Isn’t Urteos the ancient Tartareian ruler who is infamous for plunging the realm in chaos? And wasn’t he also born on the day of the eclipse?
As soon as that information filters in my brain, I forget about the rule of the mission: don’t open the book. I simply read on, quickly realizing the book is a biography of Urteos.
But why would something that’s found in all corners of the realm be under the protection of the sentient forest? Why would it be so elusive…?
The chapter details the last years of Urteos’ life. His quest for power pushed him to the brink of madness, which likely impacted his political decisions. But something else makes me pause: this book states Urteos had a double domain. I’ve neverheard of something like that before. Nothing in my library, or even in the information available at the War Department suggests it is possible for someone to have two domains.
I keep reading.
Urteos’ fall occurred because he failed to nurture both domains. He advanced only one of them and according to the book it was the wrong one. One of the Seven Primordials took note of his attempt to advance to their realm and killed him.
What?
What does that mean?Advance to their realm?Why would the Seven bother with that? And more importantly, how could they kill someone when they’re supposed to be locked inside Tartarstasis, an unbreakable prison?
The history books say that Urteos’ death was by his own hands—he’d gone so mad he’d self destructed. But this… What is the reality?
The door behind me creaks. Scared, I quickly close the book, and sure enough, the cover matches the description.
Hopefully no one knows I glanced inside it.
Not lingering more than I need to, I leave the building. The trees once more move to the side to clear a path for me.
When I’m a distance away, I tap my token and open the proto-realm. Inside, I hand over the book and receive my second payment as well as my bonus for finishing the mission in time—only a few hours.
Then I head home, wishing for nothing more than Moe’s company and her cooking. But first I must find a way to treat my wounds since I don’t have enough energy to accelerate my healing.
26
Iwalk with difficulty toward my house. My injuries are so bad, I fear I might lose all the blood in my body by the time I make it back. But I can’t think of that. Not when I’ve finally achieved one goal—I finished a mission all by myself. I earned more money for Moe. I can finally spoil her a little without thinking about what tomorrow might bring. That alone makes my smile grow in spite of the pain.
I’m almost at the door when my sight starts playing tricks on me. Or I think it does. A mist covers my eyes, and as I blink, the only color I see is red. Flowing red. Dripping red.
The Scarlet Lady.
Her figure is draped in overflowing blood, but beneath the liquid, I can make out a sad smile.
“If only she still feared you like before…” she murmurs.
“What?”
“I shouldn’t show you this,” she continues. “But to understand the source of the pain, you must understand its beginnings.” She pauses before saying with stark finality. “Thisis the day everything changes.”
“What changes?” I frown.
“Before, your only power over her was physical. From today, you gain the power to crush her. Completely.”
“I don’t?—”
“You don’t need to understand. Not now. But you will. Lake Velor doesn’tonlyshow you your calamities. It also shows you the best times, so when the worst comes, the pain will be thousandfold.”
“Lady—”
“Enjoy the good times, Nykander. They won’t last long.”
With that warning in my ears, my vision goes black.
27
