Chapter 75: Adsagsona

’I guess I should have known from the fact that she was carrying it in a satchel.’

Though that could have been a way to hide that it was a Relic.

Amaya’s genuine surprise completely contradicted that possibility. The book she held... it wasn’t a Relic.

But Zayn’s was.

There was another difference: Zayn had encountered the man in the suit, while Amaya had encountered a lady.

Zayn laughed awkwardly before saying:

"Ta-da..."

Maks and Amaya fixed him with matching deadpan stares of disbelief before Amaya said:

"Yeah... you’re not fooling us. Why is your book a Relic?"

"That, uh... is kind of a long story. But I met a strange man who kindly gave it to me."

Maks cocked his head slightly, then asked:

"Zayn, are you alright?"

"Huh, why do you ask?"

Maks replied flatly:

"You look a bit pissed... and scared shitless."

Zayn clenched his jaw.

"Oh... because that man made me suffer through an illusion where my guts were blown up before giving me the book. So, yeah, quite an apt deduction."

Amaya sat straight up, turning until she sat next to Zayn with her legs hanging off the bedside. She was no longer posturing to flee.

"Ah... that explains the look on your face when you left. I take it Jade didn’t see him either. She looked much too... you know, not scarred for life."

"I don’t really know. She..." Zayn swallowed harshly. "Was instantly knocked out by him. That seemed to be part of the illusion as well. Please don’t ask me for too many details. I didn’t like the experience and would rather not think about it. All I know is that when I came to, she was sleeping."

"I... see. Well, I was going to say that reading this might help us somehow during the upcoming trial. I still think it will, but that," Amaya pointed to the Relic, "seems like it might be a bit more useful. Do you have any idea why the man gave it to you? And can I see it?"

Zayn handed it over without a fight, then began tapping his foot as he sank into thought.

As he mulled over the possibilities, Amaya flipped through the Relic and added:

"Not only did you get your unique task... but now you’ve gone and had some existential mutilation experience and received a Relic. Weird specialized treatment from the natives and gods once, okay. But twice? There must be something pretty special, or wrong, about you."

’Thanks.’

Zayn shook his head.

"I don’t have a clue. He didn’t say much besides ’appreciate my gift’ before disappearing. And he told me to be quiet after gutting me... that asshole. Though I should mention that it was odd he knew my name."

Zayn wanted to keep the strange prophecy to himself. Not simply out of a selfish desire for knowledge, nor because he felt the others couldn’t help him discern its meaning, but out of distrust. Even if he was ’working’ with Maks and Amaya, they were the two he trusted the least. He trusted someone like Lucas far more than either of them.

Amaya handed the Relic back.

"It has the exact same content. Tell us, what’s the description? And what’s its rank?"

"It’s Lesser Rank. And... I haven’t checked the description."

"I’m sorry, what...? A man blew your guts out and gave you that, and you weren’t curious about it?"

"Please don’t describe it like that... but, of course I was. I just never got the chance. I only now got back to the inn, and I had Ruby following me all day."

Amaya flinched.

"Ruby...? Why was she— I mean, I thought you were with Jade."

Zayn frowned.

"She ran off."

Amaya tilted her head.

"Oh? Seems your date went bad. Sorry to hear that."

Zayn looked away.

"It was for the best."

Amaya teased:

"Not even going to deny it was a date...? Such progress! Though..."

"I don’t want to get close to people with my task and all."

Amaya playfully shuffled away and feigned surprise.

"Huh? Do you not consider us people?!" ℴ

"You know what I meant... Besides, I’d prefer it if I didn’t have to rely on either of you at all. But since you two do know—"

Amaya shook her head, then cut him off.

"I get it, I get it. Your bleeding heart and all. Now, back to the Relic, if you would."

’Does she have no empathy?’

Was this really the person Zayn wished to confide in?

’Truly... the best therapist a murderer could ask for.’

Coughing lightly, Zayn said:

"Its true name is [Adsagsona’s Diary], and its description..."

Zayn focused on the book and willed the description to appear. He read it aloud exactly as he saw it.

"[The diary of a girl who dreamt of peace yet wrought destruction.]"

’How simple.’

Amaya nodded.

"Interesting..."

Leaning forward, Maks said:

"Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to someone about this... I’ve neither had the opportunity nor been in the mood. Well, I’m still not really in the mood, but..."

Maks cleared his throat.

"Adsagsona... is the name of a Celtic goddess. She’s quite obscure, so only someone who really loves mythology would know of her. She’s the goddess of magic, sorcery, and the underworld. I believe her name translates to... ’Weaver of Spells.’ I don’t have a clue what that means given our circumstances, but I felt it might be important."

’I didn’t know he liked mythology.’

Zayn’s eyes widened.

"So... Adsagsona’s a goddess from Earth?"

Maks replied:

"She at least shares her name with one."

Amaya quickly inserted herself into the conversation, asking:

"Is there anything else you know about her?"

"Yes, actually. There’s really only one other thing to know about her. Her mythos was discovered in a woman’s grave, inscribed on a stone slate known as the Larzac Tablet. The inscription described a ritual invoking Adsagsona to curse someone... or something. I don’t remember."

Amaya pointed to the book and read the title aloud.

"Graveyard of Sins."

Maks’s eyes grew pleading. It seemed he couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer.

"Please, can I read it?"