The Calling of Wrath - Chapter 18 - Sacred Beasts
Added 2022-07-26 05:08:31 +0000 UTC Within the World Tree Chamber beneath the capital of Liathtria
Year 819 | Month 1 | Day 11
Five days later
“So, you’re still not going to interfere?” King Archibald asks the old sacred beast standing in front of the World Tree Root. “Even after the invaders captured the duchy closest to the World Tree Vein in the Dark Forest?”
The Liathtria continent’s World Tree Root Caretaker, Arnbjorn Veldon, simply gazes up at the enormous roots scattered about the center of the chamber with a calm look on his face.
“Well?” Archibald repeats, a mixture of anxiety and irritation breaking through the serious façade he has on his face.
Several seconds pass before the old man shakes his head and slowly says, as if reading from a script, “The sacred beasts are not allowed to interfere with the actions of man unless they directly threaten the World Tree.”
Archibald clenches his fist in anger and exclaims, “But it’s obvious that they’re after the Tree!”
The sacred beast grits his teeth slightly before trying to open his mouth, only for a flash of white light to shine from his eyes before he speaks robotically, “The sacred beasts are not allowed to interfere with the actions of man unless they directly threaten the World Tree or the royal families’ safety.”
After he finishes speaking, his eyes stop glowing and he pulls in a hissed breath of air through his teeth.
‘Damn sacred beast ancestor,’ Archibald thinks while looking at the old man’s back through narrowed eyes. ‘He doesn’t even let his descendants make their own damn decisions!’
Several seconds pass in awkward silence before the old man finally turns around and asks in a much more emotional tone, “Has there been any word on Cass?”
This one sentence tones down a large majority of Archibald’s anger as he sighs with his brows furrowed in worry and says, “No.”
The calm look on the old man’s face finally cracks a little as a hint of sadness is displayed on it before he turns around again and says, “If her whereabouts are found, please tell me immediately.”
A faint look of surprise flashes across Archibald’s face before it disappears again, and he turns around to leave. Right as he’s about to open the door, however, he pauses and calls back, “Hey, Arnbjorn!”
The sacred beast turns around to directly meet the king’s eyes, wherein Archibald identifies the man out of curiosity.
‘Two question marks under his level? And his species and name are hidden?’ Archibald thinks before eventually narrowing his eyes and asking, “Would you mind telling me what level you are?”
This time Arnbjorn’s eyebrows raise slightly and he says, “Each plane’s protector and their guardians have access to the System prior to the rest of the inhabitants of their planes.”
“Protector?” Archibald asks, only for Arnbjorn to shake his head and say, “All you need to know is that the protector of each plane only acts when the plane itself or their guardians are in danger, or in our protector’s case, when the World Tree, the plane itself, or the sacred beasts are in danger. I can’t say much more at this point in time.”
The king purses his lips slightly in thought before nodding and walking out of the chamber.
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Cassandra
Year 819 | Month 1 | Day 11
Okay… that should be the last of the dens in the immediate area.
I slowly begin to back away, careful not to make too much noise that might attract the direwolves to me from within the den.
While that wouldn’t ruin the plan, it would at least make it a lot more… annoying… to pull off.
After all, this is the closest den to another den within the few kilometers around my cave that I’ve been able to find. Best not to screw it up by being caught and having to kill them.
Once I reach a reasonable distance away from the den, I begin to make my way back to my cave for the evening while still feeling the wind hitting my back from the direction of the den.
Throughout the entire trip back, I constantly picture the location of the den in my head so that I don’t forget it before getting back to my map drawn out in the rocks of the cave.
“Damnit,” I mutter into the powerful wind blowing through the forest right now, “what I wouldn’t give right now to have Rodrick’s perfect memory…”
Also, where is one of those damned hair ties from the ball? I don’t even care about the dress. Just the stupid hair tie, because this wind is getting really annoying.
Fortunately, I make it back to the cave with the location still playing in my head despite my complaints before I begin to scratch it onto the wall with my claws.
It doesn’t take long to update the map and I soon find myself lying on my back in the cave.
At least the wind blows the smell of rot away.
I lie still for several minutes while staring at the ceiling of the cave before finally opening my status and looking at the EXP I’ve gathered over the last five or so days.
Which is just about 1500, unfortunately.
Because apparently the direwolves don’t spawn as quickly as I had expected them to. So I’ve been left without anything to hunt for a couple of days now. With the exception of the few dens I did manage to find after clearing out most of the direwolves, but I need those for the mission.
Or at least, clearing out most of the direwolves in my immediate area. I’m sure there are plenty around other areas of the Dark Forest’s center, but I would rather not be stuck outside at night. Nor do I want to get too far away from my cave.
Although I guess exploring the rest of the forest’s center after I clear this objective should be fine.
With that thought, I climb back up to my feet before going to the bed and lying down on it instead.
“I wonder what father would say if he knew I was in the Dark Forest…” I mutter before closing my eyes and slowly falling asleep.
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For those of you who can't read the image:
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Name: ??
Species: ??
Level: ??
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