The Chronicles of Faylon: Khaidus | ProfessorComputerMan's Commission (Patreon)

Author's Note: A little backstory is needed for this one. During the Saahira Launch Party, Professor's son saw Ry playing Gül and thought he was the most amazing little guy. Fast-forward a bit, and we created a character for Professor's son in Faylon: Khaidus.

Professor and his son came up with this prompt for his commission: "Khaidus is a rogue who is fighting against an evil king who is in possession of healing items he won't share. Khaidus and his summon would steal the healing stuff, but cannot because the king has knights who have KNIGHT VISION that lets them identify magical rogues and their summons. So he is in conflict with the king and his knights (he came up with the knight vision thing and I think that is hilarious and cool). He would like a mystery story where he and his summon are working against the king."

I may use some of what I created here in the main story of Saahira, like The Floating Islands. We'll see when I get there. Until then, thank you so much to Professor for allowing me to bring Khaidus to life.

Khaidus perched on the flat rooftop of an armory outside the enormous Hausgandr keep. The towering walls and powerful warding spells barred the uninvited from entry, but they couldn’t hide the people coming and going through the castle gates.

Chivarian healers, Khaidus thought, noting the twisting emblem of Chivari dotting a few dark cloaks in the crowd. Healers were easy enough to pick out of a group—the staves they carried were tipped with a large yellow gemstone that emitted a warm, calming glow. Following closely behind them were three people wearing the bright red robes of the Tokiatsu Province. Each one hauled a large leather satchel over their shoulder and a stack of books in both arms. Are those alchemists from Nagatoshi?

The gates closed on a furious crowd of citizens who swelled toward the line of guards. It would look pretty imposing to an outsider, but Hausgandr was made up of primarily non-magical humans, while the knights King Talon employed had all graduated from the Sanctum of the Nine Arts. It wasn’t even a contest.

A familiar, comforting heat warmed Khaidus’s back, followed by a voice that sounded like the hiss of a hungry flame on a bonfire. “Khaidus, I have returned.”

“What did you find out?” Khaidus used his staff to hoist himself to standing, then turned toward his demon.

“The three houses of healing are filled, attended by two fledgling alchemists who can only ease their pain.” Iron’s flames lapped at the sky, infinitely sparking around his metal mask and armor. The holes in his mask where his eyes and mouth would be—if they weren’t also made of fire—hovered at eye-level with Khaidus, and he struck quite the imposing figure. Though in reality, he wasn’t so scary. Unless someone got on his bad side. “I heard both of them lament that King Talon remains in control of Hausgandr’s healers.”

“And he’s bringing in more healers,” Khaidus murmured. This is bad. Really bad. “Does anyone know what’s going on?”

“The terms ‘scourge’ and ‘plague’ are on the tongues of many.” Iron crossed his gauntleted arms and joined Khaidus in watching the crowd below. “Do you wish to know what I think?”

A plague? Fear prickled over his spine. “Sure,” Khaidus said.

“During my time beyond the Wall, an entire host of demons returned from your plane after their summoners perished from an event referred to as the ‘Vridia Plague.’”

Khaidus narrowed his eyes and looked at Iron. “That can’t be what’s making everyone sick. They cured the Vridia Plague. I learned about that at the sanctum—”

“There have been many other plagues in the far-reaching history of Faylon, Khaidus,” Iron said firmly.

“I know. But does one really have to happen here? Now?”

“You say that as if there would be a better time for a plague,” Iron grumbled.

Khaidus sighed and looked back at the gate. “We need healers and supplies. Fast.” King Talon’s usual approach of healing only those who could afford it wasn’t going to work with a full-scale plague. There wouldn’t be a kingdom left to rule.

“I recognize that expression,” Iron said. “You’re plotting something.”

Khaidus pinched the edge of the enchanted helmet dangling from the top of his staff, then flicked it forward so that it spun in a circle. “We need to get inside the castle. Find out what’s going on.”

“What of the knight vision?”

I know, Khadius thought sourly. What good was a sanctum education against guards who could see right through it? Thankfully, where his professors had failed to teach him more practical approaches to deception, his best friend succeeded. “This disguise won’t be magical.”

“Are you daft?” Iron’s body flared, and iridescent waves of heat billowed around him. “They will kill you if they catch you.”

“But then at least I’ll have tried.” Khaidus watched the helmet slow its rotation until it stopped. “Someone needs to do something.”

Otherwise, King Talon, Fourth of His Name, had sentenced the people of Hausgandr to death.

***

“You’re an idiot, Khaidus Ladrone,” Strix grumbled. He crossed his arms in the same way Iron did when he was angry with Khaidus.

“Maybe.” Khaidus whipped the cloak to the side with a dramatic flair, watching his reflection in the looking glass do the same. “But you have to admit, I do wear the Chivarian colors well.”

“All rogues look good in black.” Strix rolled his eyes and scratched at the scar on his chin. He’d fallen face-first into a black burberry brush when they were just kids, and he swore it still itched to this day.

“The white wig is a nice touch, though.” Khaidus ran his hand through the wig, trying to make the gesture appear as natural as possible. “How do I look?”

Strix ignored him, padding across the room on bare feet to stand beside Iron. “Did you tell him this plan is stupid?”

“There was an attempt,” Iron replied.

“You can join me if you want, Strix. We’ll pretend you’re my stable hand.” Khaidus grinned and gestured to Strix’s cut-off trousers and stained, loose-fitting shirt. “You certainly look like you just rolled out of a barn.”

“And you’ll be my arrogant, overbearing master.” Strix snorted. “You won’t even have to act.”

Khaidus clapped a hand to his chest and gasped. “Good sir! You wound me!”

Strix shook his head, and a few strands of his yellow hair fell into his eyes. “Just don’t mess up that cloak, or you’ll be paying the gold to replace it.”

“I know.” Khaidus crossed the room, his leather boots silent against the stone, and his expression turned serious. He laid a hand on Strix’s shoulder and locked his gaze. “Thank you, Strix.”

“Hey, what are best friends for?” Strix shrugged, and his frown deepened. “Don’t let them catch you, Khai.”

Khaidus smiled. “Not a chance.”

***

The problem with Iron wasn’t that he existed, per se. Many powerful sorcerers had demon summons always at their sides. No, the problem was the keep’s guards. Khaidus may have stolen healing supplies before they could reach the keep that were equal to around a few thousand gold talons—coins named for their ever-generous king, of course. The supplies were quietly distributed to the three houses of healing, and King Talon had played it off as a “benevolent donation of His Majesty’s will.” His words, not Khaidus’s.

Iron had gone with him on a handful of runs, but their last had been moments from failing. Thanks to that, the guard captain was able to memorize Iron’s magical signature with his knight vision and had very nearly stolen the air from Khaidus’s lungs with a powerful hex. Too bad for the guard captain, Hexlations was one of Khadius’s favorite classes at the sanctum, and he’d countered it without a thought.

Now, though, that meant infiltrating the castle himself without magic, and without Iron.

“I can meet you inside, you know,” Iron murmured as they wove through the crowded streets.

“Only when I call your name,” Khaidus murmured. “We both know I have just enough energy for you to cross the Wall once a day.”

Iron straightened, and his voice sounded indignant. “You say that as if I will be caught should I appear on my own.”

Khaidus chuckled. “All these years and you still don’t realize that you’re a giant ball of fire. You’ll light up every room in the castle.”

“But—”

“No. You stick out, Iron.”

Iron grumbled an incoherent reply.

As they walked, Khaidus saw more and more people in tattered clothing littering the alleyways, hunched forward with bloodshot eyes and violent coughs. They passed one of the houses of healing on the way to the castle, which had three lines of waiting patients wrapped around the meager building. So many people are sick. And it happened so fast…

Iron floated higher into the sky, looked around them, then returned to Khadius’s side. “We are approaching the gate. Shall I wait with Strix?”

“Yeah.” Khaidus nodded and stood up straighter. He’d already concocted his character’s story while he was getting dressed at Strix’s hideout. “Can you hang on to my helmet for me?” He lifted the helmet from his staff and passed it into Iron’s fiery grasp. “I don’t need their knight vision figuring that one out.”

“What about your staff? It lacks the enchantment shared by Chivarian healers.”

Khaidus raised his hand with his fingers toward the red, uncut gemstone at the top of his staff. “Xi’luxar,” he murmured, calling on the spirits of fire and light. Two threads of white and yellow emerged from his fingertips and lazily drifted to Khaidus’s staff. Once there, they combined inside the stone and radiated a light very similar to the one inside the healer’s staves. It was simple spellcraft, more of a party trick than useful magic, but it would have to do.

“That is not at all the same as an enchantment,” Iron said.

Khaidus was counting on the guards to be distracted. Besides, there was a lot to be distracted by: citizens clawing at the gates, sick people collapsing against the keep’s walls in droves, the sudden influx of travelers… “It’ll work.”

“Khaidus—”

“It. Will. Work,” Khaidus repeated each word with resolve. It had to work. “Go with Strix, Iron.” He never ordered Iron around; the thought had always felt wrong. But this was pretty close.

Iron shook his head and, without another word, rose above the crowd and flew to Strix’s house. No one around Khaidus gave Iron a second glance as he left; people didn’t question the actions of demons very often. It almost always ended poorly.

Despite his confidence in his plan, Khaidus’s heart pounded as he approached the keep’s gates. The knights who flanked it wore the shining black armor of Hausgandr, their deep green half-capes embroidered with golden falcons. Their pointed helmets had golden, razor-sharp wings that jutted from their crowns, and were enchanted so the eyes peering down at Khaidus glowed an eerie yellow. Knight vision.

“State your business,” a gruff voice demanded.

“My name is Calvin Bertrand of Rhoryn.” Khaidus bowed deeply. “King Talon sent for me.”

“The Chivarian healers have all been welcomed already,” the knight said sternly.

“Perhaps there was a mistake in your count. He requested me by name—”

“Present your letter of request,” the second knight to Khaidus’s right commanded.

Khaidus had expected them to ask. “I apologize, my lords, I was robbed on my journey here,” he replied without missing a beat. “I hardly escaped with my staff still in hand.”

“A sorcerer? Robbed?” The left knight laughed wryly behind his helmet. “Move along.”

“Why not ask King Talon himself, my lords? He will be very upset with my absence.” Of course, Khaidus didn’t want them to ask King Talon, but it seemed to give him a little more credibility anyway.

The right knight stepped forward, towering at least a foot over Khaidus’s head. “Something is amiss with your staff, Calvin,” the knight growled. “Your enchantment seems to have failed.”

Sweat beaded on Khaidus’s neck, and he worked to keep his breathing steady. One wrong step and his head would be on the chopping block. “I’ve heard of the famed Hausgandr knight vision, my lord. Is the reading of magical signatures always accurate?”

“You would dare question His Majesty’s own magic?”

I question a lot about the king, Khaidus thought bitterly. “Of course not. I simply—”

“He’s with me,” a kind, feminine voice said behind him.

Khaidus looked over his shoulder to find a pretty, white-haired young woman with purple, almond-shaped eyes. She wore the red silk robes of the Tokiatsu Province and shifted the large stack of books in her arms. “Rin Hitomi, my lords. A thousand apologies for my tardiness.”

The guards exchanged a glance, though it was impossible to tell what they were thinking behind their helmets, then nodded.

“Lady Hitomi, it is an honor,” the right guard said with obvious reverence. “You know this man?”

Should I recognize her name?

“Yes. Calvin is my apprentice. I asked him to announce us while I refreshed myself.” Rin looked pointedly at Khaidus. “Did you not give them my name, Calvin?”

Why is she helping me? Khaidus wondered. “I’d hoped my reputation would precede me, Lady Hitomi,” he lied easily. “It seems I haven’t reached your level of fame just yet.”

Rin’s gentle smile was warm and perfect. “So that’s why you rushed off so quickly. Would you kindly carry my books?”

“Oh. Right. Yes.” Khaidus took the books from her arms and looked expectantly at the knights. “Shouldn’t you be opening the gate?”

“Yes, sir.” The right knight didn’t sound entirely convinced, but he signaled for another knight to open the gates. As soon as the chains were engaged, both knights moved to keep the crowd behind them at bay while Khaidus and Rin slipped through.

The castle’s courtyard was more ridiculously opulent than Khaidus could have ever imagined. Cultivated gardens with rare roses and alchemical plants bloomed in stretches of porcelain planters, flanked by carved fountains spouting crystal-clear water into enormous pools. There were citizens outside dying of dehydration, and King Talon had perfectly good water in his stupid fountains.

Servants trimmed bushes and pruned dead leaves from the gardens. More swept the ivory tile, laid in mosaics that Khaidus recognized as the Nine Turns. Coincidentally, Fate and Arcana had been his least favorite class, and it made him hate King Talon just a little bit more.

“Thank you,” Khaidus whispered once they’d moved out of earshot of the guards and servants.

“A good alchemist must care for her apprentices,” Rin said with a smile. “What have you come to learn, Lord Bertrand of Rhoryn?”

Khaidus was impressed. She’d heard his story and carried it with her like it was the truth. “I want to know what’s happening to Hausgandr.”

Rin nodded as they approached the steps to the keep. There wasn’t a speck of dirt or soot on them. “All of us share this desire, I think. Why don’t we discuss our…intentions, once we’ve learned more?” She caught his eye and shot him a conspiratorial wink.

“Sounds good.”

Rin giggled. “Try to keep up appearances while amongst the nobility, hm?”

Whoops. I got too comfortable. Khaidus reset his posture and strode up the steps with a straight back and squared shoulders. “Of course, Lady Hitomi.”

Another pair of knights stopped them at the castle’s entrance, then let them pass once Rin introduced herself and Khaidus as her apprentice.

The throne room was huge. Stained glass windows that matched the mosaics outside lined both walls, with green tapestries hanging between them bearing Hausgandr’s falcon emblem. The red carpet leading from the entrance to the throne itself was made from plush red velvet—another show of the kingdom’s wealth being used in the wrong place.

King Talon sat upon his golden throne in all his fake splendor. He was fat, sweating, and his skin was so pale that Khaidus wondered if he’d ever seen the sun. The golden crown looked small on his gargantuan head, and his belt looked like it was working as hard as the knights pushing back the crowds to keep the king’s pants held together under his gut.

Khaidus was not impressed.

Rin sank to her knees and bowed her head. Khaidus took a knee, but there was no bowing with all the books in his arms.

“Lady Rin Hitomi, my liege,” Rin said. “I bring my apprentice, Calvin Bertrand, to assist me.”

“You’re late,” King Talon said flatly.

“A thousand apologies, Your Highness. I fear that our carriage was robbed,” Rin replied.

Did she hear me say that, too?!

“Pity.” King Talon waved a dismissive hand at the well-dressed man standing to his left. “Tell them again, Matias.” Spittle dripped down the king’s chin.

Matias wasn’t wearing armor, but his black hair and blacker eyes were as chilling as the knight’s glowing gold. His gaze lingered on Khaidus for a long time before he spoke. “We believe a plague has befallen Hausgandr. Our alchemists have worked tirelessly to find a cure since it was brought to our attention two weeks past,” he said, bringing his arms behind his back in a soldier-like stance. “The two princes and the young princess began showing symptoms six days ago. The average life expectancy of all who take sick is between three and four weeks.”

Khaidus gasped, drawing a dark glare from the king. He bowed his head to hide his surprise. This was worse than he thought.

Matias glowered down at Khaidus, as if he’d interrupted him, then cleared his throat before continuing. “King Talon has called upon the alchemists of Chivari and Nagatoshi to assist our best and brightest in finding a cure. Whatever you may need, simply ask, and we will ensure you receive it.”

“I am honored to be called upon, my lord,” Rin replied. “And I am humbled to work alongside so many excellent alchemists. Please show me my lodgings, and I will get to work right away.”

“Good. This way, please.”

Matias led them away from the king, who grumbled something else about tardiness as they left, and down one of the expansive hallways until they reached a smaller corridor. He opened the third door on the right, revealing a lavish bedroom furnished with a four-post bed, a wardrobe as large as Strix’s house, and a fireplace.

“This will be your room during your stay, Lady Hitomi.” His eyes flickered to Khaidus, and he frowned. “You can sleep in the servant’s quarters.”

Khaidus frowned, swallowed his first response, and nodded.

“What did you say your name was?” Matias asked Khaidus.

“Calvin Bertrand,” Khaidus repeated.

“I see.” Matias worked his jaw before returning his attention to Rin. “After you’ve settled in, you will find the other alchemists in our healing wing. Follow this hallway all the way down, until you…smell it,” Matias said. “It is impossible to miss.”

“Thank you, my lord. I will join them soon,” Rin replied, bowing deeply at the waist. “Now, if you will excuse us.”

“As you wish.” With a final long look at Khaidus, Matias turned and marched down the hallway.

Rin gestured for Khaidus to follow her into the room, then shut the door behind him.

“Your thoughts on this plague, Calvin?” Rin asked calmly, setting her bag on the bed.

“It’s so much worse than I’d expected,” Khaidus replied. “Once King Talon has a cure, he’ll give it to everyone in the castle first, and then anyone who can pay for it afterward.” He set the books on top of a chest at the foot of the bed. “So many people in Hausgandr are going to die.”

Rin hummed thoughtfully as she unpacked her bag and transferred her clothes to the wardrobe. “Will he not allow one of the invited alchemists to administer the cure to the people outside the wall?”

Khaidus shook his head. “He keeps all of his healers, elixirs, and ingredients locked up in the castle. He doesn’t care about them.” He crossed his arms and watched Rin unpack. A new idea slowly formed, and excitement lit his features. King Talon may have the healers of Hausgandr all to himself, but… “Rin, you’re not from Hausgandr.”

“That is correct,” Rin said.

“You could help me!”

Rin hesitated at the wardrobe, then clasped her hands to her chest. “I believe this will have been for all of the alchemists here when I say that King Talon paid for our silence.” She looked down at the floor. “To betray his trust… I could not dishonor my parents this way.”

“You already let me in the gate, Rin,” Khaidus pointed out.

“Yes, because I saw your face in the stones in my morning reading,” Rin replied. “Acknowledging you helped me push my Turn towards Purpose.”

Ugh. More Fate and Astronomy crap. “What if your ‘purpose’ is to help me?”

That made her pause. “I…”

The door opened so suddenly that it gave both of them a start. Khaidus spun in time to see Matias shut and lock it behind him.

“I knew I recognized you, you wretched little voidspawn,” Matias growled as he approached. “You shouldn’t be breathing.”

Khaidus leapt back, but not before Matias tore the wig from his head.

The guard captain. Khaidus had never seen his true face.

“I plan to rectify this error,” Matias drew a sword from its sheath at his waist. He looked at Rin, and a malicious smile twitched at the corners of his lips. “One casualty will not harm our research.”

Rin screamed.

“Come to me, Iron!” Khaidus shouted as he raised his arms to block Rin. He needed her out of the way. “Get in the wardrobe!”

Rin didn’t argue. She dove inside the wardrobe and shut the doors behind her. An extra step to pull her out would put Matias at an extreme disadvantage, and he knew it.

“Ignis pyre!” Matias snapped.

A pillar of flame erupted beneath Khaidus’s feet as he dodged to the side. It caught the corner of the Chivari cape, setting it on fire. He snapped the fastening free, threw it to the ground, and stamped out the flame with a quick slam of his boot. Strix is going to kill me.

Matias cast again, and this time, as Khaidus evaded the second fire, Matias swung his sword. The blow clipped the front of Khaidus’s shin as he leapt backward, slicing through his pant leg and stinging his skin.

Khaidus suddenly remembered how inhumanely fast Matias was.

“Cindersnap!” Khaidus shouted as Matias rushed toward him. Sparks flew from his fingertips and into Matias’s face.

But Matias kept coming.

He’s wearing wards! Khaidus withdrew his dagger from his belt. It was much smaller than Matias’s sword, and he’d be lucky to block a single blow. But it was his only chance of living.

Matias raised his blade, wearing a victorious grin. Khaidus shoved his arm upward with his dagger, balancing his weight between both feet in preparation for the blow.

Clang!

“Oh. You again,” Iron said to Matias. He’d appeared at last, holding the blades of his twin swords against Matias’s weapon. Khaidus’s helmet lay on the floor just inches to Iron’s left. “What tricks will you try this time, guard captain?”

Matias roared with fury. He pulled back his sword and stepped to the right to get closer to Khaidus. But Iron kept swinging, putting Matias on the defensive.

“Perhaps you should have brought help?” Iron laughed.

“Thanks, Iron!” Ignoring the pain in his leg, Khaidus grabbed his enchanted helmet and put it over his head.

The world turned red.

Khaidus’s body vanished inside flame, mirroring Iron’s form from head to toe. This form burned through his energy reserves faster than any magical art, but he wouldn’t need long.

Khaidus grabbed his dagger and rushed forward, searing the floor’s tiles and rug in his wake. Moving felt like flying. Every object in the room was a different shade of crimson, surrounded by shimmering heat waves that showed their magical potential.

Matias’s waves were blinding.

Iron knocked Matias off balance, forcing him to face the oncoming Khaidus. With his dagger, Khaidus sliced through Matias’s magic, cut through his thick clothing, and plunged the blade into his chest.

Khaidus tore his helmet from his head as Matias dropped to the floor and lay still. Khaidus fell to his knees beside the body and fought to catch his breath.

“Do not cast anything else, Khaidus!” Iron snapped. “You’ve nearly used all of your energy.”

Khaidus grinned between gasps. “But I’m alive.”

“Foolish boy,” Iron grumbled.

The wardrobe creaked, and Rin stepped a nervous foot outside. She looked at the dead Matias, then at Khaidus. “You…killed him.”

Khaidus nodded and wiped the sweat from his forehead on the back of his shirt. “He almost got me the last time I stole healing supplies.”

Rin chewed her lower lip. She gestured to Khaidus’s shin. “You are bleeding. Let me look.”

“Will you please introduce us, Khaidus? Have I not taught you better manners than this?” Iron asked, indignant.

“Oh. Yeah. Rin, this is Iron.” Khaidus repositioned himself so Rin could tend to his wound. “Iron, this is Rin.”

“A delight,” Iron said dryly.

“Well met.” Rin sounded distracted as she collected medical supplies from her kit and moved to sit next to Khaidus. “What did you do with the healing supplies you stole, Khaidus?”

It was nice to hear her say his real name. “I gave them to the houses of healing in Hausgandr. Just like I’ll do now once everyone finds a cure.”

Rin nodded slowly as she dabbed a liquid that stung like a demon’s scream against his leg.

Iron crossed his arms and grumbled, “Foolish boy. Foolish plan. Foolish—”

“Khaidus,” Rin interrupted. She raised her eyes to look deep into his, her expression resolute. “I will help you.”