Chapter 668: History (1/2)

Chapter 668 History

“Would be cool to have that tech,” Ilea mused. “But I do like my fleshy body.”

“It’s rather traumatic apparently. Much is lost, and much is gained. Not likely a process our species could provide with the resources we currently have. I doubt even the Elves could match it,” he said.

“So Vor has been looking for the keys?” she asked.

Scipio crossed his arms. “I don’t know. I don’t know what he knows, or any other Ascended for that matter. Other than Nes. It’s been a very long time, since the sun was taken.”

“You don’t think any of them would continue the war?” she asked.

The man raised his brows. “There was no war, Lilith. Those who invaded Kohr were merely scavengers thinking themselves participants in a war. Underestimated, certainly, but had they faced a united Olym Arcena, not one would have returned, or so I believe. The sources were only taken thanks to those working to prevent further destruction.”

“Wait, sources?” Ilea asked.

The man remained silent for a few seconds. “So you don’t know everything at least. I hope you understand the implications.”

Now there’s more of them.

“How many?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, making it clear that he wouldn’t share anything else on the subject.

I suppose that’s true, she thought.

“I have told you much, Lilith,” he said. “May I learn how you know my name?”

Ilea smiled. “I don’t see why not.”

Rhyvor and her story with the royals shouldn’t have much of an impact on the other issues at hand. They suspected the Ascended had something to do with the more powerful monsters appearing in Rhyvor, but neither Maro nor Elana know anything definitive.

“These were your lands once, weren’t they? Human lands,” she said.

“A frontier, then and now. Though not quite as dangerous when we started building settlements,” he said.

“Rhyvor. I stumbled upon the Tremor dungeon in my travels,” she said.

He glanced at her. “I see. The capital remained in some form. Then you must’ve found records of me, or a portrait perhaps?”

Ilea paused, looking at him before she smiled. “No. I found Maro, and Elana.”

“Their graves? Why would there be a mention of me?” he asked.

“No, they’re alive and well,” Ilea answered.

He blinked his eyes a few times, looking out onto the north and back to her. “WHAT!?” he exclaimed, lifting a hand and pointing at her. “You… you’re fabricating this.”

“Maro Invalar, king of Rhyvor. He sacrificed himself at the end of some local war, taking over the dead kingsguard and most of the dead knights of Rhyvor, fighting off the invaders and defending the capital,” she explained.

“You need more proof than that to support such a ludicrous story,” he said.

Ilea tapped her cheek. “Hmm… something personal then. Maro didn’t actually want to be king, but he was just super charismatic. Not that I really get that part, he can be kind of an ass. Elana was the one really ruling. He was often off on adventures or similar shit. He gave me this,” she said and revealed the Legacy of Rhyvor. “But I suppose I could’ve just looted it somewhere. We investigated the Soul rippers, powerful monsters that came into the local dungeons, the same happening in many areas of Rhyvor. Based on runes I found later, I think the Ascended were responsible for their summoning.”

“That’s… true, all of it,” Scipio said. “But I still find it hard to believe. Thousands of years… and they did nothing?” he asked.

“Well Maro was stuck in the machine controlling the knights, which were later taken over by the city turned dungeon. A bit unfortunate I suppose, but I don’t think he expected to actually succeed. Elana took care of him and managed to sleep through most of the time,” Ilea said, not mentioning that the woman may or may not have lost a few of her marbles along the way. “How do you feel about them?” she asked instead.

“It’s been so long, I barely remember their faces,” he said quietly. “But a part of me… would like to see them again. We were adventurers together, a very, very long time ago. When we were all still young, so full of stupidity and idealism. I parted ways with them and Rhyvor many years before that idiot was declared King. I knew immediately it was Elana,” he said and laughed. “She was just too cold for our peoples, but I’m sure in time they understood, and came to accept her.”

“Have you been to Hallowfort?” Ilea asked.

“You mentioned it before. A settlement of Dark Ones in the north, is it not? I have heard whispers but have yet to find its location,” he said. “Is it within the Dark Protector’s domain?”

“It’s independent,” Ilea said. “And Elana joined their council.”

He smiled lightly. “She did always advocate for other species. A woman before her time, I suppose. Maro is by her side, I assume?”

“He’s… no. I have no idea where he is. Asila some time ago, but who knows where now,” she said.

“You’re aware of how dangerous that could be? That man has a way of influencing people,” he said.

“It’s weird right? Some kind of hidden Charisma stat,” Ilea mused.

He nodded. “I was sure he wasn’t human. Some kind of mind magic creature hiding in his skin, but I never found conclusive evidence.”

“You could find him and ask, maybe he’s mellowed out a bit after all these centuries,” Ilea said.

“No. Never. Not with everything on the line,” he said. “Maro can’t keep any secrets, nor would he want to be involved in the things I know.”

He looked up at the waiting group, Verena and Feyrair ready to storm inside the moment Ilea called. Pierce was juggling with daggers.

“The fewer who learn of us, the better,” Scipio said. “Even if you may trust them, it would mean a lot if you kept our presence here to yourself.”

Ilea did trust them, but this had became a little bigger than she previously thought. She trusted Feyrair, especially after what happened in the Praetorian facility, but she didn’t know how he would react to what she learned here. If anything, he didn’t seem like someone capable of keeping secrets for extended periods of time. Nor was she, if she was honest.

What she definitely wanted to avoid was the Elders learning about everything here. She decided to talk to Feyrair later, and in private. Right now they were all working together, perhaps in a pursuit of a future alliance, but with the knowledge she had gained here, she wasn’t entirely sure anymore. Before it had been about stopping the Taleen, but someone would get the source. And she didn’t know if Isalthar would leave it to them.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to tell a convincing lie about what happened in there,” she said. “But I can try. I suppose it depends on what you’re actually doing here. There were tubes with humanoids inside them, and all the Ascended research I’ve seen so far was rather… problematic, for all living creatures on Elos.”

He chuckled. “I understand. I suppose after everything they’ve done, it’s only natural to think them our enemy. Especially after so much time has passed. I guess nothing but the truth will do. I don’t know if I could stop you, nor do I want to risk myself and Nes to try. Too much is on the line. Come, let me show you.”

Ilea followed him back inside, teleporting past the quickly deactivated anti space magic field.

“I will show her around. It’s going to be fine,” the man whispered to Nes who still sat in the same chair, her glowing eyes looking at Ilea before they focused back on Scipio.

She followed him down into the cellar where she had found the containers before. Nes remained upstairs.

“Navuun,” Scipio said. “The ones saved before their sun was taken.”

“They’re dead,” Ilea said.

“Not quite. Not yet. What your magic fails to perceive is the genetic material and tissue present. No longer able to sustain themselves, they were put into a near perfect stasis. What you see here is what we believe to be all remaining Navuun. And we aim to bring them back to life,” he said.

Now that’s a risk, to tell me that, she thought. “Commendable, I guess. But why here?”

“You don’t deem them a danger to mankind?” he asked in a curious voice.

“If you don’t implant their minds with some kind of terminate all humans command. I befriended a Mind Weaver, Fae, fire fox, and a tree of all things. I think it’s safe to say I don’t really care,” she said.

“I have several new questions, but regardless, that is our cause. I have learned much about their physiology and they require a lot more mana in their environment than humans do. The north is appropriate but the conditions have to be perfect, especially upon their waking,” he explained.