Chapter 45: A Qualm's Plan

Sets of footsteps echoed against the narrow path of the lower eastern halls as Baccas and Zaeh were trailing behind me, talking to each other. After my victory against Guil, he was taken to the area in where the healers and medics were yesterday. There were still many questions in the air about just how involved Guil was, and the reasons behind his actions and whomever else he was working for. In regard to that, I was only given a name with no other information so far.

Eboracum. That was my first time hearing such name. Is it a place? A group, maybe? I can’t remember any name like that from MO. I just hope Guil will be as forthcoming as he was earlier, because if not...

I winced at the idea of having to look like a villain if he didn’t, and could only imagine the appalled expressions from the caretakers if I did have to force answers out of him. Beating on a seemingly helpless patient would definitely lead to some issues.

“I really, really hope it doesn’t reach that point.”

I sighed quietly to myself, and as I did, a sudden arm was thrown over my shoulders from behind. It was accompanied by a hearty voice that drilled into my ears, causing me to attempt in pulling away.

“Say, what exactly was that attack from earlier, human? Why didn’t you use it on me during our fight in the Labyrinth, huh, huh?!"
“...It was a—spur of the moment—kind of thing. I don’t even remember what exactly happened at the end of that fight... Now, can you please release me?”

Ignoring my request, Zaeh kept me in a loose and yet secure stranglehold as she turned slightly toward her companion.

“It was pretty interesting to watch, right, Baccas?”
“I have to agree, it was like a jousting lance of wind. I don’t believe either of us would have been able to perfectly block against an attack like that on a moment’s notice.”
“Weak! You gotta think outside the box! That’s why you’d have to...”

Their discussion was drowned out by my own forming thoughts on the matter. It wasn’t as if I didn’t remember, I just didn’t exactly understand what had happened back then. In all of my rage, every move and thought was pushed forward with the intent of defeating Guil—that's it. I was originally planning on using [Condensed Force Push] to finish the fight, yet before I realized it, I had already called upon my Spirit of Wind as it coated my quarterstaff.

And yet the interaction and result between the two spells felt seamless... And those words, just where did they even come from?

I could remember a stray thought creep by as the two had merged at that moment. A chant, of sorts.

“Whispered naught, but with the ire of silence you forged the piercing eye of your storm. By thy providence, by thy title worn—the wisp of the empyrean wind is born: [Divine Gale].”

Intrusive, its arrival was a sudden one—and in the heat of the moment—I had invoked said chant somehow. My understanding of the why and how though, was still absent. And it would have to remain that way for now as we approached the location where Guil was being held. I could see him slightly moving in the distance, bruised and all, as a result of the damage I inflicted on him. He was currently being healed by a single Cleric.

“We’ll leave you to whatever it is you came for then, human! I need to ready myself for my own fight anyways—and he’s tagging along.”

Finally releasing me, she created distance between her and myself as she now stood near Baccas. Yet, they kept standing and chatting about nonetheless.

“All this watching without doing any fighting of my own is a rather unpleasant feeling... My opponent was the only one that didn’t show up after all...”
“Would going against that masked, white blob-like creature from yesterday even be considered a fight? It didn’t look strong.”
“Anything is better than nothing, Zaeh. I didn’t even get to fight in the Labyrinth either due to that swordman’s...”

As they continued while slowly walking away, I decided to go about my own business. Approaching Guil, his eyes were closed as he seemed stable in his composed breathing. The Cleric was evidently doing her job well. I took this chance to finally do what I was unable to earlier.

Name: [Guil]
Rank: [Human]
Level: [40]
Class: [Fighter]
Alignment: [Chaotic Neutral]
INFO:
Titles - [Qualm]

He was of a Level far lower than I thought he’d be, but it wasn’t as if his air bullets—or strikes—were too damaging either. I could remember it feeling as if I were being jabbed by a dulled and thick knife during our fight.

I guess that makes sense though. He was nowhere near Zaeh’s display of strength from the start. But how was he able to create that mirage and conceal himself?

He wasn’t a mage of any sort. And as he remained lying down while wrapped in gauze, clothes near his side and all, I could see a small necklace sitting on top. Looking at it, my question was answered. A necklace of mischief, one that created a body double and concealed the wearer—[Necklace of Coupled Illusion]. Eying it in silence for several seconds, an idea came to mind.

Yeah, I’m taking that. It’s better for everyone if someone like him did not have such an item.

I summoned a [Flight of the Fairy], pointing to the spectral bird and showing off its healing ability, I then relieved the Cleric of her duty. It was just him and I now as the bird hovered over him and continued healing. I wanted him to be fully aware and be able to explain every detail after all. And after several minutes, he awoke.

“Good morning, Guil. How are you feeling?”
“Ugh... My head and—ugh, my chest...!”

He clutched at his gauze covered chest in pain as he writhed slightly in place.

Yeah, he seems fine and ready.

“Now, Guil, I think you have a bit of explaining to do. Don’t you think so too?”
“...Huh...? Explaining...? What do you—HOLD ON!?”

With the slight swelling of mana at its tip, I placed my quarterstaff horizontally across his chest. And as his eyes shifted from the quarterstaff to my person, he seemingly realized what I was gently hinting at. Yet a bit of hesitance flickered across his face before he finally gave in after some thought.

“Fine... But at least remove that weapon from my battered body first!”
“All right. I’m rather satisfied that we could come to a quick and mutual agreement.”

I smiled his way, one that was from the heart, as I removed my quarterstaff. He sighed, keeping his eyes now on the darkened ceiling above. I was glad I didn’t actually have to resort to a more brutal approach—a more problematic end result.

“And? What do you want to hear...?”
“Everything.”
“...Can’t you be a bit more specific...?”
“Hm, then how about this. Why did you kidnap the child of Euler and Alisa in the first place?”

In a moment of silent thought, he then answered.

“Their child is special. We were informed that their child was born with a particular trait—one that’s immeasurably rare and sought after.”

I attempted to cross match any rare “traits” from my knowledge of what I knew from MO. Nothing had come to mind, until I thought about something else entirely. Not a trait, but a title instead. In a whisper, I prompted the question.

“A Heavenly Virtue...?”

Guil’s eyes immediately darted my way as he then gave a half-smirk.

“So, you weren’t completely in the dark after all. I’m surprised you know about that. Yes, it was a Heavenly Virtue. Upon hearing that another one was located, I volunteered since it involved Alisa.”

From there, he continued. The one master in whom he served amid the three separated divisions of the group he was a part of—Eboracum—was a resident of Nefra themselves. In constant contact with that person, Guil frequented the capital often throughout the years. His unabashed obsession with the daughter of the Phyron family was clear, as he immediately demanded the task be his in hearing her name.

“Before heading out, I was told to give word to the Phyron family, since it involved their own daughter... We of the Eboracum refrain from provoking toward bad blood between us and the Triskeles after all.”

He gritted his teeth as his voice shook slightly.

“...Yet, you know what that bastard said to me when I told him we found Alisa and was planning on returning her to the capital?”

His eyes met my own now, and they were soddened in an oozing, bloodshot anger as they twitched.

“That they’ve long since forgotten about that whore and want nothing to do with her! Brazen be the crumb-bespeckled jesters, laying in the mess of that in which they dined! That jester then said to do whatever we wanted with her—take her, use her, sell her—even if it led to her death!”

In a sea of lavishes and apathy, they verbally disowned their own daughter without a care. Along with some Seekers—the grunts of Eboracum—he then headed for the port city of Lindes, where they were told the family was residing. He had no intention of making the task quick and simple though.

“I only have but one regret in life, and that is allowing that man to take what should have been rightfully mine! That man, Euler, is nothing more than a coward, a failed Qualm nonetheless.”
“...Euler was a part of Eboracum...?”

I sat in disbelief to Guil’s reveal, but I still hadn’t known what Eboracum truly was or their beliefs. And that was my next question. Yet, he could only inform me about their structure.

“Seekers are mindless whelps, forced to seek out those with Virtues and other certain targets. Qualms, like myself, are those that remain with an ego and handle the more complicated work. That being said, we’re still nothing more than just overrated Seekers in the end. And I don’t care about what the masters of the organization believe in, or what their goals and motivations are—I do work for them and that’s it.”

It wasn't simply because he didn't want to inform me on why they sought after those with Virtues and how, it was because he couldn't. In asking what he meant by Euler being a failed Qualm, that though, he refrained from answering.

“Ask him yourself. If he’s even still in this city, that is.”

Moving on, he continued his earlier explanation.

“We arrived in Lindes and I decided to toy with that bastard! Can you blame me?! Sure, I could have simply taken their child, killed him there and took Alisa for myself—but no. Where’s the fun in that?”

Masquerading as representatives from the Phyron family, he removed the child from their custody, only to then send a letter in regard to how to get him back. Of course, a letter from those that were never actually going to do what was written.

“I used my connections to provide a house for them to stay in and all. I knew of their financial position too, and figured they wouldn’t be able to hire a substitute either, yet dangled the prospect nonetheless.”

He hadn’t accounted for someone like myself, apparently. And not only that, he didn’t think Alisa would be harmed during the first trial due to her prior experience. He bit his lip in clear frustration as he then spewed a rather deranged remark.

“Her suffering, her pleasure, her happiness should all come from my hands—and my hands alone. Yet, there was a sudden unknown in that arena with her. A man that carved his way through the Labyrinth itself with a single blade, one that held no care toward the possible causalities! Toward my clumsy beloved...”

This guy... He really is twisted and delusional...

I couldn’t help feel that thought ripple across my entirety like unwelcomed goosebumps. He wasn’t well in the head in the slightest. Yet, I still needed answers, so I listened quietly as he continued.

“I even confronted him, you know?! That masked bastard didn’t seem to care either! I would have killed him, if only I could, but I am not so foolish to believe I could beat that man in a fair fight.”

I was immediately reminded of a masked man from earlier that day, one that was looking around for something or someone. Yet, before I could give it more thought, he suddenly mentioned something that involved me.

“I then heard Euler’s name be called amongst those who had survived the Labyrinth. It wasn’t until later that I learned he had called upon a substitute. That’s not surprising though. A coward will always be a coward. We’re humans—not lizardmen—we can’t simply regrow spines as they do tails. Ha.”

A continuous display of deep-seeded hatred for Euler, unabating in its consistency. I was curious, but there were more important things to learn first.

“I had planned on dropping the scheme all together today. Handing that child to my master, killing that rodent, Euler, and finally, finally—ah! Finally having her in my arms! All mine! But...”

He had seen the tournament order—the fact that him and Euler—were scheduled to fight each other. In addition, Euler had gone missing from the boarding house shortly before our match. He came to two sudden and separate conclusions. Euler would either take part in the tournament’s second trial, himself, or he would have already decided to run away from it all.

“I decided to take the gamble, to see who it was that would take the stage. If it was him, I would have taken that moment to—so very slowly—break him. Yet, that wasn’t the case, since you appeared instead.”

A side-eyed glare came from his battered self as he then looked away.

“Alisa and that child are both waiting at the old church in the slums. They won’t be moved anywhere until I give the word. The Seekers won’t touch them, nor will any loitering Qualms—since it’s my job after all. Do what you will.”

My eyes widened in surprise as he revealed their whereabouts unprompted. Honestly, his whole explanation felt a bit weird as he belonged to such an enigmatic group, and yet he seemed akin to a canary singing an unhinged tune.

“You’re more talkative than I thought you’d be, Guil. Don’t people usually show some sort of hush-hush stance and absolute loyalty to secret groups like Eboracum?”

In a calm and collected gaze, his final comment seemed like the least crazed thing he had said during our whole conversation thus far.

“Ha. The only loyalty I have is toward my own life.”

I wasn’t given all of the answers I had wanted, but definitely the important few I needed. An organization referred to as Eboracum, and specifically Guil, had been at the center of Euler and Alisa’s plights. And with Guil’s further involvement now put to an end, the situation was fixable. A young child with a Heavenly Virtue, a woman and prior heir disowned by one of the Triskeles, and a man with ties to a society referred to as Eboracum that hunt those with Virtues. It was definitely quite the strange family to get wrapped in with.

That means I have no other reason to take part in this tournament either. I should quickly head to the slums and make sure they’re safe. I can look for Euler after.

Lifting myself from the ground, I glanced at Guil, to which he apparently noticed—waving me off like a pest as he turned to his side while quietly voicing his pain. The man was crazed, to say the least, but I didn’t have any further reasons to involve myself with him—especially after I was done checking in on the old church.

Still, is it really a good idea to let this man just run around, freely? Should I bring him to the guards or something—?”

Suddenly, several staff members were quickly making their way down the hall, frantic in both movement and expressions. One of them looked our way, but not at us in particular. Seemingly eying the nearby Cleric from before, the staff member shouted—unintentionally—as her voice cracked.

“Salle! Did you hear the news yet?!”
“Huh? No, I haven’t...? What happened?”
“Everyone is talking about it! The previous Magister was found dead in his residence!”

The Cleric, Salle, gasped in a sudden shock to the staff member’s reveal, whereas I could only ruminate on why that had sounded so familiar as I whispered to myself.

“Magister...? Wasn’t Eru going to see the previous Magister? What was his name again?”

Behind me, a sudden voice then spoke up that startled and confused me far more than the initial tidbit. Guil's expression was drained completely now.

“Master Elemnin is dead...?”