The Conciege
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August Intruder- Chapter 75- August Intruder
🕑 Added 2024-09-01 14:22:40 +0000 UTCDeoti looked down at Melmarc’s forearm. A touch of worry danced on her brows, they furrowed, then squeezed somehow, then relaxed.
She had extricated herself from their hug, giving Melmarc some reprieve. He felt a little bad to say it but he had really felt embarrassed to be hugged in front of everybody. There was just something about fighting for a couple of days and being taken seriously just to end up being hugged and babied by your aunt that was discomforting.
Deoti raised his forearm, her own arm surprisingly small in comparison. It made Melmarc wonder just how long ago it had been since he’d seen her.
Just how big am I getting?
Deoti stared down at the bruise that covered a portion of Melmarc’s forearm. “I’ll take care of this right now, don’t worry.”
That was surprising, Melmarc thought. Then again, the [Mage] class was as enigmatic as it was versatile. People believed that with enough skill evolution and alternative skills, a [Mage] could arguably emulate any class with the magic they could command.
Deoti’s hand hovered over the bruise and her fingers danced as if she was sprinkling spices on a meal. To Melmarc’s surprise, soft and gentle colors dropped from her hand onto his arm. They were tiny, like actual grounded spices or finely washed sand. They glittered a soft white and green.
First, the bruise stopped hurting. It grew numb. Then feeling returned to the portion of his forearm. The bruise turned a light shade of red, then pink, before returning to the color of his forearm.
Melmarc would be lying if he said it wasn’t impressed. He looked at Deoti and found her looking up at him with that smile she’d always had on the few occasions he’d met her in the past. A time when he didn’t know just how powerful she was. It was the smile you gave a child when you were putting on a show for them and were glad they were impressed.
I bet she didn’t to do the whole sprinkling thing.
Deoti placed a gentle hand on Melmarc’s forearm and tapped it. “Should be good as new.”
Melmarc gave her a grateful smile. Before the conversation could be moved along she reached up to pat him on the cheek. Melmarc didn’t have to but he leaned his head slightly down so that it would be easier for her to reach his face. Not that she needed any help.
Deoti’s smile grew fonder. “Still a good boy.”
When she was done she stepped back to really take him in. She stood quietly. Her eyes gave him a thorough survey. It settled on his chest for a moment, bare, uncovered behind a torn shirt. She moved on, went to his pants. They were nothing to write home about. While [Knowledge is Power] had done its task of saving him a number of times, it cared nothing for his clothes.
Deoti’s eyes moved down to his shoes before finally moving back up to settle on his hair.
She’d scrutinized him, and Melmarc couldn’t remember when last he’d cared about how he looked. Now, however, he was feeling a touch of self-consciousness.
Deoti’s expression saddened. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
Melmarc’s jaw tightened. He said nothing. He didn’t nod. He didn’t move his lips. Realization just dawned on him that he wasn’t ready to tell the truth. The truth was evident and obvious, uncovered. But he wasn’t ready to tell it.
And he couldn’t shrug it off and say ‘not really.’ People did that with people they knew for one of two reasons. Either they didn’t want the other person to be bothered about what they couldn’t change or they were not ready for the conversation that would come with the truth.
Ultimately, one thing that existed in both reasons was the subtle need to convince themselves that even if things weren’t going to be fine, or weren’t fine, in that moment, they could be. At least that’s what Uncle Dorthna had told him once when he was small.
Melmarc almost sighed at his inability to do even that. He’d picked up a useful trait that wouldn’t let him.
So speaking the truth was something he wasn’t ready to face, but lying would force him to face the truth because he would be blatantly reminded that it was a lie.
I wonder if a nod would work.
He doubted it, so he didn’t give it.
“He’s been through more than a lot,” Naymond said from the back.
Deoti shot him a scathing look. Saxi, it turned out, had not punched him. It was a good thing since Melmarc didn’t want Naymond punched. After all, he wasn’t the only one that had been through a lot.
“No one asked for your opinion, [Sage].” She said his class with such bitterness that it was a sharp contrast to the fondness she was giving him.
Naymond didn’t look the least bit bothered by it, or threatened. Instead, he gave Melmarc a friendly look and shrugged.
Deoti scowled. “I swear he’s a terrible influence.” She looked up at Melmarc. “I hope you didn’t let him—”
“I heard that Dad’s here,” Melmarc interrupted her politely.
Deoti’s nod was slow.
She’d always had an odd reaction to their relationship with their dad. Sometimes it was as if she worried for them because of how naturally they took to their father’s lack of emotion or at least his lack of expressive emotions. And while she wasn’t the only one who probably had the same worry, she was the only one who had a difficult time keeping it from her face.
As for Melmarc, it was good to confirm that his dad was around. Saxi had told him the same thing but it was a different thing to confirm it from Deoti. It somehow made it feel real. Very real.
“Is he far?” he asked.
Deoti’s head tilted slightly to the side before she nodded. “Not very. A few living rooms and stairs and we should be with him.”
That meant more fights. Melmarc had no issues with that. More fights meant more [EP]s. That reminded him that he hadn’t really checked his current amount. The last fight had given him a handful for the [Damned] he’d killed and the [Damned] he’d affected in some way before someone else had killed them.
“But you can’t meet your dad like this,” Deoti said, drawing Melmarc’s attention. “It’s just not possible.”
Dissonant.
“Not right,” Deoti finished as if correcting herself.
Melmarc realized something. His dad’s colleagues he had met in the past had a specific habit that he hadn’t really thought about before since he didn’t see them often. Sometimes they could say something that was considered normal only to pause and repeat it with specifics. Just like what Deoti had done.
They did it regardless of if his parents were present in the same room at the time or not. It made him wonder if one of his parents had the exact ‘dissonant’ trait he was exhibiting or something similar.
My money’s on dad.
Deoti took on a thoughtful expression. “You’ll need something close to your father’s size. Maybe a size or two smaller.”
She held her hand out to her side and something black appeared in the air. It was like a hole. She moved her hand inside and pulled out a folded up shirt. She held it up, examined it. It was clearly too large so she tossed it back into the hole carelessly and it closed.
Melmarc simply stared. Was it a portal power or a storage power? Both were cool and rare. But a portal power that allowed you move from one location to another was significantly rarer than a storage power.
Aiden didn’t know of any Gifted that had both.
Another hole appeared and Deoti pulled out another shirt. This was a dark grey with the words ‘Love me like you do’ emblazoned on the front in pink.
Deoti scowled at the shirt he moment she held it up. Her brows furrowed in annoyance and she looked as if she had a few words she would’ve liked to say to the portal as she flung the shirt back in.
Behind Melmarc, Saxi chuckled.
The third time the hole appeared, she got a well sized blue shirt, plain with nothing written on it. No words. No designs. No brand sign. Nothing.
She held it up to Melmarc’s body. “This should be nice… right?”
Melmarc nodded. As he took the shirt, he realized that no body had said a thing since he’d hugged Deoti. He took off the shirt he was wearing quite easily and slipped on the one Deoti had given him over his head.
When he brought it down and adjusted it, it was a good fit. A size too large but good enough.
“Your scar,” Deoti said. “It’s gone.”
Melmarc’s hand moved absently o his stomach. He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but at some point after entering the portal he just hadn’t had it anymore. He couldn’t remember when it had happened, specifically.
“When did that happen?” Deoti asked.
Melmarc shrugged. “I actually don’t know. It just wasn’t there at some point.”
With that out of the way, he turned, gave some space so that he wasn’t standing between Deoti and the others. The first thing he noted was that Clinton was standing on his own now.
When did that happen?
For a moment, Melmarc realized how odd it was not to not know when something was happening around him. He’d grown slightly used to just knowing. If Claire turned and gave Jude a dirty glare, he knew it. If Jed picked his nose when he thought no one was watching, he knew it.
He had to remind himself to knowing what was happening around him in real time wasn’t normal. At least not for him. Maybe he’d been using [World of Insight] a little too much.
“Aunt Deoti,” he said, gesturing at the others. “This is Clinton’s team.”
Deoti took on a sudden business-like position. She folded her arms over her chest and settled her eyes on the Delvers. She looked like a drill sergeant in a movie very determined to show how strict the military was.
Clinton gave a small bow. “Ma’am.”
Deoti hated being called ma’am from what Melmarc knew.
Deoti gave him a simple nod. “How long has you and your team been here?”
Clinton looked from side to side at the others. “A few hours. Almost a day.”
He looked skittish. Like he was at a life changing interview and was worried he might fumble and fail.
Now that Melmarc thought about it, the others looked the exact same way. The only person that seemed immune was Naymond.
They hadn’t been this worried and skittish when they’d met Saxi, though.
Melmarc looked from Deoti to them and back. Was she intentionally being intimidating? That didn’t sound like her. Still, Melmarc wasn’t foolish. The person people were at work and at home were sometimes different. You didn’t expect a father to treat his kids the same way he would treat his colleagues or clients.
“Where’s your Healer?” Deoti asked, tone commanding.
Claire raised her hand like a student in a classroom during roll call.
Deoti squinted at her. “You look tired.”
“I’m fine, ma’am.” Claire didn’t meet her eyes.
Dissonant.
“Your tank?” Deoti asked, moving on from her.
Nelson let out a subtle grunt. Deoti’s eyes glanced over him and she nodded.
“Damage Dealers,” she said. “How many do you have?”
“Three.” Clinton pointed at himself, Jed and Jude. “That’s us.”
Saxi gestured at Jude with a tilt of his chin, walking over to Melmarc and Deoti. “That one’s not very good.”
Jude’s jaw clenched but he didn’t say anything.
Deoti gave Saxi a look as if he’d done something wrong. “Did you have to say it out loud?”
“I wanted everyone to know.” Saxi shrugged. “And I wanted him to know that everyone knows. He keeps acting like no one knows. Like he can hide the fact that this portal is actually a poor match up for him. It can get someone killed.”
Deoti paused, thought about it, then nodded. “Well, it’s not necessary right now. The path is clear.”
Saxi looked at her, brows furrowed with a question resting between them. “All of it?”
“Just mine.”
“Wasn’t the plan to lea—” Saxi paused, then sighed.
He folded his arms and Deoti shrugged as if it was an answer to a question. After a while, she returned her attention to the Delvers.
“Did you lose your comms specialist?” she asked. “Or is someone playing dual roles.”
Clinton shook his head. “No communications specialist, ma’am.”
Why isn’t she saying anything about the ma’am?
Something about his thoughts must have shown on his face because Saxi leaned into him.
“Cool, right?” Saxi said. “Look at all of them, at attention like actual soldiers.”
Melmarc leaned down slightly. “What’s that about?”
“Everyone’s terrified of a [Mage].” Saxi gestured at Claire with a nod. “Two people you don’t want to get on the bad side of during a Delve. Your Healer and a [Mage], if you have one.”
It made sense. You definitely didn’t want your Healer hesitating to heal you. And the [Mage] class was supposed to be as powerful as it was rare. You don’t want someone significantly powerful turning that power on you.
The [Mage] class and [Faker] class were really on two sides of a scale. The [Faker] faced disdain and disapproval. The [Mage] class faced fear and approval. Melmarc couldn’t say he blamed the bias. From a base stand point the ability of the [Mage] class was based on their achievement, the [Faker] class was based on the achievement of other people.
Deoti looked displeased. “An incomplete team from the beginning. I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long.”
“We make it work,” Clinton said.
“You mean your Healer made it work.” Deoti unfolded her arms to gesture at Claire. “She’s barely allowed herself replenish her mana.”
Clinton glanced at Claire and a pained look crossed his face. She looked like she’d run a marathon, but without the panting and the sweating. She just looked knackered.
Melmarc touched Deoti’s arm with the side of his and she looked up at him.
“Be nice,” he muttered, doing his best to make sure his voice was kind.
Deoti frowned. “Delver teams should be composed. Organized.”
“They were coupled together, I’m guessing last minute,” Naymond interjected. “Kind of like a last minute thing.”
Deoti shot him a dark look, the one reserved for him before looking at Saxi. “Please punch him in the face. I’ll pay.”
Saxi looked from her to Naymond. “I get why she doesn’t like you, I’ve known you a handful of minutes and I don’t like you. But that right there is hate. What could you possibly have done?”
“Stole her ca—” Naymond perked up and darted behind Nelson. Melmarc tensed up at the same time, a small static going through, something inconsequential.
A streak of lightning went through the air where Naymond had been standing and dissipated into nothingness.
Naymond peeked out from behind Nelson with a worried frown. “There are bloody civilians over here. Lower ranks.”
“Oh, please. You know my aim is true.” Deoti looked like she wasn’t done aiming. “You were the one that…” she paused and looked at Melmarc. “I’m sorry, did you feel anything?”
Melmarc nodded. But he was more interested in how Naymond had known she was going to strike.
Was it her form?
If it was, then that was a boon in any fight. Almost as big a boon as Saxi’s skill that let you know when harm was being intended on you and from what direction it would come. Being able to tell a person was going to use a skill before they used it was amazing.
But this conversation had gone on long enough. They’d talked, eased the tension of the fight they’d gone through. There was also the update that there would actually be no more fights since Deoti had taken care of he monsters on the way.
“Can we go to my dad?” Melmarc inquired. There was a part of him that was growing impatient.
“Certainly.” Deoti smiled at him then turned back to the others. “There is only one thing you need to know,” she said. “When you meet the person we are going to meet, do not lie. In he short conversation I’ve had with you, you’ve all lied to some degree. Do not lie in front of him.”
Saxi smiled as if he was enjoying himself and shook his head. “You definitely do not want to lie to him.”
…
Melmarc was looking at is interface.
[You have slain Damned(B)]
[You have gained EP +59]
[EP 562]
He wondered how much increment he could get on [Optimum Existence] with it. How much was it last time?
A moment later, Melmarc frowned at his inability to remember. He could pull up his interface history and track the notifications down but that sounded like it would be too much work. Unnecessary work, too.
With a thought he pulled up [Optimum Existence].
[Optimum Existence (02.00%)]
The August Intruder draws on all necessary traits to achieve a perfect form.
Melmarc’s thoughts ran a quick memory. He didn’t go for details, just general knowledge. If [Optimum Existence] was a mere two percent, there was a slight issue. He didn’t remember how much [EP] he’d had before but it was more than what he currently had, and all of that had gotten him only two percent.
It was [EP] gathered over a week plus, though.
[Would You like to resume progression of Perk: Optimum Existence?]
[Y/N]
Yes.
[Alert!]
[Ambient mana is tainted, progress is halted.]
[Alternate source of progression detected]
[EP detected]
[Would you like to consume EP to resume progress?]
[Y/N]
Yes.
Melmarc felt like he should wait, gain the boost when he had the necessary amount of [EP]s. But it would be stupid to not gather as much advantage as he could whenever he could. He was technically in a war zone.
[Are you sure?]
[Y/N]
[Please note that EP can be used to upgrade skill percentage and increase stats.]
Melmarc paused in his steps. He didn’t know that. He’d never even heard of that before. If people knew there was a way to increase their stats things would go haywire.
There were already people who entered portals illegally just to see if they could gain some rare materials or just increase the mastery of their skills. There were rankers with weapons that were powerful because they came from portals.
There was a chance that the Orb of Caldath was going to be a rare resource.
But that was unimportant. What was important was he fact that he could upgrade his stats. And he didn’t think it was just the stats he had active, not from what [Bless Your Kindness] had taught him. If he could actually go through all his stats and upgrade them at choice, he could be invincible.
All I’ll need are the [EP]s.
All he would need were enough portals and enough monsters to kill. He’d had his disappointment when he’d gotten his class. Then he’d gotten the [August Intruder] thing and had seen a ray of hope. He would’ve at least been strong within a portal, stronger than he was outside.
But this…
This is a game changer.
“Mel?”
Melmarc raised his head to find Deoti looking back at him. He had stopped walking and was staring down at his interface. His current situation on the subject of [EP] required more thought.
“He’s a big boy, isn’t he?” Saxi said as if on an aside.
Deoti nodded. “His father’s son.”
She had a look on her face when she said the words. Ark had pointed out once upon a time that she always had a look on her face whenever she spoke of their dad. Melmarc was seeing it now. The problem was that he couldn’t place what it was.
Wistful?
He shook the thought from his mind and picked up the pace. “Sorry.”
Deoti patted him on the back and smiled. “I’m guessing you still enjoy looking at your interface.” They continued the walk, the others waiting for Saxi to go back to leading the way. “I remember when I got my class. When I first saw my interface.”
Her expression turned nostalgic. “Good times.”
Saxi chuckled from the front of the group. “I remember mine. The first thing I did when I got my class was run from home.”
He laughed some more.
“Hey, friend.” Naymond tapped him on the back. “I don’t think that’s the kind of nostalgia we were going for. You’re making your home sound kind of on the bad side of things.”
Saxi looked back, saw the expressions on everyone’s faces and paused.
“Gods, no,” he added in a panic. “That’s not what I meant. They were amazing people.”
Naymond raised a brow with an emphatically impish grin. “Were?”
Saxi palmed his forehead in frustration. “I should’ve punched you,” he muttered under his breath. “My family members are amazing people. I’m a [Guide] and I got an interesting class that was good for finding things so I got curious and went looking for what I wasn’t supposed to.”
He shrugged. “I was an overactive and curious child. Always looking for something. In hindsight, my class shouldn’t have come as a surprise.”
Deoti nodded to herself before turning to Melmarc as if she was just remembering something. “Did you tell Saxi that Naymond was not under your command?”
Naymond stiffened slightly but said nothing.
Deoti looked at Melmarc. “Did you?”
“No.” Melmarc shook his head. “But I didn’t tell him that I was.”
Deoti turned thoughtful, though she still had a frown on her lips. She cocked her head to the side. Her frown deepened. They continued to walk, going through a door Saxi had opened. After a while, her expression relaxed. Softened.
“I guess that’s alright,” she said in the end.
“Why is it such a big deal?” he asked.
“It’s not.” Deoti looked at a door they passed with a touch of annoyance. It had a barrier like some of the others. “At least it’s not supposed to be. But your dad seemed quite adamant that you not accept. It was kind of odd so I’m guessing it has something to do with him and you being his son.”
Melmarc gave her an intentionally puzzled look.
“Now that you’re a Gifted, it’s okay to know that your dad holds an important position in the government. So I’m guessing he couldn’t afford to let you do something as his son.” She shrugged.
Dissonant.
Melmarc simply nodded. He guessed there was more to being an Oath than Naymond and Deoti were willing to tell him. Deoti more than Naymond.
One thing was for sure. Dad knows everything about this.
Something told him that his father wouldn’t keep it a secret from him. And if he did, then Melmarc would have to hope he saw Veebee on his way out or he would have to put Delano’s skills on finding out things he wasn’t supposed to know to the test.
Saxi paused in front of a door and took a deep breath.
Naymond snorted. “Definitely still new. What are you? One year? Two?”
Saxi scowled at him. “He can be intense.”
Naymond raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not judging. I know what you mean.” He glanced at Melmarc. “I’ve still got the trauma to prove it.”
Saxi’s scowl softened. He suddenly looked as if he was looking at a comrade. “Sorry.”
Naymond dismissed the consolation with a wave. “It’s what it is.”
Jude leaned into Jed. “Anyone know who his kid’s dad’s supposed to be?” he looked worried. “No one told us anything.”
“He has an S-rank [Mage] answering to him so definitely no one small.” Jed looked back, as if making sure he wasn’t offending Deoti with his words. “Why?”
Jude looked back, too. He lowered his voice. “You think he kid’s still annoyed by what happened?”
Jed shrugged. “He doesn’t look like the kind to be petty. He broke your rib as pay back, didn’t he? Besides, he also won the fight. I’d say you’re good.”
Naymond froze where he was standing with Saxi. His head turned slowly, comically. An impish smile settled on his lips when his eyes settled on Jed and Jude.
“Christmas,” he said, grin growing wider, “came early.”
Jude looked confused. “What’s he talking about?”
Deoti moved very quickly. She grabbed Jude by the arm, twisted it up his back and slammed his face into the wall beside the door. “What the fuck did you do?”
Jed winced. “Maybe this wasn’t the right place to ask questions.”
Jude’s eyes went to Melmarc. They were pleading. Begging.
Deoti pressed his face into the wall. The wall didn’t crack or break but the space between her hand and he wall seemed to reduce ever so slightly. Pain lit up Jude’s face.
He’s already been punished! A scowl creased Melmarc’s lips. He gritted his teeth to hold back the sudden emotion that bubbled inside him.
It wasn’t necessarily anger. But it was something.
“Aunt Deoti,” he said, doing his best to keep his words civil.
Deoti turned to him but kept Jude’s face pinned to the wall. “Yes, dear.”
She still looked pissed but her tone was kind, caring. It was a sharp contrast. It would’ve been worrying if Melmarc didn’ have something more important to handle.
“Please release him,” he said.
For a moment it looked like she wasn’t going to listen, then she released Jude almost abruptly.
She took a military step back and Jude basically crumpled to the floor before catching himself. He held his face and Melmarc saw a bruise where it had been pinned to wall.
“What did he do?” Deoti asked, venom in her voice.
“Nothing that matters anymore.”
Deoti didn’t look like that response was going to be sufficient. “That’s not an answer, Mel.”
“He’s been punished for it,” Melmarc said.
Deoti shook her head. “Has he? Has he really?”
Insubordination.
Melmarc shook his head, surprised by the thought. At least partly surprised. At this point he doubted there was anything his mind would throw at him that would surprise him. It could tell him to kill someone right now and he wouldn’t really be surprised.
Dissonant.
Alright, maybe not kill someone, he grumbled. But you get the point.
Regardless, he had to deal with the insubordination. But how did you deal with insubordination when the person was stronger than you and didn’t answer to you. That thought made him realize that his mind didn’t make sense.
Insubordination only occurred when someone beneath your command and responsibility decided to act against your command and responsibility. Deoti was in no way under his command and responsibility. If anything, he was the one under her responsibility right now.
“Deoti,” Saxi said before Melmarc could say anything. “Leave it.” There was something strong in his voice, firm. “Boss will deal with it.”
He pulled the door handle down and a soft click filled the air. Melmarc suddenly realized how quiet everyone had been.
Naymond’s expression dropped and he gave Melmarc a look. It was almost imploring. Melmarc couldn’t help but feel like the [Sage] was pleading with him to play intercessor.
Melmarc didn’t mind. Jude had already been punished, he would not be punished for what he had already been punished for.
Saxi pushed the door and walked in.
…
David stood calmly in the room. It was a large bedroom, and it was a mess. The bed was overturned as if there had been a fight once upon a time before it had been abandoned. Lisa stood idly at the corner, watching the only entrance to the room.
She’d been relaying the mental conversations they’d been having. It was a decision he’d made to reduce the stress on her mana usage that came with being connected to his mind. It was a secret the others didn’t know about simply because they didn’t know about it.
“They’re here,” Lisa said. She stood up straighter, took on a military alertness.
David nodded. “I know.”
[A Sapient Being has been detected within close proximity. Prepare to make contact.]
David hoped it wasn’t a problem. They could’ve brought back someone they shouldn’t have. Caldath, after all, was still yet to be found. They didn’t know what he looked like or who he was. For all they knew, he could be around or not.
“Is there anyone else with them?” he asked.
The door handle turned.
“Just the group they spoke off.” Lisa paused. “There seems to be an issue. One of the Delvers with them seems to have done something to Mel.”
David clenched his teeth. “What did he do?”
“No one has said,” Lisa answered. “Deoti seems to be taking matters into her hands.”
David wasn’t surprised. Deoti had always had a soft spot for Melmarc. For good reason, too. “Let her.”
“Uh…” Lisa looked surprised. “Mel’s stopping her.”
That made David pause. “Stopping her how?”
“He says the Delver has been punished,” Lisa said. “But he’s unwilling to say what happened.”
That was surprising, Melmarc would request leniency in certain situations but he wasn’t one to interfere in the affairs of adults, even if he was a part of it somehow. He let the adults talk.
“Tell her to stand down.”
Lisa turned to him. “Really?”
David said nothing. He merely returned her look.
Lisa nodded. “Yes, Boss.”
A moment later, the door opened and Saxi stepped in.
The prisoner of the Oath of War walked in after. He met David’s eyes and cowered as he always did. David didn’t know why he cowered. Even the [Sage] didn’t know why he himself continued to cower. Even now, after years of earning his place in their world ever since he’s protection had been sent into limbo.
David felt a slow surge of annoyance. Naymondeel had tried to take advantage of some section of the Law of Bloodline. It angered David.
Kill him.
David kept the frown from his face.
Bleed him. He wishes to be tricky. Tricks can save or crush you. Remind him that it can crush him.
David focused on the next man to enter. He was a Delver with a bruise on the side of his face.
Take his pride.
“Naymondeel Art Hitchcock,” David said simply.
Naymond stood at attention. “Yes, sir.”
“Kneel.”
One of the Delver that entered turned completely shocked. Naymond dropped to his knees without question.
David said nothing else. The Delver looked from the [Sage] to David, then back. While he did, Saxi walked towards David.
“We’re back,” he said simply. His timidity was slight, nothing like Naymond’s cowering. David knew why. He was still new to the group. New to this. He probably had the man feeling disturbed.
David nodded in greeting.
When Deoti walked in, she wore a frown. It turned to a simple smile when she saw him. It was how she often greeted him. He didn’t know why. And since it wasn’t causing issues, there were no issues.
Melmarc walked in last.
David paid attention when he did. His son had grown perhaps three inches in height. His hair was rough, unruly. Dark.
He looked healthy in the shirt he wore. David knew he’d changed it recently because his pants were a mess, torn at different angles. His shoes were a mess. David could see his smallest toe through a hole in one of the shoes.
He recognized the shoe. His wife had always hated the shoe because it wasn’t an original brand. In contrast, Melmarc liked it because it was fine.
My wife will be pleased to see it now, David thought.
Melmarc walked slowly, his steps taking their time. Each one seemed purposeful, intentional.
He walks differently now, he observed as he watched watched Melmarc’s eyes take in the room even as it remained on him.
From what David knew about Melmarc’s ‘defense classes’, the one his wife had enrolled all his children into, their instructor complained that Melmarc was hesitant to violence. David had seen it to.
Most people didn’t see it properly. They saw Melmarc’s hesitance to violence and mistook it for incapability. No, David’s second son was not incapable of violence, he was hesitant to it. David didn’t know why, but Ark knew.
And that was enough.
But Melmarc was not the same boy. The boy walking up to him didn’t look hesitant to violence. In fact, in a way, he looked like he was preparing to walk with it.
What did you go through?
He remembered what Lisa had told him and a thought came to him. The Delver Deoti had been angry with had been punished.
Did he punish him, himself? Why?
Slowly, David’s mind grew slowly muffled. Melmarc was standing in front of him, looking at him. His gaze that had once been simple, curious, was now piercing. He looked as if he was trying to figure him out.
Something was off. Naymond had tried to make Melmarc his commanding officer. With the Law of Bloodline, there was no knowledge of if it would work. There were speculations of two Oaths birthing a child with possibilities of possessing traits.
But that would be beyond a stretch.
He could’ve been calling a--
Return, claim the orb of Caldath and leave.
David frowned as his mind ran away from him. He reeled it back in. He wasn’t a magical class. The Orb of Caldath would be of no use to him.
Melmarc, he told himself. Focus.
So he did.
Still, he didn’t know what to do. He was Melmarc’s father. But he was here by the capacity of an Oath. But he was a father…
An Oath… A commander… A murderer… A slayer of A Demi-god… A tool of his world… A—
He reeled his own thoughts back in. In front of him, Melmarc seemed to be completely focused on him now. Watching. Waiting.
Something about it made Madness feel like he should be intimidated even though he wasn’t. It was a strange feeling to have in the presence of your own child. In the end, he chose to act in a manner that was non-threatening.
Why?
Because. There was nothing more to it than that.
David released a sigh and finally made his move.
He and Melmarc moved to sit down at the same time. None of them hesitated. Before long they were seated, looking a each other.
David remained unsure. He didn’t like being unsure around his family. And this happened at certain times. Times when his emotions rose where times when his control slipped.
Melmarc broke the silence with a small smile. “Hi, dad.”
David let out a long shaky breath he hadn’t known he was holding. His throat grew dry, choked. Words failed him. He didn’t have a response.
To his amazement, David eyes grew wet. He’d almost lost his child. His child had been placed in a position where the contract he and his wife had made with Dorthna had not been able to protect him.
His child’s life had been risked once more and where had he been. Out there being an Oath. Taking care of his world.
David met Melmarc’s gaze and held it. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
Melmarc’s eyes softened and he shook his head. “No, dad. You’re right on time.”
His children had always known what kind of man he was and his wife had always been sure of it. So in the practical manner of being understanding that Melmarc had often shown, he initiated contact first, in a manner that wasn’t too much.
He held his hand out for a handshake.
One thing did bother David, though. And if he was being honest, it wasn’t bothering him, it was bothering his Oath.
Why, he thought as he shook Melmarc’s hand, did he sit down?
Madness’ interface lit up in front of him.
[You have made contact with a Sapient Being]
…
[The Oath of Madness has made contact with the first Sapient Being of your world]
[Congratulations! Your world has a Representative.]
[You have met your August Intruder]
An indicator appeared over Melmarc’s head. It looked as if it was written in white translucent flame.
[August Intruder]
This was going to be a problem.
…
This was the third report Chetam was reading in the last thirty minutes. With fifty pages it was unnecessary. But the matters it contained were not things to be delegated. They were delicate. One of them spoke of how an Oath had gone against their government.
He laughed. When would the governments of the world understand that Oaths worked with them out of kindness not necessity? The Oaths did not need them to operate. They worked with them simply because it made their jobs easier.
Chetam placed the report, half-way through it, on his table. Perhaps it was time to renegotiate the agreements the Oaths had with the governments of the different countries. They were beginning to overestimate their value.
The Delver training program that the Oaths were establishing in the Gifted schools of different countries, specific for truly unique Gifted was a start to the Oaths preparing the world for what was to come. It had taken them a while but they had finally succeeded in establishing it in at least ten countries on all the occupied continents.
The reoccurring appearances of players had finally led them to understanding that they were running out of time. It had been the thing to finally bring the Oaths to an agreement, a rare happening. Not since Madness and War had fallen in love.
Chetam pinched the bridge of his nose. They still had time. They could prepare the world. It had been his idea from the beginning and he expected to see it to the end. As much as some Oaths believed in their own hubris, they could not fight alone.
He was about to go back to his reading when his interface popped up in front of him.
[The Oath of Madness has made contact with the first Sapient Being of your world]
[Congratulations! Your world has a Representative.]
[Oath of Inevitability, your world has gained its August Intruder]
Inevitability smiled. It was a bitter smile. A sad smile. The notification was a problem. But this would expedite the process. If he was seeing this, then it meant that every Oath alive was seeing it too. And regardless of whatever was happening, they would know one thing.
Their world had run out of time.
…
Dorthna sat with legs crossed in the living room. He sipped hot water from a mug. In front of him the television played some random piece of information. On the chair to his side, Ark sat a worried hand caressing the top of his demon’s scale.
He had been terribly worried since coming back from his mentorship program and Dorthna couldn’t blame him. Ark was very protective of Melmarc and right now he knew nothing of where he was or what had happened to him and why he wasn’t home yet.
[The Oath of Madness has made contact with the first Sapient Being of this world]
[This world has a Representative.]
[????, this world has gained its August Intruder]
Dorthna smiled. It was the first truly genuine smile that had touched his lips in far too many years.
Between the arrival of a [Demon King] and the rise of an [August Intruder] on this world, things were about to start changing.
Dorthna was happy. Truly happy.
…
Ark wasn’t sure what he was looking at but it worried Spitfire greatly. The demon had grown very alert on his laps and was staring at the same interface that had appeared in front of them.
[The Oath of Madness has made contact with the first Sapient Being of this world]
[Congratulations! This world has a Representative.]
[Demon King, this world has gained its August Intruder]
Ark had no idea what any of it meant, but Spitfire seemed to.
And the feeling he got from it was nothing but excitement.
…
[The Oath of Madness has made contact with the first Sapient Being of your world]
[Congratulations! Your world has a Representative.]
[Oath of Shield your world has gained its August Intruder]
Ruth paled when she was done reading the notification.
She had royally fucked up making an enemy of Madness. If the other Oaths were seeing this, then none of them would stand to support her in this disagreement she was having with Madness.
Not when he had gone of world and finally found the [August Intruder].
She ran a hand through her hair only to pause and bring her hand in front of her. It shook terribly.
The Oath of Shield was afraid.
…
Out in a world where nothing was sacred, a creature from a line of blood older than time reached a massive claw and tore a hole in existence.
It created an injury in a place far far away.
In a world unimportant, a portal opened.
This creature was not done searching for its creation.
Comments
Sarah Witt
Absolutely so good, cannot wait for more! This story is excellent. The world building is top notch, that characters relatable, and the way of story telling is fascinating.
Christine Thomas
Thanks for posting, I am glad that he finally met up with his dad. Very interested in finding out what an actual August Intruder is and how it relates to the Oaths.
