Chapter 68: Mission and accountability

When the train finally arrived at its terminus at Sidimian station I was, as it were, relieved. The supernatural cold formed by the ghosts had given way to a series of gusts of wind that lifted the scarf around my neck. I was then escorted by two individuals. The first was a strange man with black skin and as tall as a giant, about 2 meters or more. He had the same strange glasses as Annabelle's friend, his raincoat covered his entire body, he had gloves on his hands and wear hike boots. In his right hand he held the enormous sleeping bag that served as my suitcase and in the other a sheath probably containing a sword. The second person was much less singular, a mature woman of about 25 years old, she dressed like the desperadoes you meet on Ascheritz. Brown hair properly braided, a leather vest and yellow and black striped pants, a white shirt underneath, riding boots and a khaki colored coat as well as a cowboy hat. Added to this was the revolver on her belt and her whip. Just by looking at her she seemed to have more life experience than me and yet I was clearly the oldest. As I got off the train escorted by these two individuals I found two other unusual people waiting for me at the platform. Another duo but this time it was the girl who had black skin with an abnormally silver hair color and red eyes? The man was small, about 1m70, or less. Onyx hair, they both had a coat (green for the boy and blue for the girl) pants and boots, nothing extraordinary in short. The girl had a kind of box that she was carrying, it looked like a guitar case. And there was a dog with them, grayish fur and a strange pattern on its forehead. I knew from the moment we met that it was them I had to address. So I advanced with my unorthodox group in the direction after all there was only us on the train at that time of night the station was almost empty.

-Don't come any closer. The man ordered.

I stopped dead in my tracks and the other two did the same. The man in front of me kept his hands in his pockets while the girl remained in profile behind him. I had the unpleasant feeling that a shootout could break out at any moment.

-Identify yourselves. The man ordered. Each one in turn. We start with you. He said, pointing at me.

I was a little surprised by his request but I stared at the other two and the giant nodded at me to cooperate.

-Edmond Ed Monde 4. I'm here for...

-Say no more. Your turn. He said, staring at the giant.

The latter placed my bag on the ground as if to get rid of the weight it represented, then he firmly grasped the case in his hand.

-Call me Ferdinand. Ferdinand De Metz. I'm here as a bodyguard, nothing more.

-From Metz? The man repeated. Do you have any connection with the knights of the Order of Galhia?

-I think it's up to the lady to introduce herself. He added dryly.

All eyes turned to the lady who nonchalantly raised her hand to her pistol.

-Chantal. Just Chantal. I don't have a fancy name like you and I'm just here for the bounty. He added. Besides, I have a secret. I talk to spirits and animals.

The mystery man arched an eyebrow then took his hands out of his pockets.

-It's okay, you're in the right place. He declared in a less hostile tone. Call me Rico. She's Tuli and she doesn't speak your languages. The dog is hers, his name is Warno and he's not a dog.

-Wait don't tell me it's... I asked scared.

-Don't worry. He bites. Rico said sarcastically. Now follow me.

De Metz picked up my bag and we started to follow this strange duo. But from what little I had understood we were a rather special group. De Metz and Chantal are acquaintances of Annabelle. From what I know she met Chantal during a poker game in Yorkshire on Ascheritz, De Metz is a total mystery and if what I heard about him being linked to knights the mystery thickens even more. How and where does he know Annabelle? Why is he with her. As for these two I guess to the accent that the young man is Elysian. Judging by his way of speaking and the aura he gives off he is very clearly a killer. I would say the same for the girl she gives off a natural hostility towards us except him. Given her skin tone I would lean towards a Jeritza. Since she doesn't understand our language I would say a native of the continent, although I heard that Elysion had suffered a revolt recently this girl must have been part of it. Damn how did I end up surrounded by such dangerous people? That said I still have to put things in context.

3 days earlier.

I really didn't expect this. The man in front of me, Anna's mystery friend, was actually a Noble, and a big one at that. Count Cailum is a local celebrity in Inglesia, especially since the case of the crazy flames, I heard that he had briefly served in the Duchy's army before abruptly ending his career for an unknown reason. I remember his face, he was the man who had dared to outbid the king when buying the crystal. Faced with a man of such caliber, I suspect that my story must hold water, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get his help. Worse, he could take the flute from me and ruin everything.

-Speak, I'm listening. He said in an authoritative voice. And make the effort to make it interesting.

-Well. My name is Edmond Ed Monde. More precisely Edmond Ed Monde 4th of the name. I am sure that you have already heard of us for a noble as eminent as you.

He crossed his arms and tilted his head in thought and I'm sure his eyes widened behind his glasses when he realized who I was.

-Edmon "ED" Monde ? I see. Everything is clear. I understand why Annabelle is accompanying you.

-You are seriously mistaken. She growled. Explain to him Ed.

-Ahem... Well.

Monde family is the richest family in the world. Or more precisely, was the richest family in the world until 19 years ago. We had so much money and we fed in mass that we easily count for 20% of the economy. Recently a series of laws and restrictions have ended up limiting our power and diminishing our influence, despite everything we remain as important as the 4 founding families. But this wealth hides a secret. About 387 years ago, the master of Sigmund's castle, Lord Sigmund and lord of Sidimian came into possession of a very strange artifact. A staff with mystical powers giving him access to worlds in the different plane of existence.

-Heimdall's staff. Said Lord Cailum.

Among these worlds it is said that one of them led directly to the treasure room of the gods. A treasure of unsuspected immensity must have been there. Inspired by the stories of Ragnarok and the second titanomachy Sigmund got it into his head that the gods must all be dead and therefore their treasure was there waiting for someone to help themselves. Whether he was right or not the answer remained to our imagination but he decided to lead an expedition there anyway. A hundred warriors dozens of knights and a thousand slaves, commoners serfs and so on. My ancestor Edmond Ed Monde first of the name took part in this expedition. He was then only a simple Serf but he was the only survivor of the expedition. What happened during this first expedition has never been reconciled in the family archives.

-Censorship is so convenient.

The fact remains that when he returned from this expedition he was rich. Extremely rich.

-Batman Rich?

-Who's Batman? Annabelle asked.

Anyway, my ancestor was now the richest man around. And far from being stupid, he built a financial empire based on trade and war. He financed the armies of the court but also the construction of ships and castles. Before we even knew it, he had become an important part of the organism that represented the kingdom of Inglesia at the time. The years passed and my ancestors took advantage of it to extend their influence within the empire but also on the other side. Because yes, they led expeditions to the other side. Thanks to the staff, people were sent there, mercenaries, soldiers and all sorts of things. It had become an ecosystem a bit like a dungeon. Of course, the activities were kept secret. Whoever entered it was not allowed to leave without authorization and whoever betrayed the secret was burned, he and his family.

-Brutal say Annabelle.

-But effective. With that the risks of escape were less. Added Lord Cailum.

The dungeon was far from safe though as there were all sorts of strange creatures in it. Monsters like those described in books from the era of the gods. Monsters like cyclops, chimeras, manticores and whatnot.

-Dragons? Were there dragons? Lord Cailum asked with frightening enthusiasm.

-Let him talk, damn it. You keep interrupting him, Annabelle finished. Go on, keep going.

I don't know if there were dragons but there were definitely things inside. When I was little I didn't believe in those stories at all. To me they were just legends. Plus I went down to the caves of Sigmund's castle when I was a kid, apart from bats there wasn't much. At least until that day 19 years ago.

-In the year 1002? I was still in stasis at the time. Lord Cailum said.

-The North East region of Sidimian, where the castle is located, was attacked. Monsters came out of nowhere and started slaughtering people. I saw Harpies in the sky eviscerating young girls, I saw cylopes and chimeras crushing people under their feet.

As I explained it my arms were shaking. My voice was also shaking; this experience had been extremely traumatic for me.

-My... My own mother was eaten alive before my eyes by a cyclops. I said as tears flowed from my eyes. At the time I didn't feel anything, I didn't cry or scream. Nothing. I was too young to realize what had just happened. My younger brothers even less. It was when I woke up a few days later at the royal palace of Lunden that I understood what had just happened. It was real.

I looked up, staring at Lord Cailum.

-IT WAS REAL. I yelled. So go ahead. Mock me, Tell me I'm crazy, tell me these are just the ramblings of a man who's no longer in his right mind. Tell me I'm possessed or that I'm losing my mind, after all my father managed to convince my brothers that this was all just a nightmare.

-Ed. Annabelle said, staring at me with a worried look.

-Go ahead Anna, say it. I know you don't believe a word I say either. But I haven't been entirely honest with you either. I said, letting out a nervous laugh. Where we're going, the place is infested with the worst demons because yes, we lost the staff and the monsters from the other side continued to burst into our world. It's been 19 years now that no one has done anything.

I turned to Lord Cailum with a desperate look.

-My family decided to turn a blind eye. The king decided to turn a blind eye. My father acts like none of this is real.

In a rage I punched the metal door of the train with my fist. Alas I was too angry to be in pain.

-But I know I'm not crazy. Otherwise they wouldn't have built that huge wall around Sidimian. They wouldn't have set up checkpoints to control who comes in and who goes out. And most importantly they wouldn't have covered up the disappearance of over 500 people in the last 19 years. I yelled.

I was furious just talking about it. I burst into tears. I look ridiculous in front of these young people. They must think I'm crazy or retarded. Especially Cailum. I heard he was a pragmatic and rational man and nothing I just said makes sense.

-Before going further said Lord Cailum. Confirm 2 things. What is the role of the Lullaby in this story?

I wiped my tears and sat on a box.

-Seven years ago, the body of a little girl in the region south of Sidimian was found near a river. The case caused a stir because she was the daughter of a Baron. The press spoke of a wild dog.

-A wild dog?! Annabelle wondered.

-What the press did not mention is that it took 57 bullets to defeat this dog and that it also cost the lives of 2 police officers.

My statement sent a chill down my spine and I saw Lord Cailum and Annabelle's gaze harden. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed.

-It wasn't a wild dog, it was a Wolfen.

-A... A Wolfen, are you sure? Annabelle cried. It's impossible, we can find them...

-In the Alps of Regalia on the continent Ascheritz I know. And those again are dwarves compared to the one I saw. He was huge and his skin was thick. No wonder the police had trouble shooting him with their guns.

-At risk of repeating myself. Lord Cailum said in a serious voice. What is the connection with the Lullaby?

Tch. He was starting to get on my nerves. I stood up and took a few steps before standing in front of him.

-There's that we lost Heimdall's Staff when we escaped from Sidimian. There's that this attack so deep outside the security cordon proves that the portal has widened and that monsters have started to invade us. And there's that the Lullaby is the only thing in the world capable of closing this portal instead of the fucking Staff. So I don't know if you've read many novels about the end of the world but that's exactly what's going to happen if I don't go to this fucking portal to start the fucking recital that will close this fucking door once and for all.

Aaah that felt good. But I felt like crap for getting carried away like that. I went back to sit on the crate and buried my face in my palms.

-I'm sorry i'm just... Nevermind. 

I must do it

-No I have to do it. It's my family who is at the origin of all this, it's my responsibility. I have to do it. Or other people will die. It's my mission.

As I felt at my lowest point from talking about all this I saw Lord Cailum burst out laughing. What the... What the hell is wrong with this guy? I just explained the whole story to him and he finds it funny? No, that's not it. He must just think I'm an idiot. He clearly doesn't believe me and most of all he must think I'm crazy. He took off his glasses momentarily to wipe his eyes then fixed me with an amused smile.

-Hahahahaaha I definitely love this world. He declared. Hail Ares for allowing me to live in such a place. Even in my wildest dreams I would not have imagined such a scenario.

-From... From what? Why is he talking about Ares?

-The castle with a thousand treasures you told me about, I suppose it's Sidimian's castle, right? He asked.

I nodded then he turned to Anna.

-So I think I know what interests you.

-No comment. She declared.

He then turned to me with a look of fascination and put his revolver back in his coat.

-Rest assured, I'm only looking for the Lullaby. Originally I was going to take it from you no matter what you planned to do with Müller, but your story convinced me. I definitely didn't expect to find it in a quest as noble as "saving the world". Haha I like it. He put his hands on my shoulders. And I declare that I put all the resources of the clan at your disposal.

The clan? What is he talking about? He wants me to be part of his family? It's true that he has a sister, she was even elected Miss Lunden or something like that. No no focus Ed Monde 4. You have a mission you have to stay focused.

-That said Ophelia. He said looking at Annabelle. You go away for 5 months without saying a word and you suddenly reappear in the middle of something so huge. I think you owe me an explanation, don't you think?

-Hahaha. And where do you want me to start?

-The beginning would be good.

-Alas I fear that the story is much too long. I will join my comrades at the front of the train to see if they are not injured.

-No. He announced. You and I are going back to Lunden. After all. If I followed your story correctly, King Frostbane is well and truly aware of this story, isn't he? He asked, staring at me again.

I nodded.

-That's perfect.

-What are you talking about? Sidimian is just after the next station. She pouted.

-It's his quest. He retorted. It's up to him to accomplish it and I'm afraid you'll take advantage of it to double-cross me in this story so I prefer to keep you close to me. I'll assign trusted men to guard him.

-Men? Knowing you, you're going to give him a battalion. I'm the one who found him, it's my expedition, I refuse to let you get involved.

-And yet friend Ed comes here to ask for my help. He smiles at me. That's why you told me your story, isn't it?

-Actually, I was planning on going discreetly. With too many people it would attract attention and everything.

-Hmm I see. How many men are in your group?

-Excluding Anna and me? I would say two others but I don't know them, they are friends of Annabelle.

-2 people. I see. In that case...

In the present time.

And that's how I ended up with these guards. I found myself in a car heading for a house. I don't know where we were going but from where I was sitting I could see the huge wall built by my ancestors to protect Sidimian. 20 meters high and 4 meters thick, an impressive wall indeed all built with materials taken from the dungeon. Today this wall built to contain the invader is the one that prevents these monsters from killing us. As the vehicle advanced we reached a cabin near a wood and the vehicle parked just behind. The little girl with the dog had followed us on a motorcycle, but had suddenly disappeared into the night. We each got out of our vehicles and De Metz retrieved my suitcase and my artifacts.

-Well Lord Cailum has a long arm. I commented.

Rico turned in my direction and frowned.

-Call him Lord C. He ordered me bluntly. He is neither your friend nor your playmate and I don't remember you serving together. You are now part of the clan you refer to him by this initial is that clear?

He was probably the most threatening man I've ever seen in my life, and yet he's a head shorter than me. I nodded in agreement.

-And this also applies to both of you, is that clear?

-Copy. Said De Metz.

-Yes yes. Said Chantal.

-Good. You two stay here. Mister Monde come with me inside.

-What? Just me?

-I think I'll come too. De Metz suggested.

I saw Rico pull out a gun and cock it before saying in a threatening tone.

-I don't remember asking your opinion. Mr. De Metz.

This one retracted. This Rico was definitely not someone easy to deal with. So I followed him to the entrance of the cabin but as he put his hand on the handle he plunged his gaze into mine.

-You are about to discover the clan's best kept secret. Very few people know his real identity and everything you see, say or exchange with him will be strictly confidential. If you ever let a single detail slip outside I will kill you, your father, your brothers and your sister, is that clear?

Dangerous. This guy was dangerous. And he's under Lord Cailum? I mean Lord C. Damn does he read minds too?

-It's clear. Very clear.

He opened the door. Inside was a man, sitting alone at the back of the room wearing a khaki wool sweater and green plaid pants. This man was blond but he was different from Lord C. Even more so his eyes were a captivating purple.

-Edmond, I present to you Hypnos. The God of Sleep and personal consultant of the clan on matters related to the divine.

-Hyp... nos?

The... The god of... Is this a JOKE?

TO BE CONTINUED