Chapter 25: The Daggers of Truth

Asual said, “Zephric, use the sleeping spell.”

Zephric began casting slowly. “Sun God, grant me your twenty-eight bullets.” Suddenly, a circle appeared under the rogue monkey, and ten fireballs rained down on its legs. The monkey screamed, “Opkino… op.ki… no!”

Then another circle appeared above its head. Four fireballs shot forward, and four fell behind. Asual shouted, “Stabilize it at once!”

All thirteen members of the group stabbed the rogue monkey simultaneously. It dropped fourteen black daggers, each with a strange, unique shape. Everyone tried to open them, but they couldn’t. Frustrated, the twelve of them threw the daggers to the ground.

Maelis asked, “What’s up with you guys?”

Mateo replied, “Pick up the daggers.” He handed one to Maelis. “We can use these daggers, but we must say something in return.”

Mateo instructed everyone, “Move one hand forward and the other down.” Light enveloped them. He then asked, “Who has something to write?” Everyone searched their belongings but found nothing.

Ofurd suggested, “Why don’t we use Asual’s map?”

“Good idea,” Mateo said. He started writing with his dagger. His dagger glowed, forming the word: mootii. Thrynn’s dagger read kee, Lorfer’s Ani, Valtor’s f, Qyren’s i, Zephric’s g, Orvian’s a, Kryndel’s b, Jorvek’s r, Ofurd’s i, Luar’s c, Kamil’s h, and Maelis’ a.

Mateo combined the letters: mootiikeeAnifigabricha. He drew a circle around it and wrote turtii natti agarsiisi. Clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and Mateo said, “Show me the truth.”

The letters floated into the sky, rearranging into Ani mootii fi kee garbicha ok. Asual and the others stared, confused. Mateo explained, “It says, ‘I am the king, and you are the slave.’”

“We have to do this together,” Mateo instructed. “Forgive me, Asual, for your map,you’ll need another one.”

They all chanted simultaneously: “I am the king, and you are the slave.” Thirteen voices, including Mateo’s, echoed the words. The fourteen daggers shot into the sky, swirling in a ritual.

Mateo instructed, “Catch your dagger. When the blade appears, cut your hand and feed it your blood. It must know its true master.”

Everyone cut the middle of their right hand lightly. Mateo explained, “Point the blood at your dagger.” Suddenly, everyone collapsed for fifteen minutes.

Mateo awoke, worried. “I forgot,they’re not strong enough. I need to help them return.” He arranged them in a straight line and said, “Come back, my children.”

A voice boomed from the void. Mateo asked, “Why did you interrupt my work?”

A deep voice replied, “I am not Erevos. I am the Chief itself.” Mateo trembled, kneeling. “Forgive me, my king,” he stammered.

The Chief said, “What can I do for you, my king?”

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