Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Monster in the Calm

The Enforcer base was a rectangular building made of large gray bricks, lighting the street in front of it through a tall glass window at its center. It was meant to invoke a lighthouse, piercing endless shadows, offering an honest peace where it might otherwise go unseen. After years of being on the other side of those walls, Aloryn felt nostalgic. He had never intended to follow the path to be an Enforcer, and at a time had seen this light the same as any other Main Land force. Enforcers were the same as Brigade members, and they both were only slightly less vile than Elf Killers. There was a time he wanted to cut them all down, but now he looked at the magic lock upon the doors, realizing he was here to save more lives. Just like the first time, he was here for the sake of another. It made him pause and take in the sight, surprised a base would change his life twice.

“Are you all right?” Wynn asked, standing behind him. He nodded and smiled softly, raising his hand to the door.

Around its handles, three circles flickered to life. Their rings interlocked, forming a triangle that burned with a heat of warning. It was one part lock and another alarm, made for moments where bases had to be left empty. In trying times, that wasn't uncommon, but the Calm Landers likely didn't know how important the spell was. Or how easy it was to break. Aloryn pointed two fingers at the topmost circle, twisting them like a key. It came apart like a puzzle, and he pushed the doors open, bowing at his Imeri companion. Her eyebrow raised, but she entered still, taking in the room once more and the difference in the air. Aloryn followed her eyes as he returned to lock in place. The lobby was large with reflective marble floors and four pillars to either side, leading to the front desk. To his right sat the doors to the stable and artillery, and to his left was the cafeteria, and a large area where civilians might talk to Enforcers one-on-one. Neither of those would take them to the bridge gate, but just beyond the desk and a security checkpoint, he could see a flight of stairs leading up and down.

“If security is over there, why do they have their weapon room out here?” Wynn followed his eyes. Aloryn smiled.

“It’s for trust. The people are meant to know precisely when Enforcers are arming themselves. The idea is that if they have weapons, it must absolutely be for the sake of peace.”

“Does that always work out?”

“No, unfortunately not, but that’s what Elite Enforcers are for. On top of being stronger than their peers, they receive direct orders from Sasha and she’s not afraid to have them destroy corrupt bases.”

The woman nodded. “It must be a bother to keep track.”

Aloryn laughed as he started toward the checkpoint. “It’s more of a bother for them to act too loudly. Sasha isn’t like Thane or the person before him. Enforcers are terrified of her, and they haven’t found someone strong enough to take her down yet.”

Wynn nodded again. “You sound like you admire this woman. Would you say she’s someone you can generally trust?”

Aloryn thought about his Abyss Born mentor. In the five years they were together, he had seen how ruthless she could be and the ways she could justify it. He knew Sasha was not a woman to trifle with, and also one with convictions that silenced everyone else. Could he say that meant she was someone you could generally trust?

"I suppose that depends on what you trust her to do." He answered, and as he tricked the spell at the checkpoint, Wynn nodded again. "On the subject of trust though, do you suppose I can be trusted enough to find out why you're in Rial?"

“No, I don’t, you could still change your mind at the last moment, but I’m willing to trade a little bit of information.”

“If you think I have knowledge on Council workings because I was Sasha’s apprentice, I have to disappoint you. She kept me at arm’s length.”

“I imagined she would. You’re an Enforcer instead of a Brigade soldier. I understand the Almatt stand at the top of the Enforcers, but you’re still a distance away.” She shook her head. “I’m actually curious about you, and maybe a few other things.”

“In that case, go ahead.”

"How exactly did you get past those two spells?" She gestured at the door and checkpoint.

Aloryn stirred the air, bidding a blue trail to follow his finger. “Are you familiar with the Elven Kingdoms?” He asked.

“Not at all. As I understand, no human can enter with ease. When boats drift into their waters, they are lost forevermore. Most of what I know are fairy tales from different eras; early ones about beautiful people from a mysterious land. Modern ones about malevolent inhuman things, plotting the downfall of all humans who see them. I have never seen an elf in the Unyielding Frontier, and as you might imagine, it’d be rare for one of our compatriots to meet one outside it.”

Aloryn smiled. “Then this would be one of those rare moments. I think if you were Ufanyn, you’d be extra excited.”

“Ufanyn would be one of the Elven kind, right?”

“Yes. Ufanyn, Avadyn, Siryt, Liele, Reza, Somyada and Ematri. The first two kingdoms came about much later in the Elven timeline, while the last five date back thousands of years.”

“Does magic differentiate them like it does with us of the Frontier?”

“Yes. Ufanyn use Mana Linking; Avadyn Mana Drawing. Siryt are Magic Mimickers, and Liele Shapeshifters. Somyada Conjure Nature, and Ematri use Extrasensory Projection.”

“And Reza?”

“It is said that mana remembers the spells it has shaped through the history of this world. Reza are Magic Callers, able to call upon the mana to reshape those spells.”

“Wait…” Wynn’s jaw dropped. “All spells?”

“Yes. Even the Wizard Kingdom, who’s long history has gone to forming countless schools of magic cannot compare to Reza Magic Calling, where spells are recounted through whispers in time.”

“How impressively frightening.”

“It’s why East Wing nobles fear Reza the most.”

So you would be a Reza then, or at least half. With that ability, all you needed to do was call the spell back and you could restructure it?”

“In short, yes. It’s not a universal Reza ability. I was trained by an Avadyn spell sword, and they use mana drawing to maintain their swords. I take a Reza approach to that.”

“Where does your human blood hail from?”

“I don’t know, I’m afraid. I never got the chance to meet my father.”

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Wynn crossed her arms behind her back. “Let’s make a deal Aloryn. If you agree to let me train you, I’ll tell you why I’m here.”

The half-elf’s eyes widened. “Why would you agree to that?”

“Because of what you said about the Reza’s magic. Mana remembers the spells it has shaped through this world. It’s very interesting you say that, because you sensed my Stellar Spirit magic earlier.”

“I don’t think I completely understand, I thought Imeri were like the Orunme people of Ruhanga, drawing upon a star for power.”

“That’s not entirely wrong, but you see, that star does not exist within this world. It can only be observed by us because of Imeri herself, and she, like the other founders of the frontier, exists within the celestial realm.”

“And you think my ability to sense it means I might have Frontier blood?”

“We are like Elementalist, our magical abilities persist through our blood. Surely Anai has said something to you. I’d be shocked if she didn’t notice.”

Aloryn thought back to when he first met the woman. He was fourteen at the time and had only been under Sasha for a year. The chance to meet other Councilors was often rare and finding Anai after a sparring session hadn't occurred in even his wildest dreams. Still, there she was. She didn't look much different back then—hair still long and white, clothes still burgundy. She was an immediately intimidating figure though, telling him with her eyes alone that he should not dream of raising a challenge.

“Stop menacing my ward, Anai.” Sasha came to his aid.

“He’s impressive. I watched his match just now and his footwork is excellent. On top of that, he has good intuition, most people this young would not have read me as a threat on first glance.”

“Most people this young would not have read you, Anai, as a threat?”

“You didn’t when we first met.”

“Fair point.”

“What is your name, young man?”

“Rien, ma’am.”

“Rien, if you ever feel up to it, you should come train with the Anders. I feel we have far more to offer you than the instructor you have here.”

“Are you trying to poach my ward?”

“No, Sasha. I was actually here to see you.”

Maybe that distraction stopped Anai from elaborating? He shook the thought away and found Wynn waiting.

“I agree. Though I don’t know which state I could be from.”

“You wouldn’t, I fear. You don’t possess our tell tale traits, you might not even be capable of taking a trial. Still, you clearly possess some Frontier power. Celestials vary, but the founders share a table.”

“What about your end of the deal?”

“Well, I think it’s fortunate we talked about the Frontier, because that’s where we’ll go from here. Aloryn, why is Xerva in the Calm Lands?”

Everyone knew the answer to that. “To set up a new line of defense for the Main Land.”

“Right, but against whom? She set up on the western coast of Rial, but the only thing out there is open ocean. You’d have to sail for a while just to reach the Distant Islands, and the only other forces nearby are the Blue Peaks and the Green Lands. Maybe you could count the Vast Jungles if you really want to push it, it is closer than the Islands, but when have the Sauryl ever been known to antagonize another nation?”

Times were always changing, but Aloryn could see her point. “You think the threat is Celestial?”

“Or some other extraplanar form, yes. Do you know why it is called the Unyielding Frontier?” The half-elf shook his head. “Because of a celestial event that happened there long ago. The land was scarred, and from that scar the monsters of the world were born. The founders gave our people power to hold these monsters back, lest they sow ruin through the world.”

“So you think it’s an event like that then?”

“I actually think Xerva is here to allow that event to happen. For the past four years I’ve wondered why the Main Land attacked the Frontier, but didn’t ceasefire even when monsters managed to terrorize their lands. Was it an attack like the one on the Wizard Kingdom seven years ago, or was it closer to what happened to the Dumabi people?”

“Xerva was only involved in the latter…”

“Precisely.”

“So what are you here to do?”

“If my suspicions are right, there’s some kind of Extraplanar event happening in Rial right now. Or maybe it already has happened? Whatever the case, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Mainland went from attacking the Frontier to establishing a new fort here. Furthermore, the rebels and I agree. Xerva is dangerous to whatever land she goes to. She absolutely must die.”

“So the reason you’re looking for the Bridge Gate is to, what, set a trap?”

“She’ll pass through it eventually, and when she does, we’ll have her right where we want her.”

“If anyone knew you were involved with a plan like this, it would be even worse than I thought. The Harragar are still angry about the conflict with the Ufanyn, but at least they’re separated by the sea. The Frontier is south of their homeland though. It would have been a bloodbath.”

“Then thank you for stopping me from giving myself away, though I must be honest. I don’t think the Frontier should have given up the fight. We are immensely powerful, and the Main Lands siege changed many things.”

The bridge gate was up the stairs. Wynn didn’t need Aloryn to find it anymore, but he could stop her from reaching it. Should he though? Xerva played a big role in his life too, giving him the bracer to kill him if he ever lost to Danson. She felt it was absolutely necessary to take his life, and he couldn’t see why. She was willing, however, and he supposed that said a lot about who she was. Tightening his jaw, he nodded to Wynn.

“I won’t get in your way.”

She smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. Feel free to lead on.”

He did, taking her up the flight to a large office space above. Chairs and desks sat around, separated from each other by glass partitions. The Bridge Gate sat at the back, its magic humming softly against Aloryn’s sense. Wynn didn’t wait for him to point it out, striding forward instead as a pocket stone gave off light. A glass bottle filled her right hand, glowing itself with a purple liquid submerging a shrunken head. Aloryn froze as she pulled the stopper, repulsed by the potent magical concoction. She stopped to look at him and he shook his head.

“I didn’t know the Rebels were in contact with witch doctors.” He replied. The Imeri woman certainly didn’t acquire it herself.

“You’d be surprised how many people you might not expect among the rebels. These last eighteen years has really grown their numbers.”

He nodded, while he might be surprised by their ranks, he wasn't surprised by her words. He never knew the Mainland to be a quiet place, but the past eighteen years were probably the loudest in the history books. He nodded, letting her continue, and she blew at the bottle's rim, pushing a cloud of smoke toward the gate. The shrunken head opened its eyes as the cloud touched the magic and filled it, only to grit its teeth. It turned in the bottle to face her, and she shook her head. Aloryn did too, but for different reasons. While Wynn was confused, he knew what the problem was.

“What type of spell is it?” He said with a hiss of pain. It felt like iron sitting on the back of his head.

“A targeting spell for Xerva and her ilk.”

“There’s already a targeting spell in place.”

“What?”

Aloryn took a deep breath. “I can feel it. Maybe if I undo it we can work your spell in.” He reached out.

It sizzled against his fingers and down his arm as he drew closer to the gate, rising to a swelter as he touched the core of the spell. Its intricate workings squirmed against his fingers but made way, letting him part it. Turning to give Wynn the go-ahead, he suddenly stopped. He was not under the base's roof, but under a night sky lit by several moons. He stood at the foot of a tall thin tower with a light twinkling at its tip. Someone else was there. In a pod in front of him, he could see a child-like silhouette. Magic poured off of it, almost drowning him with its pressure. It took a conscious effort to mute his senses just enough to hear his thoughts, but they made the situation no better.

“Xerva’s making another homunculus.” He voiced them, adding a greater fear to Wynn’s concerns…