Chapter 436: Half the Debt

Chapter 436: Half the Debt

Dal, Jiroh smiled as he approached. Looking at her one couldnt tell that anything out of the ordinary had happened. The dark-skinned fury was sitting calmly on one of the rocks in the Stone Garden.

The barely noticeable faint green glow of the rocks reminded Dallion of the time he had repaired and improved the area. Technically, it was lady Marigold who had done that. Dallion, along with Vend, veil, and Gloria, had only been hired to kill all the cracklings and weaken the area guardian to the point that a single hit would be enough to defeat it.

Those were different times. Dallion was so nave to think that he could measure himself to a noble. Lady Marigold had the strength to do everything he and his group had achieved in a fraction of the time with next to no effort. The reason she didnt was because nobles were above such things. At the time Dallion thought that to be arrogant snobbishness, but in truth that wasnt the case. Nearly all the hunters he knew were good people, and yet with a very few exceptions, they wouldnt resort to mending or fixing items. Eury was the one who usually did that, although technically each of the rest had the adequate skills. In the end, a person could only focus on so many thingsthe higher the level, the more lesser activities were ignored.

You got your emblem, Jiroh said as he came closer. Looks good on you.

Yeah thanks. Dallion looked around for a good place to sit, then sat beside the fury. Eury, on the other hand, chose to remain standing. I heard that youre he paused. What was the right way to phrase this? leaving us?

He expected the question to sadden her, but it did the opposite. The fury smiled, radiating joy with an intensity he had never felt before.

I found it. I found my way home.

At that moment Dallion couldnt think of anything more impactful than those five words. He could feel it in Jirohs very beingthe sensation of finding a life believed lost. And as sad as he felt about losing her, he also couldnt blade her for it.

This isnt the first time youve said this. Eury brought some cold reality back to the scene. We only know that its a cloud citadel. Theres no guarantee it hasnt sunken.

They dont sink. Besides, I know. The scrolls werent the only things the dwarf sold off. The merchant had a few other pieces.

You bought them? The gorgon sighed.

I didnt have to. I just needed to see them, which I got to do for free. There was a crest on one of them, a crest my local half remembers.

So, you really are a princess, Dallion thought. In this world, at least.

Doesnt prove anything. Its just a crest. I dont want you to get your hopes up like last time.

I know, and Im not. But I think that this time its it.

Dallion could sense emotions filling the air, both conflicting in unison. Jiroh was determined in seeing this as a way out and viewing it as hope, while Euryale was viewing it with caution.

I got a new skill, Dallion said in his attempt to change the topic somewhat. It had an effect, for Jiroh turned towards him. Writing.

You didnt mention that before, Eury noted.

I am now. Dallion didnt want to say that he preferred not to mention anything in front of the overseer. As close as she was to him, the citys guardian had shown that she was more loose with other peoples secrets than Dallion would like.

The skill was definitely going to be useful, sadly not during this trip. It would take Dallion a bit longer to develop his skill to the point that he could adequately use it. With luck, and a lot of help from Harp and Onda, Dallion might be able to learn nymph by the time they reached their location. However, it was impossible for him to learn fury.

Have you gotten enough sleep? Jiroh asked.

You hear things fast.

Connections can be a very useful thing. It also helps that Im associated with the saving of Nerosal. Did I mention that the countess herself invited me to an event in her palace recently? It wasnt anything grand, and I didnt even get to talk to the old girl, but the fact that I was invited at all is quite the development.

Im glad. Dallion glanced over the generals shoulder, where there was a new cage, holding what seemed to be an orange firebird chick. I dont suppose youd like to thank me by canceling my debt?

Soft laughter filled the room. Everyone knew that the general wasnt in the least amused, but was putting up a showhis way of reminding people that they remained in his grip.

No, he said at last. However, it has earned you a rather interesting bonus. He snapped his fingers.

There was a blur in the room, as one of the fury bodyguards went to a distant part of the room and returned with two items. Thanks to Dallions current perception level, he was able to see exactly what the fury did and where he took the items from. Following the display of strength, there were two items on the desk: a small cube of aether crystal and a rather unassuming dagger.

Sea iron? Dallion asked. Should I be impressed how cheap my work is?

This is a thread splitter.

The general pulled the dagger out of its sheath. The blade was extremely thin, composed of the same material, however there seemed to be a faint aura surrounding it. Focusing on the edge, Dallion saw that the apparent glow was no glow at all, but the blade itself sharpened to an almost molecular level.

Suddenly, Dalion felt a powerful sense of range and bloodlust fill his realm. Even more surprising, it was emanating from none other than Harp.

Exorbitantly expensive, and even more difficult to find, its said to be so dangerous that even awakened that arent not seers run the risk of slicing their fingers off during use, the general continued. Naturally, thats hyperbole. The slicing off part. You see, it can easily cut through your skin if youre not careful, but it will have great difficulties going through bone unless extreme force is exerted.

Harp? Dallion asked, feeling the anger in the nymph get even stronger. You okay?

It was created for one thing and one thing alongto slice through clouds. Supposedly during the times of fury power, there were awakened whose sole role in battle was to slice their way to a cloud citys heart and kill the creature that maintained it. A rather horrific practice, if historical records are to be believed, causing the entire cloud to turn crimson red before fading away into nothingness.

The mental image caused Dallions heart to tighten to the point he could barely breathe. So thats what was meant by threat splitterhe ability to slice through molecules. Dallion was being offered a scalpel.

Not to worry, though. The general put the weapon back in its sheath. Youre not going to kill the creature. Just get its heart and put it in this. He tapped on the aether crystal. The people I bought this from have assured me that its pre-set so that it would only capture a cloud entity. All you need to do is cut it out and place it in here. And dont worry, Im not pickyany heart will do, as long as it belongs to a cloud entity.

The general pushed the items forward.

This is how a trap closes, Dallion thought. He didnt want to have anything to do with the painful capture and imprisonment of a living creatures heart. At the same time, the Moon vow forced him to do so.

Will it hurt? he asked.

Theres no way to know. Maybe itll just sting a bit.

And if the knife breaks?

No need to worry about that. The general leaned back. Its indestructible. And dont worry about returning it. Think of it as a gift. You can do whatever you want with it. Melt it down for all I care. I just want the heart.