Chapter 366: Zach

Chapter 366: Zach

Aftermath

Raazel Equinar, the yeti, enemy, untrustworthy, dangerous. Zach remembered the carvings in stone, but more than it he felt a sense of fear every time he thought on those carvings.New n0vel chapters are published on

He walked a few steps in one direction, then turned and walked back, pacing. The dragon, the Explorers Soul, had told Zach what it knew, which was little. Zach knew more from what Naha had told him, and he passed that on to the dragon.

A prisoner, the dragon said slowly. The warden refuses to communicate with anyone outside his prison. If he had talked with us Alas, we cannot change the past. What I knew of the yeti had already been bad enough, a shade butchering and mutilating spirits, trying to leave the Ethereal Realm. It was a threat beyond any other in this Realm. Shades are not meant to leave this place.

Zach grimaced, his hand tightening on the Sealing Blade of Learning on his waist. He didnt dare turn his right hand into a blade, he didnt know what else the yeti had done to it, but he also didnt want to stand in this realm without a weapon.

It is a tragedy, that a Ra of my people had fallen so far, Ravallims voice whispered in Zachs mind.

Zach was still struggling with understanding what had happened. The yeti had obviously made plans that were years in the making. And he had managed to escape the Ethereal Realm even with it being closed off. Zach was yet to wrap his head around the dragon who had the power to close down an entire realm. He had never met anyone with that much power, just standing in his presence made him feel the weight of his will.

Cant you follow? Zach said finally, turning his head to look at the dragon. You stopped him from leaving this place, cant you bring him back?

The great dragon shook his head. I am not a spirit or a shade, I am a Soul that had chosen this Realm as my domain. Here is where I belong.

I need to get back, who knows what the yeti had already done, Zach bit out.

A Ra is a title of distinction, granted to the greatest of our kind. And from all that weve learned, he is not one for rash actions. He will take the time to make sure whatever he plans, works.

The old soul is correct, the dragon said and Zach blinked.

You can hear his voice?

The dragon inclined his head. He has a will therefore he imprints on the world.

Zach took a deep breath. Regardless, I have to return, I need to know what happened after I was pulled here.

The dragon met his eyes. As you will, Scion of Time, he said slowly. It was eerie, to hear the dragon speak, offer respect. It made it seem like he could see straight through Zach, perhaps he could. But as you are, you are no match for Raazel, no one in your world is. You will need powerful allies.

Zach closed his eyes, remembering how uniting against Hastur and the taken went. Even now more than half of the world was ignoring the threat, and they had seen the taken and dome monsters.

Ill do what I can, Zach said, then glanced at his blade arm. I just wish that I could tell if he hid something else in here.

We have many problems, Bera started. The state of the city and the territory is probably at the top of the list. The food stores had been burnt down, as was the city vault, the fort is buried under the mountain so we dont know exactly what survived down there. Our most pressing issues are the former slaves, many of them had been transported here from other territories, from factions that no longer exist. They dont have where to go, and we dont have the resources to feed them. Ive been combing through them, looking for individuals that have certain talents, organizing them, sending out hunting parties and the like. But if we continue as we are, we will run out of food in two weeks.

And your solution? Zach asked, he was sure that she had one.

We focus on digging out the fort, the interface is probably down there. If we take over the territory I will be able to tap into the warden accounts and the auction. Ill be able to buy everything that we need to.

And you havent been focusing on that because?

The miners that could get through the rock, are refusing to. It is understandable, they had just been released from being slaves, forced to work in mines, they are afraid of just trading one master for another.

Zach grimaced, that was an understandable fear, though not acceptable if it would cause them to starve.

What do you suggest? Zach asked.

Ive tried talking with them unsuccessfully. The Warden Faction had failed them you see, but perhaps you will have more success.

Zach tilted his head. Why?

Because of who you are, they will remember your name from the list of those who had killed Hastur, Bera said. That alone will mean a lot.

Zach turned his eyes to Naha. Why didnt you try to do that?

She looked away, then murmured something that he didnt quite catch.

Bera cleared her throat. We had some issues with the slavemasters. Once we let them wake up, some of them tried to enslave the now freed slaves. Naha, understandably stepped in, though her methods were a bit gruesome. The people are afraid of her.

Ah, Zach said. Very well then, Ill talk with them. Anything else?

Bera glanced at the others, then met his eyes. Yes, weve managed to get in contact with the army.

Zach raised an eyebrow. And?

Well, the offensive is over, Bera said with a strange look in her eyes.

Zach could tell that there was a lot more behind those words, so he took a deep breath and prepared himself.

Tell me what happened.