Chapter 135: Old Man

Chapter 135: Old Man

Breaking up the potential fight between Enide and Colin wasn't a tiny thing. But, with some stern words from the expedition leaders and Erec and Garin taking the two apart to talk them down, they finally explored the mystery Colin opened up.

The interior was no less unsettling than the exterior, for as big as it was outside, there was only a single room. Taking up the center of the room was a massive statue made of an odd white metal. It was shaped in the form of a man, a fact that Erec found as unnerving as the script changing on their return on the plaque outside.

The man had a long beard that went to the tip of his toes, a balding head, and a thin nose. He was hunched over, a cane in his hand. Not the sort of heroic pose or depiction Erec was used to seeing on statues like this. If anything, the man looked rather exhausted. He loomed above them all as if he’d lived long and witnessed little but tragedy. Far bigger than any statue within the Kingdom, even the first King’s ornate depiction was nowhere near that size.

To see a statue like this in such a strange location in another world...

Chained to the base of the statue was a plethora of books, wrapped around and around and staked in the stone support. Why or how they were here made as much sense as anything else. Nor did the fact that there was no ceiling once they walked further into the room. A night sky completed with a tapestry of stars lit the place from above.

Enide was transfixed by the stars above. “Stunning...” she muttered, not that anyone could disagree.

“Ah, more of those books,” Colin said, strolling further into the room. Boldwick grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Don’t touch,” Boldwick commanded.

“Of course, I won’t touch them. I wanted a look like I assume all of us do. If you wander into a peculiar room based on the riddle with Knowledge as an answer and happen across books bound to a strange statue, what else is the natural reaction.”

“Keeping your distance.”

“...Compelling point.” Colin lowered his head. “Noted.”

“Caution is the tool of the wise, sons and daughters of Lavinia, but is unneeded in the present,” the statue spoke, the old man's head tilting and turning, the metal-like skin. The way it spoke the Goddess’ name felt like a fist smacking Erec’s chest; a weight to the name carried by that deep wizened tone and voice shook the entire room. Erec pulled his weapon, but everyone else seemed frozen; the Pendragon’s legs trembled. Seeing them affected, he put himself between the group and the statue as much as possible.

The old man bowed and sagged at their reaction, then softly tapped his staff on the pedestal.

“Fear is a natural response born of ignorance. I do accept your fear, yet there is no need for it in this temple or my realm. I am no equal to Lavinia and would not wish to give Her cause for the attack. An outcome She most certainly would seek, should I inflict intentional harm on those who still harbor Her flame in my plane. An excuse for violence is all that one craves, and I will not provide it. Even without that protection, I have no wish to cause undue harm; you’ve conducted yourselves reasonably in my realm and may yet solve my problem.”

Erec flinched upon her name being uttered, holding up Enide. He hadn’t let go of her yet. The weight of the name caused people to again fall to their knees. It was odd that the word didn’t affect him, but the atmosphere felt different upon this use. Swearing a vow on her name held power to it; for this entity to do so, knowing it didn’t want anything to do with their Goddess, held some weight. Enide looked at Erec as she got her bearings; her face flushed, and she pointedly looked away.

“We’re here for Seven-Snakes anyway. I think your oath means enough, as long as you lead us to him, and we’ll take him back to our world.” Boldwick pressed a fist to his chest and turned to leave the temple, motioning for the rest of the group to follow. Even if they were going to comply with the demands of this thing or person, the Master Knight likely wanted to keep his distance from it as much as possible. Which made sense, the Kingdom didn’t have a good historical record with things from other worlds, especially the more intelligent ones, vow to the Goddess or not.

They began to pull away from the statue as it went silent, unsure of how it might help, but given its promise, it would find a way. It wasn’t until they made it halfway out of the door that it spoke again.

“Halt. Our business is not concluded.”

Everyone turned as slow as a glacier, staring at the statue. The chains on one of the books snapped; once, twice, and thrice, and the metal splintered and skittered across the brickwork ground once, twice, and thrice. Despite what it said about not harming them, Erec couldn’t help but reach for his weapon again. His chest filled with flames, and his blood pumped fire as the barest bit of Fury caught, ready to combust and launch him into action if anything happened.

“As I am bound, you who answered my riddle must step forward.”

Colin hesitated but ultimately complied. Ignoring Boldwick’s command to stay put. Maybe it was because he feared pulling the statue ire to the rest of them. Or maybe there was something to that voice that commanded him to action, despite his own instinct for self-preservation.

“Y-yes?” Colin asked, awe and fear an equal mixture in his voice.

“For answering my riddle, you will receive a gift as I am compelled. The moment you passed my threshold, I peered into your potential futures. In many, you are selfish, envious, and fearful. These factors drive you, and in some of them, you might’ve broken past them, yet it is far too late to matter in most. Within you is a desire for Knowledge, kin of my essence. You’re aware you could be better, change, and grow. All it takes is the right spark. In this case, I do not think She is the one to do so.”

The book that broke free from the chains floated directly toward Colin. Dame Robin and Boldwick moved to put themselves between him and the object, only for a flash of light to shoot down from the ceiling and stab into the ground, glowing and blocking the way forward.

“It is not your place to interfere in a boon. What do you say, young one? Shall you take on the challenge of Knowledge and shift your fate?”

Colin stared at the tome floating in front of him; a deep black cover that looked near burnt, its edge hemmed with gold. His hand slowly reached towards the book. When his metal gauntlets grasped the cover, Colin’s head rolled back; light flared out from underneath the helmet as he stood there, his body shaking even with the Armor to stabilize him. The book vanished from his hand, disappearing as if it was never there.

The statue stopped moving as Colin hit the ground.

“Colin!” Erec yelled, running past the streaks of light that’d stopped the Knights before. No more shot from the ceiling; if they had, he’d have sliced it to shreds with his axe.

“My Talent!” Colin gasped, “I have a Talent!”