Chapter 43: Olden Days

"Chief Ontoki." Mako gave a small bow as he walked to the center of the Parthenon, where the Oxuon had taken position behind a long and rather thick bone desk. "I appreciate the invite as well as the hospitality you’ve provided for me and my two friends. Words aren’t enough."

In truth, even without Hunopil’s words of warning, the young adventurer probably would’ve showed respect to Ontoki anyways. Not only had the beastman allowed them to recuperate and collect themselves, but he had also readily kept his word when Jak had survived the club strike. As far as Mako was concerned, a person’s trustworthiness was shown when they held fast to their own promises and stayed true to themselves regardless of others. As the acting Chief, the Oxuon could’ve easily overwritten his own deal when his opponent was found to be still breathing, but he didn’t. For that, Mako felt nothing but respect, even if the Aramlians detested their very presence.

At the very least, this man had some honor.

"Your friend is rather resilient for his age." Ontoki gently closed the book he had had open in front of him. "To take one of my hits straight to the head and walk away with a few cuts and bruises is a remarkable feat. It’s almost a shame that you and him are Adventurers."

(("He took it straight to the skull? And he’s still alive?")) Mako grinned ever so slightly. (("First I heard of it. How does that idiot still have a head?"))

"Setting that aside, I would like you to tell me the details of how you arrived at NorthClaws edge. Do you have a means to return to your homeland?"

The blue-haired Rookie hesitated for a moment, not sure how much he should admit to them. He didn’t want to lie but he wasn’t sure about telling them all of it either. After a brief internal debate, he begun telling them about his mission with the WGC, about the Mapel Subjugation and its objective whilst also leaving out names, numbers, and other private information. The corrupt noble and his ongoings, how Mako’s team went about the capture, how the youth and Jak were caught then teleported, then teleported again right after saving the slaves. Even in the shortened version, it was quite a long story and took a bit of time to go over.

"So, after freeing the slaves held by this....human, you fell into a trap made to erase you along with the building but got teleported instead." Ontoki’s golden hues furrowed in thought. "Might you still have the stone that transported you?"

Mako reached into his back satchel, a satchel handed to him when he learned that his new desert pants didn’t have any pockets. This satchel was actually quite useful and was easily attached by a few leather straps. Buried deep at the bottom of the baggage was the stone, the one he had snagged off the unconscious Jak when he had been changing him. Even after the time that passed, the neon white rock still vibrated softly with magical power, as if it still had some juice still left in the tank.

"Oj hyet réytz uglocz xredin?" Ontoki glance over to Hunopil. "Réytz und zenti uontip?" (*Is that the same stone? The one from before?)

"Hrênto de." The Equenik gave a small nod, giving the stone a long stare. (*Seems so.)

"Do you guys recognize this?" Mako asked, noting how unaffected they were. "Do you also have Teleportation Stones?"

"We know OF these Artifacts but don’t currently possess any," Hunopil replied. "Many documents within the Parthenon speak of the item in question but since it’s creation is beyond the borders of ’Ard Araml, we have no means of acquiring it for further study."

"The Teleportation Stone. A device used to move people or objects from one location to another." Ontoki gave the stone one last look before Mako tucked it back into his satchel. "About a month ago, before the start of our....predicament, a man appeared in our Village. He gave us food, clothing, supplies, and many other gifts. In exchange....."

"In exchange, we were to silence anyone who appeared in our Village baring that very stone." Hunopil readily finished the Chiefs sentence. "As you can see, we paid the man no heed. It’s only now that we’re able to grasp what his true aim was."

Mako immediately frowned.

"This man....Brown hair. Brown eyes. About yay high. Longsword. Big Grey Lion symbol. Sound about right?"

Ontoki gave a simple nod.

(("So. My earlier assumption was correct then. Obinay was our guy."))

"Must’ve inherited that charisma from Dante just like that cloak and sword of his."

Back in the Spider Dome, it was that particular line that had caught Mako’s attention and it had been the key to linking everything together. Thanks to listening to his good friends backstory, there was little doubt that he was off the mark.

This sentence seemed harmless enough since Dante was quite a well known and very well loved adventurer within not only the Kingdom of Intok but also to a good majority of the Eastern Continent. Bright orange hair, a unique black cape, an equally unique longsword. All of these were public information to everyone and those who knew Dante or met him personally would be able to make the connection between Jak’s cape and Dante’s. It was pure common sense and didn’t take a genius to figure out.

The problem was with the sword.

Dante’s weapon was called Excalibur in its longsword state. Not even those within the Flaming Sparrows knew that the weapon could change forms. Not even Jak whom had been the closest one to him and gone on dozens of missions with the man. So, it raised the question, how did Obinay know upon a glance that Masamune had once belonged to Dante, especially since there was no hint or trace of it having been Exaclibur.

It only worked if Obinay had saw it in person. If he had been there on the night of the Bird Massacre, when the sword was being handed over.

The possibility of Obinay seeing the transformation before the Bird Massacre existed but it was very slim.

Either way, this newfound information, the ones that put Obinay at NorthClaw, were irrefutable. From the very beginning, it had been the Aries Guild setting everything up, pulling the strings in order to see to the destruction of the Elemental Rookies. Or, at the very least, they were pawns working under the real Mastermind behind the Bird Massacre. Either way, they now had a lead. Even if their lead had been reduced to the molecular level.

"His name is, or rather was, Obinay Hokozoku. " Mako crossed his arms over his chest. "Just like everyone else within the Spider Dome, he was killed when the Antimatter Necklace was activated. In other words, there’s no one currently looking for us at this moment. Once me and Jak help you sort this vegetation problem out, we’ll be on our way."

"You told them?" Ontoki asked, glancing to Hunopil.

Before the Equenik could formulate a response, Mako immediately interjected.

"No. He didn’t. It’s not very hard to piece together, that’s all. You live in a desert world. This Village is one step away from being a total forest. Anyone walking through here can see that you need some assistance."

The Oxuon Chief didn’t reply at first, golden eyes glancing from Hunopil to Mako, as if trying to see right through them. After a minute or so, he seemed to have lost interest and let out a small breath. Stepping around he lengthy desk, he walked up to Mako, stopping in front of him. Up close, the height difference became even more noticeable, Mako having to lean back just to properly look the beastman in the face.

"I called you out to the Parthenon, Adventurer child, to get your full story as well as your intentions." Ontoki leaned down slightly. "You haven’t lied and you don’t seem to harbor any ill will. If you hadn’t become an Adventurer, our home would have welcomed you with open arms."

Mako mulled over some thoughts before finally dropping the question that had been bugging him for the few hours he had been there.

"Why do you guys hate Adventurers? Surely you know not everyone calling themselves an Adventurer is an enemy....."

"You told us your story. I guess we can tell you ours. You deserve to know why you’re being unfairly discriminated against. I guess it was about 150 years ago to the day, back when the Chief of ReguClaw left."

"ReguClaw?"

"For starters, what do you know of this world? As an Adventurer, you surely have access to our information correct?"

Mako shrugged slightly. "Apart from the monsters, dungeons, and some species, there wasn’t too much data in the Archives. In fact, it seems that most of your information was wiped from all WGC databanks."

"I see." Ontoki closed his eyes. "That was most likely due to the Mage calling himself Kenma Iroas."

(("Grandfather huh?")) Mako didn’t even bat an eye at the news. (("Makes sense."))

Growing up, he had long since heard of the numerous adventures his predecessor had undertaken during his youth, as well as the ones that weren’t too well known by society. To find out that the progenitor of Mako’s own father was the cause of the Rookies current lack of knowledge was easily the most understandable thing Mako had heard the entire day. Of course, in a day filled with twisted schemes and overarching plots, it wasn’t exactly a huge accomplishment.

"What exactly did Kenma Iroas do to succeed in this?"

"It ties into our hatred for Adventurers." Ontoki let out a breath before opening his eyes once again. "150 years ago, the world of ’Ard Araml existed under one Village. Though I suppose it was more of an overtly large country. It was known as ReguClaw, the combination of all four Villages that exist today. NorthClaw. SouthClaw. WestClaw. EastClaw."

Back in those days, the place known as ReguClaw was a united front, one where residents worked together in order to prosper, sharing resources and helping upkeep the peace. Under the leadership of Rutrand, the then chief, an unrivaled warrior Leonidas (Lion Variant Beastfolk), there was never any fear of outside threats. Even within the harsh plains of the Aramlian deserts and the ever changing sandy dunes, the people thrived and lived life to the fullest. Adventurers visited but never raised a hand in violence, the WGC offered up a seat on its Council of World’s (C.o.W), and everyone did their best to help the nation prosper.

Thanks to Rutrand and his unyeilding authority and everlasting respect from his subjects, the possibilities were endless.

Then, one day, it all changed.

An unknown individual with hair of the brightest white appeared within ReguClaw, one calling himself an adventurer, an adventurer on the hunt for worthy comrades. It was unknown what the man needed the comrades for or even what his name was, but one thing was clear.

Rutrand was interested.

Before anyone had the chance to understand what was happening, the man vanished from ’Ard Araml, taking the overwhelming strength of the young Leonidas with him. Shortly after, ReguClaw was thrown into utter chaos, order breaking down over the course of the next month.

The Blood Guard, the leading team dedicated to upholding tranquility and peace within ReguClaw set out in an attempt to allocate the missing Rutrand, but such an act only served to fuel the flames. Like moths to a flame, the hands of greedy Adventurers extended towards the residents of the sandy plains whilst everyone was still reeling from the loss of their beloved Chieftain. Lives were lost in the ensuing scuffles and various chunks of ReguClaw were burned to the ground. In the blink of an eye, everything had been flipped on its head and their very way of life was now wiped from existence.

Eventually, order was reestablished under the reign of a new Chieftain, the former head of the Blood Guard, Ontoki.

However, numerous rivals opposed the Oxuons rise to power and opted to leave rather then swear their allegiances. Thus, three other Villages were made, formed from the disappearance of a single beastfolk and the wanton destruction given by that of loathsome Adventurers.

"The moment our guard was down, so many souls were sent to the Isles Of Blessed." Hunopil lowered his head, as if mourning those that had been lost. "Though the residents treated all outsiders like family, the same outsiders betrayed ReguClaw without any remorse. All because of their own desires. Even after all this time, the effects of that day can still be felt."

"Truly." Ontoki shook his head. "Had it not been for Kenma Iroas, we would have been lost long ago."

Mako wasn’t entirely sure of what to make of the story, but he definitely understood where the Aramlians were coming from. At the very least, there was a reason him and Jak had been held in place for so long. Everything was beginning to make sense, perhaps for the first time since the start of the Subjugation Quest.