Manifest Fantasy

Hardale Village, Duchy of Eldralore

Sonaran Federation

November 18, 2024

Small snaps and thwacks hit the windshield as leaves, twigs, and other debris flew past the MRAP. Henry looked outside of the passenger seat window, trees swaying in the slight gale outside. It looked tranquil – extremely so, but he knew that this pastoral peace wouldn’t last.

He couldn’t help but feel a tinge of irony. Here he was, a man trained for the depths of space, now navigating through a fantasy nightmare turned reality. He shook his head slightly, a rueful smirk playing on his lips. “Should’ve seen this coming the day I signed those NDAs,” he murmured to himself.

“Excited for your first quest, eh?” Ron quipped.

Henry exhaled. “Guess you could say that. Not as jittery as you, though.”

“You know it, dude,” Ron said with a smile. He glanced at the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Dr. Anderson hunched over his gear, brow creased in concentration. “Anything interesting, Doc?”

Dr. Anderson responded through the beeps of his EMF meter. “We’re hitting about 3,000 milligauss here,” he said, voice tinged with a mix of awe and apprehension. “I’m no expert in this field, but this is well beyond natural levels.”

An EMF meter would normally read under 2 milligauss in most places on Earth. On Gaerra, the norm appeared to be around 20. “3,000 quite a bit. Depending on how magic scales, we’re talking possible interference to electronic equipment,” he said, partly to himself.

What would normally be perceived as bad news by most was received well by Ron, who appeared even more excited upon hearing Henry’s thoughts. Strange behavior, to be sure, but not something that Henry already didn’t feel himself. Ron’s magical quest was his spatial anomaly and the Doc’s ancient discovery.

As if directly addressing Henry’s statement, the radio crackled and strained against the magical interference. The transmission came from Armstrong Base, “Alpha… fzzt… Overwatch. Hostile… fzzt… Hardale. Expect communication… fzzt… Proceed with caution.”

“Copy, Overwatch,” Henry replied. "We’re seeing the interference here. Keep us updated as best you can.”

Approaching the village, Henry steadied his hands on the Remote Weapon Station’s controls. From the feed and outside the window, he could see dark smoke rising from the treeline. His fears of being too late subsided as he saw the first visuals of the battle. He zoomed in, getting a grasp on the situation.

The villagers, armed with nothing more than farming tools and sheer desperation, held back a tide of monsters, holding a chokepoint at the village’s main gate. They jabbed and pierced with some modicum of coordination from behind a wooden barricade, men behind the main line throwing what flammable material they could. Sapling Treants, Goblins, and Hobgoblin grunts assaulted the makeshift fortification, with a few attempting to break down the wooden walls that surrounded the village itself. Unlike their smaller Goblin cousins, the Hobgoblins seemed much more humanoid, standing at average human height and wielding weapons and gear as a human might. The weirdest thing about the entire scene was the fact that the monsters seemed to be working together – a fact that went against everything he had learned in preparation for the test at the Guild.

Amidst the fray, a lone figure stood out, marked by a feminine grace. She fought on the outskirts of the village, drawing attention away from the congested chokepoint. Clad in armor that gleamed with a silvery-golden sheen, her green cloak flapped wildly amidst the melee. Her silvery-blonde hair whipped around as she pivoted, revealing mesmerizing purple eyes that were unmistakable even from a distance. It was Seraphine ad Sindis, the magic swordswoman from the Adventurer Test.

Sera’s movements were almost a blur, but one thing was clear – her swordplay was effective. Dashing forward with inhuman speed, she thrust her blade into the thick hide of a Hobgoblin Grunt, piercing it before fluidly transitioning into a wide arc that cleaved another assailant in two. Her movements were far too swift, mirroring the physical enhancement Henry had seen from the Sonaran knights.

In tandem with her swordsmanship, Sera’s mastery of magic was a sight to behold. With a flit of her left hand, she conjured a spike of compacted soil from the ground directly underneath a squad of Goblin Warriors. Long, sharpened stalagmites burst from the ground and impaled them, leaving bloody corpses hanging in the air.

With a swift incantation, her sword’s edge shimmered with an icy aura, frost spreading along the blade. As she slashed through a Fenwyrm Spawn, the blade trailed wisps of condensation in the air. The gash left in the wake of her blade crystallized, the flesh now cold and black. The creature recoiled, the icy wound hindering its movement and its flesh visibly cracking around the frozen cut. Seraphine moved on to her next target, her blade a blur of silver and white as she eviscerated a treant.

Henry took a deep breath. As entertaining and cool as the scene was, Sera and the villagers couldn’t possibly handle all of those enemies on their own. “Alpha Team, engage at will. Prioritize hostile fauna near civilians. Watch your fire.” With Sera busy near the barricade, he would have to adjust their line of fire. “Owens, bring us around to the right side. Let her handle the monsters over there. We’ll take on the ones further out.”

The .50 cal machine gun atop the MRAP roared to life, echoing through the clearing. Henry tapped the trigger methodically, picking off a few of the monsters along the way as Ron repositioned. He steered the vehicle deftly, keeping it at a steady 20 MPH while avoiding obstacles and providing Henry with a stable firing platform.

Dr. Anderson called out distances and bearings, aiding in target identification as he took a few shots out the window. “Five Goblins, 11 o’clock, 50 meters, behind the Treants!”

Henry shifted his aim, the turret’s hydraulic servos whirring as it turned to face the group. He fired short bursts at the Sapling Treants, completely shredding them with .50 cal rounds. The towering creatures staggered under the impact, splinters of wood exploding from their forms. The goblins behind died the moment the covering treants were ripped apart, reduced to smears of gore before they could even question how they were torn to shreds behind a sturdy defense. He couldn’t help but compare this scene to his training simulations against the PLASF – those were predictable; this was anything but.

The treants died as inexplicably as they existed. Suffering critical structural damage, their ‘faces’ and branches stopped moving. If Henry didn’t know any better, he would’ve thought these were shattered trees with faces carved into them, rather than the shells of animated vegetation. Their demise was a positive development for the villagers, but a detriment for Henry’s continued assault. “Ron, hard left and flank. Can’t see past the treants. Need a clean line on those Hobs up ahead.,” Henry commanded.

“Adjusting position,” Ron confirmed as he turned the wheel to the left, avoiding the bodies and debris that cluttered the ground below.

The Hobgoblin Grunts past the treants were taller than their Goblin cousins, boasting more robust physiques and weapons of greater sophistication. They wielded swords, spears, and an assortment of bows with proficiency – more so than their lesser-skilled kin. Though not a match for Sera, it was enough to threaten the villagers. If they broke through, it would be a slaughter.

“Clear shot. Firing.” Henry gripped the joystick and pressed the trigger, laying down fire on the Hobgoblins closest to the wall. Their torsos and limbs erupted in a spray of dark red blood as the .50 blew holes the size of basketballs through them, completely eviscerating their fragile physiologies.

The Hobgoblins were thrown into disarray by the sudden and brutal efficiency of the .50 cal. The ones not immediately torn apart by the gunfire scattered, seeking cover or attempting to regroup. Additional gunfire from Ryan’s MRAP behind them contributed to the chaos, filling the air with violent booms that neither the villagers nor monsters had heard before.

The initial shocked reactions of the villagers were entertaining – a thought experiment brought to life. He wondered how they would react to a single Dorito, but pushed the notion aside as he panned the turret to engage the retreating stragglers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the villagers quickly regaining morale, taking advantage of the fire support to bolster their defenses and clear out the few goblins and minor monsters that were harassing the main entrance.

The Hobgoblin Grunts retreated toward a ridge sheltered by a canopy of trees and dense foliage, where several more of their kin emerged with bows. Their coordination and concept of covering fire were intriguing, confirming Kelmithus’ lecture on the complex intelligence of some monster species. Though a compelling study, their intelligence was not enough of a match for the MRAP’s armor and firepower. Arrows simply thunked against the metal exterior, leaving mere scratches.

“Shooters on the ridge, 9 o’clock!” Dr. Anderson called out.

It was almost amusing how discrepant the power between them was, but Henry paid it little heed as he locked on to the targets above. The heavy bullets ripped through the air, each impact on target resulting in a Hobgoblin being thrown backward or outright disintegrated by the sheer force. The experience was nothing like the simulations against the PLASF, but the training more than carried over. Compared to hitting targets in a low-g environment, hitting the swiftly leaping Hobgoblins was a piece of cake.

He picked off the last few survivors scampering off into the distance, tapping the trigger until the last of them disappeared behind the thick greenery of the forest. As the immediate threat dwindled, Henry panned the camera around, ready to respond to any further movement. “Area secured for now. Stay alert for additional hostiles,” he announced.

It was surreal – fun, almost. He didn’t know how to feel; there existed no such ‘thrill of battle’ in the efficiency of modern combat. But here, amidst the chaos of fighting creatures of legend, there was an unsettling exhilaration. The bullets tearing through goblin flesh, the way the treants crumbled under heavy fire – it was like something out of a high-octane shooter, not the calculated, methodical engagements he was accustomed to.

Yet, as his eyes briefly swept over the scene beyond the immediate clash, he was hit with the sobering reality of the situation. The villagers defending the front gate bore the scars of battle, some with gashes across their bodies and others with sunken, tired eyes. They were little more than simple farmers or hunters, unexpectedly tasked with the harsh work of battle. A tinge of guilt washed over him for that fleeting sense of enjoyment as he saw Sera rush over to a body on the ground, a soft yellow glow emanating from her hands.

He sighed, opening the door to his right. “Owens, hold the vehicle. Doc, with me – let’s assess their situation.” He radioed over to Ryan and Isaac, static prevalent but negated thanks to their proximity to each other. “Yen, get the medkits ready. We’ve got injured civilians.”

Stepping out of the MRAP, Henry was immediately hit by the stench of battle – a noxious mix of charred flesh, gore, and earth. He coughed, his boots avoiding the grisly remnants of goblins and fenwyrms strewn across the battlefield. Dr. Anderson, with a look of both fascination and disgust, followed closely.

The villagers ahead were a motley group of farmers and hunters, clad in simple tunics with a few donning basic armor – likely amateur adventurers. Covered in dirt and blood, they eyed them warily with expressions blending shock and exhaustion. None seemed to recognize Henry and his team despite the uproar at the Guild. The news likely hadn’t reached them yet, and they only saw heavily armed warriors unlike any they had ever known.

A grizzled man in a worn leather jerkin approached them cautiously, a short sword held in a way that struck Henry as defensively practical. The blade was angled downward – not pointed directly at them, but the man’s grip was firm, suggesting he could shift quickly to attack if needed. “Ye be the ones respondin’ to our call fer aid?” he asked, voice tinged with a rural accent.

Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out his Guild ID. He adopted a more reassuring tone as he responded according to local customs, “Captain Henry Donnager, Alpha Team, Tier 6. We’re responding to the quest posted by your village.”

The man nodded slowly, eyes slightly widening at the sight of the ID. “Tier Eight Lady and now Tier Sixes eh? Name’s Harald. I’m overseein’ our defenses, such as they are. We weren’t expectin’... well, anything like ye.”

Harald’s gaze lingered on Henry’s rifle, more curious than suspicious. “Your gear… ‘tis unlike any we’ve seen. Like somethin’ out of the old tales.”

Henry looked at Dr. Anderson. Firearms in ancient tales? Judging from the look on the Doc’s face, it seemed that they did not mishear. This was something they hadn’t anticipated. Yet, despite the allure of this historical anachronism, there were more pressing matters. “What’s the situation looking like, Harald?”

As Harald began to recount the attack, Sera joined them. Her presence immediately drew the attention of the villagers, her armor barely marked from the battle despite the vicious melee she was embroiled in. She gave a curt nod to Henry, out of thanks…? Respect? He couldn’t tell.

“We must convene with your chief forthwith,” Sera declared. “Lead us to him without delay.”

Harald, taken aback by her tone but recognizing her authority as both a noble and a Tier 8 adventurer, nodded. “Aye, the chief’s tendin’ to the wounded. Follow me, m’lady, sir.”

Trudging behind Harald, Henry’s eyes roved over the village’s battered visage. Most of the buildings remained untouched, but a few bore scars of battle – damage from arrows and stains from monster blood. The locals paused their makeshift repairs to eye the newcomers. Their stares were a tangled web of wariness and wonder – a reaction Henry was starting to get used to.

They arrived at a space cleared for the wounded, where an older man tended to the injured. That must be the village chief. He cleaned a gash on a man’s leg with water from a wooden bowl before wrapping a bandage tightly around the leg and applying pressure. He clasped a mana crystal in his left hand, pressing down on the bandage with his right as he murmured a spell. The crystal’s glow intensified as a glimmer of yellow embraced the wound. The man’s weathered face lifted as they approached.

“Ye found us in dark times,” he said, voice hitching as he eyed the newcomers’ gear. “I’m Eldon, chief here. Who shall I give thanks to for repelling the beasts outside our walls?”

Sera showed her Guild ID. “Seraphine ad Sindis, Tier 8.”

Henry extended a firm hand to Eldon, his own Guild ID between his fingers. “Captain Henry Donnager of Alpha Team, Tier 6. We’re here on your summons. What can you tell us about the monster attacks?

The chief’s hand met Henry’s. “We’ve seen strange happenings as of late. Creatures, more bold and numerous, and shadows lurking near the lake that way,” he pointed to the west. “It started a week past and has only worsened.”

“Any changes in the environment? Anything unusual?” Dr. Anderson asked.

Eldon nodded, tending to another injury as he responded. “Aye. Wildlife’s been skittish. And there’s a… a thickness near the lake. The air feels laden, as if by untamed magics.”

“Doc, lemme see that,” Henry pointed toward the EMF meter. The device now read an alarming 4,000 milligauss.

Sera furrowed her brow at the sight of the device in Henry’s hand. Her eyes darted between the meter and Eldon. Though she didn’t know what the device’s function was or its significance, Henry could tell she was piecing together the puzzle. She finally spoke, “A confluence of magic this dense is seldom wrought by natural means. Such an escalation in the density of Aether here reeks of foul play.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Henry said, “Looks like we’ve got more than just random monster sightings on our hands.”

Sera nodded. “We must investigate these shadows posthaste. The source of this corruption must be sought out.”

Eldon’s gaze shifted to Sera. “Would that we could, m’lady. Our hands be full keepin’ hearth and home safe.”

“We’ll handle it,” Henry reassured the village chief. Henry paused as he turned to Sera. He knew that his next words might strike a nerve with her. “Ma’am,” he cautiously broached the subject, “maybe you should stay here, help defend the village.” He was ready for the pushback, the swift rebuttal from a Tier 8 adventurer and noble not used to being sidelined.

Her posture stiffened visibly. Crossing her arms, she replied with an indignant edge in her voice. “And miss the heart of the action? You jest, Captain.”

Henry held her gaze, unflinching. “It’s not about glory, ma’am. It’s about –”

“About what, Captain? Keeping a Tier 8 Adventurer from the fray?” Sera interrupted, her tone sharpening. “I need not remind you of your own status. And I assure you, my abilities are better utilized unraveling this mystery than playing sentry.”

Henry let out a slow, controlled breath, a mix of exasperation and tactical consideration washing over him. Damn, she’s as stubborn as they come, he thought, eyeing Sera’s defiant stance. Despite the frustration, there was an undeniable allure to her – not just her striking appearance but also the fierce determination she radiated. She’s going to be a handful, he mused silently. “Fine, I’ll split some of my team. You’re with us,” he conceded, his voice betraying none of the internal conflict.

She gave a smug expression, as if she had won. It was a bit annoying, but a part of him couldn’t help but admire her grit. Even he had ‘misinterpreted’ orders for the sake of efficiency, and at the end of the day, the girl wasn’t even a part of his unit, so why be upset about not being able to give her orders? He just hoped that pride of hers wouldn’t cost them down the line, aware of the delicate balance between harnessing her strengths and mitigating the risks her headstrong nature posed.

With the decision made, he announced over comms, “Hayes, Yen, change of plans. You’re on village defense detail. Set up a perimeter, assist with fortifications, and provide support as needed. We’re heading to the lake to investigate. Maintain hourly check-ins. Acknowledge.”

“Acknowledged, Captain. Happy hunting,” Ryan’s voice crackled through the comms. He could barely make out the words due to the interference.

He then prepared to report back to Armstrong Base but was met with only static. Whatever was happening at the lake, it was getting stronger. His train of thought was interrupted by Harald, who approached them. “I can guide ye to the lake. Know the land like the back of my hand, I do.”

Henry didn’t even have time to weigh the risks of bringing a civilian into a potentially dangerous situation before Sera considered Harald’s proposal. “Your offer is valuable, Harald,” she said, voice contemplative. “Very well. However, be warned, the dangers we face may be beyond anything you have encountered.”

Harald nodded, stepping up like an eager adventurer. “I’ve seen my share of dark days. I stand ready, m’lady.”

As Sera quickly accepted Harald’s offer, Henry felt a twinge of irritation at her overstepping. However, he couldn’t deny the fact that Sera held authority here. Suppressing his initial annoyance, he stepped in to assert his leadership.

“Hold on,” he interjected firmly, addressing both Sera and Harald. “While I agree your knowledge is valuable, Harald, this isn’t a simple trek. If you’re coming, you follow my lead and my orders. And especially no heroics. Understood?”

“Aye, I’ll heed your commands,” Harald replied.

As they approached the MRAP, Harald’s eyes widened. “Saints preserve us, is it safe to journey with this manner of beast?”

“It’s more than safe; probably the safest option there is,” Henry assured him, opening the side door to the MRAP, allowing Harald to sit up front and provide directions.

Sera followed behind, her usual poised posture intact. As she stepped into the MRAP, Henry noticed her expression, a subtle sign that even she wasn’t immune to curiosity. She glanced around the interior, eyes settling on the array of screens and controls. Though she quickly composed herself, Henry couldn’t help but catch the fleeting look of intrigue that crossed her face.

Ron, already waiting at the wheel, glanced back. “First time in a car? You’re in for a treat.”

Henry settled into his seat, watching as Harald and Sera made themselves comfortable. Sera had already strapped her seatbelt, mimicking Henry and Ron’s motions. “Harald, strap in. It’s not like riding a…” he paused, almost saying ‘horse’ but choosing a term more familiar, “a dradak.”

The MRAP moved forward, pulling away from the village. Harald quickly grabbed onto his seat, taken slightly off-guard by the vehicle’s movement. It didn’t take long for him to mask his surprise, returning his focus to providing directions to the lake despite his shock at the vehicle’s capabilities.

“You seem to have embraced our idiosyncrasies quite readily, Captain,” Sera commented, her tone full of intrigue with a hint of sarcasm. “Your fashion sense has taken quite the turn since our last encounter. Remind me again, from where do you hail?”

Henry glanced at her. “Around, ma’am. Let’s leave it at that,” he replied, intentionally vague. And to be honest, they really were from ‘around’; the Grenden Plains weren’t all that far from Eldralore.

“Oh, ‘Around,’” she echoed, a smirk on her face. “A curious origin indeed. It must be land of such great mystery.”

Henry looked into her eyes and her smile, catching himself from smiling like an idiot. “Every land has its mysteries,” he responded, keeping his tone light. “Some more than others.”

Sera leaned back slightly, her eyes locked onto Henry’s. “Indeed. Rumors abound, particularly those entwined with Duke Vancor. Sightings of unfamiliar figures, whispers of new alliances. A flag no one’s seen before,” she said, eyes slowly drifting down to the patch on Henry’s shoulder. “One might surmise a great deal from such tales.”

Henry’s smirk deepened. “I will neither confirm nor deny,” he replied smoothly.

Sera’s smile broadened ever so slightly, as if she was enjoying the verbal sparring. “A wise stance, Captain. Ambiguity often speaks volumes in realms of diplomacy.”

Henry shrugged in response before turning his attention to Harald. “Harald, anything in particular this region is known for?”

“Aye, Captain, ‘round these parts, we’re no strangers to scuffles, more so with them Nobian lot. We oft see knights from Eldralore fightin’ off the curs, spies and all.”

“Skirmishes with the Nobians?” Henry asked, sharing a look with Dr. Anderson. This wasn’t the first time the Nobians have cropped up in a negative light. It seemed like everything that had gone wrong so far was related to them.

“Aye, they be like shadows, them Nobians, sneakin’ ‘bout, they are,” Harald explained. “By the time we catch wind of ‘em, poof, they’re gone, not a trace left behind. The knight order, bless ‘em, they can’t even get here fast enough, and them border guards they send, well, they’re just as stumped as we are. Come to think of it, there’s been a right uptick in scuffles these past weeks, just ‘fore these attacks started.”

Sera interjected, her tone taking on a more serious note. “The Nobians have long been known for their guile and duplicity. That they might be the architects of such an insidious ploy is hardly a revelation that would rouse my surprise.”

“Nobians again, huh?” Ron remarked. He sounded like he was tired of dealing with them already, as if he were one of the border guards.

Dr. Anderson asked, “Do you have any insight on what might be causing the anomaly?”

“Mere theories,” she answered, looking out the window. “I posit a sort of magical siege, though only by uncovering the source of this disruption can we ascertain the truth.”

As the MRAP pushed through the forest, the landscape gradually opened up to a vast clearing by the lake. The setting was idyllic, with sunlight dancing on the lake’s tranquil surface. The natural beauty of it all seemed untouched by the turmoil they were investigating.

Harald pointed ahead. “There, that’s the lake. This is where most sightin’s ‘ave been.”

“We’re over 5,000 milligauss here,” Dr. Anderson announced.

That wasn’t a good sign. Henry surveyed the scene before turning to Harald. “Stay here with Lieutenant Owens over here,” he said, placing a hand on Ron’s shoulder. “We’ll continue the investigation outside.”

Henry, Dr. Anderson, and Sera stepped out. Henry analyzed his surroundings with his IVAS, flipping through the device’s various modes. It projected the environment in enhanced detail, allowing him to scan for heat signatures or movements through the underbrush. He expected to see monsters hiding in the foliage or the shimmer of cloaking magic but instead found nothing.

Dr. Anderson followed Henry’s lead, keeping his eyes on the surrounding area while also glancing at his own equipment.

Henry looked back at Sera. “Ma’am, stay behind cover and follow our lead,” he instructed. “We’ll secure the area first.”

Sera’s eyes narrowed slightly, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she looked around. She was clearly not used to taking orders, especially in a situation where she would probably be leading. “Very well, Captain,” she conceded, likely interested in seeing how Henry functioned.

They advanced cautiously, approaching the water by weaving through increasingly sparse trees and boulders. The serene setting of the lakefront put Henry on edge. It was cliched, he thought, but it really was too quiet. “Something’s definitely off here.”

Sera looked behind, back to the MRAP. “This tranquility is deceiving. Should we truly be facing Nobians, be aware that they are masters of concealment.”

Henry nodded. “Almost found out the hard way. Let’s keep moving.”

He kept a vigilant eye as they skirted the lake’s edge. The stillness of the water, mirroring the sky with deceptive calm, didn’t sit right with him. Sera’s earlier caution about the Nobians, combined with his own experiences, lingered in his mind like an unshakable echo.

He stopped abruptly, his focus shifting to a faint wisp of smoke curling up from behind the opposite shore. “Look there,” he gestured. “Smoke.”

Sera squinted in the direction Henry indicated. “A mere oversight, or perhaps a deliberate ruse?”

“Only one way to find out,” Henry replied. He swept his infrared laser ahead, searching for distortions as he moved forward and began to circle the lake. They approached the source of the smoke, steering clear of the open lake and opting for the relative safety of the treeline as they pushed up. The trail, though slight, was a clear marker of recent human activity.

After a couple of minutes, Henry found himself just outside the site, spotting a tent and a pile of smoldering documents and materials. He scanned the surroundings for another minute before finally deeming it clear enough to proceed. He walked up toward the tent and fire. It was a scene that spoke of urgency – an effort to erase evidence as quickly as possible.

Kneeling beside the remnants, Henry examined the charred edges of scrolls and half-melted objects. He caught a familiar sight, reminiscent of the quill and scroll he obtained from the Nobian intruder in the Duke’s guest mansion. Reaching in with his gloves, he carefully extracted a burnt scroll. He turned to Sera. “We need to extinguish the flames. Can you remove the oxygen – the air around the scroll?”

Sera leaned in, assessing the situation. “You mean to asphyxiate the blaze?”

“Yup,” Henry nodded, holding up the scroll for her.

Sera focused on the deteriorating paper, extending her hand towards it. She stared intently, calming her breathing as she hovered her palm over the fire. A gentle but firm breeze swirled around the scroll, isolating it from the surrounding air. The flames flickered, wavered, and then died out, leaving only a trail of smoke that quickly dissipated.

“Perfect,” Henry remarked, watching as the last wisp of smoke vanished. “Let’s see if we can salvage anything from this.”

A gnawing anxiety at the back of his mind compelled him to carefully hand over the scroll to Dr. Anderson. He was an archaeologist, and they worked with scrolls that could crumble at any moment, right? Dr. Anderson accepted the item, cautiously unfurling it. Despite its burnt state, a few lines of ink were visible, though heavily obscured by the damage.

“It’s Nobian script,” Dr. Anderson revealed. “Too damaged to decipher fully, but I can make out a few words and phrases. Something about runes?” He tilted the scroll, aligning it toward Sera. “Any thoughts?”

Sera knelt down, reading what few words and phrases remained. “It would seem this scroll imparts commands for a Rune System.”

“A Rune System?” Henry asked, glancing at Dr. Anderson, who shared the same curious but confused look.

Sera chimed in, “A system of runes, each intricately woven with its own spell. They are arranged to act in concert, akin to sentinels springing to action, unleashing their magic upon the right provocation. Couched within these scorch remnants lie a program for manipulation, not of the dominative sort, but a subtler kind. These runes are designed for Aether control. The rest of the text is burnt, but I surmise that these allow for indirect control of monsters. Such creatures are susceptible to the very Aether around them. It is possible to generate nudges that mimic their own inner compulsions, fooling beasts into compliance.”

Henry raised his eyebrows, both impressed and somewhat taken aback by the depth of Sera’s knowledge. “That’s quite an insight. Mind control for monsters, huh? Where’d you learn about this?”

Sera held her head high. “Such knowledge is requisite for ascension to Tier 8,” she answered proudly. “It is essential for one of my station to be well-versed in the various arcane arts, especially those employed by potential adversaries.”

Her response reminded him of his academy days. He smiled at the thought, but only briefly as he returned his attention back to reality. He looked back at the lake, toward the direction of the village. “So they’ve been using this… Rune System to stir up the monsters around here?”

Sera stood up, brushing off her hands. “Indeed. And their precipitous departure suggests they did not foresee the swiftness with which their subterfuge would be unveiled. Given the strength of the Aether here,” she said, glancing at Dr. Anderson’s EMF meter, “I surmise that their Rune System remains active, likely concealed nearby. We would be remiss not to seek it out.”

It was a smart observation – one that they probably couldn’t have figured out by themselves due to their lack of overall Gaerran knowledge and one that Henry agreed with. “Yeah, let’s look around.”

As Dr. Anderson secured the scroll into a case, Henry used the EMF meter to search for the Rune System. He walked toward the tent, watching as the numbers fell. He turned around, moving away from the campsite in the opposite direction of the lake. “Readings are getting stronger over here,” he called out, indicating a path through the dense underbrush.

Following the signal, he navigated the terrain with caution. It was tough enough not knowing what he was looking for, and the vegetation didn’t make it any easier. All he knew was that they were looking for something out of place.

As he continued his search, Sera abruptly stopped. “There, beneath those branches,” she said, the pitch of her voice suggesting that she’d found something.

Pushing aside the branches and leaves, they discovered a stone marked with runes. As they cleared more vegetation, an entire network of similar stones emerged, each carved and linked in a deliberate pattern. They were connected by a web of vines in a way that reminded Henry of a circuit board, with each rune serving as a node in a larger network. The vines themselves appeared to be more than mere plants; they had a subtle luminescence that suggested they were conduits for magical energy.

Henry crouched beside an artifact in the center of the network. Unlike the surrounding stones, this object was distinctly more advanced in its design. It was not just a simple rock but a complex metallic device. It had an industrial feel to it – anachronistic for the current era of the Sonaran Federation, with interlocking segments that implied it could be opened or adjusted. “This must be it,” he muttered, examining the unfamiliar object.

Sera joined him, intently studying the arrangement. “It is as I surmised. The runes here are for monster manipulation. and the artifact in the center is… Baranthurian in origin.”

“Baranthurian? You mean the Gatebuilders?” Dr. Anderson asked. Despite the heavy readings provided by Kelmithus, it seemed even he hadn’t come across this name.

“Indeed not, Doctor. The Baranthurians are a more recent civilization that rose and fell over twenty eons ago. The relics they left behind are arcane enigmas.” Sera explained.

Henry frowned, processing the information. Another ancient civilization? “How do the Nobians know how to use their tech?”

“The Baranthurians left behind many artifacts, like this core. Our current mastery of magic is, in part, derived from these relics,” Sera explained. “The artifacts have always been a source of arcane study. It’s not beyond reason that the Nobians have deciphered some of their secrets.”

Henry glanced at the complex system. “We need to shut this down. Can we do it without triggering some kind of backlash?”

Sera knelt beside the core, closely scrutinizing its design. “It is possible. Give me a moment.”

She opened the core, revealing a set of crystalline nodes within, each with a latching mechanism. With a deft touch, Sera realigned them. It looked like she locked them out of the system, effectively turning them off.

Her eyes then drifted to the edges of the artifact, eyeing the clump of vines. Identifying the brightest one, she followed the snaking figure past a bush. Henry caught a glimpse of a blue shimmer as she pushed the vegetation away and unlinked a collection of mana crystals. As soon as she ‘unplugged’ the power source, the core and the surrounding runestones dimmed.

Rising from her task, Sera glanced at the now inert runes. “Thus, the Baranthurian relic is inert,” she declared with a note of satisfaction. “The nearby monsters should no longer be under its sway.”

Though the process seemed more to Sera like turning off a computer, it looked to Henry as if she was defusing a bomb. And with how volatile magic could be, it may very well have been a bomb. “Well,” Henry said, “Good work.”

Sera smiled, giving a nod in response.

Henry looked at his EMF meter. The readings were already plummeting without the constant spellcasting, dropping under 2,000 milligauss. He picked up his radio, which was noticeably clearer. “Owens, the system’s shut down. Bring the MRAP up here and send a message to Hayes and Yen, and let them know that we’ve successfully neutralized the anomaly. We’re going to secure the area and gather what we can.”

“Acknowledged. I’m on my way,” Ron replied.

Sera crossed her arms, regarding Henry thoughtfully. “Captain, I trust you realize the significance of this relic. It’s not just another trinket for your collection.”

There it was. Henry knew that it was coming, but he had hoped she would let it slide. Out of the entire rune system, the relic was probably the most valuable for Lamarr’s research. If they were going by contribution, it was rightfully Sera’s to take. Henry considered her words, looking at the loot around them. His gaze finally settled on the mana crystals hiding behind the bush. “We couldn’t have completed the quest without you, so how about a trade? We take the relic, and you take the crystals.”

Sera walked over to the crystals, analyzing them. She held up a dull crystal – its energy likely drained – before tossing it out and reaching back into the collection to inspect the other crystals. After about a minute, she seemed satisfied enough with the quality of the remaining crystals. “Very well. We have a deal,” she offered her hand.

“Deal,” Henry said, internally relieved but also curious about the value of the crystals he had just traded away. “Say, we’re a good distance from Eldralore. Need a ride?”

Sera gave a smile that Henry could only describe as sultry. “My, what a gentleman! I couldn’t turn down such an offer.”

Henry felt his cheeks slightly warm up. He cleared his throat, shifting his focus back to the defunct components of the rune system. “Alright, let’s wrap this up. We’ll pack these parts carefully.”

The MRAP arrived, Ron stepping out with empty containers from their exploration kits to help with packing. Finally, with everything secured and ready for transport, Henry looked up at Sera. “All set. Let’s head back. This should make for an interesting ride.”

Sera’s smile remained. “Indeed, Captain. I look forward to it.”