Redemption Arc

After talking with Metterand, Lucian had spent his day figuring out the extent of his new attributes. Other than the simple fact it felt as though his body responded to his thoughts more easily, he had progressed in other areas. He had gained enough magic power to begin learning more complex spells that would be invaluable to him on his journey.

The War of Four was a game partially about time management. The player had to properly delegate their time between training, side quests, and resource gathering to prepare for the story missions. The story missions usually occurred with one-month gaps in between. There were a few noted exceptions to that rule. That aspect of the game made itself known after completing the first mission.

After Mission 1, the rest of the continent opened up to the player. One place in particular, though, was very important.

Lucian walked into the Crossing Pub just as the sun began to set. He wasn’t the first to arrive here. Rowan, alongside a few other Student Ambassadors, were standing around the building. It was a homey place, with a wide-open floor plan. The ceiling was two stories high, giving the place a spacious feel. Unlike most other buildings within the city, the interior was made of wood.

“If it isn’t the guy who saved my life,” Rowan greeted, walking toward Lucian with his arms held wide. He gestured. “You missed the bulk of the conversation. Come here, come join the rest of us.”

Lucian had arrived late on purpose. He didn’t want to hear things he already knew, again and again. He looked around as he entered. Originally, Lucian wasn’t even invited to this.

The bulletin board on the Crossing itself provided some quests, but this Crossing Pub was the hub for all manner of quests that contributed to the main story. They were side quests in a technical sense, but each of them was entwined with the central fight against the demons. This was where the majority of personal quests for the Student Ambassadors started, and some of them changed the outcome of the main story.

Right now, the majority of the Student Ambassadors were here. Only four were speaking to Rowan, though—the four ‘leaders.’

“I was just talking to the others about some of the inroads that we made investigating the attacks that had occurred,” Rowan said. “To sum it up? The evidence that this was something deliberate is quite high. You want to catch Lucian up?”

Lucian expected protests, but none came.

Prince Denzel looked at Lucian—somehow, his gaze seemed different. “My people say that those creatures we saw the most of—the mermen and the mermaids—don’t normally travel upriver. They’re oceangoing monsters. The chance that they would travel that far up to reach the confluence is incredibly slim.”

“My own people concur,” Prince Maximilian Vantz, crown prince of the Kingdom of Vantz, spoke next. He was a tall, handsome fellow with blonde hair, quite solemn and dignified. The Student Ambassadors of Vantz generally took their cues from him. “Furthermore, the rise of those bandits was unusual in several ways. I recall the dean saying they arose from floods… but looking back at the records, no serious floods were recorded in the region.”

Isran pointed at Maximilian. “I was going to say that. Part of the reason that’s the case is because of the dam that was constructed in our territory that got destroyed. It helped keep flooding to a minimum. Even during storm surges, flood damage has been minimal.”

“And I took the opportunity to try and dig up names of the bandits involved,” Ruth Goldhain said. She sat reversed on a chair, her arms resting on its backboard. “Specifically, that chief. There was something very fishy about his departure. He was a model officer in the Riverran military, until one day…” she snapped. “He departs to join a bandit troupe? Doesn’t make sense.”

“How did you get access to Riverran army officer information?” Prince Denzel asked her deadpan.

“That’s no business of yours,” she said at once.

“I think it is, considering—"

Rowan clapped his hands. “Let’s not descend into squabbling. Our chancellors are already doing that—we should rise above.” He looked between them. “All of these oddities dovetail nicely with the fact that the golem that we saw yesterday—well, wait. Lucian found this information first. You tell them,” he directed.

Lucian was thrown for a loop when the conversation diverted from its normal course. He quickly explained the Stormhuln and its significance. They had a small repeat of his earlier conversation with Christoph.

“Information beyond that is sparse,” Rowan explained. “There’s a reason the Collegium isn’t getting anything done, and that’s because evidence is hard to come by. But I’m not giving up on looking into this. Considering how independent-minded each of you four are, and how this involves potentially sensitive information from each of your respective nations… why don’t each of you carry out independent investigations?” he asked, looking between the four leaders. “Meanwhile, I’ll float around, pursuing any leads Ithink are worth pursuing. Alright?”

The four them nodded in agreement, and then disbanded. The independent investigations might’ve seemed inconsequential, but they were highly important. Depending on whose investigations the player followed most closely, they’d tie themselves to one of the four factions. But that wasn’t Lucian’s concern just yet.

“Rowan,” Lucian said, gesturing off to the side. The two of them walked over to talk privately. “I was thinking of something that was worth our time to look into.”

“Yeah?” Rowan said, looking at him. “Sure, I trust your judgment. What is it?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“You remember your father mentioning the Inquisition?” Lucian asked. “I think we should check out that, first. And I think I know where to start.”

Hopefully, Lucian could sway Rowan to helping him do the things he needed to do. He needed some gear for his build—and where better to find it than the Inquisition?

***

Helen felt someone touch her right shoulder, and looked over.

“Made you look,” said Rowan, and she whipped her head leftward. He’d reached out and tapped her on the right shoulder to fool her.

“You’re so childish it’s—” she started angrily, but trailed off when she saw he wasn’t alone. Lucian stood just behind Rowan. She cleared her throat—she didn’t want to be impolite before anyone she wasn’t totally comfortable with. “It’s quite admirable you can maintain that level of childlike joy, Rowan.”

Rowan laughed at her restraint. “So, I heard that you were looking into the Inquisition.” Rowan leaned on a pillar in the pub and crossed his arms.

“I am,” Helen confirmed. “Do you think there’s merit to the idea?”

“I do. Well, we do.” Rowan looked at Lucian, then nodded. “They’re the last organization that was known to have been infiltrated by demonic corruption. If we can delve into their inner workings to figure out how they operate, that’ll be helpful. Not to mention the vast trove of knowledge that’s been sequestered after their shutdown. At the very least… it’ll help rule things out, or let us know if we’re walking down a dead end.”

Lucian gestured at her. “And your aunt was heavily involved in its shutdown.”

Helen stared at Lucian for a few moments. She just had a fairly long chat with her aunt about Lucian’s father. It felt a little strange to be speaking to him now. She couldn’t deny that all she’d seen since arriving at the Collegium had shifted her opinion of him. It was difficult to rectify that with what he’d done in the past.

“And do you intend to pursue this alongside Rowan?” she asked.

Lucian nodded. “I do.”

Helen pursed her lips. This was the perfect opportunity, wasn’t it? She might finally answer some of those questions she’d had tumbling around in her head if she had the time to interact with Lucian personally.

“My aunt is forbidden from talking about the inquisition,” Helen explained. “But she inadvertently gave me some information that we could follow up on. It’s too dangerous for me to pursue alone.”

“Dangerous?” repeated Rowan.

“Yeah,” she said. “It’s in the Fifth Canton, if you know what that is.”

Rowan grimaced. “I grew up here. Of course I know what it is. It’s illegal to go there, no?”

“Not for privileged diplomats,” she said with a smile. “Student Ambassadors have special privileges.”

Rowan smiled and pointed. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Well, I’m… not technically breaking any rules,” she justified.

Rowan scratched the back of his head, eyes lost in thought. “Last I heard, it’s been overrun by some unsavory creatures. Weak things, but there’s a lot of them. We’ll need at least five people if we want to go there. Any more than that, it’ll be burdensome, but any less… very dangerous. On top of that, water-breathing potions. For the first stretch, at least.”

“I’ve got that covered,” Lucian said.

“You’ve got them already?” Rowan said in surprise. He asked cheekily, “Let me guess—for self-defense?”

“Not quite. I don’t have them, but I know how we could get something better,” Lucian said. “Potions made by Charlton Lowenthal.”

***

Lucian and Miriam sat on a bench overlooking the canals. He watched the gondolas go past.

Miriam read the document that Lucian had provided, and then looked up at him with judgmental eyes. “Is Verne sinking? Is that why’re doing this?”

“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m sinking. I’ve decided to follow Rowan and a few others on an underwater adventure. The Fifth Canton.”

“The Fifth Canton? That sounds like the name for something seedy, like a brothel,” Miriam noted. “What is it?”

“It’s more like a ghost town,” he said. Miriam raised a brow, asking for an explanation. “Long time ago, there was another section of the city. It was a little bit like the Fourth Canton—separate from the main city, and host to certain facilities. The Fifth Canton hosted the church. Specifically… it hosted the Inquisition.”

“And you’ll be exploring it with Rowan, I imagine,” Miriam said.

“Alongside you, if you’re interested,” Lucian proposed.

Miriam laughed. “You expect me to go swimming?”

“You can move up stairs fine. I don’t see why you couldn’t do this,” Lucian said. “That leg can’t be heavy enough to sink you if you walk around with it all day.”

“Well, it’s made of a lightweight metal.” She sighed as she thought about it. “I can swim, but… I’ve just finished drying my clothes, and you want me to get waterlogged again?”

“You have high proficiency with lightning magic. Considering where we’re going, I couldn’t think of anyone more suited to tackle the creatures that’ve infested it.”

Miriam studied the paper once more. “You’re very persuasive.” She looked up, then nodded. “I need to learn this recipe, though.”

“How’s that working out for you?” Lucian asked.

“Mr. Lowenthal… makes me feel quite stupid,” she admitted easily. “But I’m learning a lot. And… considering what we talked about, with the Black Bloom Initiative… considering how old he is…”

Lucian said nothing, but held her gaze.

“Don’t think I can’t read between the lines,” she said.

“Can you read that document?” he tapped it, diverting their focus.

Miriam looked down. “Give me a week,” she said. “Maybe less. I’ve talked to Mr. Lowenthal about our agreement, and he’s agreed to let me use his ingredients to brew the potions that you need. You don’t need to collect them yourself anymore.”

Lucian held out his hand, and she shook it.