Chapter 275 B4 Chapter 31 - Freimar’s Pact

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 to Norfolm, not 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, am I still missing something from Freimar’s pact? I just killed someone who’s a part of it. How does it affect me?

“We haven’t broken it at all,” Lucius said. “If anything, Shilman is the one who broke it, and we punished him. The pact has three main rules. Fifth elevation hunters are not allowed to kill any city leaders, they’re 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?

“Everyone else in the pact. 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. It sounds like the pact is breaking, though. Shilman and his friends are literally trying to kill Ythar.

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, facing an empty banquet table. 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.”

Vivi 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 battles, as agreed by the pact,” 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. “I don’t want to be an enemy. If possible, I would like to resume where we left off, and I would like to know where my friends are, if you have any information about what Shilman did to them.”

The queen sat with her hands crossed. “Luck has blessed us this time. Shilman didn’t have his own prison, and placed everyone into Norfolm’s dungeon. They’re still held there by his command. You can, however, rule that out. They will be freed immediately.”

“Thank you.”

Vivi also needed to get Aolinn and Helegar from the gauntlet, but she could probably do that on her own.

Adalene remained thoughtful, as if she had more to say. She didn’t look intimidated, per se, but something troubled her.

“Vivian,” the Queen said. “The truth is that the storm season has gotten worse while you were away. Norfolm cannot handle this alone.”

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. I pray that your weapons are able to help us.”

Vivi nodded. “Yes. An agreement is an agreement. I’ll help in exchange for teleportation.”

“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.

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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 Ythar’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. “I’ll stay in Norfolm for one meeting with your runesmiths. They’ll have to learn to craft the weapons themselves after I share the invention. That’s as much as I can spare. I’ll teach your runesmiths how to craft a weapon that might be able to save your city.”

“One meeting…” 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. As for teleportation, 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 to the desert.”

“Rations will cost more, though I will cover it,” Adalene said. She continued thinking. “But if I may make an objection… The Graveyard 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. “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. And she also wanted to see Eem and Senith.

“I need to help my own home first,” Vivi said. “Clearing the dungeon is too time-consuming. But if I can… I’ll try to 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 mattress,” 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.

***

Vivi barely felt energized after her nap. The bed was still far too soft and comfy, despite her asking for something rough. Maybe she should have asked for a bunk in a barrack or something.

She forced herself to get up anyway. She had a lot to do. Once she was back in Shivenar, she’d let herself sleep for a full night. She exited her bedroom, into the parlor.

Where all three of her friends were awake. Cael and Alda played some board game on the table. Both looked exhausted, but still somehow smiling. Lortel was in the middle of something Vivi almost never saw her do; the woman had her eyes closed, head hanging to the side, sleeping on the armchair.

Upon Vivi’s arrival, everyone turned to her. Alda was the first to speak. “Vivi? Did you actually just kill goddamned Shilman Fried?”

Vivi smiled awkwardly. “Uh, maybe?”

“He’s a fifth elevation god-level hunter, you know.”

“He couldn’t survive Grandpa’s sword.”

Alda snorted a laugh, shaking her head. “I feel vastly underqualified to be here with you, Vivi.”

“But I’m happy to see you,” Vivi said. “And I can trust you. You’re good allies. Did Adalene tell you anything about the deal?”

“She did not,” Lortel said.

“We’re staying for two days,” Vivi said. “I’m teaching their runesmiths how to create slingshot launchers. I’ve got the first meeting with them now. Then we can return.”

She drank a quick mug of water, ready to leave. In the loosest definition of the word, that was. She’d probably get runesmithing theory mixed up with how tired she was. But the storms wouldn’t wait for her to recover.

“Do I look fine?” Vivi asked Lortel.

“For someone who just defeated a god, you look remarkably alive,” Lortel said.

“Well, good enough for the smithy.”

“Vivian,” Lortel said. “I’m sorry for being so useless.”

Vivi raised her eyebrows. “You’re not useless! Not at all. You’re the first person I ask for advice.”

Lortel snorted. “I suppose I need to step up to match you, then.”

“If you think I’m somehow great after defeating Shilman, I’m not,” Vivi said. “It’s not like we had some grand duel in the city. I ambushed him and got a lucky hit in. I’m not any different from before.”

Gods, if people started treating her as some sort of killer now…

“You did amazing, Vivi,” Lortel said. “Good luck with the runesmiths.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

***

After requesting the most bitter tea that Adalene had, Vivi headed out to the meeting, which happened in a small workshop outside the palace. Thirteen demons waited with apprehensive expressions. Liaf was one of them.

What’s the chance he has spread rumors about me… Vivi thought. It would probably be best to clear things up.

“Hello,” she said. “My name is Vivian Runeblessed. An inside-carving runesmith from the surface.”

No reaction. Everyone knew that already. They lowered their heads, though clearly, they weren’t fully convinced of Vivi’s strength yet.

“Up until today,” Vivi continued, “Shilman Fried enslaved me for his insane project of shooting a missile to the sun. I spent the time crafting armor to fight him instead.”

She then summoned her slingshot launcher and showed it to the demons. “This device can’t quite shoot missiles to the sun, but it’s powerful enough to harm colossi. I’m going to show you how to create a slingshot launcher.”