Chapter 27

Chapter 27

I really dont see why High Command couldnt give us a few horses, Zareth grumbled as he glared at the hateful creature pulling their caravans supply wagon through the desert sands. I understand that theyre not native and are bred purely for the cavalry divisions, but surely they could have spared us one or two!

The hateful creature in question was a ghorak, which could be best described as a camel-like creature with two large horns. They were relatively handy beasts of burden and were commonly used all throughout the Qahtani Desert. Zareth was quite fond of most animals and didnt even have any real problems with ghoraks in general, but he was extremely tempted to turn this one in particular into rations.

I did tell you that they hold a grudge, Rizok said with an amused smirk. If you didnt want the thing to occasionally spit at you, then you shouldnt have tried to jump on top of it.

I thought we were supposed to use them as mounts! How was I supposed to know that the Desharin train them to only accept specific handlers? Zareth protested as he warily eyed the ghorak, determined to avoid another wad of spit hitting him in the back of the head. How can the damned thing even spit so far anyways? It doesnt make sense.

Hmph. In Dehkshetra, any beast who betrayed its master in such a way would have already been culled, said Vidhatri, eyes vigilantly scanning the surrounding sand dunes despite the contingent of soldiers escorting them through the desert. I do enjoy trying new foods, and we do not have ghoraks on Zumair.

Zareth nearly let out a sigh of relief when the ghorak ceased staring at him and turned its attention back to the path ahead. He doubted the creature actually understood what Vidhatri had said, but it likely understood the threat in her words.

Animals in this world could be surprisingly insightful at times.

How much longer until we reach TalHadin? Zareth asked, trying not to sound like a complaining child as he positioned himself so that Rizok was in between him and the ghorak. Im happy to get out of the city, but I was hoping to see something more interesting than endless sand.

Unlike his adventure to the temple of Meldorath, this trip didnt even have the benefit of being interrupted by the occasional outburst of violence. The path from TalQamar to TalHadin was very well-traveled by [Merchants] and relatively peaceful, especially now that High Command was using it to transport supplies to the western front.

We should be able to spot the citys outer walls in another hour or two, Rizok said after a moment of consideration. Though I wouldnt get too comfortable if I were you, given that TalHadin isnt our final destination.

So long as I can take an actual bath, Ill be satisfied, said Zareth, already imagining himself soaking in a tub of warm water.

Hed been smart enough to purchase a magical rag from the Enchanters Guild that could clean him without ever getting dirty itself, but it was no substitute for the luxury of a full bath.

Zareth had made sure that he was the first to leave TalQamar among the Hierophant Council, because he wanted his pick of the settlement hed be pacifying. High Command didnt care who went where so long as the Conclaves influence was successfully stymied throughout its newly conquered territory, and Zareths colleagues werent all that cooperative on the best of days.

Therefore, it was effectively first come first serve. Hed set out with Vidhatri and Rizok as protection, along with a dozen soldiers nominally placed under his command. Hed been worried at first about leaving his cult in the hands of someone as young as Tamir, but the risk was relatively low given that he could still keep an eye on things via his flesh golem.

Itd only taken Zareth a few days after his meeting with High Command to get all of his affairs in order. He was now on his way to TalHadin, where he intended to stay for a few days before moving on to his next destination.

Zareth had already decided during the briefing by High Command that he wanted to focus his attention on Jabal-Alma, a small settlement near the territory the Tessik wished him to claim. Traveling there would allow him to become acquainted with the people who lived in the lands thatd eventually become his responsibility.

But before that, hed like to gather more knowledge about them than the scarce details provided to him by High Command. TalHadin should have more accurate information simply based on its proximity, and it just so happened that the Tessik had a Lore Guardian in the city.

Zareth expected the Lore Guardian to be a big help, especially in choosing a decent location for him to set up a new branch of his cult. TalHadin had an almost entirely lizardkin population, so the Tessik had no trouble spreading their influence to the city.

The next hour of monotonous trudging through unending sands was entirely uneventful. Just as Zareth was about to risk sounding like a broken record to once again ask Rizok how much farther they had to go, he began to hear something incredibly strange.

What is that buzzing sound, and where is it coming from? asked Zareth, glancing at the rest of the caravan and seeing that Vidhatri was the only one who seemed to share his concern.

Did you not read about TalHadin before we left? asked Rizok, surprise flashing through his eyes before he broke into a smile. I forget sometimes that so few people ever leave the city. Dont worry. Were not in any danger. Youll see what I mean in a moment.

Trusting Rizoks judgment, Zareth tried to remain calm while the strange buzzing grew louder the closer they got to the city. Finally, the caravan crested over a dune, and Zareth was greeted to a sight that left him dumbstruck.

Rizok was right that he hadnt spent much time researching TalHadin, mostly because any captured city was destined to be claimed by one of the Great Houses after the war. His cult would naturally maintain a presence within the city to recruit followers, but Zareth didnt see the sense in investing his attention on a place that would soon be under the control of another power.

Hed imagined TalHadin would simply be a smaller and poorer version of TalQamar, which was why he was so surprised to see what seemed to be a large cloud of insects surrounding the city.

[Eye of Cerebon] allowed him to realize that the insects were extremely varied and moved with purpose, as if they were being controlled. Colorful sand termites burrowed through small cacti farms south of the city, and swarms of iridescent beetles carried stone to a group of workers repairing a destroyed portion of the walls. Clusters of insects flew packages in and out of the gates, while fierce looking dragonflies followed [Guards] as they patrolled the walls.

Zareth could tell when Rizok and a few of the soldiers began chuckling that his expression must have been quite the sight.

Uh, Im going to need an explanation for this, Zareth said once he managed to pull himself together.

Indeed. I will not step into a city of [Insect Tamers] without reassurance that they will not devour the flesh off my bones, said Vidhatri, staring at the city with a cautious expression. Ive seen ravenous swarms reduce capable warriors to mere skeletons in less than a minute, and I would like to avoid joining them.

Thats not something youll need to worry about, Rizok assured them as the caravan continued its journey toward the city. Swarm Lord Kressha surrendered to High Command on the condition that the majority of their citys combat oriented insects be killed. It's only their [Guards] who have a few small swarms assigned to them for defense purposes.

Rizok continued to teach him about TalHadins culture and history as their caravan approached the gates. Apparently, the city had been led by [Swarm Lords] for most of its history and used specially bred insects for a variety of different tasks. The most important of these was a massive swarm of ants that tunneled far and deep to find underground water sources inaccessible by most means. They would then store that water in little pouches and bring it back to TalHadin.

The majority of the citys water still came from their oasis and a high water-bearing species of cactus popular throughout the region, but the ants allowed their population to be much more comfortable than they would be otherwise.

As a result, [Insect Tamers] was one of the most popular Classes in TalHadin and influenced nearly every part of day to day life of its residents.

Zareth found himself briefly taken aback by such a creative use of a Class that he would have never associated with resource gathering. He was even more impressed once he drew close enough to TalHadin that he could capture one of their ants and examine its biological structure.

High level [Beast Tamers] and similar such Classes could acquire Skills that granted them to modify creatures under their control, though in a much more limited capacity than himself. The modifications made to the ant in his hand showed an impressive understanding of insects that could have only been a result of generational research.

Hed known that the nations and cities were heavily influenced by the Classes of those who ruled them, but TalHadin epitomized that in a way that surprised him.

Zareth briefly imagined what Ruler Class he might gain in the future and wondered if his own lands would one day similarly embody his decisions

Their caravan was allowed into TalHadin very quickly after they showed their credentials, animosity briefly flashing through the eyes of the lizardkin [Guard] once she realized that they were members of the military force occupying her city. Nevertheless, she did her duty without complaint before making arrangements for their ghorak to be brought to a stable and for the rest of the caravan to be led toward the citys former place.

As a moderately important member of the government, Zareth was expected to meet with the [Swarm Lord] so that he could give his proper greetings. TalHadin had surrendered fairly quickly after their walls fell, which meant that its leadership had largely been left in place and still held significant power. So long as the Swarm Lord didnt make themselves a problem, High Command wouldnt want to deal with the domestic strife that would come with replacing them.

Now that Zareth had seen just how intrinsic the insects were to TalHadins way of life, he couldnt help but wonder if the Swarm Lord even could be replaced in the first place.

The moment they stepped into TalHadin proper, Zareth immediately began to take in his surroundings with open curiosity. This was the first city hed seen in this world outside of TalQamar, and his first impression was that it appeared far more interesting than hed expected. While the buildings were notably smaller than he was used to and the city seemed less affluent when compared to TalQamar, it held a certain alien appeal.

Nearly every single structure was covered with insects moving in and out of specially made crevices while carrying out their designated tasks. The buildings themselves seemed to be constructed from a combination of sandstone and a strange waxy material that reminded him of the same secretions that certain insects used to build their nests. The streets were alive with the sounds of buzzing and fluttering as the citys native lizardkin went about their business alongside their insect helpers.

All in all, TalHadin gave him an impression of being a city in constant movement and being uniquely organic in both its construction and function.

Zareth quite liked it though there were also several signs that TalHadin was being significantly affected by the war. Most of the pedestrians were either elderly individuals or young children dressed in ragged clothes, hinting that the able bodied population was otherwise occupied. Several buildings had been reduced to rubble and many more were damaged by recent fighting.

Combined with the damaged walls, it was clear that TalHadin hadnt allowed themselves to be conquered without a fight.

It explained why the pedestrians were glaring at him with thinly veiled hostility and why the distaste hed seen from the [Guard] wasnt an outlier.

Im starting to get the feeling that were not welcome, Zareth quietly said to his companions.

Conquerors rarely are. So long as they know their place, theres no need to pay them any heed, said Vidhatri, her tone casual as she began assessing their surroundings. It does seem as if the citys order has been relatively well maintained.

This isnt High Commands first experience with occupying a city, Rizok said as their groups guards formed a protective formation around them and began leading them down the street. Although such occupations were always temporary before we handed the conquered territory over to whoever hired our services. I suppose well see how things develop here in the long term.

As they began making their way to the Swarm Lords palace, Zareth quickly realized that High Command hadnt overstated the degree to which the Conclave still held influence outside of TalQamar. [Eye of Cerebon] allowed him to spot several people carrying discreet symbols of the Conclaves gods and see many more alight with devotion.

There were a decent number of soldiers vigilantly patrolling the main avenues prepared to crack down on any unrest, but not as many as he had remembered seeing in TalQamar after the coup. It was likely that this was all High Command could spare to maintain the occupation given the ongoing war. Most of TalQamars soldiers were either besieging FalAshar or fighting on the frontlines near Anket.

While Zareth understood the reasons, he found himself wishing that there were a few more soldiers the farther they traveled into TalHadin. He began to feel as if hed underestimated the level of discontent in the city, especially when their group passed through the bazaar and saw that there were hardly any [Merchants] selling their goods. The few [Merchants] that had set up stalls were focused on selling a variety of equipment and provisions for the soldiers that passed through the city.

He was intimately familiar with how people reacted to having their standard of living suddenly drop, and there was no greater sign of economic struggles than a trading city with a mostly empty bazaar.

Feeling curious, Zareth decided to approach the local [Guard] guiding them for more information. What happened here? Its nearly noon. Shouldnt this place be bustling with activity around this time?

The [Guard], a grizzled female lizardkin whod introduced herself as Tazska, made an admirable attempt at hiding her animosity as she gave him a sidelong glance. It was far better than the pedestrians in the bazaar, who looked as if the only thing keeping them from attacking him was the heavily armed soldiers between him and them.

It was slightly annoying to be looked at in such a way, but Zareth wasnt overly concerned. This was to be expected given the circumstances.

I dont know how things are up in TalQamar, but weve only got two trade routes keepin this city from fallin apart, Tazska gruffly replied. The way to Anket has been cut off thanks to the war you folks started, and the route to Shihr has been closed down on account of some sort of magical disturbance. Doesnt help that a lot of our able bodied were volunteered to help with the war effort.

Zareth winced as he absorbed the guards words. It was common sense that war came with severe costs to those who lived in its shadow, but actually seeing the impact with his own eyes made it so much more real and poignant. A part of him felt guilty about contributing even slightly to this state of affairs, even if he had no doubt High Command would have still pursued this course with or without him.

It would, though I would have sent my own soldiers to handle the matter if it was so easily solved, Swarm Lord Kressha's said after a moment of consideration. It was a few weeks before the Conclave killed Merchant Lord Raqasor when a dense, magical mirage suddenly appeared around Shabails Pass. There are no other routes to bypass the Emperors Range and anyone who attempts to enter is never heard from again. We have only been able to reassign a few [Mages] from the war effort to investigate, none of whom have been able to resolve the issue.

Zareth took a moment to weigh the costs and benefits of offering to handle this so-called magical mirage. On one hand, it was located relatively close to his final destination and thus would be a convenient way to handle several issues at once. On the other hand, he didnt really know anything about what was causing the mirage and how difficult it would be to fix.

He doubted that the source would be as simple as a nest of System Spawn, or someone would have handled it already. Chances were high that he would have to hire Adventurers, invest in specialists, or request outside assistance if he wanted to have any chance of success.

Zareth glanced toward Lady Vritra in the hopes that he could rely on House Vhelans support and was relieved to see her giving her a subtle nod of encouragement. The naga from House Khysar meanwhile was looking at him with a glare that could cut stone, which honestly made it much easier for him to make his decision.

Anything that won over his allies and pissed off his enemies was probably a good idea as far as Zareth was concerned.

In that case, I would like to offer my assistance in solving this issue, Swarm Lord, Zareth said decisively, hoping he was making the right decision. TalHadin isnt the only city which needs to be freed of the Conclaves influence. Id intended to travel further south to Jabal-Alma and believe that I can investigate Shabails Pass while Im in the area. I have several high level individuals willing to join me and know something about researching and solving obscure issues.

Zareths proposal immediately sparked another round of arguments. Diplomat Nithar argued that there was no reason to believe Zareths intervention would be successful, while Vritra tried to convince the Swarm Lord that there was no harm in allowing him to try. The debate went back and forth for a while, but it was clear that Swarm Lord Kressha didnt actually want to allow House Khysar any more influence in TalHadin than necessary. Commander Dak seemed content to maintain a neutral stance, observing the exchange with an unreadable expression.

Apostle Zareth will be given the opportunity to reopen Shabails Pass, the Swarm Lord declared with a sense of finality. Should he fail, then I will give greater consideration to House Khysars offer to assist in tightening the security of TalHadin.

Nithars expression tightened, but he bowed in head in reluctant acceptance of the Swarm Lords decision. Lady Vritra, meanwhile, gave Zareth a subtle, approving smile.

Now, weve argued over this matter for long enough, said the Swarm Lord as she rose from her throne. Apostle Zareth and his personnel have yet to be shown to their quarters and allowed to recover from their long journey before being engulfed by our politics. I suggest we end the discussion here so that I can offer my guests the hospitality that they are due. We may reconvene later.

Zareth let out a breath of relief as a group of servants arrived to lead them to their accommodations. Hed barely spent more than an hour in TalHadin, and he was already feeling exhausted.

The soldiers under Zareths command were escorted outside of the palace where they would rest in one of the nearby barracks. Vidhatri was brought to the female side of the guest quarters while Zareth and Rizok were both brought to one of the more spacious rooms designed to house visiting dignitaries. It was beautifully furnished, with comfortable looking beds and a balcony overlooking the bustling city.

Most importantly, there was a large bathing area attached to the room, complete with a sizable tub and all the soaps he could want!

Zareth barely stopped himself from immediately plunging into the bath, but knew that he needed to first discuss the days event and their next steps with Rizok. After his friend activated his [Aura of Silence] and confirmed that they were not under any kind of surveillance, Zareth finally allowed himself to relax.

Well, that wasnt how I was hoping my first day in TalHadin would go, Zareth said with a wry smile as he sank into a luxurious armchair placed near the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze that wafted in. What do you think the chances are that House Khysar actually arranged that fun little welcome for us?

Nearly guaranteed. Theres little chance that a group of unorganized malcontents would be informed enough to know we would be arriving precisely at this time, Rizok replied, his expression grim. I would be wary if I were you. Theres a good chance that theyll arrange for us to be attacked once we leave the city. There are many ways to do such things without anyone being able to prove their involvement.

Zareth had seen many times by now just how creative the people of this world could be in utilizing their abilities, and knew that Rizok was right to be cautious.

This sort of action seems like an escalation of what the Circle of Ghisara was doing before. Theres a chance that they may not go that far, Zareth said hopefully, though even he didnt sound convinced with his own words.

House Khysar and the Circle of Ghisara may be allies, but it would be foolish to assume that their objectives are exactly aligned, Rizok said firmly, his tail whipping back and forth with agitation. Respectfully, the Great Houses are all vastly more influential and more ruthless than you or your colleagues. This matter surrounds the control of an important trade city, and House Khysar will not hesitate to be rid of you if they consider you to be a threat. Id advise you to take this matter seriously.

Zareth could tell that his friend was sincerely worried about his safety and wanted him to do everything he could to protect himself.

Shit, Zareth cursed before rubbing his eyes tiredly. I suppose this means that were going to make a lot of preparations so that I dont end up dead, huh? Its a good thing that I was smart enough to visit the Enchanters Guild and buy so much equipment before I left TalQamar.

Indeed. Your foresight is nearly as honed as your ability to accumulate enemies with so little effort, Rizok said dryly, though a small smirk betrayed his amusement.

Zareth and Rizok spent the next few minutes discussing the day's events and slowly relaxing. It was nice to finally be somewhere relatively safe with temperature modulating wards, and their conversation eventually moved on to much less serious matters. Just as Zareth was about to excuse himself to go finally take that bath hed been dreaming about for the past week, his plans were put on hold when Rizok informed him that a servant was approaching their door with food.

Zareth wasnt all that excited about trying out the cuisine of a city run by [Insect Tamers], but figured that he could just change his palate by shifting into a lizardkin if it became necessary. He had no problem eating bugs so long as they actually tasted good.

Greetings, honored guests, said a young lizardkin girl dressed in servants attire as she carted in several dishes. Lifting the cover over one, Zareth was greeted with an array of colorful insects just as he expected. The Swarm Lord herself directed her personal [Chef] to make these, and has expressed her hope that youll enjoy them.

Before Zareth expressed his gratitude, he was momentarily struck dumb when he lifted the cover from another dish and spotted something unexpected. It was a sealed scroll carrying the emblem of the Tessik.

Thank you. Inform your superiors that were thankful for their consideration, said Rizok, nodding toward the lizardkin girl and gesturing to the door. You should leave. Itll be dangerous if you stay here any longer than is expected.

The servant nodded and immediately followed his orders, closing the door behind her.

I thought we were supposed to meet with the local Lore Guardian for more information about Jabal-Alma, said Zareth, feeling mildly confused as he made his way over to the nearby table and unsealed the scroll. Is there a reason that they decided to send a scroll instead?

Theyd only do something like this if the risk of being caught meeting in person was too high, said Rizok after a moment of consideration. Given the state of the city and House Khysars attention on us, that seems like the most likely explanation.

That made sense to Zareth, and he resigned himself to finish reading through the scroll before he was finally able to enjoy his bath. He was far too curious about his future territory and the only settlement within it for him to do anything else.

Zareth had already known the relative location of the territory that the Tessik wanted him to claim, but theyd been somewhat tight-lipped about the exact specifics regarding why they wanted it. It was a bit annoying, but to be expected given that secrecy was what kept their organization alive for its entire existence.

Hed assumed that there were some important cultural artifacts or something similar in that area and learned that his assumption was correct after reading the scroll. More specifically, he learned that the Tessik has discovered several mentions in their records of a Nephalan Empire settlement somewhere near the coastline.

Such ruins existed all across the Qahtani Desert and had already been thoroughly looted over the centuries. The worlds understanding regarding magic and the System had generally increased since the times of the Nephalan Empire, so discovering their ruins was generally not as groundbreaking as one might expect.

That being said, there were still many things that could be learned from studying them, and there would be plenty of [Scholars] from all across the world willing to pay their weight in gold for the chance to do so. These particular ruins had yet to be found, so there may still be some interesting new artifact or scroll in these ruins when compared to the rest.

Once Zareth finished reading the section of the scroll about his future territory, he turned his attention to the portion detailing Jabal-Alma. These details were much more scarce, only informing him that the settlement was centered around a cenote close to the mountains that had been artificially enlarged by the Nephalan Empire. They were fairly isolationist and only occasionally left Jabal-Alma to send their goods up north.

There were rumors that the people there used unusual magic and artifacts, which immediately had Zareth wondering if theyd come into contact with the missing Nephalan ruins. However, the Tessik had also considered this and launched an investigation, which concluded that Jabal-Alma had merely discovered its own Classes as sometimes happened with isolated communities.

If theyre using unknown Classes, then they might know something about the strange mirage blocking Shabails Pass, Rizok said as he read over Zareths shoulder. It seems unlikely that the ancient ruins, unusual magical phenomenon, and the reclusive community which all happen to be in the same area are completely unrelated.

Zareth had honestly been thinking the same thing. It didnt take a genius to connect all of these things together, and he only became more certain when he caught sight of the Tessiks replication of a symbol commonly worn by the people of Jabal-Alma.

It was a simple pair of wings folded over each other. Such a small settlement even having such an insignia was strange enough on its own, but there was something else about it which bothered him.

Is there something wrong? Rizok asked once he noticed Zareth staring at the symbol intently.

Im not sure. I feel like Ive seen this before, but I dont know where, Zareth murmured, his brows furrowing as he tried to recall. I doubt Ive seen it from any of the research into records provided by the Tessik, or someone else would have already pointed it out, but Ive done a lot of reading about history recently so that doesnt narrow it down too much.

I see. Well thats not something that I can help you with, Rizok said with a shrug after studying the symbol for a few moments. The only insignia I know that contains two wings is House Kavasas, and theirs is a bit different from this one.

Rizoks words caused Zareth to suddenly recall a detail hed noticed during his first time reading the tome of Meldorath and its accounts of the System War. When he first saw the symbol of the God of Freedom, who had fought against a coalition of deities that included the Conclave, he had noticed that it was unusually similar to the insignia of House Kavasa.

Both depicted a pair of unfurled wings, with the only difference being the colors of their backdrops.

The only records of the God of Freedom that hed come across was in the tome of Meldorath, so it seemed too obscure for two unrelated groups to use as their insignia. He was only even considering a connection between the two because the actual design of the wings was relatively distinct and near identical in all three instances.

House Kavasa specialized in magic and was hugely wealthy, so it would make sense for them to have learned some obscure history. However, it made little sense for a tiny little settlement in the middle of nowhere to have done the same.

But are these things really connected? Zareth wondered as his mind raced with everything hed learned about the System War. My instincts tell me that they are, but I have little to support that kind of leap of log

Atavistic Apostle has reached Level 26! Skill Point Gained!

What?

Zareth was momentarily stunned as he received the most unexpected System notification of his life. It made complete sense that [Atavistic Apostle], a Class that focused on learning ancient mysteries, would level while he was doing research on that exact topic. Hed also been fairly close to a level up for a while but hed only been speculating and hadnt reached an actual conclusion.

Such uncanny timing all but confirmed that his personal theory was on the right track, even if he didnt have enough information to connect the dots.

Zareth suddenly felt Cerebons amused attention briefly on him, before his god seemed to turn his attention elsewhere.

Why did I think it was a good idea to live a life that constantly draws the attention of higher powers? Zareth thought to himself as he felt a sudden burst of exasperation.

Zareth, is there something wrong? Rizok asked, his eyes filled with concern. You suddenly look as if one of your teenage [Cultists] used their flesh shaping abilities to do something ridiculous again.

Nothing that cant wait until later, Zareth said as he rose from his seat, deciding that hed dealt with enough nonsense for one day. If anyone tries to bother us, tell them that Im conducting an experiment on how long a person can stay submerged in a bath before turning into a prune, and that I cant be interrupted.

Rizoks baffled expression as Zareth calmly closed the door behind him almost made up for his lackluster first day in TalHadin.

Almost.