Advent of Eternity - Chapter 127 (Patreon)

Knell half expected the doors to start closing behind them when they entered. He wouldn’t have been surprised if lights suddenly blinked on all around the room, or if hundreds of enemies suddenly emerged from within the piles of glass.

No plan was ever foolproof. He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe that he could have thought of anywhere near all the possibilities, but Knell had been fairly confident that he’d prepared for the majority of them.

He had a Slow spell prepared for if the monster had been faking its sleep, and was equally ready to Exhume himself and throw his crew back through the doors if they started to close. The fishmen themselves had been far from a threat, so even a swarm of them wouldn’t have taken him by surprise.

“Ah. You finally came inside. I was wondering how long you were going to stand around, waiting.” The crab’s massive eyes swiveled to look straight down at them as a rich, baritone voice boomed out from its mouth.

Knell hadn’t expected that. He nearly Slowed the monster instantly, but instead kept the spell at the ready instead of reacting. The crab could have used the moment of surprise to attempt an attack – and then he would have responded in turn.

Instead, it had spoken.

“Sixteen Seas,” Nyra cursed, tripping over her own feet as her hair flaired defensively around her. “It can speak!”

Cyll’s hand slammed down on her shoulder before she could dash at it. She shot him a surprised look and the immortal man shook his head.

“Plans changed,” Cyll said gruffly. “Don’t think the Cap accounted for this in his plan.”

“I did not,” Knell said, everything he’d prepared burn to ash in his mind. He mentally pivoted, deciding on a new strategy by the time he opened his mouth again. “I was unaware that a sentient creature lived here. I am Knell.”

“Few visit this dungeon. Fewer make it to this room. None expect me. I am Geda – and you are a looter.”

“That’s one way to look at it.” Knell leaned on his staff, watching the crab carefully. So far, it hadn’t made any movements beyond speaking. “I had no way to know that any of this belonged to someone that would care about it.”

“Does a lack of care imply a lack of value? Theft is still theft.”

“Theft is only theft if you are stealing from someone,” Knell countered. “And I did not have reason to believe that any of the things within this dungeon belonged to anyone that still lived.”

Geta’s mandibles twitched. It could have been a frown, a laugh, or just merely movement. Reading the monster was completely impossible.

“And now that you know that a sentient being does indeed reside here, you still attempt to steal.”

“Guilty,” Knell admitted. “What use is any of this to you? I don’t see you moving around, much less actually using a Path Change stone or some artifact. If you wanted to use either of them, you already would have.”

One of Geda’s eyes swung closer to Knell. Cyll’s grip tightened around Lassie, but his stance didn’t shift in the slightest. He kept his gaze fixed on the crab and his feet light, ready to move at a moment’s notice.

“That is because they are not mine to use,” Geda said. “I simply keep them for another.”

“That’s a lie,” Nyra said. “The trident isn’t yours.”

Geda’s eye swiveled over to her. “It was given to me. All those who enter the depths of my home must put up their possessions as collateral for the chance to claim what resides within it.”

Knell glanced at Nyra out of the corner of his eyes.

That’s unexpected. A keepsake of a fallen party member, perhaps?

“The fact that you haven’t done anything yet implies that you’re willing to part with your treasures,” Knell said, rapping Nyra on the shin with his staff before she could say anything else. “Or was simply arriving here enough?”

“It depends on what you seek,” Geda replied. “The trident – I care little for it, but I will not release it for free. As for the stone that the one-armed girl seeks – you may take it. It holds little value to me, and an enjoyable conversation is pay enough. Unfortunately, I believe you will find it to fail to meet your desires.”

“What do you want in exchange for the trident?” Nyra asked, ignoring Knell’s sharp look.

“I am willing to bargain. An item of equivalent value or entertainment hold equal value to me. Which can you offer?”

“I have no artifacts.”

“Then entertainment,” Geda said, its voice gaining a dangerous edge. “Are you prepared?”

“Stop,” Knell said. “Be silent, Nyra. Think before you speak. What entertainment is there to give beyond a fight? We will not aid you if you attempt to challenge Geda on your own. If you wish to fight, wait until we have completed our business.”

“You already have what you seek,” Nyra snarled. “Our deal has concluded. There is nothing more we can do for each other.”

“We have not. I do not possess the stone, and you still do not have the trident,” Knell replied, matching her stare.

Nyra’s hands clenched at her sides and she jerked her chin toward the crab slightly.

“Fine. Do what you need to.”

“Why will we be displeased with the Path Change stone?” Knell asked.

“You seek it to restore the girl’s arm. It is not a difficult assumption to make,” Geda said. “She bears a blade but has not fought once since entering my domain. Her physique is that of a warrior, but she hides behind you. That is the last thing any warrior would seek, so it is clear that she wishes to fight once more.”

“And?”

“This Path Change stone will not return her arm to her, nor will it grant her the ability to wield the blade at her side. It will grant her supportive abilities suited for one that does not stand at the front of a fight.”

Knell’s face darkened. Joseph had marked several locations on the map he’d given them. There was no guarantee that Apton had the one solution that would fix Maya’s issue, so he’d been prepared for this – but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“I see,” Knell said. A spark of green blurred behind them just as his mental clock went off. A moment later, Maya stepped through the doors behind them carrying a white stone swaddled in blue cloth, a dejected expression on her face.

“It’s fine,” Maya said. “There was no way to know for sure that we’d find a solution here. We can use this for someone else or sell it for a good price.”

“Unfortunate,” Knell said softly. “At least you found it. Was there anything else of interest?”

Maya shrugged. “I was pretty focused on looking for the stone. There was a lot of stuff, but I’ve got no clue what it was.”

“Then we are indeed done,” Knell said, turning toward the door. “Nyra, you may proceed with whatever it is you wish to do. We have gotten what we came here for, even if it was not what we sought.”

“There is still a solution,” Geda said. “I can restore her arm and provide myself with entertainment at the same time.”

Knell turned back to the monster, his eyes narrowed. “How?”

“I will not say. It is between me and her – should she take my offer.”

“What are the chances she dies in the process of accepting this offer?” Knell asked suspiciously.

“As high as any who go seeking power,” Geda replied. “Death waits for us all, but failing to improve oneself will only ensure her meal does not fight back.”

“I’m not sure I trust this,” Stix whispered. “How do we know it’s telling the truth?”

“Because it has no real reason to lie,” Knell replied. “This is your choice, Maya. Joseph gave us multiple other options. It will take time, but I can guarantee that we will restore your arm. But, if you want to take Geda up on this offer, I will not stop you.”

“Is there any chance I succeed?” Maya asked the huge crab.

“There is chance. It is not high.”

“Am I guaranteed to die if I fail?”

“No, but you will suffer.”

“I can handle suffering,” Maya said. She handed the stone to Knell and met the crab’s gaze. “I’ll do it. I don’t want to be a liability anymore.”

“What about my trident?” Nyra asked.

“It is not yet yours. It is mine,” Geda corrected. The massive crab shifted slightly, pulling its eyes back up into the air. “You will be given a chance to earn it shortly. Do you wish to undergo the same trial that the one-armed girl will?”

“What, some sort of path change? No. I’m more than happy with my own power,” Nyra replied. “I just want the trident.”

Geda’s entire body shifted in what Knell suspected was its equivalent of a shrug. The huge crab raised a claw into the air, sending cascades of colorful glass tinkling across the ground. It moved it toward Maya slowly, stopping when it was right in front of her face.

“Take my claw.”

Maya shot a look over her shoulder at Knell, but he just shrugged.

“I don’t know anything about this trial. It’s up to you. If you’re certain you want to do this, then do it with your whole heart. Choose your path and stick to it, or indecisiveness will stop you before you start.”

Mayla set her jaw and turned back, pressing her hand against the rough carapace.

“What now?”

“Prepare yourself,” Geda replied. “And do not resist until it is time.”

Maya opened her mouth, but she never got the chance to finish her question. Water bubbled out from the ground beneath her, streamers winding up her legs like snakes. Her eyes widened in surprise and she pulled back.

The water reached up, quickly enveloping her entire body in its churning waves. It churned up into a pillar, then crashed back to the ground, spraying everywhere and leaving no trace of Maya.

“Maya! Where’d she go?” Stix demanded, aiming her crossbow at Geda’s mouth. “What did you do?”

“Be still, moon elf,” Geda said with a chittering laugh. “The girl is in her trial. I will do her no harm of my own will.”

Knell inclined his head slightly. Stix lowered her weapons lightly, but she didn’t take her finger off the trigger. “If you’re sure.”

Geda moved its claw until it was almost touching Nyra. “And now, your request. The trident is worth little to me, I admit. If you have nothing of value, then you must entertain me.”

“And how do you want me to do that?” Nyra asked, her eyes narrow. “A fight?”

Geda’s rough laughter echoed through the room again. “No. You could not fight me. I heard your plan outside my doors, and I admit that it might have been successful if you were aided by the demon and his crew. But, if you want to entertain me, then I will not fight against all of you.”

“Wait, demon?” Nyra asked. She looked at Cyll, then over at Knell. “Which one?”

“Information is no freer than anything else I own. Are you prepared to pay for it?”

Knell’s eyes thinned.

How can this crab know anything about me? Is it somehow able to tell that I’m the Advent of Eternity? Not even the other Advents knew until Joseph told them.

“No. I just want the trident,” Nyra said, crossing her arms. “What do you want for it? Spit it out.”

“Withstand a single blow,” Geda replied. “You may do what you want to weaken my strike, but you cannot dodge it. I wish to see the strength of your resolve.”

“You can’t be serious,” Nyra said. “I’d happily fight you, but getting hit by something of your size will just kill me instantly.”

“I will wait,” Geda said. “The trident will go nowhere. No other knows of its existence. Return when you feel you are ready to accept my challenge.”

Nyra’s fists clenched. “No. I’m doing it now. I’m not waiting any longer. If that’s how it’s going to be, then that’s what we’re doing.”

The crab lifted its huge claw out of the way and Nyra stepped forward, cresting a pile of shattered glass and digging her feet into it. She bared her teeth in a snarl and her hair lengthened, whipping around her furiously.

“Come on, then!” Nyra called. “I’m standing right here. Hit me!”