B4 Chapter 33 - Freimar’s Pact (Patreon)

The only knight Vivi knew by name, Frodin, returned to lead her to Adalene’s throne room. The walk was understandably silent with just about everyone on edge. A fifth elevation hunter was killed by her hands. Shilman Fried seemed like a bully more than a close ally, but his death in Norfolm would most likely bring trouble regardless.

That was just how it went with bullies. If Vivi fought back, they tended to return with friends and far more punches to come.

Vivi wore her raincoat with her appearance mostly clean, if lacking a bath. She was apprehensive to enter the throne room, but her fears probably stemmed from exhaustion. As absurd as it was to think about, she was probably the strongest person in the city right now, just like Lucius kept trying to tell her. Dawnpour and void ether were just too powerful for ordinary fighters to deal with.

She still had to talk to a Queen, though, and her strength didn’t make her any more proficient at negotiations. Lucius, can you tell me everything you know about Freimar’s Pact? If these demons assume we’re a part of it, I need to know what details it includes.

“It’s an agreement every fifth elevation hunter is forced to enter,” Lucius said. “It’s a long list of rules invented by this Freimar guy. The same man who founded his city by the same name. I think he was the first fifth elevation hunter ever?”

The lack of connection to Ythar’s encyclopedia showed. Lucius never used to be so uncertain giving information. She couldn’t fully rely on everything he said now.

Tell me every detail you know, Vivi thought. What rules are listed?

“Most small details aren’t enforced, so they don’t matter,” Lucius said. “The main three rules are that fifth elevation hunters are not allowed to kill any city leaders, and they are not allowed to lead cities, and they’re not allowed to use their abilities for mass eradication.”

So who enforces that if the fifth elevation hunters are strong enough to take over the strongest cities just by themselves?

“There are always a few people looking to stop individual hunters from achieving world domination,” Lucius said. “That’s why Freimar himself wrote the pact thing.”

I see, Vivi thought. To her, that sounded sensible enough. A pact existed to dissuade all incomprehensibly strong hunters from destroying the world, and that was enforced by every other strong hunter, who didn’t wish to see the world destroyed. If she was a fifth elevation hunter, she would have certainly enforced a pact like that.

Shilman and his friends were trying to kill Ythar. It didn’t look like the pact was doing very well these days.

Vivi ran out of time to think as Frodin and a small convoy of red-armored guards led her straight to the throne room, where the double doors were already open.

Adalene wasn’t on the high seat of her throne. She sat at the end of the same rectangular table where Vivi had faced Shilman, though the banquet had been emptied. Her scarlet red eyes looked slightly worn, but the Queen seemed otherwise healthy.

“So the archmage has perished,” Adalene said.

“He enslaved me against my will,” Vivi said. “I didn’t like that.”

She slightly lowered her head to show that even though she’d brutally murdered Shilman, she didn’t direct any of that intent toward Adalene or her citizens.

“Norfolm stays out of your grudges,” Adalene said. “I wish to congratulate you on your victory.”

“Ah, um, there’s nothing to congratulate me for,” Vivi said. “I just didn’t want to be forced to work for him.”

That drew a smile onto the Queen’s lips, but it didn’t stay. “It’s tiring, the hierarchy the lower levels follow. The largest military of the tenth level is forced to bow to a single mage who spent a few decades on the mountains. Now a young woman, who we assumed was a runesmith, has overpowered him.” Adalene bowed. “Norfolm bows to you, Vivian Runeblessed. I pray you treat us with more kindness than the man you’ve defeated.”

I just want to go home, Vivi thought, standing behind her seat. Would she be able to just ask Adalene for teleportation? Possibly. But Vivi didn’t want to create a reputation like that for herself.

She matched Adalene’s bow. “I don’t want to be an enemy. There are just a few things I’d like your help with. After that, I’ll be on my way.”

The Queen sat with her hands crossed. “Your requests will, of course, be tended to. To the best of our abilities.”

Vivi put on a serious face. “I want my friends to be freed from wherever Shilman took them.” She also needed to get Aolinn and Helegar from the gauntlet, but she could probably do that on her own. “And I would like to return home with a teleporter. That’s all I ask.”

Adalene considered the offer with a long pause. She didn’t look intimidated. Vivi wasn’t sure if this was the right way to handle things. Using force and commanding Adalene would have probably brought Vivi to the teleporters right away.

“Vivian,” the Queen said. “The truth is that Norfolm cannot handle this storm season.”

Vivi raised an eyebrow.

“As overbearing as Shilman Fried was, his staff crushed dozens of boss monsters at the front lines,” Adalene continued. “I don’t blame you for killing him, but an indirect consequence is that Norfolm will now suffer more casualties.”

“Oh,” Vivi said. “I might be able to help.”

Adalene met her eyes. “Yes. As shameless of a request as this is, Norfolm requires assistance from the strong. Any help you can spare is a blessing. In return, my city will forever treat you favorably.”

Every knight stationed in the room shared the Queen’s bow, treating Vivi as if she were some deity.

Maybe she was. Realistically, she knew she could help Adalene. Runeswords and the slingshot launchers had revolutionized Shivenar’s military, giving them the ability to hold the walls on their own. She could most likely do the same here.

I want a bath… Vivi thought. I want to go home. I want to eat muffins.

She’d always known inside-carving was strong. Grandpa’s swords would have had a market much sooner if the ether hunters weren’t so stubborn. But she wasn’t even eighteen yet. In the span of under a year, how had she gone from a cursed and shunned child to someone who these queens and archmages of the lower levels saw as the savior to fight a never-ending season of typhoons?

“The world is falling apart, isn’t it?” Vivi asked.

Adalene raised her head, and slowly, her guards followed. “Every prophecy indicates that the Age Of Typhoons has returned. The storms show no sign of stopping.”

Vivi thought about it. She’d been awake for way too long. She knew what she wanted to do, of course, but gathering the energy for all this was just getting too tiring. All the while, there was a good chance Shilman's allies were still planning on killing Ythar. What were her priorities?

“I apologize, Your Majesty, but I think I’m too tired to discuss the end of the world right now…” Vivi said. The Queen was about to respond, but Vivi continued. “I can make a deal anyway. I’ll stay in Norfolm for two days. During that time, I’ll teach your runesmiths how to craft a weapon that might be able to save your city. In return, I want you to free my friends, and I want you to teleport me as close to Shivenar as you can.”

“Two days,” Adalene said. “I am eternally grateful. I must ask, however, if we will have enough time to craft these weapons you suggest?”

“The formula is mass-producable,” Vivi said. “Bring me your best runesmiths, blacksmiths, ballista workers, and foundrymen. If they’re quick, they’ll have a working slingshot launcher produced in under three days.”

Adalene seemed happy enough with that. “Your requests will be handled. Though, there is a slight problem freeing your friends. That is, all of them have escaped Shilman’s captivity.”

Vivi’s head perked up. “Escaped?”

“Escaped, yes,” Adalene said. “That has been confirmed. Shilman did not have time to bring them further into captivity. All three of them are currently in the city with their skills and ether reserves intact. I will denounce any bounties on their names immediately, and I will spread the word that Vivian Runeblessed has returned, and she wishes her friends to return.”

“That should work,” Vivi said.

“As for teleportation,” Adalene said, “I am able to arrange a one-stop route to the fifth level, though it might miss Shivenar itself.”

“That works as well,” Vivi said. “As long as we can teleport water with us.”

“Rations will cost more, though I will cover it,” Adalene said. She continued thinking. “But if I may make an objection… The Gauntlet Of The Gods has been opened up.”

Vivi waited for the Queen to continue.

“Prophecies suggest that the only way for demonkind, and humankind, to survive, is to reach the gods at the very bottom of the abyss. My forces and dungeon hunters have begun working toward clearing a way down. For the safety of the world, clearing the dungeon should be the utmost priority of all capable hunters.”

“Hm,” Vivi said. “If that prophecy is true, you could be correct. But I can’t clear it alone. I’ll need assistance.”

Even if she could clear it alone, she just had too much to do on the upper levels. She had to save Patryn and stop Ythar from dying. Everything else was optional, she supposed, but she couldn’t stay in Norfolm.

“The storms are rampant all over the world,” Vivi said. “I need to save as many innocents as possible. I think I can achieve that best by spreading the slingshot launcher. Clearing the gauntlet is too time-consuming. But I promise I will return.”

Adalene studied her, then nodded. “You are a sensible woman, Vivian. I appreciate that. Shall I gather my runesmiths and seek out your friends?”

“Yes, please,” Vivi said.

A yawn tried to escape. She tried to push it back, only for it to come out anyway, visible for everyone to see.

“Would you like a moment in the bathhouse?” Adalene asked.

Vivi wanted so badly to accept and just close her eyes in the bath. The thought of completing any tasks she’d agreed to just sounded so exhausting. She needed rest regardless; she’d collapse while she walked if she stayed awake, but a bath and a full, extended night of sleep sounded heavenly right now.

“Give me your most uncomfortable bed,” Vivi said instead. “I’ll nap for two hours. Wake me up then, and we’ll get to work. Please find my friends in the meantime.”