13-16. History
Their traversal of the city came with more than a little attention. And it wasn’t difficult to see why, either. For all that seeing mutated people was shocking to Elijah and Benedict, so too was their unblemished appearance a surprise to the natives.
For his part, Elijah had already familiarized himself with the layout and the residents of Dravkein, but there was a marked difference between observing a city unseen and feeling as if he was the main attraction of a parade. More than anything, he wanted to slink away and disappear into the shadows.
Surprisingly, Benedict took the attention much better. Elijah wasn’t certain if that was because he’d spent a good part of the past few years as a public figure or if it came from being distracted. He and Jasai’i kept passing the tablet back and forth in a furious attempt at communication.
For his part, the old hunter looked upon the pair with the sort of disdain that could only come from a disapproving father.
Elijah could sympathize. If Benedict had shown any interest in his family, even if it was benign, Elijah would have immediately put a stop to it. Of course, Elijah had no idea if the man was the woman’s actual father, but his approach was definitively paternal.
The city looked no different than it had when Elijah had visited the first time. The architecture was just as odd, and the air remained clear of corruption, which came as a continual relief.
After a while, they were led into what Elijah belatedly realized was an eatery.
Through the tablet – and conveyed by Benedict – Jasai’i announced that they would be treated to a banquet to commemorate their arrival. Never one to turn down a meal, Elijah soon found himself sitting cross-legged beside a broad, stone table. It was raised only a few inches off the floor, which didn’t leave much room for chairs. They didn’t even bother with cushions.
Benedict and Jasai’i continued to pass the tablet back and forth as the Warlock attempted to learn more about the excised world. Meanwhile, Elijah felt distinctly left out. That lasted right up until the other guests began to arrive.
Most of them bore only the shallowest marks of corruption, which Elijah took as a sign that they belonged to a higher class. That impression was supported by their slightly higher-quality attire, the cut of which reminded him of Japanese-style robes. They were obviously different, but the flowing design was close enough for Elijah to make the connection.
Almost all of them looked at Elijah and Benedict with a mixture of disdain, curiosity, and a good deal of fear. The old hunter remained nearby, his weapons at the ready. He certainly didn’t trust them.
And he obviously didn’t care much for Benedict.
Some of the newcomers attempted to communicate with Elijah, but he could only smile and nod, failing to understand anything they said. He did pick up a few names, though he forgot them almost immediately.
Once the long, low table was full, a few people with more obvious deformities arrived, each one bearing large platters filled with various savory-smelling dishes. Knowing where the meat came from, Elijah definitely didn’t look forward to the meal.
However, he also recognized the dangers of refusal. The last thing he wanted was to offend his hosts. So, it was with some reluctance that he accepted the offered meat, which looked a bit like beef, though with the added characteristic of once-black veins spiderwebbing throughout.
With a few of the nearby natives staring expectantly at him, Elijah took a tentative bite.
“What the hell?” he muttered, his eyes widening when the flavor touched upon his tongue.
One of the natives laughed heartily, slapping him on the back. A couple of others chattered at him like he could understand their words. But Elijah was far more interested in the taste.
It was a bit like well-prepared lamb chops, though with a slightly more potent thread of mint. The mingling flavors played off one another, resulting in a potently unique taste that he’d never before experienced. Certainly, it was nothing like the monster meat he’d prepared in the past.
“She says they have very talented Chefs,” Benedict supplied, a grinning Jasai’i leaning forward to watch Elijah take another bite. “This is a traditional dish called morakin’o, made from –”
“I don’t need to know where it came from. I just need more of it,” Elijah said, already stuffing another hunk of meat into his mouth. Without question, it was better than anything he’d eaten on Earth. Different, certainly. Jarring, for sure. But it was obvious that the excised world boasted much more advanced Chefs than those of any newly integrated world.
Each bite confirmed that simple and undeniable fact.
The meal didn’t end with morakin’o, either. There were a host of vegetable dishes, breads, something like spiced rice, and, in the end, glazed cakes that perfectly chased the savory meal.
They also provided what he initially thought was a potent liquor. But as it turned out, the drink wasn’t alcoholic at all. Instead, the taste came from the process used to cleanse the corruption from the local water supply. To mask it, they’d added quite a lot of ingredients that, to Elijah’s tongue, mimicked the taste of spiced wine.
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According to Jasai’i, who provided a running commentary through Benedict, most of their beverages were like that. Anything else would permit the aftertaste of corruption to linger.
After the meal, Elijah found himself the center of attention as everyone wanted a chance to ask him or Benedict questions. Most of their inquiries centered on how they’d arrived, but there were plenty of others that wanted to know where they’d come from.
In the end, it took nearly three hours for the meal to wind down. When it did, Elijah and Benedict were led away from the banquet and to what was obviously a room meant for interrogation.
It wasn’t like what he might’ve expected from a syndicated cop show, but the intended purpose became obvious when the old hunter planted himself in front of Elijah and Benedict and began to speak.
Once he’d finished, he handed the tablet to Elijah, and a withered voice echoed in his mind.
“My name is Zek. I hold the position of Prime Hunter in the village of Dravkein,” he said. “My purpose is to provide for and protect these people. You are dangerous. Convince me that you have no ill intentions.”
“I don’t need to convince you,” Elijah said via the tablet. “If I wanted to, I could tear this entire city down to the ground.”
Upon hearing that, Zek’s eyes widened. “You would be exposed to the abyss.”
To that, Elijah responded, “I can deal with that just fine.” Then, his voice softened, and he stated, “I have no reason to harm anyone here. My goal is to survive, then find a way home. Nothing else.”
“You believe yourself my equal?”
“No,” Elijah said. “I know I’m stronger than you.”
It probably sounded like an odd statement, considering that, from what Elijah could tell, Zek was on the level of a demi-god. Not a strong one, but a demi-god nonetheless. The difference should have been overwhelming, but Elijah was confident that his advanced cultivation and high-rarity class would more than close the gap.
And even if the man was capable of defeating him, Elijah was certain that he could escape Dravkein. There wasn’t much Zek could do to stop him, either.
The old hunter muttered something, and Elijah didn’t need the translation tablet to understand the incredulity inherent in his tone.
“You are no demi-god.”
“Nope.”
“And yet, you are confident that you can defeat me.”
“Pretty much.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, and he asked the inevitable question. “Why do you believe that?”
“Use your senses. And if those don’t tell you what you need to know, remember that I’ve spent months out there surviving,” Elijah explained, hiking his thumb over his shoulder. “No fancy crystals. No quarantined city. No help for most of that time, either. My survival was not an accident, and I can tell you right now – whatever you think you can throw at me, I’ve had worse. I’m not afraid of you. I like my chances against you. Even if you bring all your other hunters with you.”
Elijah took a deep breath, then continued, “So, please – let’s just move past this. I’m not interested in fighting you. I just need information.”
Zek listened to Elijah’s response, his face impassive. When it finished, he just sat there, lost in thought. Finally, he asked, “What kind of information do you require?”
Elijah was more than a little surprised that Zek intended to answer his questions, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. So, he asked about the subject he considered most important for his current situation. “You don’t have a World Tree Branch here. How do your people progress?”
After the tablet translated the question, Zek just stared at Elijah for a long few moments. His face remained expressionless, giving no hints as to what he was thinking or feeling. And after a few seconds, Elijah began to wonder if he was going to answer.
But then, he started speaking, and he didn’t stop for a couple of minutes. Finally, he handed the tablet over. As soon as Elijah placed his hand on the surface, the man’s voice echoed in his mind.
“The history of Gorveth is riddled with tragedy,” he began. “In the beginning, we were a peaceful people, but the arrival of the World Tree’s touch changed everything. Powerful despots rose to prominence, and they pitted themselves against one another. Terrible wars followed. Millions died as the power granted by the World Tree wove itself into our lives.
“Then, after nearly a century, we made a grave mistake,” he went on. “Our ancestors conquered a Primal Realm. From that moment, our fate was sealed. The countdown began. Ten years to conquer the remaining Primal Realms, else we would face excisement.”
Elijah locked eyes with Zek as the voice continued, “Nine factions arose, led by the most powerful people in the world. At first, they believed the threat of excisement offered an opportunity. They could finally defeat their distracted enemies. But they all approached it the same way, and no one bothered to attack the Primal Realms.
“Not until it was too late.”
“The last year saw the advent of an alliance, and we toppled one Primal Realm after another. By that point, they were terribly strong. Whole swaths of the world had been affected by their influence. There was reason for hope, though,” the voice continued. “It wasn’t until we lost contact with the last team that we understood our fate.
“Recognizing their error…and knowing that there was no more time, the nine developed a plan,” he said. “Not to defeat the remaining Primal Realm, but to protect the survivors.”
Elijah had seen something like that in the Trial of Primacy. Yloa had created a shield to keep the abyss at bay, and it had held right up until Elijah and his companions had killed him. But he’d been a transcendent. A new one, but still more powerful than anyone could become in a mere hundred years. The only reason he’d been defeated was because the system had depowered him.
“They created a city. Ithalon. Protected by nine rings of purification, it was more than just a wonder. If it was our only means of survival,” he said. “Everyone acquiesced to their plan and ceded to their authority. And so, Out last hope was born.
“Excisement came and went. Our world was tossed into the abyss. But we survived. That was more than three thousand years ago, but if you wish to access a Branch, you must go to Ithalon. There, you will find what you seek,” he stated. “But be warned – there is no escape from Gorveth. There is only survival. Accept that, and you may yet carve a life for yourself.”
Elijah took a deep breath, then handed the tablet to Benedict. The message repeated for the Warlock, and by the time it was finished, he wore a very similar expression to the one painted upon Elijah’s face.
“The hits just keep on coming, don’t they?” Elijah breathed. Then, he put his hand on his ally’s shoulder and said, “We’ll figure it out, man. I promise. I’ll get us home if it’s the last thing I do.”