B4 Chapter 47 - The Emperor’s Apostle

The standard protocol for teleportation using the rings was to schedule a time at which the teleportation ring was preserved for one group at a time. If a teleporter received two teleportations simultaneously, or if someone unrelated stood atop the ring at the wrong time, overlaps could happen. The accidents of such situations were apparently some of the most traumatic sights one could witness. Every kid in Fellwater was taught never to step onto the rings. The punishments were as bad as throwing a tomato on Ythar’s church.

The rings only had one safety measure. When a teleportation was happening, the ring glowed for ten seconds, indicating that someone was about to arrive.

So when Vivi’s vision flickered, and the rim of Surchester’s teleportation ring was surrounded by panicked hunters, some sprawled on the ground from a lunge, their luggage tossed haphazardly out of the ring, Vivi was fairly sure she’d just been saved by that very ten second warning.

The hunters in indigo blue uniforms all stared up at her. Their outfits weren’t as pristine as usual. Not muddy, and ethereal auras gave them a shine, but they weren’t polished for balls. The hunters regarded Vivi warily, ready to draw weapons.

“I don’t recognize that uniform,” Lucius said. “These are weaklings.”

Vivi added more ether to the runes of her armor. Her helmet and visor were on, blocking her identity. This time, her visor actually had holes to see.

“Hey,” the operator of the ring finally said. “It wasn’t your turn to teleport!”

Vivi slowly rotated her head, as if examining her surroundings for the first time. A mysterious act should probably be easiest.

“Identify yourself, please,” the operator said, scowling. “Take off your helmet!”

She did not. Instead, she took a calm step forward. The operator scowled, until Vivi also summoned Dawnpour to her hands. He flinched, stepping back. “Hey…” he repeated again. “You… Who are you!?”

The operator stepped out of her way, and the weak hunters merely watched in concern. She exited the holy canopy, like a large patio for the teleportation ring in the middle of the city. Two more hunters were stationed at the outer entrance, clad in the Songwinds’ gold and white uniform. Both were slightly stronger than the hunters that just teleported.

“Stop right there!” the taller of the two said. Vivi’s armor still made her a few inches taller.

She took another calm step, and spirit blades were called—also golden, coated by beautiful auras of leaking ether. Even now, the Songwinds kept up their beautiful appearance.

“Final warning!” he called. “Stop and take off your helmet!”

Vivi walked right up to them. The man gritted his teeth, went into stance, and attacked her with a heavy overhead swing, while his friend protected him from counter-attacks.

The sword hit her armor, like a stick tapping her on the shoulder. Vivi hardly noticed it. The hunter froze in place, having left not the slightest scratch. More so, the hit added a slight amount of pressure to the metal, increasing the density of ether, just like when Vivi hammered missiles while adding ether to the runes.

Baffled, the two hunters trailed after her, weapons drawn, but fully aware they couldn’t hurt her. Instead, they called an alarm by blinking their auras outward. Vivi walked past, continuing to the city. The few nearby hunters watched in confusion, unsure whether they should attack or stay far away. Her calm demeanor helped avoid an immediate panic.

She began her stroll toward the imposing tip of Ythar’s pyramid-like palace.

Surchester was surprisingly similar to the city Vivi remembered. While constant rainfall had taken over Paradise, the weather remained the same in Surchester. The ring of rainclouds was pushed aside by Ythar’s… magic. Or whatever trick it was that he used to dissuade clouds from entering the city. Sunlight shone in from the clear opening in the sky. It was no wonder hunters flocked to this city. Some normalcy could be still felt here even in the chaos of storm season.

This chapter came from where the author publishes the story without approval; its source version supports the person who wrote it.

The streets were definitely busier, with a group of hunters traveling in just about every street. Regular citizens cleared room for them, confining themselves to tiny lanes on the edges of the streets.

Seeing Vivi, hunters froze as well. Suddenly, the streets cleared up even further.

Lucius laughed in her core. “Look at all these weaklings! They can’t harm us even if they tried!”

Vivi snorted inside her helmet. It’s not so amusing when you realize thousands have died because of their weakness.

Her stroll continued for another minute without resistance, which was already more than Vivi would have expected. She felt presence following her, until finally, a larger group of hunters blocked the path ahead.

She recognized them. The woman at the front was Ivanna Swordblessed. A woman she’d met at Helegar’s ball, and whose entire hunting group she’d saved from the wyvern disaster outside Ranewal.

“You there,” Ivanna said. “You have been ordered to stop. Please take off your helmet.”

Ivanna in her light green swordmaiden’s dress faced her with a runesword in hand. An inside-carved one, made of crystal mithril. Vivi squinted, surprised. She didn’t recognize the sword either. Thanks to the see-through blade, she could see two sets of veins inside. That wasn’t Vivi’s creation, and definitely not Grandpa’s.

Then she spotted something. The odd way of shaping an oval as the core root instead of a straight core through the middle. Her eyes opened wide.

She took off her helmet, finally revealing herself. She asked, “Is that Jonah’s sword?”

Ivanna shared the surprised reaction. “Vivian? Vivian Runeblessed?”

Vivi dropped the mysterious act and approached Ivanna. This woman hadn’t been an enemy last time, and she’d been sensible ever since Vivi saved her life. Vivi was thankful she hadn’t died in Ranewal.

“Lower your swords,” Ivanna ordered. “She’s not an enemy.”

Despite saying that, a hint of doubt remained in her eyes, still ready to fight in case Vivi did something off.

“Is that Jonah’s sword?” Vivi asked again. “He’s still alive?”

“Indeed… Jonah Fred’s Son created this.”

Vivi grinned. “So he’s still runesmithing.”

Ivanna studied her for a moment. “Vivian. I don’t believe we are enemies, but I shall inform you that you have used a teleporter without permission, and you have avoided orders to reveal your identity. We… would prefer an explanation.”

“I’m on my way to the palace,” Vivi said.

Ivanna batted an eye. “And your business?”

“Important,” Vivi said. “Too important to explain right now.”

She summoned her helmet back on, straight to her head from spatial storage. “I’m sorry, I don’t have time to argue. If anyone tries to stop me, I’ll force my way through.” She lifted Dawnpour. “This sword has seven runes. You can’t beat me. Please step out of the way.”

Ivanna stared at her. “Vivian… I respect you. You’ve saved my life. I’m eternally grateful. I don’t have the authority to grant you access to the palace.”

“I’m going to speak to the Songwinds,” Vivi said. “Step out of the way.”

The Swordblessed hunting group blocked the way for a short while longer. Finally, Ivanna called off her aura. “We will escort you to those who can hear you out, then.”

“Thank you,” Vivi said and followed Ivanna toward the palace.

A whole entourage of hunters suddenly surrounded her from just about every angle. They posed as respectful escorts, though the real purpose was most likely to watch that she didn’t break any laws.

Like forcing her way to the palace to wake up a god.

A few turns later, Vivi was closer to Ythar’s palace than she’d ever been. Up close, the architecture was even weirder than from afar. The palace wasn’t just one grand building, but a collection of towers, thick and small, some with shiny locium roofs and others that looked far cheaper, giving contrast to the odd structure. The towers rose in height closer to the middle, which gave it a pyramid-like shape, though many parts were uneven.

In the very middle, above all the towers, was a spire. Ether rose from the blue stained glass windows, which were permanently enhanced with ether.

Ythar’s cocoon. That was where the god slept.

The Songwinds’ sentries already awaited her at the entrance—a part of the pyramid without any towers. A walkway led closer to the middle, and a stairway rose straight to the taller towers. So, what’s the easiest way to reach Ythar? Vivi wondered. Inside or outside?

A tall woman with golden lipsticks and earrings faced her before she could decide. “Vivian Runeblessed,” she said. “The palace does not accept visitors at this moment. What is it you believe your business here is?”

She’d need to decide the best outcome now. Everyone here was too weak to stop her regardless of what she did, but a commotion could still stop her from talking with Ythar one to one. Ideally, she also wanted to avoid killing anyone, and not just because massacring Ythar’s hunters right before meeting him would be a terrible idea.

Forcing her way in would be easiest, but it could also cause problems. Conversely, nobody here would agree to let Vivi walk in and wake up Ythar.

Maybe a few good lies would do it.

“I have been called here by a higher being,” Vivi said calmly. “By the god who offered me impenetrable armor. Ythar has called me, and he expects my arrival.”