Chapter 25 – Unexpected Visitor

  Jack awoke in the middle of the night unsure why he felt so uneasy. Looking around with his True Sight, Jack noticed that both Elaine and Bryant were still fast asleep along with Jasper and Ciao. They had originally planned on keeping a watch but after a brief discussion, Zyne offered to watch throughout the night. Apparently, Zyne barely needed sleep and offered to wake them if it sensed anything nearby.

  But looking around, Jack didn’t see the vine Familiar. Jack didn’t panic at first. There was still no indication that anything had happened. Still, the strange sense of being watched lingered in the air. Mentally, Jack tried to call out to Zyne in case the Familiar was awake. It did spend a lot of time inside him, but there was no response. That caused Jack to panic a little.

  “Peace,” Came a voice from the shadows. “Your friends and Familiars are safe. I only used a weak spell to ensure we are not disturbed. I am also distorting the area here to prevent anyone from discovering us as well. I’ve been waiting for you to come back to the surface.”

  “Who are you?” Jack asked the darkness. “Show yourself.”

  “I can,” the voice said. “If that is what you want. If you think it will help, I will. But I am not so certain you would trust me more if you knew who it is you are speaking to.”

  “Well, I don’t trust you now,” Jack said. “So, it can’t possibly hurt.”

  “Very well,” the voice said. As though on cue, a small golden beetle the size of a June bug slowly flew down to sit on a tree branch near Jack.

  “Is this better?” The small bug said.

  “You can’t be serious,” Jack said. “You’re a bug?”

  “It’s one of my favorite forms,” the insect confirmed. “But not my only.”

  “You still haven’t told me who you are,” Jack said.

  “Can you not guess?” the insect said. “Perhaps not. As far as I have been able to determine, you have not officially met any of the Lords yet. Allow me to be the first then. I am known by some as the Southern Lord. Reynard, by others.”

  “I heard the Southern Lord was a shapeshifter,” Jack said. “But you still aren’t what I expected. I mean I do feel uneasy right now, but I was told the Four Lords were Beast Lords. All incredibly powerful. I don’t get that feeling from you right now. How do I know you aren’t just pretending to be the Southern Lord?”

  “I see my form is having an unintended impact on you,” Reynard said. “Not unexpected, though I had hoped… Well, no matter. I will change to better help you believe.”

  Jack blinked and suddenly where a tiny bug once sat, now sat a large humanoid fox. It almost reminded Jack of tyrians like Reuf and Sia, except Reynard’s appearance was more bestial and predatory, like a fox pretending to be human.

  “Is this better,” Reynard asked.

  Jack nodded but didn’t respond otherwise. With the change, the presence of the creature increased, and Jack could feel the power radiating off Reynard now.

  “Good, then let us start over again in true Akashic Order fashion,” Reynard said. He raised his hand to his forehead and lifted it slightly towards Jack. As he did, Jack saw a flash of gold and silver in the eyes of the Lord. “I am the Southern Lord, Reynard, and you are Jack. I believe it is thanks to you that new members once again walk the halls of Kharzast, and the Akashic Order is once again returning to the lands.”

  “Um, sort of,” Jack said repeating the gesture as Reynard had done. “Is that a problem?”

  “Relax,” Reynard said. “You are in no danger from me. As for the city and Order. No, I can even approve. Your chosen compatriots are a decent choice. Only time will tell if they will be true members of the Order though.”

  Jack started to relax at Reynard’s words.

  “However,” Reynard continued, and Jack tensed again. “I cannot say the same for the loss of the prisoners. The return of those paths to the world will not go unnoticed. Already I can sense the Daemons growing in power once again on the upper realms, and it is not just them that have noticed the change. Beings long forgotten, are starting to awaken once more.”

  “I don’t understand,” Jack said. “We only just found out about the city and Order. We didn’t even know that there was a prison and that it needed to be protected.”

  “True,” Reynard said. “This was not your fight to begin. That failure is on us Lords. Well, one Lord in particular. But you have accepted the Order in both Status and class. Along with the power that comes from being a part of the Order is also the responsibility. The release of the prisoners was not within your control, and I do not blame you for it. But we are at this point now and there is one who follows a forbidden path of corruption within your reach.”

  “Clayton,” Jack nodded. “We know about him, but he has an army protecting him right now. I’m not sure what we can do.”

  “But you do intend to do something?” Reynard asked. “He must be dealt with. Of all the paths locked away in that prison, there are only a few that could change the fate of this world and bring it from the Enlighten, to that of corruption. The path of Blood is one that could do this, though I fear sealing it once again may not be an option.”

  “I don’t understand,” Jack said. “If you know this much, why can’t you take care of him?”

  “Rules,” Reynard said. “There is a price to descending the realms. I have ascended to the third realm and as a result am no longer of the lower two. My power is too great for the first realm. Under normal circumstances, we would be unable to remain in this realm for as long as we have. To allow for this, the Akashic Order formed a contract with each of the Lords. It allowed us to descend the realms and remain here, but there were several restrictions placed.”

  “Like what?” Jack asked.

  “One of the restrictions is I can only take life if directly provoked or in defense of the Order,” Reynard said. “Another is I cannot interfere in the work of any member of the Akashic Order. We are only given leave to kill in order to protect the city and its secrets.”

  Mentally, Jack was thanking the fact that he had taken the Trial and became a member. Thinking about it for a moment, Jack shook his head. “What about the giant snakes and spiders? I’ve seen them kill a lot of things.”

  “The brood, that is… children of the Lords, are not restricted like we are,” Reynard said. “They are of this realm and therefore allowed to interact with it in ways that we are not. It is a… aspect of the System that some of the Lords use. But they do not do so at our request. They choose to act on their own. We cannot force them to act. But even they are held to the second restriction, to not attack or interfere with the members of the Order, at least directly, per the agreement we made many years ago, but only that restriction.”

  “It sounds complicated,” Jack muttered. “Why even bother coming back down to this realm if you are going to be restrained like this.”

  “There are many reasons,” Reynard said. “But complicated? Perhaps. It is one of the means the System uses to ensure new cultivators are protected early on their paths. There are wars on the higher realms that can destroy worlds. Divine Beings and Daemons alike are able to eradicate entire solar systems if they weren’t cut off from the lower realms. This way we are restricted to acting only within our power dynamic. Should you ascend, you will come to know these truths.”

  “I suppose that’s nice,” Jack said. “I don’t like the idea of being pushed around by some tyrant that is too powerful to do anything about.”

  “That will depend on you,” Reynard shrugged. “Tyrants are bountiful throughout the realms. Given enough time, I have no doubt this Clayton would join their number. If he hasn’t already.”

  “Wait, how are you talking to me now then?” Jack asked. “Doesn’t this count as interfering with a member of the order?”

  “We are only having a conversation,” Reynard said. “There is nothing that says I cannot do that. But why would I go out of my way to speak to everyone that invades my home? I am only speaking to you because you are a member of the Order. Even if you don’t understand what you have joined, you are still a part of it now. However, the other Lords would not appreciate me doing even this much, but just as when the children of the Lords’ act through similar desire of their Lords and not out of direct influence, a similar situation presents itself here. I am assuming we share the same desire?”

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  “You want me to kill Clayton,” Jack surmised.

  “I do,” Reynard confirmed. “Along with any other follower of a Corrupted Path you come across, but I am not doing so as one of the Lords or even as a Beast Lord, but as someone who is a kindred spirit and a friend of the Akashic Order. It helps that you chose both the Akashic Champion and Akashic Craftsman classes. A truly fortunate mistake.”

  “Why would that matter?” Jack asked. “Fortunate mistake? Even you are saying that. Did I really screw myself over with these classes?”

  “Perhaps,” Reynard said. “They are two of the legacy classes of the Order. The Order created them specifically to be the foundation of their ideas with the belief that it would bring the Order into the higher realms, and should it reach the fourth realm, the Divine Realm, it’s believed it should allow the individual to achieve true understanding. But there were issues with creating the classes.”

  “Understanding? Issues? Like what?” Jack asked.

  “For that, you will need to ask one of the founding members,” Reynard shrugged again. “I was only brought down to assist the Order as part of their plan to restrict the paths of corruption.”

  “They’re still around then?” Jack asked. “The original members of the Order.”

  “I cannot say,” Reynard said. “I have not seen one in several millennia, but they were still active on the third realm last I was there.”

  “So, it is possible to ascend, even with this class,” Jack sighed. “Was afraid I had cut myself off from that.”

  “Maybe,” Reynard said. “All I know was that those two classes were only intended for the most promising members of the Order. There are many Akashic classes, but the combination you chose was referred to as the Chosen path. It was believed that the first to ascend with that combination would become the leaders of the Order and pave the way. Over the years, during the height of their power, many attempted the challenge, but no one was able to ascend with it. Few ever made it past the advanced trials. Eventually, the Order gave up on the classes, believing them to be failures.”

  “Failures?” Jack asked.

  Reynard nodded. “The Order is not perfect, though they strive to be. Class creation is much like any other creation, though requiring a much deeper understanding of the System. For every accomplishment and breakthrough they made, there were thousands of experiments that never saw the light or failed to live up to the expectations of their creator. The Akashic classes were of the second variety.”

  “Why are they failures though?” Jack asked. “I haven’t noticed anything wrong with mine so far.”

  “In truth they might not be,” Reynard said. “At least, they may function as designed, but not in the design the Order intended for them to be, thus failures. I am told the combat classes were a huge success. Even the worst among them was still a functioning high ranking class. However, when they tried to design Profession classes, they started having issues. They kept trying to put too much into a single class. For example, their Akashic Blacksmith class is one of the most comprehensive classes on blacksmithing you can find. It’s even Epic rank for a beginner class, but if you had chosen that one, then you would never be anything other than an Akashic Blacksmith. No upgrade or specialization is possible. You will be stuck as a generalist in blacksmithing forever. Ultimately a failure, although the class functions in the eyes of the System. It was due to all these failures that they created your class. One they believe would succeed, but so far no one has managed to ascend to the next realm with it to confirm it.”

  “Well, hopefully I’ll be the first then.”

  Jack wasn’t going to pretend hearing that didn’t worry him, but it was too late to turn back now. He would have to try his best even if he had to be the first.

  “If you manage to do so, you will be considered a high rank official of the Order if not a possible candidate for leadership,” Reynard told him. “Of course, you would need to past our Trials to accomplish that.”

  “Your Trials? Are the Lords the ones that offer the advance Trials?”

  Reynard nodded. “We each oversee a Trial left by the Order that you must overcome. Each with requirements to meet. Before you ask, you do not meet any of the requirements yet, and would die in the attempt as you are now.”

  “I thought those Trials were optional though,” Jack said.

  “For most, yes. But not for the one holding the Akashic Champion class. You will discover this as you continue to level, but eventually you will need to reach a point where you will need to evolve your class before you ascend to the next realm. There are requirements to do such things, and the Order made passing the advance Trials part of the requirement for that class.”

  “Well, that is another thing I’ll have to get around to,” Jack said. “Right now, we are still trying to figure out all that the Order left behind, but most of it is written in their language which none of us have been able to translate. And we also have another pressing issue to deal with.”

  “What other pressing issue could you have?” Reynard asked.

  Briefly, Jack explained their need to make a city and the time limit they had to do it. Jack agreed that Clayton was the biggest immediate threat, but he had one of the Lords right here. He had to at least see if Reynard was receptive to the idea of them making a city in the jungle.

  “Our hope is to use the Foundation Crystal we found in Kharzast to make a multi-species city… here,” Jack finished.

  “In our jungle?” Reynard asked more rhetorically than an actual question. Jack answered it anyways.

  “Yeah,” Jack said. “It has the right combination of elements and also has the benefit of not being attached to any of the nearby kingdoms.”

  Reynard stared at Jack for a while before answering. “If it was for you and those who have taken the Trial I could agree. I can even respect the desire to form a multi-species city. But I do not think you intend to bring everyone that joins this city into the Order. What guarantees can you provide to ensure Kharzast’s secrets and legacies are protected?”

  “I’m not sure,” Jack admitted. “We can try to seal up the paths to the city or keep them under guard.”

  “But there is no guarantee,” Reynard said. “Afterall, Clayton was able to find the city.”

  “That sounds like it would have happened eventually without our interference,” Jack said.

  “True,” Reynard said. “But if you are unable to prove to us that you are capable of safeguarding the city and the knowledge within, then the answer will be no.”

  “Say there is a way,” Jack said. “That we are able to kill Clayton and find a way to keep the city secret from others.”

  “Then there is a possibility,” Reynard said. “But right now, Clayton is still a problem.”

  “Yeah,” Jack said. “The main issue we are having is that Clayton basically controls the jungle around here. We can’t continue to hide underground for much longer. But if we try to come up to the surface, he’ll find us quick and again he has an army.”

  “He is a problem,” Reynard said. “Even now he searches for you. You left too much behind from that fight, but you needn’t worry about that tonight. I have done you a favor and altered the area you fought in. No one will know you were involved.”

  “How did you do that?” Jack asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

  “Simple illusions,” Reynard said.

  “That doesn’t breach your contract with interfering?” Jack asked.

  “If he is unable to tell the truth from the lie, then it is of no concern of mine,” Reynard explained. “But concerning the city. Perhaps there is something I can offer. This area is the Eastern Lord’s land. He is now unable to move directly against Clayton as I am, and his children will not be keen to your plan either. The Northern Lord is on edge right now. Clayton may be a member in name only, and that might offer him some protection for now, but there are provisions I cannot speak on that will allow us to act. Clayton is walking the line of what he can do without provoking us. So, while the Northern Lord cannot act directly yet, she may be receptive to helping. The Western Lord is the strongest of us, but most unlikely to do anything that could go against the rules, and of course there is me. You already know where I stand.”

  “So, we need to get out of the Eastern Lord’s lands and make our way to the north or… south?” Jack asked the last part unsure.

  Reynard nodded at Jack’s assessment. “Clayton and the Wenduags may be of this realm, but both are outsiders to the jungle. If you can get one of the Lords to offer protection, then they will be able to help shield you. There will still be limits to what we can offer, but it may help for a time.”

  “And you are willing to offer us this safe haven?” Jack asked.

  “I will,” Reynard said. “But I have a price.”

  “What is it?” Jack asked.

  “It is a simple thing, but if you agree to it, then I will even let you start building your city withing the borders of my territory before you take care of Clayton,” Reynard said. “You will still need to ensure Kharzast is protected of course, but you may begin your construction. In exchange, you will agree to three of my own conditions.”

  “That… That doesn’t sound like it would be a problem,” Jack said still uncertain. “Depending on what the conditions are.”

  “I assure you, fulfilling the three will not be hard to do,” Reynard said. “The first would only be that accept one individual of my choosing to join your city as a founding member.”

  “I don’t think we would have a problem with that so long as the person is willing to work with everyone else,” Jack said. “Can we meet them first before making a decision?”

  Reynard shook his head. “If you accept this condition, then you will do so without knowing who the individual is before I make my choice.”

  “I’m not sure I can speak on behalf of everyone,” Jack said.

  “Then take my offer back to your people,” Reynard said. “But should you come south, to my lands, then I will know you have accepted my terms.”

  “Alright,” Jack said. “What about the other two conditions. You said there were three.”

  “The last two involve you and only you,” Reynard said. “You must take and pass all four of the Advance Trials left by the Akashic Order within the next fifty years. And lastly, should you survive the coming conflict, then you will become my apprentice for as long as you are of the first realm.”

  “The second condition I am fine with,” Jack said. “I was thinking of attempting the Advance Trials and if what you say is true, then I would have had to take them anyways. At least this way I now know where to locate them, and fifty years is a long time to prepare. I think I can do that. The last one I am unsure about. What does it mean to be your apprentice?”

  “You will undergo training and tutelage from me,” Reynard said. “You can have other masters, but you will accept me as one of them and undergo training and study what I request of you.”

  “You are offering to teach me?” Jack asked. “Just teach me? Nothing more?”

  Reynard nodded.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “There are reasons,” Reynard said. “But I cannot share that with you yet. Will you accept my conditions?”

  “Sure,” Jack said. He wasn’t going to turn down an offer to learn from a being like Reynard. Who knew what the Beast Lord could show him.

  “Then we have a bargain,” Reynard said as he reached out with a furry clawed hand. “Bring your people to the Southern Lands and I shall offer them shelter as you finish your work with Clayton. But my offer is only to give shelter and help hide your people for a time. I cannot join in your fight.”

  Hesitantly, Jack shook Reynard’s hand. “Remember this, Jack. We have a deal now. If you come to the South, this deal is a promise. If you go to the North, then I’ll assume our deal ended.”

  With those words, Reynard disappeared. It was off putting to Jack’s senses as one moment Reynard was there, and the next it was as though he had never been. Almost at once, Zyne woke up, deeply confused by what happened. Jack reassured the Familiar that everything was fine but couldn’t bring himself to sleep the rest of the night.