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Chapter length: 5,990 words

Current novel length: 170,994 words

Chapter 48

(Aila, Barion, Radclyff)

The door to Jemeir's room slams open from the force of Radclyff. “Jemeir? Jemeir? Jemeir?" Frantically scanning the room, pivoting his head left and right, he finds zero signs of his partner's presence and instead discerns signs of a struggle. The answer from the owner further confirms his suspicion, and he returns to his wife and offspring sitting at a table consuming a light meal. “Jemeir's gone, and there are signs of a fight in his room," he said in a lower voice. “He was captured. I suspect the forces we fought yesterday were responsible."

“The Soulmonger's army can travel far outside the Ashlands now," Aila said in disbelief. “He's increasing in power and reach."

“Would a Rakshasa have access to them?" asked Barion.

“We're not dealing with a Rakshasa anymore," Radclyff answered. “Our current enemy has connections to The Soulmonger, knows Shalathyor, and has a grudge against me. Wait… oh fuck."

“What is it, dad?"

“Remember when I said I accidentally killed a dear friend of mine?"

“Yes?" Barion isn't sure what his father's conveying. “But shouldn't your friend still be dead?"

“He is, technically. There are paths to raise undead that range in power. Since The Soulmonger's forces are involved, it's safe to assume he's a powerful undead."

“And all the more reason to rescue Jemeir," Aila responded with lettuce sticking out of her mouth.

“We all know for certain that Edreth is a fake, so I suggest we procure answers from him," Radclyff suggested. He chugs the remaining amount of orange juice from his glass and places it back on the table. More of the morning crowd starts to fill the tavern, and soon it becomes busy.

“Let's pay the baron a visit," Aila said as she stood up from her chair. Barion and Radclyff immediately follow suit.

The figure of the baron's keep comes into view to the party as the members hike up the hill it is on. Towering above three levels of walls is the actual building on top of the rocky mound. Spaced evenly apart on the wall are towers and along the front side below the walkway is the design of arches. Surrounding on three sides is a lake with islands dotting the water. The keep is one tall, rectangular tower with four smaller sections of the same shape attached; the main building's left and right are bridges to cylindrical towers on the water. Holes in random areas of the structure serve as windows.

As Aila, Barion, and Radclyff travel closer, they notice several additional characteristics of the keep. The lowest level of the wall has indents on the side for a liquid to flow from and are equidistant apart. The thick doors open outward, and the polished steel is more refined and more sturdy than other steel-forging methods. The black and yellow flag with a picture of a yellow bird serves as a symbol of the Malatharn Family.

“There's one important issue we need to discuss, Barion," Radclyff initiated the conversation before resuming their walk, taking his hand off his scion's left shoulder.

“What is it, dad?"

“Should we find ourselves in a fight with the fake Edreth, which is the most likely scenario, I want you to stay behind us and use your bow to attack while your mother and I attack closer to him to draw his aggression. He can effortlessly kill you if you are in the front lines with us."

“I understand."

Standing in the courtyard to the actual keep is Lady Sheilra, and she is currently in the middle of harvesting apples that are primarily red with a mix of yellow from a tree; the height difference requires her to use a ladder to reach them. She ambulates over to the entrance with her basket full, and she notices Aila, Barion, and Radclyff. “May I be of assistance?"

“We want to speak to Baron Edreth about a plight facing Belburn and bring it to his attention so he can take care of it," Radclyff answered.

Hypothesizing that they're the aid from Malfias's letter, Sheilra responds, “Is it the same issue as Malfias's? He said that we should expect multiple citizens reporting to us soon."

“Yes, it is," Aila answered after she detected there was more to Sheilra's words.

“Follow me." As Sheilra guides them inside, she adds in a low voice, “Somebody is masquerading my husband. Ever since he returned from one of his hunting expeditions, he's been acting weird. Forgetting our wedding anniversary, his incompetence at ruling the province, and his change in demeanor was a handful of subtleties that alerted me, and it wasn't until I spied him change to his different form that I fully confirmed my suspicions. He's obsessed with revenge against someone. I sent a secret note to Malfias when he visited him for a meeting because he was the first person with the means of combating him."

“We're the reason for his captivation," Aila answered. “He ordered a bunch of hitmen to attack our house to kill or capture the children and me for what my spouse did to him years ago. We had our own theories about him, and we just confirmed it thanks to Malfias... I can't believe I would give someone like him my gratitude."

“My apologies for not figuring out sooner."

“We're here now to finish him before he does another drastic action."

Their travel sends them to the dining hall where Edreth currently eating wild boar and mixed nuts and a sweet, viscid substance gluing them together. In addition, he's poring over a small book in his right hand.

“I thought I told you no visitors allowed," Edreth said in a petulant tone while he gazed at the book.

“These denizens say it is vital for them to meet you," Sheilra replied.

“Fine. I'll listen to what they have to speak." As Aila, Barion, and Radclyff reveal themselves, Edreth stares at them. “What is it that I can help you with?"

“How about you can start with your real name, Nairnaital?" asked Radclyff accusingly.

“What?"

“We know you're the fake baron," Barion replied.

“I don't have time to waste dealing with these false accusations." The baron then points at one of his guards nearby. “Gather reinforcements and escort these people to the dungeons."

“Don't move a muscle," Sheilra ordered at the guard; he stood there, confused at who to obey.

“What proof do you possess?" asked the baron.

“For starters, we have this," Aila replied, and Radclyff revealed the skull.

“All I see is a random skull to a potential murder and three suspects. Why is that the real Edreth?"

“Because of this." To reveal the first evidence, Aila displaces part of the remaining rotten skin over the gold tooth. “Does this gold tooth look familiar to you, Sheilra?"

“Yes," Sheilra answered, “He lost his actual tooth from a bar fight, and it was replaced with a golden version." Staring at the baron, “Won't you mind revealing us your tooth?"

“And how did you know that I have a fake tooth from a bar fight? That's private information."

“Malfias gave us a tip," Radclyff answered.

“And you trust a Hearthrow," the baron snorted. “All he cares, and the rest of the Highborn Seven, is power and influence in Adoran to add to their empires. They have zero interest in aiding the common people."

“And you do?" asked Aila.

“With me in power, the Hearthrows and the other families won't expand their reach into the region. They're plotting schemes as we speak because Adoran is a major prize and the plots tend to evolve into war in other countries in Myrith, as history shows us. One more province in their clutches is one step closer to armed conflict."

“Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't even consider helping Malfias. But you're working for The Soulmonger and threaten my family," Radclyff retorted.

“The Soulmonger? You mean the psychotic wizard from the Expansion Age? He's just a myth. A legend. Even if it's true, he's no longer a threat, and he'll never be again. And why would I even consider allying with him?"

“You tell me."

“You think I'm just going to sit here and allow you to accuse me of such atrocities without concrete evidence? Think again."

“Enough of this," Aila shouted, and she pulled out the magic scroll and utilized it. Pointing it towards the baron, she unleashes an effulgent flash. In place of the baron, an atrociously disfigured male Aasimar stands. Alerting his guards, he screams loudly and an older guard wearing yellow-trimmed plate armor holding his helmet answers with reinforcements behind him.

“What is it, Lord Edreth? What the hell happened to you?"

“Seize them, Julonas," the baron ordered him and pointed at Aila, Barion, and Radclyff. “They attacked me and turned me into this."

As Julonas obeys, Sheilra obstructs him. “Not a single finger, Julonas."

“I don't take orders from you."

“As a matter of fact, you do since Edreth is actually dead, and he's a fake. I have the authority to issue commands, and you will oblige."

“Don't listen to her," the baron commanded.

“We simply used a scroll that contained a potent spell that can dispel one magic currently in effect," Aila commented.

“We're completely innocent," Barion said.

“SILENCE!!!" shouted Julonas, and the surrounding area became silent. “Escort these three to the dungeon," he ordered to his men.

“Before you do," Sheilra said, “at least read the scroll. As a former Ebony Legion member of twenty years, you should know that the scroll dispels magic or not, and it's unlike you to not consider the other side's story."

“Hand me the scroll," Julonas ordered Aila, and he sounded irritated. After inspecting the scroll, his hostility changes towards the baron. “You're under arrest for impersonating Lord Edreth.

“How unfortunate," Nairnaital responded at the sudden turn of events. “Ostružk." A wall of black flames segregates Aila, Barion, Julonas, and Radclyff from Sheilra and the other guards. “I suppose I have to exterminate some witnesses now."

The battle commences with Radclyff summoning Usse, igniting Blazefury, charging at Nairnaital, and attacking recklessly twice while raging. For the first attack, the greatsword misses him, only scorching the tips of a few hairs as he ducks. The second, however, nails him as the razor-sharp, torrid edge collides against his belly. Following behind his attacks is Aila, and she successfully pierces the Aasimar with both toxic daggers and inject venom into him for less than the desired effect.

“Awake, Gloomspirit." Nairnaital enshrouds himself with black smoke and unsheathes his sable blade, a longsword in the shape of a helix with steel bulges in the shape of a diamond. At the section where the sword and T-Shaped hilt join, four metal horns curve inward to form two crescent moons, with the smaller of the two the innermost of the handle. “Necro Nature: Aura of Wither!"

Before the spell has the chance to activate, Julonas counteracts it, “Art of Abjuration: Counterspell!" to which Nairnaital responds the exact same, allowing the first spell to continue. Initiating from the Aasimar, a circle on the floor appears and extends thirty feet out, adding Aila and Radclyff to its area of effect. Their vitality immediately drains, compounding the damage from his sword as he suddenly hits Aila. Parts of her soul flows from her directly to the blade.

Heeding his parents' advice, Barion remains as far back as he is comfortable and draws out his worn-out bow. Taking aim and observing an opening, he fires an arrow, but Nairnaital blocks it by using his sword to swat it away. As he draws another projectile, the string snaps, forcing him to repair it and allowing the Aasimar to attack Radclyff and steal parts of his soul.

“Arise, Early Retirement." Julonas pulls out his scimitar from its sheath. The blade has cracks covering it, and they radiate blue from his command. Despite the tepid air, the scimitar emanates frigid mist from itself. “Water Nature: Hyper Pressure Scythe!" Enveloping his right hand in water, he sends three liquid crescents alternating between horizontal and vertical at Nairnaital but misses completely; the water slices clean through the wall behind before fading after traveling three hundred feet. Before rushing to join Aila and Radclyff, he casts another spell to aid Barion. “Art of Abjuration: Necro Nature Resistance!" It's not much, but I can't leave this Beastman totally defenseless, and I know the impersonator has necrotic as one of his natures, maybe even an affinity for it.

“Lend me your firepower, Usse," Radclyff politely ordered.

“You got it, boss."

“Light that bastard up." Per his request, the Spirit unleashes a barrage of mini fireballs at Nairnaital, and Radclyff intentionally damages himself as a sacrifice to his ancestors to boost his damage. Still, the Fenri does it lesser than he typically does before recklessly attacking the Aasimar once. The assault results in a solid hit, the metal from the blade grinding against the armor as it lacerates, and the cut is deep enough to draw blood in Nairnaital's left thigh. In tandem, Aila's daggers miss their target, bouncing along the floor as Nairnaital recoils in agony.

As Nairnaital maneuvers around Radclyff and Aila to a new position, the circle moves along with him. It contains Julonas when he has both feet inside; he immediately feels the vitality inside him drain. For his three attacks with Gloomspirit, he targets Radclyff twice and Aila once. Barely avoiding the whole force, she still suffers a graze and is dumbfounded that a glancing blow packs as much punch as a regular hit; in addition, the sword extracts another portion of her soul, and it now has a dim fluorescence. The final swing impacts Radclyff's torso, although the severity of the damage is worse than the others, and, following the pattern, the sword absorbs another piece of a soul. Before they have a chance to retaliate, he casts a spell at Julonas, “Divine Nature: Holy Javelin!" Light in the form of a javelin materializes and launches towards him; it impacts against the Human and explodes in blinding light. Julonas barely has enough time to turn his head, preventing his eyes from receiving more blindness.

As Barion is busy restringing his bow, Julonas has his turn, and he commences by dispelling Nairnaital's circle, “Art of Abjuration: Dispel Magic." He and the Aasimar enter into a brief match of counter-spelling each other, with the former prevailing; the Aura of Wither disappears along with its effect. Julonas moves closer towards him with the opportunity presenting itself and manages to lacerate him, sending bone-chilling cold down his spine. Activating one of his energy reserves, he teleports behind him. He makes a series of four attacks, the first striking on Nairnaital from the surprise, although he notes how fast the Aasimar's response is as the other three collide against Gloomspirit.

Before Radclyff and Aila have their turn, Nairnaital swings Gloomspirit upwards at him and adds another charge to it, increasing its brightness. As he is about to strike him, the Aasimar generates a barrier around himself as he utters, “Art of Abjuration: Shield!" His attacks don't connect, and Aila slides underneath him and Nairnaital and attacks the latter; one of the daggers manages to pierce the magical barrier and score a lucky hit on his gonads, but his undead form numbs the pain.

“Necro Nature: Reaper's Harvest!" A massive figure of the Grim Reaper materializes over Nairnaital, and it attempts to swing its scythe in a complete circle. He stares at Julonas in irritation after the Human deactivates his spell. In revenge, he singles him out for his sword attack, and the rage causes him to deal intense damage to him, mainly when he adds another spell. “Divine Nature: Divine Smite!" Light from the heavens beams down on Julonas, and his target roars in agony.

As Nairnaital heals himself, Barion interrupts him by firing an arrow directly into his left eye, cutting off half of his vision. The recoil from the sudden injury to his eye prevents Barion from striking him as his projectile whizzes past him. The unexpected loss of half of his eyesight directs his truculence towards the Beastman. “Necro Nature: Circle of Demise!" A circle of runes appears at Barion's feet, and most of his body avoids a pillar of purple light, but his legs and right arm receive it, and they go numb, causing him to fall to the ground.

For his turn, Julonas casts another spell, “Acid Nature: Corrosive Serpent!" A purple liquid in the figure of an eel launches towards Nairnaital, and he effortlessly evades it, masking his fear of it from his enemies. The wall behind him commences dissolving from the caustic spell, and a minuscule amount of acid lands on his armor, eating the tiny pieces till a hole remains. Observing an opening, he strikes him with Early Retirement by slicing diagonally across his chest.

Before Aila's and Radclyff's assaults, Nairnaital unleashes another spell, “Divine Nature: Chains of Atonement!" Nine bright light circles materialize around the Aasimar, and chains with sharp tips at the end appear from them; they proceed to whip around violently, scarring the battlefield and injuring Aila, Barion, Julonas, and Radclyff. One of the chains knocks chunks on the painted dining hall ceiling off, and they barely dodge the compact stone raining on top of them.

Aila and Radclyff now charge forward; Radclyff swings Blazefury downward, and Nairnaital responds by blocking it with his sword. Using her acrobatic talents of being a Wood Elf, Aila propels herself off of her spouse's shoulders and impales him in the neck with one of her two daggers, and it injects venom into him when she lands.

To send his adversaries backward, Nairnaital discharges more of his mana, “Art of Conjuration: Hail of Swords!" Numerous swords of various dimensions appear around him and gyrate around his body at a blistering celerity, performing their job effectively at repelling his assailants. As an added lagniappe, they can launch in any direction, so he directs the velocity towards all four of his antagonists. They suffer some lacerations from avoiding the swords as they impact the wall before evanescing. Before Barion and Julonas have their turn, he emanates another spell when he's next to Aila and lands one attack on her, “Divine Nature: Divine Smite!" In addition to the weapon damage, rays of light from the sky beam down directly on her.

Still unable to stand on his feet, Barion clumsily maladroitly fires two arrows only for them to carom off of Nairnaital's aegis, leaving scratches behind. Furthering his assault, Julonas swings Early Retirement four times in a row and connects three times, forming an “X" with a vertical line in the middle, with the other catching nothing but air. Nairnaital manages to obtain the sixth and final charge to Gloomspirit by abruptly lacerating Julonas's left arm.

As Radclyff and Aila produce their action with him using Usse's power to create a more oversized sword out of pure flames briefly for his two attacks, and they connect. She lands one stab with a dagger, Nairnaital furiously glares at his enemies, huffing along with them. _I hate to actually use my gift on these fools, but they're pissing me off, primarily that ancient Eldritch Knight disrupting my magic. The Soulmonger didn't recruit me for training to be an Amakz Razošg to lose to them. If I can manage to fight him alone, my probability of triumph will increase dramatically, and I know how. It's that young Beastman lying helplessly on the floor. As long as I don't kill him outright and whittle him down slowly, despite yearning for revenge for ruining my eye, their parental instincts will activate, and they will have no choice but to protect their offspring. That will leave only Julonas as the greatest threat, but I can now unlock Gloomspirit's true power temporarily, and my gem is still intact as long as he doesn't use an acid spell strong enough to eat the metal like the Corrosive Serpent. _

To set his plan in motion, Nairnaital briefly teleports by morphing into a mist and traveling thirty feet away from Aila, Julonas, and Radclyff fast enough that they can't retaliate. Then he activates another spell in a different language as he returns to his regular form. “Yrgäznsk." A magenta fireball expels from his left hand and detonates close to Barion, sending him rolling back a few feet. As his prediction comes to fruition, he watches Aila and Radclyff run to their son's aid.

“Barion!" shouted Radclyff.

“Are you alright?" asked Aila.

“My legs are numb, and I can't stand," Barion answered. “I also abhor my bow; I need to replace it soon if we live."

Radclyff then turns to Aila, “I'll stay and protect him while you're attacking Nairnaital. Your agility makes it difficult for him to strike you."

Aila nods. “Ok. Is Nairnaital a Soul Keeper?"

“Not fully, but in the process of becoming one," Radclyff answered. “All the more reason to kill him." He directs his next order to Usse, “Take the sword and join her with whatever time you have remaining."

“As you wish, boss."

“One thing I need to add," Barion said. “Did anyone else noticed the expression on the Aasimar's face when he avoided the acid?"

“I did," Aila answered. “He looked terrified. I also noticed the tiny pieces of armor that went away from it. My theory is there's an extremely vital object on him that he doesn't want to be exposed."

“Pass the information to the old man and have him attempt the same spell or another of similar strength. That item behind the armor may be the key to ending the battle."

While they're having the discussion, Nairnaital is occupied in a one-on-one duel against Julonas. “Voj Mäguz." The exact colors of the fireball form a massive drill, and it impacts Julonas before he has a chance to perform his action, causing significant damage to him from the heated metal.

“Ice Nature: Ice Prison!" As Julonas places his hands together on the floor, ice travels along the surface, surrounding Nairnaital, and ice pillars erect from the bottom to form a dome with more ice to make it appear more of a prison cell. At the intersections of the bars, ice spears eject from them and pierce through him at various parts of his body to pin him in place as Aila and Usse arrive; she whispers the plan to Julonas.

“You honestly believe I'm just going to stay here and make myself an easy target?" asked Nairnaital. “I know what you're planning, and I won't allow it. Tinjotla." A surge of magenta flames assumes the figure of a serpent with a wide body and a gaping maw with long whiskers and huge teeth; it decimates the algid prison, and it knocks Aila, Julonas, and Usse prone. As they stand back up, he expends his charges on Gloomspirit to double his regular attacks and increase damage. Dividing them evenly, each of the six assaults arrives on target with more punch and leaving a “V" mark on them.

With Nairnaital within range, Aila attempts to strike his two feet with her two daggers to hinder mobility. Only one manages to follow through, but it's sufficient enough to do the job. Now that the Aasimar can't move for a brief period, Julonas discharges the same acid spell from before, and every morsel connects directly on the armor; it initiates its corrosive process.

For his part of the plan, Usse performs one more attack with the massive, pure, fiery sword from before and swivels it downward at Nairnaital, resulting in a critical hit. The combination of the caustic substance and his onslaught result in a decent size crack in the Aasimar's defense to form and a green shine to pour out. With his time nearly up, he returns back into Blazefury, and the sword clangs on the floor.

After freeing himself, Nairnaital retreats from his assailants, and his visage is of horror and furor. “Now you've really done it this time. I thought I wouldn't have to unleash my full power. But I realize that's not the case anymore. You'll wish-no you'll implore- for me to cease for what I have in reserve." The light in the begins to darken, except for the glow from his chest, as he emits a powerful spell, “Yrgäznsk Amaskituv." Instead of one magenta fireball from the weaker version, an abundance of it arises, and he unleashes all of them in a fusillade at everybody in the dining hall. Aila and Julonas flip a table over and seek refuge behind it as the fireballs do nothing on inanimate objects. At the same time, Radclyff endures everything he's in the direct path of as he shields Barion.

“Dad!"

“What is it?"

“Help me aim my bow. I believe I have a clear shot, but I'm unable to do it on my own."

“But that will leave you exposed to the magic."

“I'm aware of the risk. Just provide me support. We can finally end this and reunite our family."

“If you insist."

With the aid of his father, Barion takes aim at the illumination's origin; time slows down for him as the arrow soars towards its target and destroys the source. As soon as the projectile destroys the source, the fireballs cease, the numbness fades from Barion's legs and arm, and Nairnaital slumps to the ground in a shriveled state.

Instead of sobbing or feeling disenchanted, Nairnaital grins and chortles. “You may savor your victory this time, but I'll be the one who has the final laugh." He stares at Aila and Radclyff, but mostly at him. “I'm sure your partner is broken from his torment in the by now and will never be the same. My minions should've completed their objective in Meybury also. I'll be watching and laughing as you bury your children individually, especially for your...“ Not wanting to hear more from his monologue, Aila shuts him up by impaling his head twice with the blades entering opposite sides and one at jaw level and the other above the eyes. She rips it off from his frail body and repeats it, dividing it in half.

Infuriated, Radclyff storms towards Sheilra. “Take me to the dungeon, immediately."

“Right this way," Sheilra replied.

(A few hours ago)

Deep inside a dungeon cell, Jemeir wakes up in a daze chained to a table with wheels on both sides on his belly and gagged with most of his clothes off. As his eyes adjust to the lack of light and fully recovers from the spell, the numerous figures from his vision reduce down to two, and he recognizes them. One is the man from the tavern, and the other is a male Aasimar from his adventuring days but horribly disfigured. Various spots on the Aasimar's body show signs of rot, and the most notable feature is the massive, nasty excrescence from his neck to possibly near his groin. Despite the blemishes on his body, he has an exquisite appearance with long, blond hair and glowing, white eyes.

At the sight of the Aasimar, Jemeir struggles with his bindings, and the gag muffles his words. “Syldin, would you be so kind as to remove the blockage from our guest's mouth?" asked the Aasimar. “I find it extremely uncivil to prevent the visitor from speaking his mind, and he clearly wants to."

“As you wish, Nairnaital," Syldin replied. He removes the blockade from Jemeir's mouth, and Jemeir almost bites his fingers.

“How are you still alive?!" asked Jemeir.

“I'm still dead, Jemeir," Nairnaital replied. “It's complicated to fully resurrect a person, and my patron didn't want to pursue that option."

“Who's your patron?"

“You already know. He's what you, I, and that fur-ball, Radclyff, swore to prevent from returning to Illyria."

Jemeir's eyes light up in anger and surprise. “Why did you join The Soulmonger?"

“Because I desire retribution for what Radclyff did to me. An excellent first step would be to torture his best friend and partner to a broken state and deliver you to him, or he can arrive anon and witness it, live." He turns towards Syldin. “You may do as you see fit on the condition you don't kill Jemeir."

“With pleasure, Nairnaital," Syldin gleefully replied and energetically rubbed his hands. “The best torture is the one that lasts the longest, so you don't have to worry about me killing him. He would wish for it, though."

“That's alright by me. I'll leave him in your hands, now."

As the door to the cell shuts, Sydlin has a maniacal cackle as he plans on what torture methods to use on Jemeir. Rolling out several devices on a cart, he scrutinizes each item in his hand as he casually whistles in rhythm to a song. The top section contains wooden and metal objects, while the compartment beneath it contains potion vials of various colored liquids. Escalating from whistling, Sydlin sings a part of the song terribly before reverting back to the whistle.

“How about this?" asked Sydlin to himself. Seizing the whip by the handle, he tests it several times by whip cracking at the air. At the business end of the whip, there are nine individual threads instead of one, and he utilizes it to strike against his victim's back. Numerous strikes later, Jemeir's skin bleeds from the wounds, but he maintains a stoic expression and doesn't cry out in agony.

“That was merely a warm-up for the other plans in the works," Sydlin said. “You may assume that I'm a monster, but I'm not a complete caitiff, so I'll prove I'm not by tending to your injuries. I give as well as I take." Bottle of alcohol and a clean rag in hand, he treats Jemeir's injuries by washing the blood away with the booze and pats dry with the rag. Jemeir grits his teeth from the stinging sensation, but he's still silent.

Standing in front of him, Sydlin inspects Jemeir's fingernails individually with resistance. “Those fingernails appear awfully long. I'll be such a benignant person and trim them down to size." From his pocket, he reveals his pliers and initiates his second round of torture by leisurely pulling out the fingernails one at a time from the pinky to the thumb on Jemeir's right hand first. “And this piglet had roast beef." When he finally reaches Jemeir's thumb, he articulates, “And this piglet bled on the way home. Still won't fill my ears with the felicific sounds of your pain? I can't leave a job half done, so I'll go quicker and transition to something more effective."

After pulling out Jemeir's last fingernail, Sydlin places the pliers back onto the cart and returns to him. With both hands on the wheel, he revolves it counterclockwise, and it requires more physical exertion as the iron chains tighten to elongate Jemeir's four limbs. The cartilage, ligaments, or bones make an audible pop sound as the chains dislocate the arms and legs. To add more to Jemeir's torment, he saunters over to the fireplace, returns with scorching coals, and dumps them on his back; the excruciating pain has the most visible impact on him Sydlin can see. “Why that expression, Jemeir? I'm simply cauterizing the wounds because I deeply care about reducing the chance of infection. Dying from disease is a horrible way to go." Before long, he removes the coals from his back and brushes off the remaining ashes.

Each torture technique Jemeir suffers, he remembers the training from Shung about the mind. “All the body is is a vessel and barrier for the mind and spirit. It is meant to bear the brunt of the damage. While it is important to train your body, it's even more important to train your mind and spirit to trust your body that it will prevail and not panic. Once they fall, your enemy will have the upper hand and eventually win." Master Shung's onerous training prepared me for moments like this and earlier torture sessions I was subjected to; I believe there's nothing in Sydlin's repertoire that will break me.

“I suppose it is time that you need to conquer your fears," Sydlin said. Standing in front of Jemeir clutching a necklace, he casts a spell, “Art of Illusion: Fear!" A phantasmal entity materializes, and it morphs into Jemeir's worst fear, an immense pile of spiders the size of an average person's hand; the swarm climbs up the table and crawls over him, and he can feel their hairy legs on his tender skin. One arachnid creeps over his face and freezes in place. The spiders commence sinking their fangs into him; some of the bites inject venom while the rest don't, and the toxin burns throughout his veins.

Even though Jemeir knows that it's a hallucination, his heart rate increases, his eyes dilate, sweating profusely, and he unconsciously changes his breathing. As he attempts to maintain a neutral expression, Sydlin detects some subtleties from him that alert him his torture is bearing fruit and smiles as a result. “You do fear something. Shame that I can't see your point of view. I would love to know what provokes fear."

The pursuit of Jemeir's phobia and other torture techniques results in him in a catatonic state when a knock on the door disrupts Sydlin, and a guard appears as he opens it. “We're under attack! Edreth requests your aid, now!"

“Thank you for forewarning me," Sydlin responded. Without any warning, he murders the guard by stabbing him five times in the chest, leaving a trail of blood on the wall behind him as his body collapses, and flees from the dungeon. I have better options than picking up Niarnaital's slack.

(Present time)

Slamming the door open, Radclyff charges inside the room with Aila and Barion behind him and discovers Jemeir's stolid, tortured body; a quick inspection results in him knowing he's alive. As he frees him from his bindings, he enunciates, “Let's locate a healer for you, buddy." Saying their farewells, they leave the keep and travel to a healer with Radclyff carrying Jemeir on his back. The temple the group's trip leads the members to is the Temple of Life, and they leave Jemeir in the hands of Talrel.

“How long will he stay here?" asked Radclyff.

“Some of his injuries I can heal within in a day, but the dislocation of the shoulders and legs and other grievous injuries require more time. At least four days altogether unless he remains unconscious," Talrel answered. “In that case, I have no idea how long until he's in shape to leave. In the meantime, let me heal some of your afflictions while you're in my presence, and I suggest you find a body of hot water to bathe in to loosen up your muscles when I'm done." Aila, Barion, and Radclyff leave Jemeir behind with her as they journey back to their home, relieved that the main threat is dead. However, the thought of another imminent assault towards the couple's children and Barion's siblings without them for protection fills them with dread. Along the way, lassitude overwhelms Barion, so Radclyff hauls him the rest of the way.

“Do you believe he's serious about an assault at Skye's house?" asked Aila.

“I wouldn't put it past him for a second," Radclyff answered. “Though if what you said was true, then they'll learn the hard way of how effective Skye's traps are. I wouldn't worry about it too much if that's the case."

The thought of the assailants falling victim to Skye's traps amuses Aila. “You're right."

“I'm looking forward to a hot bath when we reach home."

“Me too." She and Radclyff exchange a kiss on the lips.

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