《The Six Strangers (Godshards Series: Volume One)》 Chapter One: The Battle of Venito
¡°The Void¡¯s Vessel cannot be stopped. She is coming soon! All will be devoured in her beautiful darknes-¡± - The last words of a nameless cultist of Morgash, as the executioner brought down his blade. ? ¡°Michael, stay in formation!¡± barked Leo. The restless recruit glared back at him, bristling with eagerness. He was no older than eighteen winters and acted like it. Leo gave him a steely look. Michael grumbled as he rejoined the ranks. Leo surveyed his detachment. The soldiers stood firm, four hundred strong. Their pikes glistened, and their black and gold Guardia Grifone livery was displayed beneath their armor. He didn¡¯t know them all yet, but Michael stood out, even if it was for the wrong reasons. Leo adjusted his plumed hat and stood proud and tall. He needed to be an example for his soldiers, after all. Others regiments flanked Leo¡¯s. All reflections of his own, some with halberds instead of pikes, but all fully ready for their purpose. Behind them, gunners and crossbowmen were readying their rounds. Guarding them were heavily armored soldiers, deploying their pavise shields to form a wall of black and gold, spear points braced and ready. Even further behind them were the bombards. With any luck, they would actually function this time. Leo looked ahead into the distance, past the grassy plain, where the remnants of Venito stood, decaying wood and terracotta held up like mortar against the newer and fouler hive constructs. Long twisting spires poked through rooftops like sickly fingers clawing at the sky. Venito had no chance, for the monsters had come in the middle of the night during the birthday celebration of Adam, the First Godshard. It was sacrilege on all of man¡¯s realms, an injustice that could not be ignored. The creatures were merciless, slaughtering countless townsfolk. Thousands more fled. Twelve men in their compagnia died that night. And the Guardia del Grifone takes care of its own. Leo cursed the Nameless One and her foul spawn. One day there would be justice; they would see to that. A screech pulled Leo from his thoughts. From on high, a beast landed in front of the assembled host. The impact sent a burst of wind that nearly knocked off Leo¡¯s hat. Generale Augustino had arrived. The griffon fidgeted uneasily, and its alabaster wings flapped about. It was a beautiful creature, part eagle and part lion. Its front talons were groomed and well cared for, further enhanced by blades. Scaled lamellar rained down the beast, shimmering from its star-iron make, even on this grey and dreary day. Adorning him over the armor was a tabard of black and gold. This creature was their mascot and one of their greatest weapons. Augustino himself was a man who had seen many a battle. He wore an expensive suit of armor, black with golden bands. On top of his head was a black bascinet, the rounded shape twisting into a griffon¡¯s snarling face, golden wings spread from each side. His dark hair had flecks of silver, his face rugged with several scars, and his eyes showed stoicism and strength. ¡°My friends,¡± he boomed, striding forth with regal grace and a fatherly smile on his lips. ¡°I can see the fear in your eyes. We have many first-timers here today. There is no shame in being afraid. But you are here, all the same; you stand proud amongst the compagnia. That speaks of your courage, and courage is greater than any weapon. To those who are afraid, look around you! Look to your brothers and sisters, your guardie, and know you are not alone! We stand together! We are fury; we are unstoppable, Siamo la Guardia del Grifone!¡± A boisterous cheer welled up from the compagnia. Leo felt a twinge of pride in having such a man as their leader. ¡°For Venito!¡± exclaimed Michael. ¡°For Venito!¡± The rest of the regiment shouted in reply; they were antsy and loose, shaking their weapons eagerly. ¡°Michael!¡± shouted Leo. ¡°One more time, and you will be reprimanded. Back in line, you dogs!¡± Michael rolled his eyes, and the rest scrambled back into place. Leo saw much of himself in the young man¡¯s eyes, which was concerning. These lot were immature, emotional, and careless. Augustino all but admitted this was a test for him as well. He knew what would happen by putting all the men and women from Venito in the same regiment. They¡¯d fight better, but they would be undisciplined. Augustino muttered a command in the Old Tongue, and the griffon launched into the air. He looked over at a tall figure who joined their party and said, ¡°Maga Avalon, are you ready?¡± ¡°I am,¡± she said, her voice carrying over the wind despite its softness. Ah, yes, the most enigmatic guest for this campaign. The Island City insisted that one of their Maghi assist with this mission. Venito held great significance to them as the birthplace of Adam. He heard they had sent one of their best. In truth, however, Leo had nearly forgotten about her. She had kept to herself the entire journey. The soldier¡¯s ranks parted as she fluttered forward with grace and dignity, towering over the guardie. Her long black robes flowed in the morning breeze, and an ornate black headdress crowned her head. Her eyes were most striking to Leo; they held a faint white glow. There was a fire in them, a passion, something deeper that no mortal gaze could convey. Leo stood in awe. True, he had met Godshards before. Padre Angelos was a lifelong friend. But she felt different. Perhaps she was closer to the divine, or maybe he was too familiar with the Shards he knew. Padre Angelos said it was rare for Maghi to leave their sanctums after all. That was not their purpose. Whatever the case, he could only stare as she reached the front of the line, right by Leo¡¯s side. Augustino nodded. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready.¡± She took a deep breath and nodded. Closing her eyes, she began to chant. It had a rhythm, and Leo could make out certain words. A form of the Old Tongue, most likely. She brought her hands together; her eyes opened wide, the faint glow in them flaring brighter. Flames conjured from her hands, turning from yellow to white in seconds. Guardie murmured behind her, staring in wonder at the display. Leo felt the fire¡¯s heat, and the flame¡¯s brightness forced him to look away.
With a final word, the flames shot out of her hands like a comet through the night sky. The army could only gawk as the projectile hit the hive. They cheered as flames began to spawn from the impact. Leo¡¯s regiment, however, became silent. Even Michael looked forlorn. His stare was intense, and he held back tears as the blaze grew. He took off his helmet in mourning, and the others next to him followed suit. Leo was too amazed to even notice. He was just as enraptured as the rest. Indeed, the magical prowess of the Godshards was as legendary as the old stories claimed.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Many of the guardie couldn¡¯t hide their excitement, and laughter rang out. ¡°Did we even need to form up today? It looks like Maga Avalon did our job for us.¡± ¡°Silence in the ranks!¡± barked Augustino as he gestured toward the hive. ¡°We¡¯re not finished yet!¡± A faint rumbling began to reverberate from the hive. It slowly grew louder and louder. The laughter and joy quickly grew silent as they realized what it was. Buzzing. Augustino pulled out a signal flag. ¡°Ready the bombards!¡± The buzzing got louder and louder. Icy dread hung thick in the air. Michael and the others quickly put their helmets back on. The bravado in the regiment doubled; they were eager, even as fear gripped their hearts. The monstrous bugs burst out of the hive like a jagged fanged hurricane. The sight was revolting upon the assembled forces. Eyes widened, and jaws dropped in horror, especially to those who had never seen creatures like this before. These were no ordinary bees or wasps. The dread-wasps were of monstrous size; each one dwarfed a man. They were a perversion of nature and the creatures created by the Gods. The fires caught many of the monstrous bugs. The smoke disoriented them, even as they poured out of the hive. They shrieked in agony; their many arms flailed violently. Others fell to the ground, writhing around as they burned alive. Augustino brought down his flag at last. A flash of fire and smoke answered in reply. The cannons roared to life, crushing heavy lead into the hive and smashing honeycombs and foul bugs alike. The barrage sent several enormous spires crashing down, sowing further destruction upon the hive and its occupants. Dust and ash rose from the ruins and blocked out the sun. Leo could hear distant calls for reloading behind him. In the tumult, the buzzing grew louder and angrier. More and more dread-wasps fluttered into the air, a black cloud forming from their sheer numbers. ¡°May the Gods protect us,¡± a distraught soldier cried. As the dust settled, the creatures looked around. Their compound eyes spotted the group, and the constant buzzing went feral. They bolted at full speed with their insectoid wings toward the humans. A loud boom rang out as the first row of gunners fired their shots. They ducked down for the second row to fire and then the row after that. Waves of thunder reverberated in the air. The noise drowned out even the buzzing and chittering of the bugs. Many guardsmen plugged their ears as the noise became unbearable. Whistling joined the chorus of sound as the crossbowmen shot their bolts, piercing many creatures that the guns missed. Hundreds fell, torn asunder by the barrage. There were so many that it was all but impossible to miss one. Yet still more came. Leo drew his greatsword and put his arm up. ¡°On my order. Steady!¡± The insects¡¯ compound eyes look upon the soldiers with wanton hunger. Mandibles chitter with evil excitement, drooling from their fanged maws. Many recruits whimpered, and others looked behind them, weighing their options, considering desertion over death. ¡°Steady!¡± Comforting faces and steely eyes from the veterans kept all disorder in check. They were in this together, and they would survive together. In the front rank, Michael gave a grim smirk. ¡°Now!¡± The pikemen lowered their weapons as one, like a sharp metal curtain. The swarm crashed right into it and melted in an explosion of ichor. Hundreds died instantly, their shriveled-up corpses falling gently to the ground. The collision shoved the whole formation back by sheer momentum. Soldiers struggled to keep their footing, and some fell over in the front. ¡°Hold your ground!¡± ordered Leo. Still more dread-wasps launched themselves at the soldiers. Pikes snapped under the pressure, and guardie drew swords. The horde descended on them like an enveloping black cloud. The dread-wasps were fast. They floated just out of sword reach before striking at the right moment. One wrong move and soldiers died. Leo was eagle-eyed; he lost count of how many he had slain. One fluttered right at him. He stabbed it between the eyes, its stinger inches from his throat. Another tried to scratch at him from behind with its venomous claws; Leo dodged the strikes before swinging the blade overhead. The now limbless creature fell to the ground. Leo finished it swiftly with a boot to its face. He looked around. A gunner was too slow to draw his sword and was stabbed in the throat by a stinger. The man choked on foam and blood before keeling over dead. A halberdier couldn¡¯t avoid getting surrounded by a cluster of dread-wasps, which pierced him from four angles. The persistent buzzing tuned out his death gurgle. Another was stabbed in the eyes by the long, crooked mandibles of a dread-wasp, the poor soldier returning the favor before both combatants fell dead. Michael was wild-eyed. A monstrous bug rushed him, but his pike skewered it with ease. The stab had been one too many; the pike broke into pieces. Michael hurriedly drew his sword, but he was not fast enough. Another bug barreled into him, the lean form knocking him to the ground. It raised its abdomen, an ugly red and black appendage with a nasty barbed stinger. It dripped venom, ready to strike. Michael looked up in horror; he had no time left. Ichor splashed his face. A swift sword strike decapitated the marauding bug. ¡°Get up!¡± Leo pulled Michael to his feet, still in a daze. ¡°The fight¡¯s not over, ragazzo.¡± He shook him, snapping the boy out of his stupor. Michael nodded and drew his sword. Maga Avalon was also playing her part, and Leo was most pleased. After another string of chants, she conjured a red lightning bolt, frying a score of dread-wasps, incinerating them to ashes, and setting Leo¡¯s hair on edge. A dozen foul monsters zoomed at her in response, only to be vaporized when they got too close. A barrier kept her safe, lighting up the area with a blue glow. The impact still hit hard, and she fell to the ground. Leo moved through the chaos and helped her up. The Godshard stared intently at Leo as if actually seeing him for the first time. Her head tilted as she regarded him curiously. Leo didn¡¯t notice her examination and nodded once he saw she was okay. He still had a battle to win. The center under Leo became the bedrock of the entire formation, and inch by bloody inch, they started to push the monsters back. Up in the air, Augustino slew dread-wasps left and right. His mace pummeled the bugs out of the sky, their heads crushed in and their abdomens pulverized into toxic muck. His enchanted shield clanged like a cymbal due to the sheer volume of fruitless stings. His griffon fought, too, matching the ferocity of the dread-wasps and returning it in kind. Its bladed claws tore monstrous bugs to shreds, tearing the wings off one and biting the head off another. Finally, the dread-wasps retreated, inelegantly ceasing the attack and fleeing in all directions, dispersing like fading storm clouds. Surviving gunners and crossbowmen aimed their weapons, sniping bugs out of the sky. Their corpses fell to the ground like distant raindrops. The survivors cheered, and Leo breathed a sigh of relief. He looked around; men were groaning in pain, and their wounded were many. Blood and viscous fluids ran around the bodies, the heavier black gruel smudged in pools of red, puddling around the feet of the survivors. It was the dreary butcher¡¯s bill, a sight Leo had grown numb to. With heavy breaths, Leo slowly trudged to Michael, who was kneeling by a dying soldier. Leo knelt to take a closer look at his wounds. Long red gashes trailed across his skin, his armor torn asunder by the relentless attack. Michael held his hand, despite his trembling and sweat. His eyes were sunken, distraught at the sight. The bluster and brashness in them were gone. Mercifully, the wounded man stilled. ¡°May the Great Shepard guide him home,¡± said Michael. ¡°And may his trek in the River be peaceful,¡± finished Leo as he closed the man¡¯s eyes. Augustino landed in front of his forces triumphant. Leo was on his feet in an instant. ¡°We did it, everyone,¡± proclaimed Augustino. ¡°We have liberated Venito, and the wretched spawns broken. Now we can let the fire finish the job, and then the people of this town can rebuild.¡± Maga Avalon was now beside him, and Augustino turned to her. ¡°The Town of Adam has been saved; I¡¯m sure your sacerdozio will be very pleased.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± said Maga Avalon, concern written on her face. Augustino¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What do you mean? The bugs are gone, and the hive is in flames.¡± She pointed to the still-burning hive. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have had to fight at all. The hive should have been nothing but ashes the moment the fireball struck. The spell didn¡¯t work as intended. This is concerning.¡± The army burst into laughter. Life entered Michael¡¯s eyes again, Leo gave a bemused smirk, and even Augustino was amused as he chided her. ¡°Maga Avalon, it was sufficient. You need not worry about us. We¡¯re soldiers, and this is what we do. There is no shame here. Why do you think Venito hired us in the first place?¡± The laughter grew louder and louder, and even Leo began to chuckle. Maga Avalon¡¯s eyes glowed brighter and narrowed as they stared directly at Augustino. ¡°Silence in the ranks!¡± blurted Augustino. Maga Avalon nodded as the army calmed down. ¡°What is it that you want then?¡± ¡°I would like to investigate the hive to see if there¡¯s anything out of the ordinary.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°That is a tall order, Avella. I have wounded men to tend to and dead to bury.¡± ¡°I am capable of defending myself.¡± Her eyes looked over the compagnia before falling squarely onto Leo. He felt uneasy under her gaze. ¡°All I ask is for a regiment in case something goes wrong. The Island City will pay you the difference.¡± Augustino sighed. ¡°You¡¯re serious, aren¡¯t you? Very well, one regiment, take your pick.¡± She pointed at Leo. ¡°I¡¯ll take his. What is your name, Signore?¡± Leo stood up straight. ¡°Capitano Leo, Signora.¡± She gave a polite grin and said, ¡°Maga will do. Please follow me.¡± Augustino nodded. ¡°We will await you at the camp. As for the rest of you, let¡¯s get the wounded to my darling Julia, and then we¡¯ll see to burying the dead.¡± Chapter Two: Exploring the Hive ¡°There''s a certain beauty in darkness. An equality. Oh Morgash, who else in this wretched world strives for such freedom?¡± - The Scarred Lady, a cult leader of Morgash Leo trailed behind Avella, his regiment rushing to keep pace as she took to flight halfway through the order. ¡°Come on, men! Hurry up!¡± Leo hid his apprehension. This was new, even for him. Never had he gotten so close to a dread-wasp hive. He wished it had stayed that way. The group was hit by an ungodly smell as they approached¡ªa mix of rotting flesh and burning honey. There was an aura coming off the gnarly honeycombs that made Leo nauseous. He struggled not to gag, and he wasn¡¯t alone. If Avella felt sick or afraid, she didn¡¯t show it, though; she pressed ahead, glowing eyes fixated on the hive. They approached the hive wall. Leo squinted as he looked over the structure. It was impossible to tell where the foul edifice began and wooded building ended. And with the lingering flames, the whole thing was melting; red slime and gruel dripped onto the ground. She placed her hand on the hive wall. Her eyes glowed, and she began to chant another spell. Grime and filth melted away at her touch, rippling out until the whole wall shook. Cracks appeared, and in moments, they broke into pieces. The fragments fell, causing the group to scatter. Leo hit the ground, his armor soiled in the mud as he rolled. Michael coughed as he barely dodged a large piece of timber, dust still clouding his face. Leo rushed to his feet. He was about to call for Avella until he saw her glowing eyes in the dark. The luminous blue barrier protected her, the debris sliding off her harmlessly. She wasn¡¯t kidding when she said she could handle herself. Leo could respect that. The town opened up like a giant rotting cadaver. Guardie covered their mouths so as not to vomit from the disgusting odor. The ruins were shrouded in darkness, only lit up by the distant yellow glow of the fires. The original buildings were halfway into the mud, pressed down by the heavier hive structures. Leo turned to his regiment. ¡°Whatever you do, do not touch anything,¡± his voice struggled to maintain the facade of bravery. ¡°Tread carefully, and tread lightly.¡± Taking a deep breath, the group entered the hive. They waded through the mire, plopping on the damp cobblestone. Leo looked around. It may have been a market square. Rotting storefronts lined the area like tombstones, their shelves caked in dust. In the back, a great stone fountain stood. The water within was poisoned and black. A large dread-wasp was atop it in a parody of a statue. It was much bigger than any of the others they¡¯d encountered and folded into a ball. Large swathes of its flesh were blackened, and ichor bled into the pool. Terror turned to relief when they realized it was dead. As they turned the corner, one of the market stalls stood out to Michael. It was small and relatively modest; some of the paint on the sign had chipped off, and only part of the lettering could be made out: Negozio di fiori. A body lay on the floor. Michael¡¯s eyes widened, and he rushed toward it. Leo grumbled as he saw the young man break ranks. He was about to chastise him. A hand on his shoulder gently stopped him. He turned to see Avella, her face softer than before. ¡°Wait.¡± Michael knelt and examined the body. It had been decaying for some time, flies were buzzing about, and the ribcage and thigh bones were exposed. Stinger wounds had penetrated the back and neck. Michael broke down into tears, not caring if anyone was watching him. Leo tilted his head; what would cause him to break down so? He would never do that; it¡¯s unprofessional. The only time he cracked was ten years ago. In the village of Venci, when he and his broth¡ª Oh. He was Michael¡¯s brother. The storefront was his family¡¯s¡ªa lost brother. Leo took off his hat. He saw more and more of himself in the ragazzo by the minute. At least this ended better than Venci. Leo suppressed a shudder. Michael looked up at Leo with tear-stained eyes, expecting him to yell or reprimand him. Leo sighed. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to do that. He gestured for him to get back in line. Michael gently laid the body down and rejoined the others. It was misery being here; such a mess was indeed beyond saving. No doubt, Avella wanted this place to turn into ash. It would be better to build from scratch. ¡°What are we looking for, Maga Avalon?¡± asked Leo, his voice worn to exhaustion. She eyed him curiously. ¡°Something¡¯s off. There¡¯s a presence here that makes little sense.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t explain it; it¡¯s not something you can feel.¡± She gestured to her eyes. ¡°Soulsight. I can see, know, and feel things other mortals wouldn¡¯t be able to. And no, you cannot help me more than you are.¡± Leo grumbled. ¡°Patience Capitano, surely you are capable of that with the . . .¡± Her stare intensified for a moment. ¡°. . . three years of service?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Leo raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s right. How did you¡ª¡± ¡°Soulsight.¡± Avella dragged her hand by the hive wall. ¡°We will be done here shortly; do not fret.¡± Her spell caused the bastion to tremble. Pieces broke off, the fallen honeycombs bouncing off her barrier. ¡°Something¡¯s very wrong. It¡¯s on the wall; I just need to pinpoint it.¡± At last, her hand stilled. A piece of the hive wall broke off, hovering in her hand. She dragged it closer. Leo couldn¡¯t see what she was looking at; he could only hear her gasp as she jumped back. ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°Everything alright?¡± asked Leo. ¡°Signore! Over there!¡± A soldier whimpered, white-faced as he pointed in the distance. Leo followed his finger right to the dread-wasp on the fountain. Its many limbs were twitching. The burnt flesh was beginning to heal; the open wounds now closed. The creature stood up and flexed its wings before they draped over its shoulders like a robe. It turned to face them, four times the height of a man. Its face was more humanoid, with solid black eyes glittering with malice and feral rage. Its teeth gritted in anger. A subtle stubble of horns formed a mockery of a crown upon its head. Avella¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°That¡¯s a dread-wasp princess.¡± ¡°Fall back!¡± ordered Leo. The dread-wasp leaped into the air and flew at them at breakneck speed. In moments it caught up to them. Blood splattered everywhere as guardie disappeared into red mist. Two guardie were impaled and dragged up into the air. They screamed in terror as many twisted limbs grabbed hold of them before ripping them to pieces. ¡°We got to get to camp!¡± shouted Leo. Michael trembled. ¡°We¡¯ll never get there in time, Capitano. The creature¡¯s too fast.¡± Leo hated that he was right. Avella rushed ahead. ¡°I can get there quicker. You need to keep her busy. I¡¯ll be back.¡± Leo was incredulous. ¡°What?¡± She muttered an incantation before hovering into the air and flying away. Leo had no time even to ponder what she had just done. ¡°She¡¯s coming around again!¡± shouted a soldier. The dread-wasp princess dived at them. ¡°Hit the deck!¡± ordered Leo. They hit the ground hard. Mud splashed everywhere, turning the black and gold livery of the guardsmen brown. Chitinous limbs and stingers hovered over them, inches away from their prone forms. As quick as she came, she was gone. ¡°On your feet,¡± barked Leo. ¡°Move!¡± He could see the opening. Light and clean air awaited them. ¡°Look out!¡± shouted Michael. Leo turned to see the princess swooping by again. She was moving quicker than before. Time slowed down, and Leo could see himself reflected in her wicked black eyes. A stab in the side broke off her attack. Michael¡¯s sword hit home, bleeding fresh fluids as she retreated into the air, squeaking in pain. Michael smirked. ¡°Glad I got to return the favor, Capitano.¡± Leo¡¯s stern demeanor wrapped around his gratefulness like a cloak. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky, ragazzo. We¡¯re almost there. Keep going!¡± With a final effort, they pushed out of the hive. The light blinded them, and they nearly tripped over each other. Leo slipped in the mud, nearly toppling over. They stopped to catch their breath, their lungs welcoming the clean air. A loud shriek violated the air, and the princess broke through the hive roof in a cloud of dust, surging down toward them. Leo dodged the attack just in time, slicing off one of her insectoid limbs. The monster¡¯s stinger-like tail lashed like a whip, whistling as it hit Leo in the chest. The wind was knocked out of him as he hit the ground. Leo gasped; his chest felt like it was burning. He looked up, vision blurry as the massive stinger reeled over him, ready to strike. A loud screech gave the creature pause. Augustino landed right next to him. Leo had never been happier to see that griffon. Michael pulled Leo to his feet. Avella landed nearby, and she gestured them to her. Augustino pointed his weapon at the beast. ¡°Your fight is with me!¡± The twisted creature shrieked loudly in reply. The two clashed. The impact sent a shockwave that would have knocked Leo off his feet if he hadn¡¯t been under Avella¡¯s barrier. Augustino bludgeoned the chitinous form over and over, breaking off more limbs. The dread-wasp princess kicked in desperation, only to have her movements blocked by the shield, the impact causing Augustino to wince. The griffon¡¯s beak locked with the monster¡¯s long mandibles. Its long talons tried to get purchase with her chitinous form. But even wounded, the creature dodged the swipes with ease. As her stinger attempted to pierce the griffon, pieces of metal broke off with every stab, the armor denting more and more. Augustino whispered to the griffon, and it pulled away. The princess was quick to follow. Muttering a brief prayer, Augustino leapt off the saddle and latched onto the neck and shoulders of the monster. Mace in hand, Augustino slammed the weapon into the creature¡¯s neck repeatedly, causing ichor to spill everywhere. The long stinger tried to stab him, but Augustino quickly dodged every jab. He smirked, preparing for the final blow, placing himself right in front of her neck. He would need to be quick. With a final desperate attack, the creature shoved its stinger with all its might. Augustino dodged just in time, the wind blowing in his face as he jumped off and back onto the waiting griffon below. The princess wailed in agony, convulsing violently, her stinger jabbing into her neck. She fell to the earth in an explosion of dirt, dead for good. Everyone cheered. Michael stood in wide-eyed admiration. Leo smirked, remembering when he¡¯d first seen their generale kill some great beast. Many things become numb or lose appeal after a while, but seeing their generale in action never got old. Indeed, he was one of the greatest warriors the Cradlelands had ever known, up there with the imperial commanders of old or the greatest of the Godshards. Avella examined the body. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°I sense the same anomaly.¡± She grasped one of the limbs. ¡°Indeed, it is as I feared.¡± Leo couldn¡¯t see what she was doing. He was still trying to catch his breath. By the Gods, did that blow hurt. He looked down at his armor; a significant dent was arrayed on it that wasn¡¯t there before. He groaned; he was definitely going to have to see Julia. All the guardie knew Mama Julia had the best remedies. Avella looked up. ¡°Emilio, could you assist me?¡± Augustino tilted his head and dismounted. She gestured to the leg. ¡°I need this detached.¡± He snapped the leg off with a sickening crack. The yellow flames around the hive grew brighter, rekindling seemingly on their own. Leo could feel the heat. They had to get out of there fast and fell back without a word. He turned around to see Avella staring at the encroaching blaze. The flames outlined her black-robed form. She shook her head and followed them, the severed leg of the princess in hand. Leo didn¡¯t understand why she was so worried. But after Avella basically abandoned them, he didn¡¯t even care that she wasn¡¯t happy. She did come back, but there was no way to know if she would have been back in time. Things could have gone differently and such poor communication was sloppy and dangerous. Nevertheless, Leo knew one thing for sure. They had broken the foul power over the town. That would suffice. Chapter Three: Familiar Places ¡°With lands as serene as this, is it any wonder the Maelim covet this country?¡± she If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. her He guides me home. He guides me home. When I am lost. When I am alone. On river flows. He comes to me. And guides me home. And guides me home. Chapter Four: Shardlings and Remedies ¡°I care little of these ''Shardlings''. You figure it out! I have a hangover to sleep off.¡± La Saga degli Dei L¡¯Ordine della Colomba A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°May all who enter my walls be healed and at peace.¡± ¨C Joan the Healer Chapter Five: Old Friends, Old Problems ¡°We are merely guests. May we come in?¡± The Adventures of Leo La Saga degli Dei. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. again She Herhis Chapter Six: The Party Begins ¡°Call us Godshards, for we are the legacy of our God, imbued with his Shards.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. La Saga degli DeiLa Vita di Adamo Chapter Seven: The Story of Adam ¡°Praise Adam!¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Chapter Eight: The Fury of the Northerner ¡°Blasted Northerners. Always one hand on the sword. We should never have stolen those tomes.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. no Speaking of Benelim Chapter Nine: An Unexpected Promotion ¡°If you truly wish to honor Adam¡¯s legacy, our independence must be recognized! We can hold our own, as the scars upon my arms can show!¡± Evidently, the cleaning crews haven¡¯t started their work yet The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Chapter Ten: Knives in the Dark ¡°Friends are merely the enemies of tomorrow.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. true Chapter Eleven: Danger in the Sanctum ¡°You will tell me what I want to know, or I''ll feed you to the snakes!¡± was see Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Teleportation Oh no. No, no, no, no Chapter Twelve: An Honest Deal ¡°Never strike first.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. your Chapter Thirteen: Trouble on the River ¡°Pity the Maelim for he is broken and twisted.¡± - Attributed to the first of the Maelim, known only as the Mad King. An abrupt rocking jolted Leo and Avella awake, Leo knocking his head against the wood with a thud. The ship rocked and swayed violently. Leo helped Avella to her feet. Something was wrong. They rushed out of the quarters, leaning on the bulkhead as they shambled onto the deck. The previous night¡¯s calm had transformed into a grey day, with fierce winds, blue rain, and foam. The rowers were trudging through; it was a struggle, and many of them groaned and strained at their oars. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± asked Leo as he spotted Petro. ¡°A storm, a vicious one,¡± said Petro, trying to hide his nervousness. ¡°Out of the blue, it came. The clouds rolled in within the past hour.¡± Avella looked up into the air. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°This is not a natural storm.¡± Leo¡¯s heart sank. Petro had come to the same conclusion. He gave a command in his own tongue. Half the rowers dropped their oars, put on armor, and took up arms. Benelim loaded their crossbows and grasped spears. ¡°Over there!¡± shouted Curio, pointing upward. The rest panned up and saw it too. It was a floating feathered figure, circling them like a looming specter. Petro nodded. ¡°A harpy.¡± ¡°One harpy can¡¯t cause this,¡± said Leo. The creature laughed, an evil sound that sent shivers down Leo¡¯s spine. Several Benelim aimed their crossbows but quickly realized she was out of range and held their fire. Avella pointed up ahead, seemingly at nothing. ¡°There.¡± Before anyone could question her, another ship materialized through the mist. It was similar to the Benelim¡¯s, except it was far larger with more rows of oars. The vessel was darker, the wood nearly black with shades of icy blue and solid black sails. Petro¡¯s face twisted into an expression of hatred and anger. ¡°Maelim,¡± hissed Petro. The harpy landed on the center mast of the Maelim vessel, joining a flock perched there. They were lithe, and feathers adorned them from head to toe; feathered headdresses took the place of their hair. They all stared eagerly with tar-black eyes and thin sharp teeth, smiling cruelly at the promise of bloodshed. Down to the deck itself, it was full of Maelim, the corrupted and twisted counterparts of the Benelim, a foul race Leo had fought many times before. He could still see their glowing red and orange eyes through the dim grey mist. Countless skulking forms peered from every crack and crevice, all beneath a forest of spear points and polearm blades. Leo drew his sword. At that moment a hooked blade slammed into the Benelim vessel, piercing the hull port side. The wood whistled as it splintered. The debris rippled through rowers, shredding their bodies. The hook went taut, causing the Benelim ship to lurch aggressively to the right, slowly being dragged toward the large Maelim vessel. Petro barked orders to his men in his own tongue. Several soldiers tried desperately to pry the grapple hook out. ¡°It¡¯s stuck!¡± cried Curio. Avella turned to Petro and said, ¡°I can help. Can you all buy me time?¡± ¡°Gladly,¡± Petro said, smirking. ¡°Behold a glimpse of how we Benelim wage war. Sagittarii!¡± The Benelim crossbowmen formed a line facing the enemy vessel and aimed their weapons. They moved as one with precision and coordination. With another command, the Benelim opened fire, and a deluge of bolts lobbed the enemy vessel; each hitting its mark, with many Maelim falling limply into the water. Avella began chanting. Leo hoped she could be quick; the display was impressive, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. As the ships got closer together, the harpies launched off the mast. Smaller grappling hooks began flying out. One nearly hit Leo, the blade missing him as it whipped through the air. Another latched onto one of Petro¡¯s antlers, pulling him forward. Leo was quick to act and rushed forward. Leo lowered his sword and cut the rope, finally freeing Petro. The severed cord slid away like a retreating serpent. He pulled the Benelim to his feet. Petro nodded appreciatively. They had to move back quickly; arrows and bolts were starting to break the ship to pieces. Several shots reached close to Leo¡¯s feet. The Benelim went below deck and propped up great tower shields, blocking most projectiles. More hooks flung over, and Maelim followed. A harpy swooped in to attack Leo, but he decapitated it with a swift strike. A nearby Maelim tried to swipe at Leo with a rusted blade, only for Leo to parry the blow and kick him off the vessel. The creature cursed at him, hissing from a fanged scaly mouth as he fell into the surf. Another larger, burlier Maelim leaped aboard. He swung a halberd, and Leo dodged the blow just in time. The creature moved to strike again, but he was clumsy. Leo slid to the side easily as the blade came down. He batted the halberd from the creature¡¯s hands and kicked it away. The Maelim didn¡¯t skip a beat and rushed Leo. Before he could react, the two collided. Leo groaned in pain as he hit the deck, pinned down by the monstrous Maelim. He was inches from its face, a drooling maw with black eyes and a wolf¡¯s muzzle. His breath stank through bloodied and rotten teeth, inches away from Leo¡¯s throat. Leo headbutted the creature, dazing it. He headbutted it again, causing the creature¡¯s grip to loosen. It was all Leo needed. He grabbed his sword and thrusted it straight into the Maelim¡¯s heart. It roared in pain before it fell over dead.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Leo shook off the corpse and stumbled to his feet. He looked around. They were holding. One unfortunate rower couldn¡¯t save himself from getting snatched by a harpy; he screamed in terror as she took him away. The horned head of another Maelim impaled another. It took five bolts to put her down. Despite their losses, Petro and Curio proved capable fighters; Leo was most impressed with their prowess. The two of them had slain all who approached; prone bodies of Maelim and harpies littered the deck. Leo looked at the enemy vessel with concern; it was nearly on top of them now. If the main force were to board, their fates would change rapidly. Avella¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± She muttered her spell, pressing her hand onto the blade of the harpoon; the rusted metal turned molten at her touch, breaking the ship free. Her chanting continued, and she grabbed one of her spell stones, placing her hands together. A jet of white-hot fire surged out of her hands like a rocket. It hit the ship in a surge of flame, the impact blowing the ship apart in an explosion of smoldering wood. A few harpies had left in time, but the Maelim were not so lucky. Those not charred to death on the spot growled and groaned as the river took them away. Time stood still. Leo was stuck in awe. He knew of the power of the Godshards, and he had been in the presence of Avella¡¯s spells before, but this? This was on a different level. Had he just witnessed the preserve of the Gods themselves? Leo glanced back at the Godshard; he could see that her eyes were still glowing, and even as they faded, a fire still burned within them. Her black robes and headdress fluttered in the stormy wind as she gently lowered her arms. She noticed Leo staring. ¡°That is how the spell is supposed to go. Not like Venito,¡± she said with a petulant smirk. ¡°Indeed.¡± Leo sputtered, still in a daze. ¡°Well done, Godshard,¡± said Petro. ¡°I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but . . .¡± Curio interjected as he pointed behind them. They turned, and all cause for celebration died. Leo¡¯s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. He could hear quiet gasps from the rowers. Avella clutched her spell stones. Leo hoped her spellcraft would be good enough. There was a second vessel. An even bigger one. And it was almost on top of them. ¡°How did that one sneak up on us?¡± asked Leo. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Petro said, turning to Avella. ¡°Can you do that trick again?¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± cried Curio. A volley of projectiles pelted the deck¡ªarrows, and bolts made their way around the tower shields and hit the unarmored rowers. Everyone scattered and ducked. Leo hid beneath the hull, and Avella crouched with him, struggling to maintain her incantations. Faint wisps of smoke joined the chorus of missiles; one breached the shields. One scraped Leo, scratching his arm with black powdered resin. Another hit a Benelim soldier in the head, piercing right through his armored helm. ¡°Guns!¡± Curio spat. ¡°I hate guns,¡± grumbled Petro as he turned to Leo. ¡°Do your realms trade with Maelim?¡± ¡°What? Of course not!¡± snapped Leo. ¡°They probably scavenged them.¡± Avella stood up, the arrows disintegrating in front of her. A familiar bluish glow protected her. She unbound another stone before bringing her hands together and launching another hot white fireball. It shot out like a falling star toward the vessel. A blue barrier then appeared in front of the enemy ship, making Avella¡¯s oncoming blast dissipate upon contact. Leo¡¯s eyes widened. It looked exactly like the same type of protection she was using. But that would mean . . . ¡°They must have a Godshard on board!¡± exclaimed Petro. Avella scowled, her glowing eyes flared, and she hissed under her breath, ¡°A traitor.¡± Leo backed away. He had never seen her like this before. ¡°We must flee; if we can make it to Tressviae, we can get the river patrol¡¯s assistance.¡± Curio pointed ahead and said, ¡°We have no time for that,¡± A large object was rising above the Maelim vessel, the foul creatures groaning as they lifted the apparatus via pulleys. It was a great wooden bridge; spikes jutted at the end. Petro cursed in his own tongue and signaled the crossbowmen. ¡°Sagittarii!¡± The crossbowmen rushed to aim, but another volley from the Maelim ship scattered them, only the occasional bolts launching forth. It was nowhere near enough. With great force, the bridge slammed into the vessel¡¯s bow; the impact pushed the entire front of the ship dangerously low into the water. Oars snapped and shattered, water sprayed over them, and Leo fell to the deck floor and struggled to regain his footing. With a monstrous cheer, the Maelim rushed across the bridge. Eager red and black eyes lusting for carnage whooped and hollered as they came across. Petro gave another order in his own tongue. Two armored Benelim rushed to the bow. They held strange cylindrical devices Leo had never seen before. They had bellows on one end and a long pipe on the other, all built into a larger tube. Their purpose was made clear as gouts of fire came out with a pressing of the bellows. It was different from a regular flame; it stuck to the wooden bridge like liquid, unquenchable even as water splashed over it. Maelim shrieked in agony as they were scorched, panicking and wailing, diving into the water in search of relief or death. Even Leo was shocked at their screaming and turned to Petro with a scowl. ¡°Guns are horrible. But this is fine?¡± Petro grew silent, and his bravado faded. ¡°We were aiming for the bridge.¡± Leo rolled his eyes and thrust his sword, putting a Maelim out of its misery. A wall of flame kept anymore Maelim from boarding. The lull allowed the Benelim to form a defensive phalanx, spear points bracing. Everyone stopped to catch their breaths. They could hear loud yelling and cursing from the Maelim ship. The smoke from the flames blocked their line of sight. In the next moment, the two flame-thrower-wielding Benelim were yanked toward their very handy work. All anyone could do was gasp as an unseen force raked them across the burning bridge. Their armor melted and faces burned in moments. Their wailing pierced the air. Leo cringed and looked away. Avella¡¯s eyes widened before redoubling in anger. She strode forward, fists clenched and teeth gritted. ¡°I know you¡¯re there, traitor! I command you to come forth!¡± She raised an arm, chanting. Her hand turned into a light. It shined through the rain, the darkness, everything. The radiance snuffed out the flames. It was as if she had become another sun. Both sides turned away from the brightness. The mysterious Godshard manifested above the bridge with a faint hiss of pain. He wore an outfit similar to hers, except instead of a headdress, he wore an enclosed hood that covered everything except his eyes, which held the Godshard glow. The two Godshards stared each other down. ¡°How dare you! How dare you use your powers in such a manner! By the authority of the Sacerdozio della Citt¨¤ Isola, I hold you in contempt of the Twin Path, our sacerdozio, and of Omnitus, of which we are all a part. I will give you one chance to surrender.¡± Her glowing eyes brightened before she continued, ¡°Will you come quietly, or will I have to make you?¡± The rogue Godshard raised his fists. Avella unbound a spellstone and shot a lightning bolt at him. In an instant, she was flying backward, away from the vessel and into the water, the scent of ozone lingering over the crack in her barrier as she sank beneath the waves. Chapter Fourteen: The Rogue and The Maga "To fight amongst ourselves is the ultimate failure. If you must battle another Shard though, you must be quick and decisive. The longer the fight, the worse it is for everyone, including yourself." This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. many Chapter Fifteen: The Ominous Homecoming ¡°I bestow a final gift upon your race: Lifesongs. Go forth into the world my Benelim and live! Let your songs echo into the heavens forever and enjoy peace and prosperity." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Chapter Sixteen: Many Visitors ¡°I wish I could save more of you¡­¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. that Chapter Seventeen: Dire Awakenings ¡°Silence is a dreadful thing. It rarely means peace or calm; it just means the enemy needs a minute to reload and regroup.¡± - Diana, Capitana of the self-named Diana¡¯s Rangers, one of many famed compangia of the Cradlelands. The next few days proved dull, but that was a most welcome reprieve for Leo. He kept to his orders and stayed by Avella¡¯s side. Etheros lay unmoving in one of the beds. He looked dead, but Avella assured him he wasn¡¯t. She stayed in the apothecary, never leaving the wizard¡¯s side. Julia was kind enough to give both of them beds. Leo was grateful for the service. Especially since every time he had to leave, he had to put up with Elizabeth glaring at him. She gave him no trouble, but her cold gaze was a painfully unwelcome stressor. There was nothing he could do; Angela had ordered her to stand guard. Other people came and went. Annabelle was a constant presence, examining Etheros in tandem with Julia. Salvatore stopped by every so often, asking for updates, and Leo and Avella would give him their side of what happened in Raveno. Each time, he appeared more somber and less cheerful. It was unnerving to see him that way, and it made Leo¡¯s nerves even more frazzled. Curio dropped in at one point, Annabelle treating his lingering throat wound. Eventually, the scarred tissue healed, but his voice still didn¡¯t sound the same. Another unforeseen benefit of staying in the apothecary for so long is that Leo could get immediate treatment for his injuries. The stabbing pain in his chest from his duel with the warlord and the soreness in his arms was particularly dreadful. Julia hovered around him, so Leo almost felt like a patient himself. The most frightening thing was the silence. The world seemed quieter, but not peaceful. It felt like the calm before the storm or being in the eye of a great tempest. The images from the previous days lingered in Leo¡¯s mind-eye. It wasn¡¯t the undead or the Maelim that stuck with him. It was the shadowy figures in Ravensend, the rogue Godshard hovering over the flames like an evil specter, and the warlord¡¯s taunting words about having ¡°friends.¡± It was a glimpse into a wider world of evil. Leo felt like they had only scratched the surface of this iceberg of trouble. He felt so pitifully small in the face of it. Perhaps that¡¯s why it felt like the calm before the storm more than genuine peace. Leo was no Godshard. He couldn¡¯t see things the way Avella could. But even he knew there was no way this was over. He glanced her way. Despite her aloof facade, he could see the flickers of concern. Maybe he knew what to look for now, or more likely, she had come to the same conclusion. Leo glanced at the prone wizard and asked, ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°Trust me,¡± Avella said, nodding. ¡°Etheros may be old, but he¡¯s made of stern stuff.¡± Her glowing eyes twinkled, and a faint smirk spread across her face. ¡°He¡¯s an old friend; we go way back¡ªbefore I left my family estate to come to the sacerdozio.¡± Leo tilted his head and said, ¡°I thought Godshards were given up to sacerdozio very young, days after they become a Shard?¡± Avella shook her head. ¡°The sacerdozio¡¯s reach is not global. There are Godshards that recognize Adam, but not David and Solomon. They venerated Evelin, the Adamite, who disagreed with their beliefs, such as the Twin Path. They venerate other Adamites instead. Many distant lands follow their guidance instead of ours, including Yanneros. In the name of peace, we respect their wishes.¡± She gestured to herself and continued, ¡°I¡¯m from the Triad, a land where three cultures meet. It is where Godshards of both disciplines reside, vying for influence among the local city-states and power bases.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Leo said, leaning in. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Adamites were still around?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Avella shrugged. ¡°Of course they are. I was a late bloomer; a Shard didn¡¯t choose me until I was seven. It was quite the spectacle. My mother, the Duchess of Avalon, sought out the closest Godshard she could find.¡± She gestured at Etheros. ¡°He wanted to make me an apprentice, to become an Adamite like him. But there were other Godshards too, sacerdozio Godshards, all vying for my favor. It took me a year to make up my mind.¡± Leo frowned. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of pressure to force upon a child!¡± Avella waved dismissively. ¡°We Avalons are long accustomed to it. Either way, I had expectations. If I hadn¡¯t become a Godshard, I would have become the next duchess or been married to another noble and retained a title with him.¡± ¡°Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you never became a Shard?¡± Avella¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Sometimes. Perhaps my sister would have been the Shard and I the duchess. Of course, I would be dead now if that were the case, and the estate would be abandoned all the same.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all that¡¯s left?¡± ¡°My sister died several years ago.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡± Avella shook her head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be; she lived a long, happy life and died at eighty-four. We hadn¡¯t even seen each other in decades.¡± ¡°She was much older than you, huh?¡± Avella tilted her head and said, ¡°Only four years.¡± Leo paused, and he looked her over. She didn¡¯t look that old, not a day over forty! Avella rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m eighty years old, Leo. We age slower. Didn¡¯t you pay attention to the story the other night?¡± ¡°Right,¡± stuttered Leo. Avella grew distant. ¡°We all make our choices Leo. I made mine; I believe in David and Solomon, but my family did not. My mother pretended to be respectful, but my father was outraged. He didn¡¯t understand how I could choose the Twin Path.¡± Leo huffed. ¡°From my experience, parents rarely care what their children want. Martin¡¯s parents judged my brother and me for the longest time. My own father left us when I was two.¡± Avella¡¯s face softened. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Leo shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t be; Padre Angelos was more of a father to me.¡± ¡°We Godshards tend to be more astute to the needs of our people. Salvatore is a remarkable man, and Shard, the paragon of what it means to be a sacerdote.¡± Avella¡¯s eyes glimmered . ¡°I chose the sacerdozio because it is a well-oiled machine; all Godshards go where they want to go and do what they naturally want to do. We address threats with speed and precision; problems don¡¯t get to fester, and evils don¡¯t go unchallenged. The right person is sent to deal with the problem.¡± ¡°Is that why they sent you to help us at Venito?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Avella said, nodding. ¡°The Adamites wouldn¡¯t have been efficient. If one was in the area, they might be able to help, but if they were just a Shardling, they wouldn¡¯t be much better than you. The Adamites are not an organization; they¡¯re solitary wanderers and are often unaware of problems unless they happen to be in town. They are slow and indecisive; some are incapable of dealing with problems due to insufficient power or skill. Etheros and I just couldn¡¯t see eye to eye. We¡¯ve kept in touch, although we¡¯re both too busy most of the time. Etheros is a good man, and he respected my wishes even though I could tell he was disappointed. I had to follow my heart through the sacerdozio; I wanted to make the world a better place.¡± Leo nodded. ¡°They definitely sent the right Shard this time, for what it¡¯s worth.¡± Avella gave him a warm smile. Soft moaning coming from the bed brought them back to the moment. Etheros, at last, was beginning to stir. Leo was quickly on his feet. Avella also stood and gestured to Annabelle. ¡°Get Salvatore!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯m here,¡± said Salvatore as he strode into the room, his white robes trailing behind him. Julia was at his side. ¡°Your timing is impeccable,¡± said Leo. Everybody gathered by the bed as the wizard¡¯s eyes opened. They held a natural blue glow; the only time Leo saw a Shard¡¯s eyes that bright was in the visions of Adam. The man shakily sat up and looked around the room. He gazed upon Annabelle, a soft, tired smile on his face. ¡°Thank you, child,¡± he said to her, and then he looked up at Avella and added, ¡°You as well. It¡¯s been a long time, Avella.¡± Avella bowed. ¡°Indeed, Wizard Etheros.¡± ¡°I assume by your presence that I made it to . . .¡± Etheros trailed off as he looked at Salvatore. ¡°This is not the Island City, is it?¡± Everyone shook their heads. He groaned, straining to get to his feet. Julia laid a hand on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re still weakened. You need to rest.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. I cannot stay here! I need to get to the Island City before it¡¯s too late. I am putting you all in great danger! A daemon is hunting me, and he has my scent!¡± Chapter Eighteen: Rally in the Temple ¡°The Daemon is a parasite, an unnatural blemish that should not exist. How I wish we had the strength to take the fight to them. See how they like their cities and homes destroyed!¡± La Saga degli Dei Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Chapter Nineteen: A Strange Reunion ¡°The world moves in mysterious ways. Even the greatest of the Gods cannot see all ends.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Chapter Twenty: The Choices of Godshards "Godshards choose their paths. I do not wish to change that. I merely wish to facilitate this nature, and my organization will be their guide.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. We will meet again Let¡¯s hope this works Chapter Twenty-One: The Bitter Escape ¡°Don''t forget, daemons aren''t mindless creatures. They can speak, they can think and they''re probably smarter than you! So obey Manfred''s orders if you want to actually survive this!" Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. not scholar Chapter Twenty-Two: Art and Ruins ¡°I love Ventoso. Nowhere else in the Cradlelands can you find people so willing to act against their own best interest.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. was those see see Chapter Twenty-Three: Ghouls and Spells ¡°It''s an ambush!¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Chapter Twenty-Four: Freedom for the Dead ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bed a nobile from Ventoso. Have you seen their towers? They must be compensating for something.¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Chapter Twenty-Five: Solving Riddles ¡°Daemon-stone is as dangerous as it is. . . alluring. It is easy to mine, easy to craft, easy to build upon. The better to lure mortals to their doom." undead You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. not Chapter Twenty-Six: The Fragile Truce ¡°Boundless pleasure awaits you. If, of course, you do what I say and open the back door for my friend.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Chapter Twenty-Seven: Ugly Truths ¡°No force in this universe can withstand the onslaught of four arch-angyls.¡± ¡°Then it would please me to be the first.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. never Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Final Chance ¡°The Great Shepard cannot sssave every child, can he?" A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. allies Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dangerous Roads ¡°Beware the monster with one eye!¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Saluti Maestro Claudius. Ah, Leo della Guardia Grifone! Come sta il capitano? Leo and Giovanni had been hired along with other rag-tag mercenari to defend the village of Venci. It was a poor venture. They stood no chance. The town was destroyed, and their forces routed. The ravagers outnumbered them. Their arrows were as numerous as raindrops, and their lances were swift. Giovanni was dead, pierced by a giant arrow the size of a tree trunk. His body lay at the feet of a monster. He had the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a man, covered in scale and mail. A long, intricately braided black beard rained from his chin. He had only one good eye, which glowed yellow like a parody of the sun. Flames surrounded them. Smoke trailed up into the heavens. All Leo could do was play dead. He¡¯d pressed himself against the ground, was appearing to have been crushed by rubble. He struggled to hold his breath and fought hard to avoid whimpering or crying. All he could remember was that eye. That cursed eye. Chapter Thirty: The Chase "Our make is not of mindless brutes but princes of darkness and power." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. friends Courage can¡¯t save you, and hope can¡¯t comfort you. All that¡¯s left is living with it. Chapter Thirty-One: Talking Things Out ¡°In the North, there are no Gods or men. Only conquerors and the dead.¡± you The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Chapter Thirty-Two: A Shardlings Worth By my reckoning, there are at least five different types of Godshards. I am a Magnus, Ruth and Adam on the other hand are surely Maximus. But this is merely the beginning of my research, who knows what the future holds? benefits was A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Chapter Thirty-Three: Wrath and Daemon-Stone ¡°All is dust; all is meaningless. How I long for a foe that could be a challenge; instead, I fight vermin and rabble!¡± - Ireo, Nephilim Warlord, shortly after the sacking of Venci. Night fell, and Petro and Martin slid carefully through the trees. They were heading toward a clearing illuminated by silver light. The essence of their horses was a beacon to which Petro¡¯s Soulsight latched on. Martin¡¯s feet were sore, and he struggled to mute his heavy breathing. He was holding out hope their steeds were still in one piece. They kept their eyes peeled for trouble, expecting red or black eyes from the back of every tree. With a final turn came both good news and bad news. Magnus was alive; he looked tired and anxious. He was lying next to a body. Rubert had arrow wounds and slashes, his body still in a pool of blood. Martin sighed, and he pressed his hand against the corpse. Magnus had tears in his eyes. ¡°This is bad,¡± said Petro as he pressed a hand against Magnus. ¡°We have to double up.¡± Martin turned to Petro. ¡°But won¡¯t that slow us down?¡± ¡°What choice do we have?¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. How did Rubert get hurt, and Magnus is barely even scratched?¡± Martin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s a trap.¡± Even Magnus must have realized since he got to his feet. Red eyes peered from the surrounding wood, and arrows rained down. Martin paled. ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Petro pointed at Magnus. ¡°Get on the horse!¡± They mounted Magnus, and the beast bolted, the arrows barely missing them. The raiders were in hot pursuit; more arrows whispered through the darkness. Martin gripped the horse for dear life. ¡°This won¡¯t do! We¡¯ll be too slow!¡± Petro whipped out his crossbow. ¡°We can still fight. Take the reins; I¡¯ll shoot. We¡¯ll fight our way free!¡± Petro returned fire. His aim was true, and soon, the bodies of raiders formed a path to freedom. Martin whipped forward as fast as he could. A lancer charged them, its feline mount growling. It lunged at them, but Petro was quicker, and a bolt lodged in the cat¡¯s skull, falling on its rider. Another cannoned to their left, glaive raised. Petro drew his sword quickly and parried the blow. Another Maelim appeared on the other side, bow in hand. Martin gasped. ¡°Petro!¡± Petro was still dispatching the other one. Martin shifted to his gun. Thank Terra he¡¯d kept a round in. With a shaking hand, he fired, and the lead shot went between his enemy¡¯s eyes. They glanced at each other and nodded. They rocketed through the wood, and arrows trailed after them. With another turn, another group of pines and more Maelim closed in. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± whimpered Martin. ¡°Just keep riding!¡± They approached a clearing. Instead of clarity, they found peril. A large group of raiders was there waiting for them. Martin turned the horse around to find another large group blocking the path. ¡°This was a trap,¡± blubbered Martin. ¡°This was all a trap!¡± The raiders lowered their lances and closed in. A horn rang out, giving pause to the marauders. Martin heard a scream, then another. And another. Trampling hooves thundered in. The Maelim raiders spat curses in their native tongue. Lances thrust into them, lighting the Maelim up in holy fire. Their saviors wore shimming armor and white hooded cloaks. They matched the raiders¡¯ prowess and returned it in kind. A white-robed rider leaped into the encirclement, standing between the two parties, twirling a bladed shaft. Her eyes glowed white. Her raven hair was woven into intricate braids trailed down her back, covered by her white and golden hood. Tattoos crawled over her dark skin, her body adorned by white plate armor, gilded in gold and shimmering with star iron. The Maelim hissed. One drew his lance and charged. In an explosion of movement, the Maelim was missing his head. The lance was knocked out of his hand before Martin even realized it. Another behind her swung a saber at her head. She dodged the blow with lightning speed, her blade in the Maelim¡¯s throat in that same instant. In moments all of the attacking raiders were dead. The woman turned to them. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll live,¡± said Petro. ¡°We need your help; our friends are in danger!¡± said Martin. The woman nodded and said, ¡°I know. We¡¯ve felt them. Follow me.¡± ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. Leo scanned the horizon; embers began to wander into the sky the first morning. The drop was much lower, and a stretch of arid plain lay before them, the trees forming a barrier in the distance. There was nothing, and all was quiet. Too quiet. He took a deep breath and motioned to the others. Elizabeth snuck up behind him and said, ¡°You see anything?¡± Leo shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no way this isn¡¯t a trap,¡± grumbled Annabelle. ¡°Etheros, do you see anything?¡± Etheros peered into the trees. ¡°I see nothing.¡± Leo and the others glanced at each other. ¡°Should we try descending?¡± ¡°Wait, I see something!¡± Elizabeth pointed. ¡°Look out!¡± A massive arrow raced at them. They jumped out of the way just in time. The projectile embedded itself into the stone; rocks flew everywhere. One of the rocks hit Annabelle in the head, knocking her out and causing her to slide off the edge. Etheros cast a spell, and Annabelle floated gently to the ground. Elizabeth climbed down the cliff face and rushed to her. She was slowly coming to. ¡°There¡¯s another one!¡± shouted Leo. The bolt landed next to Etheros, who was tossed back, nearly falling off the ledge himself. Leo grabbed him. Another arrow flew, knocking both of them off the cliff. They tumbled onto the grass. Leo gritted his teeth, and his legs were profoundly sore. They stumbled to their feet. As dawn rose, the familiar glowing eye strode toward them like a mockery of the sun. Ireo held another arrow in his bow, ready to fire. A sea of red eyes trailed in the eye¡¯s wake. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°I told you I would find you no matter what,¡± Ireo said with a crooked grin. ¡°Do you think your friends will make it? That we wouldn¡¯t have found your steeds already?¡± Leo¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°These woods are mine. They fell right into the jaws of my trap. You have no chance.¡± Leo snarled. ¡°Either way, you¡¯re going down!¡± Ireo sighed. ¡°Very well, let¡¯s finish this.¡± He aimed his bow. Etheros finished his spell, and the weapon caught fire, melting in his hands. Ireo dropped the weapon, startled. The other Maelim readied their bows. He lifted an arm and said, ¡°No, I will deal with them myself.¡± The giant pulled out a long blade, caked with dried blood on its edge. Ireo charged, the dust trailing behind him. The ground shook as he closed the distance. He raised his weapon. Leo and Elizabeth clashed their blades. Leo winced. The giant¡¯s sword was heavy and fast, and each strike hurt his arms. Yet their weapons held true, and they matched every blow, star iron against steel. Etheros raised a hand as he finished another spell. An explosion hit the beast, his armor melting in the blast. He reeled back in pain. The warband gasped and rushed to help their leader. Etheros wouldn¡¯t let them. With another incantation, a blaze, a wall of fire, grew ahead of them. The first line of raiders hit the flames, and they shrieked and burned. Ireo growled as he unclasped his wrecked armor, and with blazing speed, he cannoned into them. They jumped out of the way as he hit the rock face, the cliffside rumbling and cracking. The arrows lodged into them loosened. The giant roared as he turned to Etheros. He raised his front hooves and brought them down. The legs crashed against his blue barrier. Etheros gritted his teeth, each stomp rippling around the shield like currents. With a loud grunt, Ireo shattered his shield, and Etheros was sent flying into the wall in an explosion of dirt, knocked out. His sacks spilled out of his robes as materials carpeted the ground. Ireo raised his sword over the wizard, but Elizabeth stabbed him in the arm. He groaned in pain. Leo stabbed him in the stomach, biting deep. Ireo roared in agony as he twirled his blade. Elizabeth was struck in the face by his elbow and flung back, out cold. Leo saw the sword coming and ducked. His back hit the ground, rolling away into the stone wall. The blade carved a new red line into his chest. Ireo turned to Annabelle, who was desperately trying to wake Elizabeth. He grinned as he closed in. Leo¡¯s eyes were blurry as he struggled to stay conscious. He was so sore and tired, and the chest wound wasn¡¯t deep but hurt like hell! He watched in horror as Annabelle pulled out her blade, shaking profusely. Leo glanced up at the loosened arrows hanging on the cliffside. An idea entered his head. Ireo towered over her, raising his blade. Leo lumbered to his feet; he had to place himself just right. ¡°Ireo!¡± The beast turned to face him. He was so large, a giant dwarfing the trees. Leo felt so small and buckled for a moment. Fires blazed behind him, like a blackened daemon, he seemed. His form blocked out the rising sun, replacing it with his glowing eye. For a moment, Leo was back in that village, Giovanni in place of Elizabeth, the fires roaring as the town burned. Never again. The present came splashing back like cold water. Leo pointed his sword. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet!¡± Ireo scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re about to be.¡± Leo panted heavily. ¡°You will pay for what you did to Giovanni, you one-eyed monster!¡± Ireo readied himself to pounce. ¡°Your brother was nothing, and neither are you. There is no hope, and no one is coming to save you. All you have left is your death!¡± Ireo charged. Leo ducked as Ireo collided with the cliff, rolling to avoid the stabbing hooves. The arrows broke free, and they fell onto Ireo, points first. Ireo gasped as they pierced his stomach and chest. He coughed blood, crimson trails leaking down his skin. He struggled to move his arms to pry the arrows out. Leo snarled; he wouldn¡¯t let him. He grabbed his sword and climbed over Ireo¡¯s equine form and up his back. Ireo tried to shake him off, and Leo struggled to keep his balance. Leo leaped and brought his sword down on Ireo¡¯s neck. It was thick and muscled, more like a tree than flesh. Leo growled as he slashed again and again. Elizabeth and Etheros came to, and they stood in awe. Ireo¡¯s groans became choked gasps. His head was barely hanging on¡ªonly a flap of skin and sinew kept it in place. Ireo¡¯s arms went limp, his head turned to Leo, the glowing eye fading but still alive. Leo brought his sword down one final time. Ireo¡¯s head fell, and his body staggered to the ground. The Maelim warband stood in frozen fear as the head rolled. The light in his eye snuffed out. Leo leaped off the body, grabbing Ireo¡¯s head. ¡°Leave now, or suffer the same exact fate!¡± He tossed the head over the fires. The Maelim shrieked and fled. Leo turned to the corpse; anger flared in his eyes as he kicked it. ¡°That was for you, Gio.¡± Elizabeth strode over and gave it a few stomps as well. They locked eyes. No words were needed. There wasn¡¯t any bravado or tears¡ªjust closure. Etheros nodded. ¡°Excellent work.¡± Leo paused. A sudden pain rippled through his body. His back tensed; hot knives were trailing canyons into his skin¡ªa clasping clutch of serrated teeth bit into his shoulder. Something was lifting him. The world was spinning, and Leo was flailing. He flew into the tree line and hit the ground hard, eyes to the sky. The screams of Annabelle and Elizabeth were a faint buzzing on his failing senses. Leo last saw Annabelle crouching over him, pressing luminous hands against his ravaged body. Panic in her eyes as all went black. Velo-Obitus spat out Leo¡¯s flesh. ¡°Disgusting!¡± Annabelle pressed her hands against Leo¡¯s back. The wounds were closing slowly. There was so much blood! Elizabeth looked on; her gaze was intense, and her jaw was agape. The daemon circled the Godshard. ¡°We meet again, Etheros. I hope we have your attention. Shall we resume where we left off?¡± Etheros spared a glance at Leo. He was fading fast, Annabelle was trying, but it wasn¡¯t looking good. He turned to the daemon, and anger filled him. ¡°You¡¯ll regret that!¡± ¡°Ooh, such strong words! How fleeting; you know how this is going to end. We¡¯re invincible; your spells are useless! How many more people have to die? Surrender now, and the rest will be spared!¡± Etheros drew his sword. Both heads laughed. ¡°Really now, you¡¯re going to fight like some warrior? Pathetic fool.¡± Etheros twirled his blade. ¡°It is remarkable that you have captured so many of us, yet you still don¡¯t understand us.¡± ¡°So what? It¡¯s all meaningless.¡± ¡°Oh, do not worry. I can educate you. Even daemons can learn something new! Observe!¡± Etheros pointed his sword. ¡°I am an Adamite. Ours is the oldest and most true Godshard practice.¡± The daemon growled, charging forward. ¡°We follow the teachings of Adam, the first Godshard.¡± The daemon pounced, and Etheros evaded easily. ¡°We have endured for twelve centuries. Do you know why?¡± The daemon swiped and clawed at the wizard. He dodged every blow. ¡°We endure because, unlike my sacerdozio and seerhood brethren, we change, we improve!¡± Etheros brought down his sword, cutting at the daemon¡¯s outstretched arm. The wound cut deep, and the monster yelped back. He looked expectedly, waiting for the damage to heal. It didn¡¯t. ¡°We adapt,¡± Etheros smirked. It worked; it actually worked! The daemon gasped. For the first time, Etheros saw fear in those black eyes. Annabelle was struggling. The wounds were closed, but Leo was still. Eerily still. She pressed her hands against his chest, glowing and chanting. Elizabeth stood there, tears running down her cheeks. She turned back toward the fight. The daemon was calm; the arrogance it had was gone. It swiped as Etheros ducked each blow, bringing down his blade. The edge caught her attention, a familiar white flicker. She gasped, and her brow furrowed. She looked at the sacks laid about. One of them had similar white chunks in it. Much of it was dust now. ¡°Etheros, you fool!¡± This explained everything. Everything! He¡¯d doomed them all! What was wrong with him? She¡¯d warned him, and yet he still put them all at risk? What was he thinking? Why did she trust him? The sword left another wound, and that¡¯s when it hit her. The injuries weren¡¯t healing. He had done it for a reason. Martin¡¯s words stung in the back of her head. But this was still reckless! The stone is cursed; Etheros might be cursed now! Who knows what ill fortune he has wrought! She turned to Leo, and Annabelle was still pressing her glowing hands to Leo¡¯s chest, fighting back tears as she failed to revive him. Despite everything, Elizabeth didn¡¯t want to lose him. They had their issues, and he¡¯d broken her heart. But deep down, she still felt for him, maybe not as a lover anymore, but as a friend. They were kindred spirits and knew each other well. If there were anyone else she would want to protect Anna on this journey, it would be him. She could at least make this monster pay if they couldn¡¯t save him. But would cursing herself be worth it? The daemon forced Etheros to give ground. The wizard was too slow, his old body waning. With a bat of the creature¡¯s paws, the sword fell out of his hand. The beast pounced and pinned Etheros down. A foot pressed down on his throat. The leering faces of the daemon closed in. ¡°You have our respect Etheros. Were you using our own essence against us? That was a clever ploy, and we daemons enjoy deception. You are a credit to your species, but we¡¯re afraid this fight is over. Now come along.¡± The daemon growled in pain; a blade had entered its side. It staggered back. Elizabeth pointed her guisarme, coated in the daemon-stone dust, her eyes in dreary resignation. Etheros staggered to his feet and saw what she had done. They glanced at each other and needed no words. The daemon snarled as they clashed. Chapter Thirty-Four: The Tables are Turned "Humans fascinate me. Unlike my brothers and sisters, I know better than to underestimate them. They are crafty, resourceful and courageous and now they''ve been enlightened, much harder to break. Leo was floating; he was falling. He felt everywhere and nowhere. He was drifting in currents of unknowable providence. In the far distance, he saw a great light. A light that wasn¡¯t a light. Yet he couldn¡¯t reach it; something kept him still. He looked up and down; floating faces and wispy bodies moved around him. His thoughts were slow, sluggish. ¡°How strange,¡± boomed a voice. Leo couldn¡¯t see where it was coming from; it was all around him. ¡°You¡¯re still tethered to the mortal realm. The coil is growing thinner, but your friend is persistent.¡± Leo¡¯s mind was churning. He tried to put the thoughts together. Who are you? ¡°You know who I am. Time is short. I give you three options instead of two, in honor of your friend. I can send you back. You can stay with me until the final battle at the end of days. Or, if you simply want peace, you can flow to the light.¡± Leo understood little of what he was saying. One thing did stand out. Go back? Images flashed of Elizabeth, of Martin, of all their times together. His memory flickered to life, and he remembered what had happened to him. I don¡¯t know who you are, but please, if it is within your power, send me back. I¡¯m not finished yet. They need me. ¡°As you wish. Farewell, young Leo. We will meet again when the time is right.¡± Leo was moving upward. ¡°Do not be afraid, for in the River, you will always find me.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.