Advent of Eternity - Chapter 53 (Patreon)

“We have our own mission,” Knell said slowly. “But I do not tolerate slavers. What city was he sold in?”

Eliza shook her head helplessly. “I don’t know. They didn’t let us see.”

“What about the city you came from?” Stix asked.

“My home village is – was – called Driftgreen. We traveled for almost a week before he was sold.”

Knell dug through his memories, but the name meant nothing to him. “I’m sorry. I have no idea where that is. We only arrived at Brickvale through a portal, and we just destroyed the way back in order to escape.”

Eliza stared at the ground, then gave them a jerky nod. “I understand. You have already done far more for me than I could ever ask.”

“And yet, I think you’re about to ask for something else.” Cyll grinned. “Spit it out. Let’s hear it.”

“You fight against slavers and their ilk, right?” Eliza asked.

“They stand directly against my path,” Knell replied. “I don’t seek them out, but I will destroy the ones that I can. They are not my ultimate goal, though.”

“You seek a greater evil?”

“You could say that.”

“Then I wish to join you,” Eliza said. “Please. I need to get strong enough to save my brother. He is still alive. He has to be.”

“There is no guarantee we’ll ever find your brother, and our path is not a safe one. There’s a very real chance you will die,” Knell said.

“I don’t care. I’m not strong enough to save him. I need power.”

Knell studied Eliza for several seconds. Then he sighed.

“No.”

“What? Why? Is it because I’m weak? I can get stronger. I have a combat Path!”

“It’s not that. You are not inadequate,” Knell said. “You have ties. Your brother needs your help. If you were to join my crew, I would not let you wander around aimlessly until you found him. You would be required to aide in my quest, but it is not your goal.”

Eliza opened her mouth to protest, but the words died on her lips. She pressed her lips together and bowed again, pressing her head to the stone for several seconds before slowly pushing herself to her feet.

“Thank you. You are a kind man.”

“Your standards for kindness are not high,” Knell said. “But I am glad that I was able to help even a few people. It is disappointing that we could not deal with the bandits as much as I would have liked to.”

“You did more than almost anyone else would have,” Eliza said. “Thank you. I – I’m going to train. And get stronger. My brother needs my help. Then, after he’s safe, if I seek you out again, will you let me join your crew?”

Knell fought back a yawn. The exhaustion of overusing his magic was getting to him, but he refused to disrespect the woman. “I will consider it. No promises. There are many ways to make people’s lives better. Joining my crew is not the optimal one.”

Eliza gave them a weak smile, then inclined her head to Cyll once more.

“We’ll be going, then,” Knell said. “We have much to accomplish, and I need to drop by the local town – one that isn’t Brickvale.”

“Do you want us to escort you to safety?” Stix asked Eliza. She glanced at Knell, realizing that she hadn’t gotten his permission, but he just shrugged.

“Thank you, but I will be fine,” Eliza said. “I need to become strong. I will forge my own path. If I am protected at every turn, then I will not be able to save my brother.”

“Good luck, then,” Stix said. She extended a hand to Knell, pulling the captain to his feet with a grunt. Knell got his staff out from under him.

“I hope you can save your brother,” Knell said. “And remember. Mercy is for the strong. You may have to become a monster if you wish to save those that cannot protect themselves. Such is the price for power.”

Eliza nodded once more, and the other three slowly made their way out of the room. She watched them go, then let out a slow breath. Crossing her legs, she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall.

A faint chime rang through the room. Eliza’s eyes snapped back open. A new man stood in the room, a staff bearing a bell resting against his side. He wore all black, with a square hat that covered much of his face.

“Who are you?” Eliza asked, struggling to stand upright. She raised her hands defensively, but the man just chuckled.

“You have potential, girl. Knell was right about one thing – you need power to protect. But you don’t have to earn it alone.”

“I – you know the man that saved me?”

“We’ve worked together,” the man replied, his grin growing wider beneath the shadow of his hat. “And I think I can help you, Eliza.”

“How so? And you still haven’t told me your name.”

“You seek power. I can train you, for a small price. My travels can get lonely, and a companion would bring me much delight. Especially one with potential.”

“I’m no whore,” Eliza growled.

“You misunderstand. I will not touch a hair on your body unless we are training. Your flesh holds no appeal to me, but your potential does. I can feel the hatred burning in you. Let me mold it.”

Eliza swallowed. “How do you know my name?”

He didn’t reply. Just when she opened her mouth to speak again, the man spoke once more.

“I am known as the Ferryman. But you – you can call me Joseph.”

***

The ground was bouncing. Knell repressed a groan and screwed his eyes shut. As soon as they’d walked out of the cave, he’d nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Cyll had thrown him over his shoulder, and they were jogging in the direction of Silver Ridge. There were still some hours left in the day, and there was no reason to waste them.

“Are you okay?” Stix asked. “Cyll is holding you like a sack of potatoes.”

“I’m doing fine,” Knell grumbled, but he didn’t ask to be set down. He wasn’t stupid or prideful enough to bother. He’d slow them down in his current state, and he wasn’t entirely convinced he could stand right now anyway.

“Was it really okay to leave that girl alone?” Stix asked.

“She’ll live. She has the motivation,” Knell replied. “If she’d needed us to take her to safety, her spirit might have been broken. It would have been best for her if she had a trainer, but I don’t have the time to do that. None of us do. She’ll have to forge her own path.”

“That’s how it should be done,” Cyll said, slightly out of breath. “And damn, a few hundred years underground really ruins your physique. I can’t believe I’m panting.”

“If you stopped talking so much, you’d probably have more air,” Stix grumbled.

“On second thought, I love being out of breath,” Cyll said. “Your sorrow is so much more motivating than oxygen ever could be.”

Knell shook his head amidst the bounces, his weary mind relaxing further. He wanted to try to meditate, but it was impossible in his current position. Wasting time infuriated him, but even he needed to sleep every once and a while.

His eyelids slowly lowered and he drifted off to sleep, Stix and Cyll’s argument growing fainter until it was lost amidst the darkness.