Chapter 89: V2 Thirteen

Flanked by Victoria and Roan, I glared down at the rotund dwarf who’d just denied me visitation with Noctus. Not only that, but he would not even tell me what charges the vampire was supposedly facing, or how long his imprisonment was to last. 

The situation in Airus had quickly spiraled out of control, and Darius was still days away from arriving. If my own journey to Airus was any indication, it could be up to a week before they arrived, and by then, there wouldn’t be anything left for our guild in Airus. 

I’d been woken this morning to an eviction notice stuck to the door of the guild hall, letting me know the guild had three days to vacate the hall. As the lease on the hall was paid up for another two months, eviction wasn’t something I’d even considered a possibility. Yet now, we were being evicted from the guild hall on the grounds of multiple infractions to the city bylaws. 

After contacting Darius through Roswyn, who was traveling with him. I’d ordered the remaining few guild members to depart with the wagons. There was no inn or housing that would accept us, and Darius didn’t want to waste gold attempting to remain in the city. Only Roan, Victoria and myself remained in Airus, as I’d hoped to petition for Noctus’s freedom in exchange for our guild's departure. 

“Begone, lest I see fit to lock you lot up with ‘im.” The dwarven guard spat, a sneer on his lips as he returned my glare.

Swallowing back the growl that was building in the back of my throat, I spun on my heel, stalking away with as much dignity as I could muster. 

Roan and Victoria following behind me in silence as we made our way to the elevator platform. As the elevator rose through the multi-leveled city, my anger continued to grow. I felt helpless, and infuriated at the corrupt chancellors who’d allowed Dreadmere to orchestrate our guild's expulsion from the city. 

Corvus and Darius suspected Dreadmere was aiming to take full control of the city, but to do that, they needed to prevent anyone else from gaining a strong foothold. 

Much of Eternia’s focus had been on solidifying our position in Caruan, believing the coastal city was the best option due to its proximity to the ocean. At that time, no one had known much about Salvia, or how this new world operated. 

No one could have foreseen that Airus would be the biggest, and most popular city. It’s remote location, coupled with the frigid environment lead to the belief it would be a poor choice for the guilds main hall, something I was sure they now regretted. 

The Almer mountains were home to dozens of races, and was built above the largest dungeon in Salvia. A maze of tunnels that spanned across the entirety of the Almer mountain range, the dungeon, also referred to as the Almer mines, were the place to be if you needed mana crystals or metal ores.

 Airus was also where many crafters choose to reside, due to the proximity to the resources harvested in the dungeon. Losing our hall, along with access to the mines was a devastating blow to our guild, as it meant our smith’s would not have access to some of the rarer ores that could only be mined here. Purchasing the ores from others would be costly, and we’d likely end up paying well over the normal market price. 

“Foxy,” Victoria called, shaking me from my musings as she tapped me lightly on the shoulder.

Looking around, I saw we’d reached the fiftieth level where the main gates of Airus were located. Roan had already moved off the elevator, and I started to move to join him, but Zosimos’s soft caw brought me to a halt. Turning my head to the side, I looked at the crow perched on my shoulder, knowing from the sound of the birds call that it wanted me to stop what I was doing. 

Gesturing to the Orc without taking my eyes off the crow, I signaled for him to move back onto the elevator.

“Why didn’t you get off?” Roan asked.

Oh, well, the crow told me not to. Yeah, definitely not telling him that. 

“There is somewhere I need to go.” I said vaguely, and Zosimos let out a confirming caw letting me know I’d guessed correctly. 

The elevator continued its progression upwards, and I remained where I stood as Zosimos gave no indication at any of the levels that it wanted me to get off. When the elevator stopped at the eleventh level, and the crow remained silent, I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. 

Of course, the god given crow is leading me to the halls of worship. I sneered internally, as the elevator stopped briefly at the tenth level.

 When it began moving again, I felt a tinge of anticipation building within me, and Zosimos claws dug into my shoulder. The ninth level was the one I’d seen Bianca’s group stop at, and according to Roan, there were no temples opened on that level. 

According to the Orc, the Dreadmere guild would frequent that level regularly over the past weeks, and it was rumored they were trying to gain access to one of the temples there. 

Surprisingly, the elevator did not slow to a stop as it reached the ninth level, the operator clearly intending to bypass the level entirely. 

Caw! 

With a sharp cry, Zosimos nipped harshly at my ear, and flew off my shoulder towards the ninth level as the elevator platform passed it without stopping. 

Swearing under my breath, I ran forward, and without giving it a second thought leapt onto the waist high banister. Ignoring the shouts of the elevator operator, as I jumped down to the platform several meters below, cursing my stupidity, and lack of impulse control as I did so. Since when did I become so foolish? I’d never even considered doing something like this before my digitalization. 

This better be worth it! 

Landing on the platform, I stumbled forward a few steps before managing to regain my balance. The sound of two loud thuds behind me, and Victoria’s cursing let me know my two companions had joined me on the platform. 

As I began to look around, I noticed a group of blue cloaked figures rushing down a stairway to our right, spears held aloft. 

Dreadmere. 

“You have no business here,” the man at the front of the group bellowed in a loud voice, and I narrowed my eyes at him as he approached. 

“No business here? Who are you to say what business I have? What right does Dreadmere have to bar anyone from the halls of worship?” I scoffed, noticing Zosimos had perched on a statue of a very familiar looking old man. 

So this is where his temple is, I figured he’d eventually try sending me on some drawn out quest to find it. This is much easier than I thought it was going to be. I mused, striding forwards with an air of confidence. 

I’d previously come to the conclusion that Tris had at least one temple, as the book, ‘Trismegistus and the Philosophies of Nature’, said the temple of Philosophia Naturalis sealed itself when the last high priestess disappeared.

 When I’d tried to ask Tris about the temple, he’d not answered me, which was annoying to say the least. As I knew such a temple would be brimming with books, for how could it be a temple belonging to Trismegistus if it did not contain books?

Dreadmere may hold power in the city, but killing or attacking people inside any city was not permitted by Salvias laws, and even with their connections, I did not think they would be above such laws. Plus, I was sure that trying to bar a god's high priestess from entering her patron's temple would be a big no-no. 

“There is no hall to worship in here, and last I checked, Eternia had no business in this city any longer.” The guard sneered.

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“I’m not here as a member of Eternia, but as one who walks the path of natural philosophy.” I declared, my eyes drifting past the group of armored Dreadmere guild members, to the man who still stood at the top of the stairs. 

The man standing beside the statue of Trismegistus wore the same blue cloak as the others, but where they wore armor, he was dressed in a puffy sleeved silk tunic, and tight pants. Long silvery hair was pulled away from an angular face, showing off a pair of pointed ears, indicating he was an elf. 

“I don’t care what path you’re walking, either follow it off this platform or be thrown off.” the lead man snarled, moving closer towards me, and blocking me from continuing forwards.

In response, Victoria swung the single tower shield she carried off her back, and Roan drew his great sword, the pair of them coming to stand half a step in front of me, but not blocking my view of the group who were attempting to prevent me from accessing the temple. Half a dozen balls of fire appeared in the air around our group of three, each one primed to fly into the face of our foes. 

“Come now Gregor, there’s no need for violence here.” A silken voice called, and I looked up to see the silver haired elf walking down the stairs towards us, his arms held out as though he were reaching to embrace the air before him as he walked. 

“Greetings, devoted one.” 

Devoted one? Scowling, I watched as the men from the Dreadmere guild parted to allow the elf to pass, searching for any signs of the golden light that would show he was a disciple of the path. Not even a hint of light appeared on his forehead, which was the location I would see a golden orb of light if he was a disciple.

 Since arriving in Airus, I’d noticed that even those not connected to me possessed the same golden light as my personal disciples. If I focused on those I saw, I found I could feel them in the same way as the others, but once they were out of sight, the connection faded. This man before me lacked any signs of being a disciple, with only a silk pouch at his waist glowing to indicate he carried something of alchemic nature. 

“Who are you?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

The man’s charming smile faltered ever so slightly, and he let out a chuckle as he flicked his wrists, gesturing at himself. 

“I,” he began grandly, and I rolled my eyes as he paused for dramatic effect. “Am Ge Hong, Grand Alchemist, and devoted follower of the Great Trismegistus, he who is all knowing and wise!” 

Ge Hong… This is Ge Hong? 

“You’re Ge Hong?” I blinked, shaking my head a little as I stared at the man who’d been a source of ire since I’d first heard his name. 

Ge Hong was not what I’d imagined, when I thought of what Ge Hong might look like, the image of an older man with a long beard, much like the depictions of the real Ge Hong, came to mind. 

“Indeed, I am!” he confirmed, placing a hand to his chest. “My dearest devoted, I understand your desire to seek out the temple of our patron, but for now you cannot. Our god has bestowed on me the task of opening this temple, and soon all devoted shall be welcomed within its halls. But for now, my lovely devoted, I must ask you to leave this place, so I may focus on fulfilling the will of our great patron.” 

“Is that so?” I murmured. 

Tilting my head to the side, I mulled over all the ways I could kill the man before me, smiling softly as images of him dying again and again played through my head. 

“It is so,” Ge Hong said, a benevolent smile on his face as he indicated the elevator that had arrived back at the platform, several city guards moving off it. “My dear, please, go with the guards and leave this place peacefully.” 

There are two ways I can play this, I sighed, looking up at the statue of Trismegistus. I can leave, and let this fool continue trying to open the temple, or I can out myself as the High Priestess. 

The first option, while amusing, could have the risk of this bastard actually getting inside, and putting his dirty mitts all over any books Tris might be hoarding in there. 

Whilst the second option, could potentially place me in a position of power within the city, giving our guild a chance at regaining its foothold in the city. It would also result in people knowing who I was, leaving me stuck playing the role of high priestess. 

The loud shouts of the guards ordering us away from the platform, and the look of superiority in Ge Hong’s eyes as they surrounded our group of three solidified my decision. Alright Kadia, if you’re going to do this, you’ve got to do it in a way that shows you aren’t to be fucked with right from the start! I coached.

Drawing in a deep breath, and squaring my shoulders, I found the city guard who appeared to be the leader of the group with my eyes. Focusing on him, I spoke in a loud clear voice so as to be heard over their demands for our surrender. 

“How dare you! Does the city of Airus hold so little respect for the gods, that they would order a High Priestess from the temple of her patron?” I declared, stepping away from Victoria, and Roan as I confronted the guard. 

“What?” The guard spluttered, a look of confusion on his face as he looked towards the silver haired elf. 

“I am Kadia, High Priestess of Trismegistus! God of Alchemy, Transmutation and Astrology! I serve he who is all-knowing and wise, who guides us on the path of natural philosophy! Blessed be he, who surpasses every excellence. Blessed be he, stronger than every power. Blessed be he, mightier than praises!” I called, spreading my arms wide, and sensing from the golden glow that began to surround me, that I’d caught the gods attention with my speech. 

Thump.

 

As one, everyone who stood on the platform was forced to their knees as a wave of divine power flowed out from me in a wave. Power continued to swirl around me, tugging at my hair and clothes. The maroon and gold capelet I wore shuddered, as the mimic attached to it reacted to the gods power. 

Propelled forward by the power, I strode past the kneeling forms of Ge Hong and the Dreadmere guild to ascend the stairs leading to the temple. 

As I reached the top of the stairs, the statue of Trismegistus gazed down at me with eyes that were filled with amusement. 

Ignoring the statue which turned its head to watch me, I proceeded to the large stone doors where a transmutation array appeared to be carved into the stone. 

The center of the array bore the same symbols as the transmutation amulet, which was fused to the skin of my palm, and as I pressed my palm directly over those symbols, the array carved onto the doors lit up with power. As the doors swung open, I turned to face those who still knelt on the platform, framed by the open doorway. 

“Know this, citizens of Airus! The temple of Philosophia Naturalis, has opened its doors once more! Blessed be she, Kadia! High Priestess of Philosophia Naturalis, for she leads the way for all who walk the path of natural philosophy!” In a voice that could be heard throughout the mountain, the statue of Trismegistus spoke. It’s words were a sign that I’d soon find my peaceful days at an end.