Book 2: Chapter 56 — I'd like to help

Book 2: Chapter 56 — I'd like to help

Noah and the rest sat on the sofa Zax had summoned, their gazes collectively resting on Snow, waiting for her to speak. Noah suspected she would need some time, but Snow had simply shook her head in response, her eyes far more determined that he’d ever seen her. It was almost as if her spirits had finally been freed, and Noah couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Snow took a deep breath, raising her gaze as she looked at the three of them. “Vix set you up in a trap. She’d ordered me to attack Noah once the contract ended. To do that, she is planning to appear whenever Noah finds the trap.”

Noah heard the words, glancing sideways at Aurelia and Erwest, who both gave him a glance as well. A moment later, he shrugged. “I kinda expected something like that already.”

“We all did, really. Her offer was too suspicious,” Aurelia said.

Snow looked at them, her turn to be surprised. “B-but... then why did you agree?”

“Better for Vix to think we’re playing to her tune than to be wary,” Erwest said.

“You said when Noah got the Shard. Not any of us three. Does she know about his-“ Aurelia paused, glancing at Noah.

“She might’ve known that I was planning to just absorb the Shard. Technically, after doing that if I went to her, it would’ve still fulfilled the contract, on the off chance that she stuck to her word,” Noah said.

Snow looked between the three, starting to feel confused. “Sorry, I- what do you mean absorb... it’s a... it’s a god’s shard right? How can you just...”

“I’ve got one, and I can get other pieces. Not sure how I got it, or from where, but it’s kinda why I’m on Erandir in the first place,” Noah said. “I just know that I don’t want to let the cult get its hands on the Shard.”

Snow looked at Noah, trying to process all the information. “Okay- I see. I do know something else too. Vix hid this very carefully, and I think the only reason I found this out was because she did not think there was any way to break my collar. But the person on whose orders she has been doing all this, is none other than Lord Krios.”

Once again, the three of them looked at each other. Aurelia groaned, covering her face. “I’d been trying to convince myself that I was wrong.”

“Guess we owe Erwest an apology. He caught on immediately,” Noah said.

“Nothing of the sort. Krios is a tricky man, and even I doubted myself once,” Erwest replied.

“You knew?” Snow said, flabbergasted. “But- how?”

“Too convenient. He called us here, us specifically, when he could’ve used any of his own men or adventurers, then asked us to go into the rift, then we find out about the Shard which Noah can’t ignore, and you, who he’d definitely want to try and free,” Aurelia said, and then paused. “Still, his reasons all made sense. The biggest thing holding me back is... why? I still can’t find any reason for the Lord to work with the cult. Unless, did the divine light fail to find him out as a cultist?”

“Not possible. You cannot trick the All-Mother’s light. He is not a cultist,” Erwest replied.

“Hmm, Krios. Is that the name of the man?”Zax asked.

Aurelia and Erwest stopped for a second, forgetting a dragon was seated right next to them.

“Yeah,” Noah replied. “He’s the Lord of Heartilia. Very influential and powerful guy.”

“It’d make sense that they could infiltrate the guild if it was with his help. But the question just won’t leave my mind. Why? Why would a Lord like him do this? It’s one thing for some countryside baron to aim for power but Lord Krios? He has nothing to gain by working with the cult,” Aurelia said, frowning.

“Maybe they are threatening him?” Noah said.

“If the cult had that much power, we would have long been doomed. He’s an A ranker.”

“We can see that for you,” Zax said, glancing at a little projection in his hand. “They have powerful veils, but nothing that we can’t pierce with some effort.”

“Even so, I think Noah should sit out of this one. It’s too risky to bring him into a trap set specifically for him,” Aurelia said.

“That’s one less person to fight alongside you. Even if Zax can handle Krios, can just the three of you take on Vix and the entire cult?” Noah said.

“Having you would not improve our odds by much either would it?”

“Unless we can bring him up to D rank,” Zax said in Noah’s place before the dragon regarded Noah. “You are close aren’t you?”

Noah gave him a nod.

“In this vault, with our equipment, we can give you some time. All of you. To prepare for the battle that is upcoming. There is no need to try and rush into things,” the dragon said, leaning back on the sofa. “Not to mention. If we are to fight the vermin, it would not do for us to leave a single one alive.”

The dragon’s aura flared for a moment, a predatory smirk showing his non-human face lurking beneath.

“This is madness,” Aurelia commented. “We should leave this place and inform the guild of the cult’s plans and take them out.”

“That does not solve our problems. The rift still remains under the cult’s control, and can we even exit this place right now?”

Zax frowned. “You bring up a good point. There’s a spell locking the astral rift. We could try and break it, but the realm would collapse with the spell.”

Aurelia cursed under her breath.

“So... guess our options are simple. We fight. I like that,” Noah said.

“Sometimes, the simplest answers are the best ones,” Zax added.

“I still don’t think Noah should be with us. It increases the risk too much,” Aurelia said.

“I agree with Aurelia. If Noah is what they want, bringing them into their trap will simply be us playing into their hand,” Erwest added.

“But losing even one person is still a big blow,” Snow said.

“We don’t have any other choice,” Aurelia said.

“You do have a choice,” a voice said. Noah’s voice, yet not the Noah who sat in front of them.

Noah spun, spear in his hand, as he turned it towards the projection, rising from the shadows wearing his cloak.

“Hey there me,” the projection said, hands raised.

“Why are you here?” Noah asked, eyes narrowed.

The projection glanced behind him for a second, before dropping his hands by his side. “I’d like to help.”