nothing forward and left nothing behind. No matter which way Roc attacked, he might as well have been trying to find a weak spot on a steel sphere. Finally, Noah stood before Roc and threw his fist forward. Given the distance between them, Roc knew it was a feint, and just as he expected, Noah’s fist stopped several inches in front of his face, clear to everyone.

For the tiniest fraction of a second, Roc felt secure in his assessment, and was about to circumvent Noah’s extended arm for a counter, but he was struck by an invisible punch that hit him square in the face, delivered with enough force to knock him onto his back. Since Roc was using his magic, it was only fair that Noah use his own. To Roc and everyone watching, it was like he had punched the air so hard that he created a wind blast similar to Reiss.

“You may be worthy of silver-rank, but don’t forget that I’m gold.”

“Fuck,” Roc groaned, holding his busted nose.

“Yeah, once a nose breaks, sparring is done.”

“No, no, I’m all right. Just give me a second.” He tried not to tear up as he worked his nose back into place. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hit me there again.”

“Fine, I’ll hold back even more.”

Roc took a deep breath and then launched himself with his wings towards Noah, trying to deliver a roundhouse kick. Using the second knuckle of his middle finger, Noah jabbed a nerve cluster in Roc’s leg, sending a muscle spasm through his body. Noah zoomed forward, punching Roc in the stomach, then bending his arm and nailing him square in the chest with his elbow. Before Roc could respond, Noah turned and slammed him in the chin with his other elbow, sending his brain rattling in his skull, then jumped into the air and brought down his leg onto Roc’s shoulder, delivering enough force to leave his whole right side numb. Roc was laid out, barely conscious, to everyone’s shock. He was the unofficial tournament champion, and to be demolished like that without landing a single blow was a sight to behold.

“You still alive?” Noah asked.

“Whoever came up with that broken nose rule was very wise. I should’ve listened.”

Noah pulled him to his feet. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink, and Sophia can patch you up.” He then turned to the dwarf nearby. “What about you, Foley? You interested in a little one-on-one?”

“Of course, but of a different kind.”

Eventually, Valia and Shannon arrived at the Knight’s Sheath, finding Noah sitting at a table in the middle of the room, facing Foley, each holding a glass with a bottle of ambrosia between them. From how they slouched in their chairs, it was clear those glasses had been filled and emptied many times. The two were surrounded by customers, all gambling on who would be the last man retaining verticality.

“Sweet merciful God, how are you still...” Foley paused to empty his glass, then grimaced. “How are you still alive?”

Noah lacked the dexterity, so Alexis poured for him. He downed it in a quick gulp, but his blinking and facial twitches made it clear that the alcohol was getting to him. “Foley, my friend, I have a LOT of experience in this kind of c-c-competition. You’re not winning this.”

“I’m fucking dwarf!”

“Dwarves ain’t shit.”

Alexis filled Foley’s glass, he stared it down, and then drank it with a groan. “This isn’t as fun as I thought it would be. It was fun at first, back I thought you’d give me a mod-moderate challenge, but then you just had to be a stubborn son of a bitch.”

Valia approached with a small smile. “Please tell me this isn’t how you’ve been spending your time while we’ve been busy.”

“I’ll have you know...” Noah stopped to steady himself, “that I scoured Cyrilo’s library and f-found n-n-nothing. This is me ... unwinding, and bidding farewell to a friend.” Noah downed his glass. Quite frankly, it was a miracle he was still conscious. Like he told Foley, he had a lot of practice with this game, but his body didn’t. He was pushing through with sheer willpower, relying on his vast experience with intoxication to see through the haze and remain upright.

“Should we stop this?” Shannon asked.

“Part of me wants to, but I’ve never seen Noah this drunk before. It’s kind of interesting.”

Foley raised his glass, barely able to keep his hand steady and spilling a fair amount, before it finally slipped from his fingers. He fell back onto the floor and groaned. “Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, forgive me! I’ve brought shame to our family!” Then he passed out. Noah emptied his glass one final time, and the Knight’s Sheath erupted into cheers.

“Noah, are you ok?” Valia asked, rubbing his back.

He gave her a drunk smile. “This is nothing. You should have seen me on St. Patrick’s Day when I had that funnel in my ass.”

“I don’t know what that means, and I’m not sure I want to. Come on, let’s get you home.”

Noah woke up the following morning, more hungover than he had been in a hundred years. After vomiting into the garden, he sent Shannon to the market to pick up some hangover cures. She returned with the goods, as well as an envelope.

“I found this on the front step,” she said softly, out of consideration. It was marked with the church’s seal. Noah opened it, wincing at every sound the paper made.

“It’s a request for a meet. The three of us, plus Tarnas, Berholm, and Seraph, at the Rodham Cathedral at noon. A similar request was sent to the palace.”

“It seems Bojena came through for us,” said Valia.

“Let’s just hope our conversation doesn’t get too loud.”

After mixing up a cure for his headache and nausea and mixing it with a greasy breakfast and some morphine, Noah set off for the cathedral with Valia and Shannon. His hat was pulled low to keep as much light as possible out of his eyes. They arrived to find it empty of parishioners, or even the local priest, but Tarnas, Berholm, and Seraph were present. Upon seeing Noah, Seraph began to panic.

“What is this? What’s going on?!” he cried in terror.

“Seraph, I had a lot to drink yesterday, and I’d appreciate it if you could lower your voice.” Seraph wisely obeyed. “Has he been told?” Noah then asked Berholm.

“Yes, he knows the situation with Galvin and Ziradith.”

“So what are we doing here? Who summoned us?” Tarnas asked.

“I did,” said Bojena, making her arrival.

“Lady Lang— no, you don’t deserve that honorific. You’re just a criminal now,” Berholm grumbled.

“I am a servant of the gods. No other title matters to me. Besides, I stood by your side against the fiend army, didn’t I?”

“And then disappeared in the commotion caused by the Wassengel.”

“The gods have plans for me beyond simply sitting in a dungeon. Now, I summoned you here because I have information vital to the survival of this country. Do you want to hear it or not?”

Tarnas and Berholm exchanged a glance. “Go on,” said the wary dwarf.

Bojena turned to Seraph. “According to secret texts kept in the church’s archives, there may be a way to restore your powers, Your Highness.”

Seraph’s eyes widened. “You mean it? I can really return to being Light’s Emissary?”

“There is only a possibility, not a guarantee. However, before I reveal it, I require a royal pardon in exchange. The Wandering Spirit already promised me protection and my freedom if I came forward, and I need to know you will honor it.”

Berholm and Tarnas shot Noah a dirty look. “Hey, I’m gold-rank too, remember?” he chided before turning to Bojena. “However, the deal is only in place if your information pans out, and you help us fight the Profane. You lie to us, flee the war, or otherwise welch on your obligations, and I will rain the wrath of God down upon you. Now get on with it.”