Advent of Eternity - Chapter 140 (Patreon)

Knell hooked the end of his staff beneath the chest lid and pushed. It fell open easily, the top of the chest falling softly into a pool of shadow that formed behind it. Several pieces of metal and gemstone sat in the chest, each arranged in sets of two.

There were two coin sized rubies cut so perfectly that they glittered even in the dim light, a pair of white bones the length of Knell’s pinky that had tiny specks of silver speckled throughout them, and two thin bands of deep black metal.

“These look expensive,” Knell said, raising his eyes back to the Veil. “Am I remiss in assuming that they are materials for an artificer?”

The chest closed itself and the Veil inclined his head in a nod. “Yes. For your eyes. It would take months for you and your crew to gather materials that would be sufficient to properly wrest those Boons from Mordrigal without losing their strength. I told you that I seek your aid, and my words are not meaningless.”

“So I see,” Knell said. “But you offer much. More than I would have expected. What is it that you stand to gain from accelerating Mordrigal’s death? If you’ve lived since before the Shattering, then you shouldn’t be in a rush. What changed?”

Shadows slithered along the ground toward Veil. They coiled up his legs, whipping irritably as they vanished beneath his clothes. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing the darkness back across the room.

“The Shards are a plague on this world. I–”

“Not that explanation.” Knell cut the Veil off. “You’ve already given me that one. I’m not trying to hear the same answer ten times in a row. Give me the real answer. You haven’t claimed insanity from age, and suddenly bursting into action on a chance that stands on feeble ground like this is… suspect. Something is driving you. If you don’t tell me what it is, I will have to assume that it poses a threat to myself and my crew and refuse your offer.”

Veil studied Knell from beneath the red tassels dangling from his tricorn. A second of silence passed between them. He let out a low chuckle.

“You would refuse Artifact level materials on a hunch?”

“When they come with strings attached, they are no gift.”

“I seek Mordrigal’s head because she is the easiest to strike at,” the Veil said, crossing his arms and staring out over the bone filled valley. “And it is not impatience that drives me. It is need. What do you know of immortality?”

“Little. It is a greater curse than a blessing.”

“Indeed,” the Veil said dryly. “I despise the Shards, but they have done an excellent job of executing their chokehold over this world. It is simple to achieve false immortality. All that must be done is ensure that the energy entering your body is greater than the energy that passively leaves it with age.”

The Veil gestured out to the valley beneath him. Knell followed his hand, suspicion of what the Veil spoke of already taking root in him. Killing monsters netted experience that went into levels. In addition to strengthening the body, it also extended longevity – though few got strong enough to actually see the results of it, because they usually ended up dead in battle.

“You’re claiming the Shards are literally just mortals?” Knell asked, tilting his head to the side. “I knew that they could die, but I did not believe them to be the same as you and I.”

“That is exactly what they are. They are no gods.”

Knell pressed his lips together, thinking furiously. The Veil’s words made sense. Mordrigal really did act like a mortal – he’d suspected it was simply due to arrogance and spending too much time among humans, but he’d somehow never addressed the possibility that it was because she was literally human.

But, if that’s the case…

“How are they still alive, then? The gods almost never come to our plane,” Knell said, furrowing his brow. “They use Scions to do their bidding and only manifest portions of their energy. That isn’t directly killing anything, so they shouldn’t be gaining energy.”

Even as Knell spoke, the back of his spine prickled. A realization passed over him as pieces of the puzzle started falling into place with rapid succession, forming the image that he’d been seeking an answer for years.

“The System itself,” Knell murmured. “It’s theirs. They’re drawing energy from every single kill ever made and funneling it into themselves?”

The Veil let out a booming laugh. He clapped his hands together and gave Knell a nod. “Very good. And you–”

“I am an Advent,” Knell said, and he knew that he spoke only of what the Veil already knew. If his suspicions were correct, Joseph did too. “There has to be a separate System – the one that the Shards used to rise to power before implementing their own.”

That’s what the Advents are. That’s why I have a second class. I was somehow born outside the false System the Shards have installed and gained access to the same one that they themselves use. We all have it.

“You understand now, then,” the Veil said. “You are the same as they are. You are what men should be, before the false gods stole from mankind. Why do you think all the Advents grow to such strength? Their classes are unrecognized by the System put in place by the Shards, and they grow at more than twice the rate of everyone else, with powers that haven’t been intentionally restricted to make it more difficult for anyone to rise against their tyranny.”

Knell stood silently, trying to take in everything the Veil had just confirmed for him. He was past the part of distrusting the Veil’s words. They made too much sense, and it clicked with all the confusion that had been plaguing him for years.

And it gives me another reason to despise Mordrigal and her ilk.

“Your honesty is appreciated,” Knell said. “But you never answered my question. Why do you seek to act now?”

“The Shards have started to fear me. Fewer and fewer of them attempt to challenge me every year. Just like mortals, I need energy to survive. What do you believe would happen if that energy were to be cut off?”

“You survive by drawing the energy out of the Shards?”

The Veil nodded. “Yes. For centuries now. They are prideful, especially after the Shattering. They all war with each other, trying to find the upper hand. Some seek my strength, and others try to betray me to claim it. Unfortunately, the dumbest have all already fallen. I am starving.”

“And you can’t leave this place to seek them out. You need Mordrigal to die because you’re going to starve to death if she doesn’t.”

“Now you know.” The Veil extended his hands out to his sides. “My subordinates are dedicated, but they are… limited. Against Scions and other mortals, they are strong. But… I will not risk them against the Shards. They would fall. My duty is to protect them.”

Knell let out a bark of laughter. “But me and my crew are more acceptable casualties.”

“Yes.”

A smile pulled across Knell’s lips. “I did not think this conversation would go this way. I planned to reject your offer, but your honesty is refreshing. I am fed up with Joseph’s secrecy and the Shard’s games. Very well, Veil. I will accept your gift and information and set out to kill Mordrigal. Should she die, you may have her corpse so long as you remain an ally in striking down the rest of the gods.”

“I would have it no other way,” the Veil said. He stepped toward Knell and extended a hand. Knell took it. A cold tingle arced through his palm and down his arm, but he didn’t let go. The two shook, then released each other.

“There is one more thing. Of a more personal nature,” the Veil’s voice lowered in anger. “A shared enemy we have.”

“One that isn’t the gods?”

“I am unaware of who they are. They were not relevant enough to draw my attention before. A group of bandits that have been involved in slaving.”

“The ones we freed Eliza from. I was wondering how she’d gotten wrapped up with you.”

“A story for another time,” the Veil said. “But yes, those. I sent Emma to free Eliza’s brother, but someone had predicted her arrival and removed the boy. I believe he is with their leader, and they are seeking revenge on Eliza – and you. She is beyond their grasp at the moment, but the effort they expend to try and kill you is more than they should. Why is this?”

“Hm. Could be because I killed their leaders daughter. Not sure.”

The Veil stared at Knell.

“Was that a joke?”

“The not sure part, yes. Killing the daughter, no. I thought I had killed her father already, but it may have been someone else. He may still live and seek revenge.”

The Veil laughed. “That would indeed be it. I believe the bandits are still chasing you. I could send Emma, but I do not know how they detected her the last time. However…”

“You want me to save her brother?”

“They are already likely to cross your path before you can make it to Creaking Spires.”

“Then I will do what I can, but I will not make a promise. The lives of my crew are more valuable to me than any other. But, if it is within my power, I will do as you ask.”

Several moments of silence passed. The Veil glanced over his shoulder at the valley of bones, then stepped past Knell and started heading back into the caves. Knell followed after him, and the chest floated alongside them. They returned to the throne room and the Veil lowered himself into his throne, letting out a slow sigh.

“I trust you are wise enough to keep the details of our conversation to yourself. The Advents are not my allies, but we work together. You, I hope, will be more. I trust you with much.”

“So long as you do not break faith, I will treat you with equal courtesy.”

The Veil nodded. “Then I will bid you farewell, Advent of Eternity. Emma, come. We have need of your services.”

A ripple passed through the fog beside Knell and Emma rose up from within it, shadows pulling themselves together and gathering into her body. She dropped to one Knee and cast her eyes down at the ground.

“How may I serve, my Lord?”

“Knell is our ally. Return him to his crew, and carry the gifts I have given him with you.”

Emma obediently rose to her feet, still keeping her eyes at the base of the Veil’s throne, and took the chest in her hands. She looked up to Knell.

“Place your hand on my shoulder and ready yourself.”

“Until next time,” the Veil said, raising a hand. “Do try and succeed. For both of our sakes.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Knell said dryly. He lifted his hand and put it on Emma’s arm. Darkness pooled at their feet and they sank into the ground. The last thing Knell saw was the Veil’s obscured face looking down at them, his posture tired rather than grandiose.

Then they were off, and the world faded to black.