WW Chapter 95: Complications Arising (Patreon)

I've edited the beginning of the conversation with Telemachus and added quite a bit to the one with Jhas. I think I've ironed the kinks out.

It turned out that there were quite a few enemies to be found in relatively near proximity. No more than an hour and a half after their first fight against a squad of the goblinoids, there was another. This time, the enemy only numbered about thirty total, and dealing with them in short order was no trouble. However, just like with the first swarm, there were surprising advancements that the little raiding squad had made.

As they continued on towards nightfall, over the course of the entire day, they fought against three more squads of the beasts. In each one, there were little things that had never been seen among the regular creatures. The one change that held true for every squad of goblinoids was that among each there was at least one bugbear wielding a bow, an orc with a fair amount of armor, and every goblin carried a shield.

“It’s not natural, that’s what it is,” Omar grumbled. “They’re beasts. They might look like people, but they don’t think like people. How the hell do the little shits have armor now?”

Every one of the veterans was voicing similar thoughts, and although they weren’t at all struggling with dealing with the slightly better equipped enemies, the fact that, after hundreds of years of the beasts staying the same, apparently they were now progressing quickly.

Ezra couldn’t help but find himself stuck in his thoughts, as he knew it had to be the demons. As they all set up camp, he was quick to volunteer for the worst watch shift, the middle of the night. His mind was too rattled to fall asleep anytime soon, so he simply sat on his cot and meditated.

Stretching his mind out into the world and pulling aura into himself centered him for a time, until somebody jostled his shoulder. Opening his eyes, Ezra saw Telemachus, who had volunteered for the same watch.

“Somebody heard Basil talking to you about something,” his friend said without any warm-up or explanation. “Supposedly you know something about what’s happening?”

“I wish I did,” Ezra shook his head. “I think that there’s something weird going on there, maybe it has something to do with the aberrants, but I really don’t know. I asked the Duke about it after we fought the infernal, but he didn’t know either. Basil told me they’d asked the other people around the Wilds, but there wasn’t any answer.”

Ezra had no idea why he lied, there wasn’t any reason to, but once he had, he couldn’t bring himself to correct what he’d said. At least, the streetrat Ezra might have. Instead, he remembered the conversation with Boyd when he’d already ruined his relationship with Cord and Leah. Instead, he shook his head and pulled his friend close to sit beside him on the cot.

“I’m sorry. That was a lie.” 

Telemachus’s face twisted in confusion at that, and Ezra hesitated for a second. Instead of letting the gulf he’d created continue to deepen, he corrected himself. 

“I’ve had visions of someone. Someone stronger than a Knight, and he fought against the aberrants and things a hundred times stronger than the infernal we saw that day. Things that were nightmares, that destroyed the world.”

“Shit,” Telemachus answered, relaxing as his head cocked to the side in confusion.

“I think… I think the monster we saw means there might be more of them, more dangerous ones, in the Wilds.”

“And you told the Duke about it?”

“Yeah. They haven’t found anything, but there’s been more goblinoids and aberrants.”

“Shiiiit.”

“Yeah.”

Telemachus nodded, then reached a fist out to bump as he stood and walked towards his own bed. “Thanks, man.”

“How are you feeling?” Ezra asked, changing the subject. “It’s been a busy day.”

“I’m stoked,” Telemachus smiled, not resisting the obvious efforts Ezra took. “Getting out of the garrison is a blessing. When I was really little, before I got my apprenticeship? I got to go outside of town and scavenge food. It was scary when I was little, but when I got bigger, I looked forward to being out there. Had to go at night, most of the time, ’cause it got too hot during the day to be out for long. Night had its own problems, of course, but… I don’t know, it feels like I’m a kid again, kinda, since  we’re out here. I don’t know.”

“The word you’re looking for is nostalgic,” Luna said as she settled into her own bed.

“That’s a real long word.”

“And it is exactly the one you are looking for.”

Ezra chuckled to himself as he witnessed the discussion, but he wasn’t allowed to simply witness it as Jhas approached.

“Hey,” Ezra greeted, waving at the illiar. “Thank you for your help in those fights today. I never would’ve expected that a two-handed sword was your weapon of choice.”

“I prefer the claymore,” Jhas smiled. “However, I have been trained in most weapons. In the case of the trainings which you have witnessed, I teach the rapier because that is what is requested of me.”

“Whatever the case is, we’re glad to have you. How’s Quinn’s shoulder?”

“He will be fine,” Jhas reassured. “The injury sustained was due to his own lack of experience in exerting himself with his aura. Due to the unusual nature of his aura and his own gentle nature, he has not experienced how best to exert himself with his aura. He will be receiving special training moving forward to ensure he lives up to his own expectations.”

Ezra simply nodded along, far from capable of having any argument about it. Several seconds passed, and he wondered what Jhas was doing, coming up to talk to them out of nowhere, but his answer swiftly came.

“Ezra, I would consider it a privilege if you would accompany me on a brief excursion. There are a few things that I believe would be of interest to you.”

“Sure,” he replied as he rose to his feet. Then, walking off into the camp, Jhas led Ezra maybe a dozen meters away from where the nearest people were. There, he looked at the younger Adept and spoke.

“It is of the greatest importance that you ascend to become a Pseudo-Knight sooner rather than later.”

Ezra squinted. Then, looking at the older man, he shrugged. “That’s always been the plan. The only thing that’s been holding me back is getting there. How long did you take to become a Pseudo-Knight anyways?”

“I was considered to be somewhat talented and ascended from Adept to Pseudo-Knight in my thirty fifth summer.”

“And I’m about half that age,” Ezra squinted. “I don’t think you need to be in such a hurry, I’m going fast.”

“The illiar generally struggle with changing anything at all. Any progress we make in art, skill, self-mastery, or otherwise, is significantly slower than that of humans or beastkin. The same goes for the nagas, and that, perhaps, is a consequence of our extended lives. Whatever the reason for it, we cannot progress nearly so quickly as your people can.”

“Okay,” Ezra shrugged. “I became an Adept less than a year ago. Less than half a year ago, actually. Pretty close, but that doesn’t really matter. I’m making good progress, and the simple reality is that I refuse to just be some monk that sits meditating for the entire day in the hopes that it gets me to the peak of Adept a few minutes faster.”

“That…” Jhas trailed off at that, seeming to consider how to respond. “I can offer you enlightenment. A greater understanding of the path towards Knighthood.”

“If you can give me a good reason to weaken myself in the long run,” Ezra countered, “then I’ll be willing to work with you on this. However, until you do, I’d like it if you let me continue to struggle my way through.”

Jhas started to open his mouth, to say something, but instead he shook his head and seemed to come to the conclusion that he wasn’t going to get through to Ezra anytime soon. Instead of continuing to press his point, Jhas nodded and shifted his approach. “One does begin to wonder if you have a desire to ascend at all. If it is the case that you are content staying as you are, I will willingly beg your pardon.”

“Okay, I’ve been polite with you,” Ezra snapped. “I try not to ask questions and treat you with respect. What the hell’s your problem? Are you stupid?”

Jhas stiffened, looking at Ezra owlishly. The younger man scoffed, deciding that he’d already started venting, he might as well get it all off his chest.

“Of course I’m not planning on staying as an Adept. I just said that it’s been less than half a year since I got here, and I accepted an assignment as Adonis’s guard, knowing that the job means everyone wants me to ascend asap. So are you stupid or do you think I am?”

“I intended no offense,” Jhas said, his words slow.

“Well, then you’re an idiot. Because, if you’re not trying to patronize me, then you just don’t know how to talk to people,” Ezra answered. “I’ve always thought you’re pretty intelligent, but why would you treat me like a dull child? It doesn’t make sense and it’s out of character. So, something really important will be helped by me ascending before we arrive in Ember. If you want to talk to me about it, then do. If you want to give me some vague prophecy, do that instead. Don’t treat me like an idiot and I won’t do the same to you.”

Jhas cocked his head to the side, the glow under his skin seeming to fade as he went still. Then, he bowed his head.

“You are correct. My true apologies. My fear for my charges superceded my politeness.”

“Thank you,” Ezra bowed back. “If you’re willing to apologize, I’ve got no problem with you. If you want to tell me what’s got you so worried, though, I wouldn’t mind.”

“I cannot,” Jhas said, his jaw tightening. “There are oaths regarding my comportment whilst outside of the bounds of Shamshua. Many I cannot disclose, but I can say that I, like every illiar whose loyalty remains to the Gods and the Theocracy, will not participate in any political conflict.”

“And since we’re going into politics, you’re powerless and want me to be able to step into your place.”

“Yes. Now, I will only invite you to consider taking every avenue to power as soon as you can. It will be to your benefit to do so. Rest well.”

At that, Jhas turned and walked away, and Ezra was left squinting after him. He still found himself grinding his teeth at the not-too-subtle insults, but he couldn’t hold onto that bitterness too firmly since Jhas’d apologized so completely.

He said that he wouldn’t be able to participate as one of the Duke’s sons’ escorts once we get to Ember, Jormun noted. These oaths compel him not only to remain out of political bullshit, but also to be useless. But if he’s worried like this, I’d guess this journey’s gonna be harder than we thought. Be prepared to go into a highly disadvantageous situation.

“I thought I already was,” Ezra grumbled, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he made his way back towards his cot. There, he tried to get comfortable, but instead of being able to slip off into rest as he had hoped, he could only think about what sorts of difficulties he would be confronting and instead lost himself in meditation until it was his time to keep watch. Then, along with Telemachus, Tula, and Quinn, he kept watch while stretching his understanding of his inner world as much as he could.

***

Maddened claws scrabbled against Ezra’s shield, and he shoved against it. The four-legged wolf-lizard hybrid stretched back, snarling as it whipped its tail at his ankles. He barely stepped out of the range as Telemachus’s spear jabbed into its side.

“Everything but the goblins is down,” Basil reported from behind and above Ezra. “Support’s inbound.”

Ezra continued to serve as the bastion against the rending claws of the beast, though he welcomed the news. The creature was about as tall at the shoulder as he was at the waist, and it weighed at least 150 kilos. It seemed to notice that the tide of battle was turning against it, so it turned and started to decisively run away.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Ezra grunted, taking the opportunity to draw heavily on the aura from his inner world. He stepped faster as he lunged forward, catching up to the fleeing creature as the flecks in the stone of his axe’s head glowed bright orange. The axe flashed down and carved through the monster’s scales to lodge in its spine, just above its hind legs.

The creature’s rear legs went dead, and it turned, snarling at him. With half of its limbs out of commission, though, the soldiers surrounded and killed the beast less than a minute later.

“How the fuck did a Dragonkin get here?” Ezra demanded as he pulled back. “We’re three days’ hard march outside of the capital and what, a hundred kilometers away from the border with the Wilds?”

“It’s only a little one,” Basil answered. Despite the joking sass with which he spoke, his face was obviously twisted in concern as he looked at the body of the beast. He continued, “Right now, we’re actually as close as we’re going to get to the border with the Dragon Wilds. We’re about to start going directly east, then we’ll get further away. It’s also some damn scary news that we’ve run into so many creatures from within the Wilds so far away from the mountain ranges. It doesn’t make sense how they’re suddenly coming so much more densely.”

“It is not unheard of,” Adonis said as he and Hector pulled the protective shutters away from the windows of their carriage. “The existence of a wave is well documented. However, it has been nearly one hundred years since we experienced one as large as this one.”

“A ‘wave’ being more monsters coming out of the Wilds?” Ezra confirmed.

“Exactly.”

“Is there some way that the Prince to the north is causing this?” Hector asked, looking at his younger brother.

“If there is,” Adonis shrugged, “we’ve never heard anything like it. I doubt that they’re capable of manipulating the goblinoids to this extent, though.”

“More important than talking about if the beastkin are causing it,” Basil said, “is that there’s a village right along our path. So far as we can tell, this latest fight of ours was against the outriders of a swarm of at least a couple hundred goblinoids.”

“You mean there is a village that is in danger?” Hector verified.

Basil didn’t dance around the answer, simply nodding, and saying, “Yes. And if we don’t help them, they’ll probably all die.”