Lucas awoke abruptly after receiving a sharp kick in his stomach. “Ah!” he gasped.
“Wake up.”
Looking up, he saw the woman in the white cloak standing over him. Lucas slowly hoisted himself off of the floor and onto his feet. The room was rather dark, illuminated only by the dim light of the rising sun.
“Collect your companions and leave,” the woman ordered. Admittedly, Lucas wanted to stay long enough to at least eat some of the remaining food in the backpack. However, he didn’t want to take advantage of the woman’s kindness, and obeyed her request.
He approached Iris, who had eventually ended up on the floor near Hagan. Lucas kneeled down beside her, looking up to see the woman in white. She remained in place, watching his every move. That’s when it occurred to him. Maybe now would be a good time to read her... Since she’s the only person awake right now, it shouldn’t be hard to tell her emotions apart from everyone else’s.
“Well?” the woman in white barked. “Are you going to wake them up or do I have to kick them too?”
Lucas quickly scanned the woman’s emotions. He was surprised by the feeling. It was cold, yet there was a distant warmth, like a small fire in a blizzard. It was most unusual. Who is this woman?
Lucas deactivated his power and gently shook Iris’s arm. “Iris... wake up. We need to go.”
She sat up and yawned. “Good morning, Lucas. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes,” he replied. “But we need to go now. Wake up Hagan, I’ll get our things together.” Lucas collected the lantern, still resting on the table from the night before, and returned it to the backpack.
Meanwhile, Iris shook Hagan’s arm. “Hagan...” He didn’t respond. She tried again. “Hagan, it’s morning.” Hagan’s eyes slowly opened.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Better,” he replied. “Still hurts like hell, though.”
After putting on the backpack, Lucas looked back at the woman in white. “Thank you again,” he said. She ignored him, turning her head toward Iris who was helping Hagan off of the makeshift bed. Seeing this, Lucas darted to assist.
Once Hagan was on his feet, he scanned the room. “Where’s my bow and quiver?”
“Over there,” the woman replied, pointing to a chair in which Hagan’s things rested. There was a pause while Hagan slowly walked to collect his equipment.
Lucas eyed the wound on Hagan’s back, completely exposed due to his lack of shirt. Looks like he’s still in pretty rough shape... Wait! I should be able to conjure now that I’ve slept. That means I can try the heali–
“You never answered my question, by the way,” the woman in white suddenly asserted, interrupting Lucas’s train of thought.
He looked at her, puzzled. “What question?”
“What are you doing out here?” she quickly replied.
“We told you,” Lucas answered, “we’re lost.”
The woman did not seem pleased with this response. “I find it doubtful that you came to the desert for a little hiking. I’ll only ask one more time, and I want the truth. WHY are you here?”
“Does it really matter?” Hagan grumbled.
“Yes,” she replied sternly. “I have a right to know. If you disagree,” she placed her hand on the hilt of her katana, “I’ll be pleased to take back what I’ve done for you.”
“Alright, geez!” Hagan abruptly responded.
“Hey now, we don’t want any trouble,” Lucas asserted, “it’s just a bit of a lengthy story.”
The woman in white returned her hand to her side. “Then tell me your ‘lengthy story.’”
To the best of his ability, Lucas once again explained everything that had happened since his departure from his home just outside of Cymbeline. The woman in white said nothing the entire time, even during the parts that were usually cut short due to the listeners’ disbelief. Still, Iris occasionally interrupted to verify his claims, likely a result of her own skepticism when Lucas initially told his tale to her.
“After Aiden ran off, we tried to get into Secar. The guards wouldn’t let us in, so we had to turn around. It wasn’t long before we encountered those monsters and you showed up.” Once Lucas had finished talking, the room was silent.
“So there you go,” Hagan finally said. “Happy?”
The woman in the white cloak appeared to have no response at first. Then, softly, she spoke. “Quinn...” She paused briefly before going on, much more audibly than before. “When I first saw you, struggling against those monsters, I was about to leave you to die. The only reason I didn’t is because there were times in my life where the kindness of strangers was essential to my survival. Initially, I felt as though I were repaying a karmic debt. But now I see – perhaps fate is responsible for our meeting.”
Much to the trio’s surprise, the woman in the white cloak proceeded to remove her hood, revealing the upper half of her face. Her hair was black, with subtle signs of graying. She had straight cut bangs, and when she pulled the rest of her hair out of the cloak, she unveiled a rather lengthy ponytail. “Consider yourselves lucky,” she said as she untied the cloth concealing the remainder of her face below her eyes. “I don’t show my face or share my story with very many people.”
The woman’s face was now completely visible. Her skin was worn. Dark bags hung beneath her eyes as the result of innumerable sleepless nights. The trio remained silent, eager to hear what the woman would say next. “Now listen carefully, kids,” she continued, “I’m going to tell you about my personal encounter with Javan Quinn.
“My name is Sezuni Haahn,” the woman revealed as she made her way over to a cabinet. “In my younger years, I was a member of an assassins’ guild known as The Order of the Sacred Blade.” Removing a rather large bottle of whiskey and a glass, she shut the cabinet and sat down at the small table. “It wasn’t easy work by any means, but killing proved to be something I was good at and the Order kept me taken care of.”
Sezuni filled the glass with whiskey. “One day, I got an assignment to take out Lord Javan Quinn. I was a bit surprised that I would be responsible for eliminating the king’s adviser, but the client was offering a decent bounty for his death.” Tilting her head back, she gulped down half of the glass’s contents with seemingly little trouble. She set it back on the table. “Little was known about the client or the reasoning behind his request. But the price was right, and I took the job. Assassins rarely ask questions. We just do what we’re assigned to do and call it a day.”
She took another, smaller drink before continuing. “It wasn’t long before I found an opportunity to hit my target. Quinn was hosting a party... it was late in the evening, and I was able to slip in undetected. This didn’t take much effort considering the large number of people in attendance. All I had to do was isolate him from the crowd long enough to carry out the act. I waited until he had downed a few glasses of wine before introducing myself to him under a false name, feeling the impairment would work to my advantage. Then, once I’d spoken with him a bit, something strange happened that I’d never experienced before.”
Sezuni paused for a moment, finishing the glass. “Not only was he rich and handsome, but he was absolutely brilliant. There was something so dark and mysterious about him... it was irresistible.”
“Hold on,” Hagan chimed in. “Is this going where I think it’s going?”
Sezuni glanced at him. “Do you honestly think any man in his right mind would form a meaningful relationship with someone who kills for a living? I had to get what I could take, and Quinn was quite a score. So, I decided I’d have a little fun with him before I finished the job... After all, I would need to isolate him anyway. Luring him into the bedroom was an effective method to accomplish the task. It worked perfectly... Thanks to the wine, it didn’t take long for him to doze off, allowing me an excellent opportunity to strike.
“I took out my dagger... and that’s when everything went wrong. He unexpectedly awoke as I raised the blade. Needless to say, I was unable to kill him. To make matters worse, it turned out that he was a master of Shadow magic. I was outmatched. I had to escape if I wished to live.
“Returning to the Order wasn’t an option. They do not tolerate failure in any form. If an assassin is unable to kill a target and escape unseen, they are marked a liability, and become targeted themselves. Knowing this, I fled and went into hiding.
“Luckily, I was able to use the skills I had learned as an assassin to survive as a successful thief. I thought everything was going to be alright. Then, I hit a snag when I began feeling sick and unbearably fatigued weeks later... It turned out that my intimate encounter with Javan was more than just ‘a little fun.’
“Those were some of the most difficult months of my life... Still, I managed to survive with the help of kind strangers I met along the way. When the baby was finally born, I was unsure of what to do next. I’m a killer, not a mother. So I did what I thought was best. I placed the baby in a basket, and left it on Quinn’s doorstep. From that point, I decided to close that chapter of my life and never look back.
“For a good while after that, I spent my life as a nomadic thief and continued to keep a low profile. Eventually, I found this place and have been living here ever since. I’ve remained undisturbed by the Order... and am able to easily sneak into Secar at night to get anything I need. I guess you could call it my retirement.”
“That’s a hell of a life story,” Hagan commented.
“Do you know what became of your child?” Iris queried.
Sezuni shrugged. “Like I told you, I’ve put that part of my life behind me. Quinn lives the good life. I knew the kid would have a better chance of surviving with him than with me. But to be entirely honest, part of me just didn’t want the responsibility. I had enough trouble as it was.”
She poured another glass of whiskey. “Now, after hearing your story, I’m beginning to put the pieces together. Whoever the client was must have known about Quinn’s plot long before it evolved into what’s going on today. I find it intriguing that they came to us instead of the king... but on the same token, they probably knew that Quinn would be able to snake his way out of the accusations and turn the table on them. Smart man, whoever he was. Sadly, I wasn’t successful and it seems that countless others have lost their lives as a result.”
Sezuni took a drink. “Damiano’s Disk... I heard it was a myth. Then again, I always believed monsters to be mythical too. I’m curious to know why Quinn began chasing it in the first place. I’m also wondering how Kuraikaji became involved.” She paused before shrugging and taking yet another drink.
“So,” Sezuni said, “if I understand correctly, you’re trying to stop Quinn, Kuraikaji, and this ‘Spade’ guild from completing Damiano’s Disk. Is that right?”
Lucas nodded. “We’ve decided that the only way to ensure its power isn’t used for anything but returning peace to Aria is to get it ourselves.”
Sezuni chuckled. “Good luck.”
“Thanks for the reassurance,” Hagan grumbled.
Sezuni stared down at her glass. “I’ll admit that you have guts. But you’re just wasting your time. It’s been roughly twenty years since Quinn was assigned as my target. If he’s so determined to unlock the temple himself that he hasn’t given up after this long, the only way to get that fragment from him will be to kill him.” She looked at the trio. “From my own experience, I can tell you with absolute certainty that he won’t go down easily.”
“I’d rather try than do nothing,” Lucas responded. “If it wasn’t for Lord Quinn, my parents would still be alive. Now, Grandpa is the only family I have left, and I’m not going to let these monsters take him away from me too. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy from the start, and I’ll admit that things look pretty grim. But I refuse to quit until Aria is restored.”
“That’s very courageous,” Sezuni replied, “but if you’re still struggling against the monsters, I’d hate to see what Kuraikaji or Quinn would do to you.”
“We’re well aware of the risk involved,” Iris asserted.
“Are you really?” Sezuni responded. “You may have very well died in the desert last night if I hadn’t found you. What makes you think you’re suited to take on some of the deadliest men in Aria?”
“At least we’re doing something about it,” Hagan argued. “Everyone’s affected by this, including you.”
The room briefly fell silent. “I can see that you’re not going to be easily deterred,” Sezuni noted. “However, stumbling around Hravart Desert isn’t my idea of ‘doing something about it.’”
“We told you,” Hagan shouted, “we ended up here by mistake!”
“Then why aren’t you taking advantage of your ‘mistake?’” Sezuni inquired. “Think about it. You’ve been unintentionally led directly to Kuraikaji, the man responsible for destroying your home town and a key player in the hunt for this disk. And much like Quinn, he will only be stopped by death.” With a mighty gulp, Sezuni finished her glass of whiskey. “I believe that all things happen for a reason. Our meeting is no coincidence. Perhaps I’m supposed to prevent your death by offering my warning. Or maybe, you’re destined to succeed regardless. Ultimately, it’s a matter of your determination.” She paused before adding, “If you’re serious about this, then I’m willing to help you get into Secar. Just don’t be surprised if you never make it back out.”
“Pfft,” Hagan scoffed, “we can take Kuraikaji. No sweat.” He grunted as he felt a surge of pain, still sore from the effects of the scorpion’s sting.
Sezuni smirked. “Sure.”
Lucas approached Hagan. “Let me try the healing spell.” Hagan cast a glare at Sezuni before facing Lucas and giving a soft nod. Placing his hand on Hagan, Lucas focused. “Lumen sana.” Hagan began to glow and was soon alleviated of his pain as the injury vanished. Once he was finished healing, Lucas removed his hand. “Any better?”
Taking a quick moment to stretch, Hagan replied. “Hell yes! That’s more like it!” He looked at Sezuni. “Just wait and see, Kuraikaji won’t know what hit him!”
Ignoring his remarks, Sezuni turned her attention to Lucas. “Impressive. You said that you just started conjuring a few days ago?”
“Yeah,” Lucas answered. “It took a lot of practice, but I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
“Your healing skill is remarkable,” she asserted. “You must be quite gifted to have learned so quickly.”
“Iris is just a good teacher, I guess,” Lucas replied. Iris smiled at the comment.
“I mean no offense to her,” Sezuni responded, “but you will only get so far learning from an Ice mage and books. Light is the most difficult center to master. Yet you’ve managed to learn basic healing within a matter of days. With a natural skill like that, you have the potential to become an advanced mage, or possibly, a master. However, you will need guidance from someone experienced with advanced Light conjuring. Are you familiar with a man named Aalok Bonham?”
Lucas shook his head.
“Aalok Bonham is a famous master of Light conjuring,” Iris informed him. “He lives in and works from Ivyvyne Village, the town I grew up in.”
“So you know him?” Sezuni queried.
Iris gave a nod. “Indeed. In fact, I was his student for a while. After I expressed my interest in alchemy, his school provided me with a scholarship to attend college.”
Hagan lifted an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say he was a total grouch?”
“He’s definitely a unique individual,” Iris responded, a bit embarrassed. “Regardless, his skill is unmatched. I’m certain Lucas could learn a great deal as his student.”
“If you want my advice,” Sezuni asserted, “I think it would be wise to pay him a visit before taking on Kuraikaji and especially Quinn.”
“What?!” Hagan blurted. “We don’t have time for that!”
“Fine,” Sezuni said calmly, “get yourselves killed.”
“Sezuni has a credible suggestion,” Iris interjected. “Perhaps we should consider her advice.”
“We can go see him after we take care of Kuraikaji,” Lucas asserted. “Hagan has a good point too. If we don’t take out Kuraikaji now, Ivyvyne Village could be destroyed before we can even make it over there. We need to act now, while we’re already here.”
“Kuraikaji isn’t the only person you need to worry about,” Sezuni said sternly. “His army of Cobras keeps him well guarded. They are vicious fighters, as I’m sure you’re well aware. They have been so successful in maintaining Kuraikaji’s control over Secar, that even King Ashraf’s knights have ceased their efforts to take back the town. Pulling this off will take incredible strategy and precise timing.”
Lucas gasped. “That’s right... Aiden said that the Cobras protect Secar from monsters. Without them, the people will be defenseless.”
“I believe he also stated that they’re the primary source of goods,” Iris added. “Perhaps we should reconsider our strategy...”
“It’s them or the rest of Aria,” Hagan argued.
Sezuni got out of her chair. “If you somehow manage to eliminate Kuraikaji and the Cobras, then yes, Secar will have no defense against the monsters. But I assure you, there is no other way to stop him. He will not be reasoned with. And don’t forget the likely possibility that you will all be slaughtered in your attempt. I recommend that you take some time to weigh the options. As I said before, I am more than willing to help you get into Secar if you decide to go through with this. I’m honestly not sure if you’re ready, but I’ll leave the decision in your hands.”
She walked toward the makeshift bed Hagan had slept on. “I need to get some sleep. You may stay here and help yourself to anything while you think it over.” Sezuni removed the sheathed katana from her back and placed it on the floor beside the blanket. Resting herself on the scruffy bed, she let out a loud burp before rolling onto her side, facing the wall.
Lucas turned to his companions. “I want to keep Kuraikaji from destroying any other town, but I don’t feel right doing this without a plan to protect the people of Secar.”
“I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Hagan assured Lucas, casually making his way to the table. He grabbed the whiskey bottle. “She said we can help ourselves to anything, right?”
Iris’s eyebrows lowered. “That’s hardly a necessity.” Hagan shrugged and proceeded to refill his flask.
After setting the backpack on the ground and seating himself in a nearby chair, Lucas pondered the situation. There’s got to be some way we can keep Secar livable and stop Kuraikaji from continuing his rampage. Then again, Sezuni doesn’t seem to think we’ll stand a chance against him anyway. Maybe she’s right. Maybe we aren’t ready. Maybe we’re in over our heads with this whole thing... No. There’s some way to do this. I just need to think.
“Lucas?” asked Iris. Lucas looked at her, raising his eyebrows. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I’m just trying to figure out how we should do this.”
There was a pause before Iris spoke again. “I’m feeling unbearably hungry. Maybe we should eat and replenish ourselves before putting anymore thought into the matter.”
Lucas nodded. “Alright. I just hope we make the right decision.”