Stolen by the System

Eventually, Ted pulled himself from the floor. He pushed through smoldering, unquenchable pain, and forced himself back through Valbort’s makeshift gate, its ongoing construction unmarred by any more signs of battle.

The dwarven guards pulled to attention. He ignored them.

Where was the Emperor?

The keep. If he was anywhere, the monster would be there.

Ted stiffened up and headed there. There were no Divine Empire troops in the streets, only slow-moving dwarves giving him strange looks. Ted marched straight past them, his fists clenched.

Had Ardic really just let the Emperor get away with it?

Most of the beds in the temporary infirmary were empty now, with far less groaning coming from them. The pile of dead was smaller, too.

Ardic hadn’t lifted a finger against the bastard, had he? Ted’s nostrils flared and he stormed up the steps of the keep.

Luther stood at the top with his arms crossed and his lips pursed, backed by half a dozen guards. “Welcome back.”

Whatever. Luther hadn’t moved a muscle to help her, either. Ted grunted and tried to go around, only for Luther to sidestep and block his passage.

Pressure pounded in Ted’s ears. “Out of my way!”

“I know that look, lad.”

Ted scoffed. “If you did, you’d be behind me, not protecting that bastard.”

Luther gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “The Emperor’s gone.”

Adrenaline roared through Ted, demanding blood. “Then I’ll settle for the coward that let him escape.”

“Kill me, then. I’m the one who drafted Orlanda. She was my responsibility.”

Ted pulled on his mana and held it ready. “You both stood there and did nothing!”

A grimace flickered across Luther’s face. He stared up and drew in several slow, steady breaths. “Do you think I didn’t want to rip that roknorshak apart?”

Ted turned away and sneered. “You could have fooled me. Now move aside.”

“Anger won’t bring her back. There wasn’t anything we could have done. We cannot fight the Divine Emperor.”

“You could have tried!”

“At what cost? Is one life worth a war that would kill us all?”

“So that’s it?” Pain pounded in Ted’s heart, wishing his head would shut the hell up. “He murders someone in cold blood and we’re meant to just forget it ever happened?”

“We move on. That’s what she wanted.”

“Yeah, right, she wanted you to stand there and do nothing as he executed her.”

Luther stared up at Ted and deadpan replied, “Yes.”

Ted froze. That certainty… Ted’s shoulder slumped. Orlanda had been the communications hub at the time. She’d have been in direct contact with Luther. “What did she say… at the end?”

“She begged us not to risk the town for her.” Luther half-chuckled. “Ardic might have been stupid enough to do it otherwise.”

The crappiness of the world weighed down on Ted’s chest and arms. “I’m sorry…”

“She didn’t want you to blame yourself, either.”

Ted swallowed and pulled himself up straight. “What happened after I… left?”

A pause. Luther’s lips pressed together. “The Emperor collected our taxes and left. He took your sword and staff, but the rest of your things are in your quarters.”

Fiery anger coiled tightly around Ted’s chest. “I’ll avenge her, and every other soul my father has slaughtered.”

“Get some rest, lad. The army won’t be ready to leave until tomorrow, not until the new gatehouse is ready.”

“I’ll rest when I’m dead.” Ted stormed back down the steps. Tomorrow? He couldn’t wait until tomorrow!

What the hell was he meant to do? Portal to Erinbar and walk to Tolabar by himself? No Protection magic, no healing, barely any armor, crap Stealth, awful Perception. If he didn’t get ripped apart on the way, he’d only get more good people killed.

Pins pricked behind Ted’s eyes. He squeezed them shut before forcing them open again. It had been a very long day after barely any sleep. Maybe Luther was right. Sleep might not be the worst plan.

That didn’t mean he had to like it.

He headed back to the mage quarters and curled up in bed, but sleep refused to come. That moment played back in his head again and again.

The crack. The way her body had crumpled to the floor, her life snuffed out. What kind of monster would do that?

Ted tossed and turned in his bed. What kind of monster killed their own son?

And this was the man he was supposed to save? No way. He didn’t deserve saving.

Pain ached in Ted’s heart. How had he ever been stupid enough to think his father would make anything better?

Screw his father, screw the quest, screw the world.

It had been an idiotic mistake to believe anyone would be on his side, let alone his father.

He pulled out the small hexagonal crystal from the Zelnari ruins. Feeding it slivers of mana, it glowed a dim purple, and a wave of Zelnari concepts filled his mind.

Power. That was the only currency that either world understood. Knowledge was power, especially when it came to magic. What arcane knowledge was locked away in that crystal?

If only he could read it. Ted slammed his fist against the bed. Tantalizing glimpses suggested a trove of magical knowledge, but that was all they were. Glimpses of power just out of reach.

He flopped down on the bed. What delusions of grandeur had made him think he could make a difference? He should have escaped when he’d had the chance.