The Cast Die

Alexander held his breath as he clung to the side of the building, trying to listen to the people within without being caught.

“Did you hear about it? King Pyrrhus rediscovered the Labyrinth after beating the bandits?”

“That's not all I heard. Apparently during the celebratory festival, they showed off a guy who could use the powers of multiple gods?”

“No way, that's impossible!”

“Nah, it's true, a buddy of mine who's a soldier said he saw it first hand in battle.”

Alexander jumped back down, landing softly like a cat. He quickly snuck away until he found himself an abandoned alleyway to hide in.

‘So that brat who stole the die actually lived? No wonder all the calculations of his crash point were off, and why we didn't find him around the expected location. How in the world did he survive? He must have the luck of the gods. No matter, I know where he is now. All that's left is to infiltrate and kill him. So, he helped beat the bandits, did he? Well I suppose I owe them a favor for beating up my former people.’

With that information gained, he went back to report to his boss, the general, Fabius Maximus. Their camp was tucked away in a hidden cove along the border between Rome and Sicily.

Fabius Maximus was a lanky man with an unassuming air about him. His tactics were regarded by many as cowardly, and yet nobody could remove him, largely because of the numerous successes he'd had that he was begrudgingly given credit for. As for Alexander himself, he didn't have an opinion either way, for what care does a blade have for how it's used?

After Alexander reported his findings, Fabius leaned back and stroked his chin before asking, “And what do you think, Alexander? What do you think would be the best way to deal with him?”

‘I take it back. There is one way I do consider him to be annoying. His insistence on seeking more than necessary from a mere blade.’

In an almost robotic voice he answered, “I don't think that's for me to say.”

Fabius grunted in annoyance and tutted him.

“I know there's a clever brain in there, I don't understand why you chose to use it in such limited ways. I've seen you in combat. You're a quick thinker, you can freely use everything in any environment to your advantage in a strategic manner, and you always maintain a steady head. So why is it that you restrict yourself?”

“I could say the same thing about you.”

‘What am I saying? Don't engage, Alexander. You decided your role long ago, you're a mere weapon. A highly lethal one, but a weapon nonetheless.’

Fabius smiled slightly at having gotten something out, and with a chuckle said, “Perhaps. Well, moving on, the goal of this kid is obvious enough. He probably seeks to return home, given the way followers of Jupiter tend to think. If not to stay there, then at least to share all he learned, for they can be a curious sort. And Pyrrhus will help, to gain a useful ally in Vac and potentially the sky island, take some of our airships for his own use, and of course spite us.”

Alexander said nothing, though he had come to some of the same conclusions himself.

Fabius continued, “And so, we need to use that as bait. We'll take some losses, let them get away with a meaningless victory that ultimately doesn't affect our core, while planting the seeds for several plans, one of which will involve you capturing or killing the boy once and for all.”

Morta heard the rumors about her grandson, and it put out some of the fires of anxiety burning through her. She'd obtained the information by sneaking around towns, overhearing soldiers and even talking to some unassuming civilians about it. She couldn't assume everything was true, but she felt she'd cross-checked it enough that it was either true, or someone with immense power and control over the flow of the information wanted to convince others it was true. Regardless, it was the best news she'd gotten since coming down.

‘Thank the gods, he's alive! Now I just need to get him out of there.’

With the information gained, she headed back to meet Nero and Aurea where they'd set up camp in the forest. They were pretending to be nomadic travelers.

Nero and Aurea sighed in relief at the news. With that settled, they set out to make plans to bring back Vac.

‘Don’t do anything rash, Vac, and hold out for me. I promise I'll come for you soon enough.’