Tale of Eldramir

After the events of the trial, Ezekiel and his parents returned to the Cathedral where they met up with Lina and Issa. Evelyn stayed with Ezekiel and his sisters as Warren filled Lina in on what was happening, as they didn’t want to tell the twins just yet.

There was a somber mood amongst those that were in the know regarding Ezekiel’s situation. For the moment, due to the lack of ships ready to go to the Archipelago, Ezekiel would be confined to a singular room within the Cathedral where he was not permitted to leave.

Later, when Harolt and Naeri returned to the Cathedral, Ezekiel was brought a few basic amenities, and then confined as per the decision of the representatives at the Trial. It was expected that it would take some time before there was a ship headed to Sanafalls.

The days leading up to his departure were stifling for Ezekiel.

He had always enjoyed his books and reading before he had gone off on the expedition to the ancient Ruins. Now, however, he could help but feel like there was more that he needed to be doing.

He wanted to get back to his training, not continue resting pointlessly. He needed to become strong enough to travel the Desolate Lands on his own after all. If he didn’t, how would he ever be able to ‘save’ this world.

The only thing he was really able to do was meditate and try to gather and accumulate as much mana as he could before he left, but that wasn’t exactly easy to do, and he was lucky to gather five or six mana a day at this point. Fortunately, he had nothing to do with it, so he did make some progress with returning to Step four, slow as it was.

Meanwhile, while Ezekiel was locked up in his room, several things were happening outside that were bringing about changes to the Cathedral and some of the Guilds.

SLAP!!!

The sound of an open palm connecting with Trent’s face echoed through the workshop of Scholar Quentin. It was the day after the trial, and Quentin had called Trent to speak with him after having been informed of what had been mentioned at the trial the day before.

“You idiotic failure! You just had to be greedy, didn’t you! You couldn’t have just waited, and then maybe you’d have been able to research something new and shiny! No! You had to go and get those bastards from the Inquisition involved in this!”

Quentin was frothing in rage as he stood over Trent’s fallen form. Quentin might’ve been quite a bit older than Trent, but he was still Tier three, so his strikes had more power behind them than his frame would suggest.

Clearly evident by the blood Trent spat out after having bitten his cheek from the impact.

“The Church of Ten is meant to study and research the lost magics of the world, and to discover new ways forward so that we may become closer to the Ancient Spirits! Not make back alley deals with a bunch of shifty stuck ups that don’t have any right sticking their noses into our business!”

Standing around the room were Lina, Issa, Harolt, and Naeri. It was decided that Warren and Evelyn shouldn’t be here, as this was ultimately something that they wished to deal with themselves.

“You say that we are meant to study, and research lost magic, yet you would allow a gold mine of possibilities to escape us!” Trent yelled in reply to Quentin’s accusations.

“The fact that you say that it escaped us already proves that you know nothing of what is right and wrong! Rather than fairly compensate others for their assistance in progressing your work, you only care about going as far as you can, regardless of how many people you leave broken behind you! I should take you down right here and now, laws be damned!”

Quentin began rolling up his sleeves as he moved forward to take another swing at Trent, who had only just climbed to his feet. A tendril of water wrapped around the older Tempest Mage’s waist and pulled him back.

“Now, now, Quentin, there’s no need to beat him. His punishment will be met out properly by his superiors, as the two of us got dragged into this as well.” Naeri said as she directed the water tendril to the side.

“Punishment! I was just assaulted by a clearly unhinged old fool! If anything, he is the one who should be getting punished right now!” Trent said as he pointed at Quentin.

“You betrayed the trust of contracted Hunters bound to the service of the Church of Ten for personal gain, breaking the neutrality of the Church out of selfish greed. As such, you will indeed be punished.” Harolt said with a firm tone as he glared at Trent.

Trent couldn’t help but scoff at Harolt’s explanation. He had already been given guarantees from the Grand Inquisitor that he would be supported, as well as granted the first chance to look at the sword that was altered by the Void Remnant.

“First punishment; all research papers composed by Trent Solts will be placed under review and officially made public to all Acolytes and Scholars for his plagiarizing of several studies obtained by his peers, as well as his mentor, Quentin Rudy.” Harolt stated.

“That’s not fair!” Trent exclaimed as all the glory and acclaim he would’ve had for his research would be revoked. “Scholar Quentin takes things from others for his research all time!”

“But he also makes his own work available to others and is always sure to mention the people whose works he is referencing. You do not, and after a very brief investigation, we were able to get more than enough testimonies, and proof regarding the works that you’re stolen credit for.”

Trent could only grit his teeth in anger at his progress disappearing. He had intended to use the fame of having multiple discoveries and creations under his belt to ensure that he got a good position when he eventually completed his Scholar’s pilgrimage to Trillious.

It seemed like he would be starting with a bad reputation instead. He couldn’t help but seethe at the fact that he would need to use whatever discoveries he made from Ezekiel’s sword to clear his name.

“Secondly; as you have blatantly broken the neutrality of the Church by providing confidential information to a governing faction of the world, it has been decided that your work at this Cathedral will be ended, and you will no longer be welcome within these halls. You have until the end of the day to clear out your workspace of all objects that you, and you alone, have ownership of.”

“What! There is no reason for a punishment that severe!” Trent exclaimed.

“You’re lucky we didn’t expel you from the Church entirely! Especially with what happened to the other Acolytes and Scholars that recently betrayed the Church. You wouldn’t want to end up like them, would you?” Harolt said with a flat tone.

Trent barely suppressed a shiver at the mention of the punishment for the recent betrayers of the Church. Their heads were removed, just as the heads of the nobles who supported Count Forret were.

“As it is, if any of the other Cathedrals are willing to welcome you after being informed of your actions, then you are free to complete your pilgrimage to them and continue your research there. Now get going.”

Trent couldn’t help but grind his teeth as he quietly headed to the door to leave the room. He was filled with hatred at this indignity but held out some hope that he’d be able to get support from Grand Inquisitor Yeren.

“Oh, and by the way, just so I can get one last shot in. I do hope you weren’t planning on scurrying back to that stick-up-the-butt Inquisitor, Yeren, because he couldn’t get the sword during the trial.” Quentin said, just as Trent had passed through the doorway.

He turned around and gaped at his previous mentor in shock. Given the information he had provided Yeren, there should have been no reason that they couldn’t have gotten that sword, so long as things were worded the right way.

“As it just so happens, ever since you tried to take that sword without permission, no one’s seen it at all. So, it could be said right now that now one actually knows where it is.”

Technically this was true. No one knew, for a fact, where the Void sword currently was, but due to the plan being Ezekiel’s, he had some idea, and it was that idea that would ensure that he’d be able to find it later on.

After all, Ezekiel never saw, with his own eyes, where the sword went after he closed his eyes and covered his ears during that meeting roughly a week ago.

Not that Ezekiel had any intention to do anything about it until the absolute last minute. There were still a couple weeks left until the Void Spirit finished forming, after all.

Trent, hearing Quentin’s words, couldn’t believe what was happening to him. All his years of work and effort to further his research and make new discoveries was now gone.

He knew he’d be lucky to keep his head at this point, as he’d also provided information that the Inquisition couldn’t follow through with. False information, or information that leads to the embarrassment or tarnishing of the Inquisition's reputation was always rewarded with pain and suffering.

Lifelessly, Trent’s grip on the door handle loosened, and slipped from his fingers, closing with a soft ‘click’ as the party inside watched him go.

“Was that really necessary?” Lina asked as she turned to Quentin with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course, it was. If I hadn’t told him now, he’d have gone straight to the Inquisition, and I wouldn’t have gotten to see the look on his face when he finally found out what had happened. I know he’ll probably try to find a way to get out of the city without getting caught by the Inquisitors, but even if he escapes, it’ll be worth it just because I got to see that face.” Quentin replied with a huff.

The rest of the room looked either amused or frustrated as they watched the eccentric man continue to rant about his unfaithful apprentices and Acolytes.

Only the eldest of the party, Harolt and Naeri, were experienced enough to know that this was likely the last time Quentin would take on Acolytes again.

For all his bluster, Quentin had cared about them, and to be betrayed twice in such a small amount of time had undoubtedly left him with some emotional scars.

Ezekiel didn’t find out about what had happened to Trent until after he was finally let out of the room that he was being confined in. As it was, the only real company he had was from his family, and on the few occasions that they could stop by, his friends.

Due to the fact that the Church was partially under suspicion regarding their treatment of him, the guards around his room were a mix of city guards and members of the Cathedral who volunteered for security purposes.

It was during one of the visits from Shari that Ezekiel actually found out some additional news that he hadn’t been made aware of beforehand. It also presented him with the chance to make a difficult decision.

“What do you mean she’s missing? I thought that all the supporters for Count Forret were found already.” Ezekiel asked when he heard what Shari had said.

“I don’t actually know what happened. I was trying not to bring it up because I didn’t know what was going to happen to her, but I guess Riley’s parents had enough connections to get out of the city before the fighting actually happened.” Shari explained.

She was currently sitting on one side of the closed door that was currently between them. There was a small slot on the floor where food and water would be sent through, but other than that there was only a door handle.

Bonnie was waiting at the end of the hall where the guards were, as Shari wasn’t allowed to take her so close to their ‘prisoner’.

“I only found out now since the Inquisition approached me and the others regarding where she might be. None of us knew, which didn’t make them very happy.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet.” Ezekiel replied with disdain. “Let me guess, they threatened to have you imprisoned, interrogated, or taken away to work for them in some way or another, right?”

Shari looked at Ezekiel in confusion. Having no idea where he got these ideas from.

“No... they just had people who could tell if we were lying watching us to make sure we were telling the truth, then they let us get back to class without issue.” Shari sounded quiet and sheepish as she spoke.

Ezekiel, for his part, now shared Shari’s confused look, before he realized what had happened.

“I’m sorry. That’s what the Inquisition wanted to do to me, and I’m still upset at being trapped in this room until I’m forced to leave. I shouldn’t have gotten angry at you.”

Shari looked shocked and horrified. She had no idea that the Inquisition was so cruel. The woman that she had spoken to was incredibly kind and had made no attempts to make her feel threatened.

She wanted to think that Ezekiel was lying to her, but she knew Ezekiel well enough to know that he wouldn’t try to trick her like that.

“Who were the Inquisitors that spoke to you?” She asked.

“Tasha, and her two subordinates, as well as the Grand Inquisitor, Yeren.”

“Oh... Well, I didn’t meet either of them, so maybe I got lucky?”

“I’m glad you did if that’s the case. I wouldn’t want you to have to meet the people I did.”

The two fell into an uncomfortable silence for a little while.

“Hey, Ezekiel, can I ask you something?”

“Yes. What’s up?”

“Are you really leaving? Forever, I mean?”

Shari’s voice had grown incredibly quiet as she asked this. Dread was pooling in her chest as she awaited Ezekiel’s answer.

“... Yes. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to see you again. Not for a very long time at least.”

Muffled sniffling could barely be heard through the door as Shari began to cry.

As he leaned back against the door, eyes closed as he listened as closely as he could to his friend on the other side, tears began to quietly fall from his eyes as well.

“How long is a very long time? I don’t want to wait to see you for too long. We need to go find Riley together. Also help Drew get into a Guild. And you promised that you’d keep tutoring me for stuff at the auction house, and training me, and being together with me. With all of us.”

Ezekiel was silent as he listened to Shari’s words. He knew that she had already been told all of this, and he knew that the only reason she was asking was because she trusted him most of all, after her own parents at least.

That meant that his next words were going to hurt her even more.

“Probably years. But if you get stronger, and aren’t afraid of leaving, maybe you could visit me.” Ezekiel said quietly before taking a deep breath and making his decision.

“But I kind of hope you don’t.”

There was nothing but silence for a few seconds as Shari processed what Ezekiel had just said.

“What?” She whispered in disbelief.

“Shari, you’re my friend, and I care about you, but the fact of the matter is, I’m dangerous to be around. The Cult of Light is going to be coming for my head as soon as possible, and I have no doubt the Inquisition will try to retrieve me as well. Yeren was too insistent to not try again in the future.”

Ezekiel had had a few days in his confinement to think this over. As much as he hated breaking his friend’s heart, he didn’t want her getting drawn into his problems.

“I won’t stop you or tell you not to do what you want to do. But I want you to know that it would probably be better for you, and everyone else, if you stopped being my friends.”

“Find someone else to like. To be together with. I can’t, or rather, I won’t.”

As Ezekiel said those words, he felt something inside him break when he heard Shari’s muffled cries turn into sobbing before he felt the door behind him slam as something struck it from the other side.

“Shari!?”

There was no response as the only thing he heard was the rapid tapping of footsteps on stonework as Shari ran away. A distant squealing could barely be heard as Bonnie dashed to keep up with her crying partner.

Taking a chance to look out the food slot near the floor, Ezekiel saw something on the ground. Reaching through the slot, he grabbed the little wooden dog necklace that he’d made for her after their first big fight a couple months ago.

Holding the necklace in one hand, he leaned back against the door, covering his eyes with his arm as he silently cried at the loss of his first and oldest friend.

That meeting hadn’t been a good one, and both of his parents had verbally reamed him out for what he had said, as they considered it as him giving up on seeing either of them as well.

Ezekiel explained that this was not the case, as Shari had a life and friends and family here in Harkem, while his parents had already silently expressed their willingness to leave it all behind for him at a moment’s notice if necessary. Something that he couldn’t let Shari do for him.

His parents fell silent after that, and didn’t bring up the topic again, though they did give one last verbal statement of their displeasure before asking if he was alright.

He wasn’t, and he didn’t bother lying about it, as even though their elements didn’t give them as much of an innate lie detector as some of the other elements, they could tell that he was hurting.

That last visit with Shari was the last time any of his friends visited him. Which meant that he was much lonelier during the rest of his confinement before leaving.

The only other news of the city he’d received was that the Inquisition had left, but that didn’t relieve him too much. He knew that someone would be after him. All he’d have to do to find out who was to wait until one of them made the first move.

As it was, he remained in confinement for nearly two weeks, doing little besides gathering as much mana as he could, which brought him up to halfway to Step four, before he was finally let out of his room.

As he exited his room, he saw his parents waiting for him, with Wendy, Ellen, and the Scholars he was friends with, standing there as well.

A part of him was hurt as he noticed that neither Shari nor her family were there, but he had expected this when he hadn’t spoken to them at all for the past several days.

“Ezekiel.”

Warren and Evelyn dashed forward to look over their son, who they hadn’t been able to see or hold since he’d been locked up weeks ago.

“Are you alright? You’re not hurt in any way, right?” Evelyn asked as she held out her son’s limbs and examined him as best, she could.

As this was happening, Warren was running his glowing hands up and down his body, checking him over magically, just in case.

“I’m fine, mom. I’m just tired, and bored. I haven’t been able to do anything for two weeks.” Ezekiel said as he half-heartedly tried to push his mother away.

As Warren and Evelyn finally backed away from Ezekiel, he got a chance to look at everyone who would be escorting him to the docks to see him off. At the end of the corridor were several city guards that would also be following along.

“It’s time. There’s a convoy ship docked and waiting. We need to be going.” Harolt said in a somber tone as he watched the family hug and catch up.

“Right.” Ezekiel muttered as he and the rest moved to leave the Cathedral.

After getting outside, they headed to one of the gates to the Cathedral’s lands that he had never been to before, where a number of carriages were waiting for them.

“Will the Duke or the Guild Leaders be coming too?” Ezekiel asked as he climbed into the carriage. The only other occupants were his family and Harolt, as he was required to have a member of the Church acting as his Warden.

“They will be meeting us at the docks. They will be there to see you off so as to ensure your punishment is being enforced. Nothing more.” Harolt explained as they rode along the streets.

Ezekiel looked out the window to see the city around him. He found it funny that he had seen more of the world outside the city than he had seen within the city.

There were countless buildings, shops, houses, and more that he had never seen before, and that he would never get to see.

He turned to his family, who all looked like they were on the verge of crying. His sisters actually were crying, though it was quiet as they tried to muffle the noise they were making.

His parents had told the two of them what was going to happen days ago, so there was time for them to slowly understand what was happening, as well as accept that they wouldn’t see their brother for a very long time.

Reaching forward, he grabbed his sisters and lifted them into his lap, letting them cry into his chest and beg him not to go. He remained silent for the rest of the trip.

Finally, they arrived at the docks, where the carriages they were in pulled up to one of the larger docks where a boat with the emblem of the Church of Ten was emblazoned on the flag and sails.

Looking up at the large ship, he saw that it had four masts and seemed to be lined with metal in the otherwise wooden hull. Numerous glowing enchantments ran up and down the metal portions, while the rest of the ship looked to be alive.

Numerous guards were lined up in a row leading along the dock toward the ship, and standing in the background were the Duke and a couple of his aides, as well as Gerome, Trissy, and their fellow Guild Leaders.

He ignored the glares he was receiving from multiple guards as he and his group walked to the ship. Stopping in front of it, he turned toward his family.

“Mom... Dad... I’m sorry.” Ezekiel said, choking up a little toward the end.

The two immediately bent down to embrace their son, tears threatening to fall from their eyes. Ellen and Wendy, who were originally standing next to Lina and Issa, ran forward and joined the hug.

“Don’t be sorry, son. It’s not your fault. It’s the world, the Empire, that’s taking you away from us. You did nothing wrong. It was the selfishness of other parties that brought about these events.” Warren said with certainty.

“The only thing you need to do now, if you feel the need to do something for us, is continue growing stronger. Continue showing the world that you will not be beaten down, and that you are just as much of a Mage, of a Hunter, as the rest of humanity.” Evelyn’s words were a whisper on the wind as she held Ezekiel to her chest.

“I will, mom, dad. I will show them all just what I can do, and make them regret throwing me away, or trying to use me for their own selfish goals. I’ll do that, and I’ll see you again.”

Ezekiel pulled away, taking the wooden necklace out of his pocket and handing it to them.

“I don’t know if she’ll take it back, but can you please try to give this back to Shari?”

Warren took the necklace with a nod, and Ezekiel looked at his sisters, bending down to hug them.

“You two need to be good for mom and dad, okay? You two also need to get strong, so that no one can be mean to you, and so that you can bond with your own Spirits, and never be bullied by anyone.”

“Okay!” “We will!”

Wendy and Ellen were still crying, but although it was still early in the day it seemed like they were tired out from everything that had happened.

“Ezekiel!”

A voice from behind him called out. Turning around, he looked up the gangplank to see a woman with blue hair and eyes who was wearing the robes of a Grand Scholar with blue lining. She was the one in charge of this ship, and the one who would be escorting Ezekiel to the Archipelago.

Ezekiel could see a hint of pity in her eyes as she stared down at him.

From what the Scholars had told him during his confinement, the truth had been made known to all the Cathedrals belonging to the Church of Ten, and none of the Grand Scholars were in agreement with what had been decided by the Duke.

Apparently, there were even motions being made to further limit the Inquisitions interactions with the Church, as it was made blatantly apparent that the Empire didn’t value them as many other factions did.

“It’s time to go, child. We got quite the trip ahead o us, and I think the stuck ups don’t want ye stickin around much longer. Best to not get em more mad at yer folks, yeah.”

For a moment, the accent belonging to the Grand Scholar was enough to surprise him, and he doubted that his ears were working properly as she spoke.

“Ezekiel?”

The second time she called his name, Ezekiel snapped out of his shock. He gave one last look to his parents before heading up to the ship.

“That’s a good lad. Right, yer folks gave a bag o yer stuff that got put in yer room. Tommy’ll take yah down there.” The Grand Scholar pointed to a man with gold hair and eyes who nodded at Ezekiel when he looked over.

“M’name’s Scarlet Rayness. Grand Scholar o the Sanafalls Cathedral. Ye can just call me Scarlet. Not a lot o people use full titles where we’re goin.”

Grand Scholar Scarlet explained as she ushered him onto the ship.

“Oy! Pull up the mooring lines! We’ve got to be off now!” Scarlet hollered out as she gave commands.

The ropes holding the ship to the dock were quickly released and pulled up. As the final rope was pulled in, Scarlet raised her hands, pushing them to the side and forcing the water to turn the ship out to the Everclear Sea.

Most of the people on the ship braced themselves, but Ezekiel was thrown to the deck as the ship abruptly turned and began speeding away.

Climbing to his feet in a panic, Ezekiel ran to the back of the ship, leaning over the railing as he watched the docks shrink as they got further and further away.

He saw his parents holding his sisters, the Scholars waving him goodbye, and even Gerome stood and watched him leave, with Garrad standing next to him.

But most surprising of all, he saw what looked like Shari, Drew and Yennifrey, standing on a different dock with their parents as they too watched him leave.

He stood there, looking back at the only home he’d ever known disappearing over the horizon, not moving until a voice finally spoke up behind him.

“Hey, kid. C’mon, we need to get below deck. It’ll be a few days before we get to the first waypoint, and it’d be best if you grabbed yer stuff and got settled now, rather than later.”

Ezekiel turned to see that it was Tommy who was speaking to him. A part of him had expected the rest of the crew to speak like the captain, but he was once again surprised. Which must’ve shown on his face, because Tommy started to chuckle at him.

“What’s wrong, kid? Cat got yer tongue.”

“No. I just haven’t heard people talk like the captain before. And you talk differently too, so I was just surprised.”

At this Tommy began to laugh in full.

“Ha! Yeah, the way we talk in the Archipelago is a bit different than the Empire. Not too much, but folks like Scarlet hate the Empire, what with them thinking they’re better than us.” Tommy had a look of annoyance on his face as he said this.

“It makes it harder than usual to understand us. So, she plays it up whenever we dock in Imperial places. They already think we’ve uncultured, so it’s not like they’ll think any worse of us if we make things difficult for them.”

“Anything that pisses off the Empire is something I think that I can get behind.” Ezekiel said with a slight smile.

“Ha! I think the rest of us are going to like you. C’mon. Let’s get you to yer bunk, and then we’ll introduce you to the rest of the ship. Apparently, Scarlet got somethin from her aunt that she was asked to pass on to ye.”

“Her aunt?” Ezekiel inquired as they headed down the steps into the ship.

“Grand Scholar Naeri. Scarlet’s the son of her brother. He passed away a few years ago, but Scarlet keeps in touch with her family.” Tommy explained.

The duo came to a stop in front of one of the smaller rooms towards the back of the ship. A wooden plaque with Ezekiel’s name on it was held into place on the door.

As he entered, Ezekiel saw a bag on his bed. Next to it was a wooden box with the symbol of the Church of Ten engraved on it.

“I’ll stop by in a bit, but I got to make sure that no one’s slacking off. Just so you know, we got word from your folks that it’d be alright if we got you to work for a bit. Something about not wanting you to be locked up in a room any longer than you already were. So, I hope you’re ready to work.”

With those parting words, Tommy left Ezekiel to his own devices.

Sitting down next to the bag, Ezekiel opened it up before gently rummaging through it.

Inside he found most of his clothes, as well as the boots from Quentin, more bandages from Issa and Lina, a drawing made by his sisters, with every member of the family holding hands, and two rings, one with a gold ring and a with a white stone, and one with a black ring with white stone.

They were gifts from his parents. He could tell that both were enchanted in some way, the letter that came with them said that they would protect him when he really needed it.

One would create a shield of light that could stop some of the lower to average powered spells, and the other would cast the area around himself in darkness that only he, the ring wearer, would be able to see through, other than Obscure Mages at a higher Tier than himself.

He wasn’t sure how many uses he’d get out of them, but he didn’t plan on using them at all if he could help it. They were mementos from his family after all.

Finally, after checking the bag for anything else, he opened the small box that was next to it, finding a familiar Void Pouch within. It was the same pouch that he’d given Quentin several weeks ago.