Chapter 31: The Shard of Valorance

They walked beneath the city for almost an hour. Vito saw older structures, such as encampments and even shop stalls. The air was never heavy or stale, suggesting some means by which to keep fresh air flowing even underground.

Iris pushed a door open and stepped into a dark room. It felt warm and humid, putting Vito on edge. Even Iris was confused by the change in atmosphere. She pushed on the adjoining door to leave the tunnels, but it wouldn’t move an inch.

“Here, let me,” Vito offered. He pushed with all his might and triggered an opening mechanism. The door slid into the wall sideways and revealed a large potted plant blocking their way. Confused, Vito pushed the pot out of the way as steam and sweet, flowery scents wafted into the tunnel.

“It’s a sauna,” Vito observed. Women were lounging around on tables and chairs, and relaxing in pools. Other women were giving massages to wealthy patrons. Many had long since discarded their clothing.

“Oh? What a nice surprise,” a nearby woman spoke. “I didn’t know we would receive extra treatment.” The guests and employees looked at Vito and Iris with great interest.

“Well, we aim to please,” Vito replied with a devilish smirk. The woman lightly laughed and began to move toward him.

“We do not!” Iris snapped, her cheeks tinged with pink. She commanded the steam to pick up and obscure their vision. “Let’s go!” She grabbed Vito’s wrist and pulled him along.

She raced out of the spa and didn’t release Vito until they stepped outside. “That was supposed to be an old house guarded by allies of the church, not a gaudy spa.”

Vito looked around and recognized the area. “Oh, that’s my fault,” he admitted.

“What?!”

“Yes. After the homeowners died, their children wanted to sell their home and move closer to the castle so they could get invites to balls and galas,” he began. “I suggested that Greye buy it and open a sauna. He wasn’t too sure, but the Breath of Ethys had turned a great profit for the guild almost immediately. We get nobles and even some commoners here all day and night.”

Iris sighed in frustration. “Then what was that about an ‘extra treatment,’ Vito?”

“I have no idea. We don’t sell those kinds of services. This is a perfectly legitimate and respectable business, last I checked.”

Iris heaved another sigh and pulled her hood over her head. “Let’s carry on and discuss your takeover of one of our tunnel entrances later.”

“Hey, it’s plenty secure. We have top-of-the-line security working here,” he playfully argued.

Iris shook her head and began to walk away. Vito laughed and fell into step beside her.

They returned to the Silver Oak Guild hamlet just as orange streaks began to paint the dark sky above. “It’s almost sunrise. You can stay at my place if you’d like. I have a spare bedroom,” Vito offered.

Iris smiled kindly. “I will take you up on your offer. Thank you.”

The hamlet was quiet, save for a few chirping birds and insects, and the sounds of water flowing through the river. The embers of dying torches lit the dirt paths that ran through the hamlet.

Vito greeted the watchmen who stood at the entrance. The guild was on high alert, and watchmen were posted around the hamlet’s perimeter to protect them.

His cabin was close to his parents’ by their own request. He unlocked the door and waved Iris in. She activated the light stones at a distance to illuminate his humble abode.

“This is nice,” Iris commented. The main room consisted of a table, some chairs, cabinets, and counters. He built everything with his father and brother. Drawings sat on the counter and hung on the wall. Iris recognized some people, but not all of them.

“This man looks like you. Who is he?” Iris pointed to a larger drawing on the wall.

“My father and brother from Earth. John and Christopher DeCapio.” They stood side-by-side, dressed in the finest black suits. The family villa stood behind them.

Vito moved out of his parents’ home a few years ago. He wanted to keep his former life a secret, but he didn’t want to forget it, so he committed much of his life to secret journals and artworks. He also lit candles to mark birthdays for his family.

“They seem kind, like you,” she said.

“They are,” he said, walking over to his cabinet and gathering some food. “Take a seat, I’ll make a quick meal before bed.”

Iris sat at the table and retrieved her materials to create Vito’s gunpowder. She used her staff to levitate the exact measurements into small containers while following his written instructions. He enjoyed watching her while he made minestrone. His pot simmered over the makeshift stove he made beside the counter. The delectable scent reached Iris, and he could hear her stomach rumble. She seemed flustered, much to his amusement.

The table was soon cleared, and the two dined together. Iris’s face lit up after the first spoonful. “This is amazing!” she exclaimed.

Vito smiled. “I’m glad you like it. There’s plenty more if you want seconds.”

Iris resisted the urge to scarf everything down and ate like a proper noblewoman. She sipped on the tea he brewed for them. “Thank you.”

Once they were finished, Vito put the rest of the soup away and set the used dishes and pot in the sink with a purification magic stone to clean everything for him. His eye came across the case Father Mertis gave him, and his curiosity got the better of him.

Vito set the case on the table and opened it. “A knife?” He lifted the weapon and used Scan. “The Shard of Valorance. The edge of the ancient hero Azorious’s blade,” he read the menu.

Iris closely examined it. The weapon seemed like an ordinary knife. “Fascinating. Azorious is one of the founders of his kingdom. He sat as its first king, and his bloodline continues to rule to this day.”

“Why does the church have such an important weapon? Rather, why is it broken?” Vito was confused. The Shard of Valorance is still an S-Rank Divine-Class weapon.

“I don’t know the answer to either question. The Blade of Valorance is still on display in the throne room. If Father Mertis and you both agree that this is a part of it, then perhaps it is a forgery that hangs in the castle.”

A bright smile formed on Iris’s lips. “And Ivalis has tasked you to unlock its power!”

Vito read the menu again. “It says here that its power will awaken when special hearts are opened to its chosen wielder.”

“I wonder what that means. Azorious was known to have a formidable party, and he said he wielded his blade for them. Perhaps you need specific party members to wield its true power.”

He spun the knife in his hand to get a feel for it. “Magic or not, this is a good knife. It’s better than the one I use now.” He retrieved a sheath from a nearby chest and equipped the knife on his belt.

His menu appeared and informed him of his new title: Divine Weapon Bearer, a title that allowed him easy use of Divine-Class items. He quickly reviewed older notifications from the battle at Orinis, such as his rise to level 35 and his new title, Dark Guild Bane, a title that allowed him to do extra damage to dark guild members.

“Just remember to use it for noble deeds,” Iris instructed him.

“Naturally,” he promised.