42

“Now then, where to begin.” Kreteo holds his hand at his chin as he thinks.

“With what was making you act so strangely, if that’s possible.” Kreteo smiles slightly.

“Very well. I was retiring for the day when a traveler appeared in our settlement. That itself was strange enough for me to have to involve myself—a traveler was a rare thing, and I can’t imagine it having changed. That man was Hyrtan. He introduced himself readily, and he seemed unsure of where he was, though I’m sure he must have. He seemed desperate at the time and he asked me to speak with our leader. I told him truthfully that it was me even if I ought to have given the responsibility to somebody else. At that point, I hadn’t slept in more than a day, so I wasn’t quite fit for any sort of decision making. Nonetheless we continued our conversation. He informed me of some sort of trouble, telling me that a powerful beast was lurking in a ruin near his village. He asked if I could spare some warriors to aid him. I couldn’t, of course, and I told him as such. I asked him if he knew where he was or what it meant that he was here and he confirmed my suspicions. I was very blunt with him, for there was no other way around it. I told him that I had no men to spare. He pleaded with me, asking if there was another way. I pitied the man, far from his home as he appeared to us, and could only apologize to him. I told him that if I could accompany him myself I would, but that I was unable to, for my mind would wander and I would find myself returned to my home. He smiled when I said that. He told me that, actually, he just so happened to have a tool that could help. If I were better rested, I’m sure I would have seen through such a trick. Alas, my judgement was impaired. I could not see his poison. He gave me some concoction and said to drink it. He told me that it would suppress my urges for two weeks, more than long enough to save his village, he promised. I downed it quickly. From then on, I was unable to go against his orders. Even if he told me to stop moving and wait until he allowed me to move once more, as though a statue, my body would follow his command. It’s been… two years or so since that day.” Kreteo seems unfazed by the story as he recounts it. He remains stone-faced even after. Sion, meanwhile, is shaking.

“So that was why you attacked me? It was under orders? And you’ve been forced to live like that for two years?”

“Indeed. That is the nature of the True Dracabanan Army. They utterly lack decency and have no respect for anybody else. Completely self-absorbed! From the very beginning, their goal is only their own self-gain.”

“What?”

“Their cause has nothing to do with Dracabana, only themselves. They see themselves as having been robbed, and by usurping the throne they will restore what they are owed. They have no intention of doing anything for Dracabana. I doubt they have even thought that far, from what I’ve heard.”

“To hurt so many people…” Sion grits his teeth.

“On that note, perhaps I ought to tell you the orders I was given. The first was that I could not leave a certain radius from the spire, trapping me here. This was necessary because, as you saw, I regain a degree of control of myself if I have orders given but no way to fulfill them. In this case, my orders were to attack and kill enemies, with the exception of the princess. I was given a list of names, and, as you saw, I lost all free will when I heard yours.”

“A list? Why didn’t this Hyrtan just set you loose?”

“I am strong, so I suppose he wanted to use me against prime targets.”

“Can you tell me the list?”

“Of course. The list was ordered based on who to prioritize. It began: Princess Evangelina, Aevum Limen Mirus, Linea, Rebello Faegen, the Argent, Scima Yslende, you, and Anima Tredan.”

“Who is ‘the Argent?’ And why are me and Anima targets?”

“The Argent is the man who was with you, I believe. It seems Hyrtan had not uncovered his name in time and as such only had the epithet. To answer the second question, of course you would be a target. From the moment you aided the princess Hyrtan was searching for you through his networks. For this Anima, I assume she is a friend of yours, and as such she would of course also be a target. If I remember correctly, Gitsung, another commander, was planning some sort of petty harassment, though I never learned what became of that.”

“Harassment?”

“Yes. I never learned what it would be, or if it even came to fruition, but that’s what I heard. Though I suppose I heard it only in the vapid rants of Hyrtan. At the time, she was already preparing everything she needed for her attack on the academy. However, it seems news of Anima becoming your companion had reached her quickly, though I never heard anything about her monitoring you, and so she planned something that might weaken the princess’s party.”

“I see. Then why were we never attacked along the way?”

“If nothing else, the True Dracabanan Army makes thorough preparations for every outcome. The goblins Hyrtan first sent, the bandits set loose within Clea, both were losses the supreme commander was willing to incur. However, any plan involving one of the commanders would risk showing their hand, so they had been holding back on them. I believe that this attack was largely incidental, relatedly.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Hyrtan is a scientist by trade. I’ve gathered from what the Argent had said when we met that Hyrtan is likely Sar, and that for some reason or another he is studying here. I believe he didn’t plan on attacking you today, but that the opportunity was too good for him to pass up. However, I can’t know for sure. He’s been leaving me blind and deaf recently. He must have wisened up to the fact that I had been listening in on every plan he makes. Though If I’m right, it points to a shift in tactics which might be a cause for greater caution.”

“I understand. Thank you, Mr. Kreteo.”

“It was no trouble at all, young Sion.”

In the corner of his dark eye, Kreteo spots a large bird flying past. He recognizes it, then grits his teeth.

“Young Sion, I saw Hyrtan’s mount. I believe he’s fled to that spire. Come. Let us move quickly. We can stop him here, before he can hurt anybody else.” When Kreteo begins to move, he feels a shuddering pain throughout his body and begins to groan.

“Mr. Kreteo!” Kreteo composes himself.

“Worry not, Young Sion, I doubt this is because of you. It is likely the result of breaking that curse. Go on ahead of me; you are strong enough alone. Young Sion, stop Hyrtan.” Sion takes a moment to look upon Kreteo. He then nods resolutely and turns towards the spire.

“Yes sir, I’ll definitely put an end to this!”