[A boar came out. It’s causing quite a commotion in the cage. – Richard.]
[We have a termite. – Nicholas.]
Akil scanned the message, a wry smile playing on his lips. He reached for his pen and scribbled a reply at the bottom of the page.
[It’s a spider. – Akil.]
[A spider? What kind of spider? Long legs and a small body?]
Akil wasted no time in clarifying: [Short legs with hair, like a venomous spider. – Akil.]
[I’ve never seen a venomous spider lark. It’s a shame we can’t come to see it. But it’s low-grade, so it won’t be much fun to hunt. Watching the lark in the cage makes my hands itch. Don’t you all feel the same?]
[Watching it huffing and puffing in the cage is entertaining enough for me. – Richard.]
[If it were an animal, maybe, but insect-types don’t quite appeal to me for hunting. – Nicholas.]
Another message scrolled in: [We have a snake here too. – Pered.]
Before long, another message followed: [A snake? How big? Is it bigger than mine?]
Kasser chuckled as he read through the notebook. The conversation, a stark contrast to the tension-filled situation, was surprisingly lighthearted. Riner, the Fire King, seemed to thrive on injecting a dose of humor into even the most serious situations. Kasser, like the other kings, had long since stopped being fazed by Riner’s antics.
***
A flicker of betrayal crossed Pides as he observed the priests’ warm welcome of Flora. No one had breathed a word about her expected arrival.
Traditionally, an invisible hierarchy separated knights and priests. Knights, brimming with a sense of superiority as the divine’s champions, viewed priests as mere servants, dismissing them entirely. This dynamic began to shift with Sang-je’s declaration of Holy War. He promised the priests elevated status and authority, prompting them to solidify their bond. Pides had felt this shift acutely in recent interactions. Priests once friendly now kept their distance.
A realization dawned on him. No wonder Anika Flora vanished from sight, he thought. The priests’ welcoming demeanor suggested Flora’s return after a long absence.
She must have left before the capital’s sealing. But where? Does her divine art grant her free passage in and out of the sealed city?
His train of thought was abruptly derailed as he noticed the markings on the floor growing faint. Soon, they were nearly indistinguishable.
“Divine art…” Pides muttered, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. With no leads, he felt utterly lost. Squaring his shoulders, he strode towards Flora, his voice dry and devoid of emotion.
“We’ve been expecting you, Anika Flora. His Holiness awaits.” He pivoted to address the priests. “We will escort Anika Flora to the capital at once. His Holiness desires discretion. Prepare a modest carriage, one that won’t draw unwanted attention. And please, tidy this place up.”
The priests exchanged confused glances. They’d received orders to take Flora directly to the palace upon her arrival – before Pides even showed up. They assumed he must have separate instructions.
“Yes, Holy Knight,” they chorused in unison.
The address, “Holy Knight,” sent a jolt through Flora. It was a stark reminder to remain vigilant. She cast a wary glance around, her voice laced with apprehension. “Where are we?”
Flora had departed the capital unaware of the destination ritual’s location. She naively assumed it would occur within the palace walls, so this unfamiliar setting sparked confusion. A priest stepped forward to explain.
“This location has been specifically chosen to prevent any interference with the divine art. A carriage awaits to transport you to the palace.”
A short while later, the priests returned, announcing the carriage’s readiness. As Flora followed them, her gaze drifted towards a figure standing in front of a nearby building. Curiosity piqued, she inquired, “What purpose does that building serve? Who resides within?”
The priest shook his head. “We are unaware, Anika Flora. Our instructions were simply to restrict entry.”
Flora’s eyes narrowed at the priest’s response. The building’s imposing structure evoked a prison, triggering a memory from her time with the nomadic tribe and their subterranean magic training.
A snippet of dialogue echoed in her mind:
Elder: “Are there sorcerers in the capital, like yourself?”*
Flora: “Yes. Similar to Mara, Sang-je also requires another sorcerer to wield magic.”
Elder: “Do you have any knowledge of their identity?”
Flora: “How could I possibly know? Unlike us, they are singular. A truly extraordinary sorcerer. We pale in comparison.”*
There it is, Flora thought, a spark of certainty igniting within her. This building undoubtedly housed Sang-je’s sorcerer.
A fervent desire to meet this individual bloomed in her chest. Despite forty grueling days of study in the underground cave, she’d only scratched the surface of the knowledge imparted by the elders. Magic held an undeniable allure. Flora was certain it would reshape the world, and whoever mastered it first would hold the ultimate advantage.
Even after resolving the situation with Sang-je, returning to the wanderer’s tribe for further magical training was an enticing option. Yet, the thought of a sorcerer far exceeding those elders sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through her.
Silence reigned except for the crunch of gravel beneath their feet. The priests exchanged hushed passwords with the guards, prompting the heavy iron gate to creak open. A small, two-person horse-drawn carriage awaited them.
“Perhaps I should accompany Anika Flora as well,” suggested the female priest who had been with them. “I have matters to report to His Holiness. I can arrange for a larger carriage.”
Pides, fearing the priests’ further intrusion, swiftly interjected. “This carriage will suffice. Anika Flora, I apologize for the cramped quarters, but it’s temporary.”
“No, that’s—” the female priest began, but Flora cut her off.
“It’s no trouble at all,” she countered readily. After enduring the rigors of the wanderer’s hideout, a cramped carriage posed no hardship.
Flora and the two female priests squeezed into the cramped carriage, Pides settling himself on the driver’s seat. They set off, but their journey was abruptly halted after a short distance. Pides’s voice boomed from outside.
“Priest, we seem to have a problem with the carriage. Could you help for a moment?”
One of the priests cautiously emerged, but to Flora’s growing unease, she never returned. Despite the missing passenger, the carriage lurched forward, prompting a worried Flora to rap on the wall separating her from the driver’s seat. Her pleas, however, were met with silence.