ROSARSIO

"Wait! I still have some questions," Aildrin said.

"And so do I!" Silas said. "But should we just stand here, ask questions, drink mead, get drunk, and wait for our deaths? Or shall we start this journey and save our arse down the road?"

"You mean my journey?"

"Partly, now move! Time is running out."

"Where?" Aildrin said. He and Silas were heading towards a wall.

"A secret tunnel. This is how I come and go to this place—Alistor's Sewers. Now hide the Soulsworth lest piss and dregs swim with it! And you don't want to lose that! That weapon can't go to the wrong hands. And don't you dare store it in that ugly dimensional space that your father created!"

"Sewers?" Aildrin said. "So where should I hide it? In that dirty cloth?"

"You never run out of questions, do you? No. You store it here," Silas said. He then pointed at Aildrin's necklace. "Your father got the inventory system's idea from this necklace. There you'll find its scabbard and some things you might need in your journey."

"What is this necklace, anyway?"

"It contains one of the ten gemstones found in the Wargod's crown," Silas said. "It's called Rosarsio, the ruby. The stones are conduits to the Wargod's Blessing. They provide their users with an enormous amount of mana, life force, awareness for impending danger, even flight, access to a better storeroom, and a unique ability. As for you, that would be health regeneration. But they don't come instantly. You must master the stone."

"Wow. But why didn't you use this to restore your power? And why did you give this to my father?"

"I tried, but it won't help me. And I gave it away because it demanded a new owner. Beware of Rosarsio; he's quite bold… Each of the stones has a name for a reason, for they have a life of their own. And a voice of their own, if you're only willing to listen. And it was said that once the ten are gathered, they'll pinpoint the Empty Throne's location. Wars were waged for this very reason."

"Hm. And where are the other nine?"

"That's what we're going to find out once I restore my power. Now move! And once you're out of the sewers, Sisa will lead you through a portal."

"But won't Karcel's servants already be there waiting for us?"

"Son, your father was a smart man. He saved this continent from days of travel by creating strategic portals for towns and cities. We won't pass through the main ones. Your father made me a special one. A secret portal only members of the alliance know," Silas said. He then winked.

"Great, I'll find Sisa. But how do I know that she's the one?"

"Because only she cares about the sewers. No one dares to endure their smell, nor even clean it. Plus, she'll show you the soul card. Now, store that weapon already. And may you return with good news. Along the way, you'll find plenty of enemies and so with friends. But don't you dare give up! Move!"

"Rosarsio, store my sword!" Aildrin said while holding the necklace.

Silas slapped his forehead. "Son, it does not work like that. Here, let me." Aildrin gave the Soulsworth back to him.

Then, without warning, Silas plunged it to Aildrin's chest. Aildrin's eyes widened, but it was too late to dodge. Rosarsio glowed and a vibrant red light absorbed Soulsworth.

"There! That's how you do it," Silas said.

Aildrin gasped for breath. "You could have warned me! So how do I—" The stone floor beneath him caved in and he fell straight to the murky water that reeked of humans.

"Enough of questions for today," Silas said while dusting off his hands. The earth closed and Aildrin was gone for good. "Now, I can finally enjoy my Hornpub's Mead!" He then waltzed back to the barrel.

The rancid smell bombarded Aildrin's nose; he could not even open his mouth, even if he wanted to scream. He plunged straight to the cold, rushing water.

Aildrin's necklace glowed once again and covered his entire body with a red aura. The smell disappeared and warmth replaced the cold. Then a mechanical male voice sounded. "How dare you bring me here, you fool!"

"Rosarsio, is that you?" Aildrin said. He clasped the necklace and waited for a face to come out.

"Stop calling me that name! Just call me Sars for short," the voice said.

"Sars… it sounds like—"

"You've got a problem with that? Fine, I'll take back my coat of protection then. Bye."

"No—" Aildrin's protest was in vain. The foul smell and cold kept him company while the sewers flushed him out.

After half a minute of holding his breath, the light at the end of the sewer finally shone. Aildrin got out of the pipe and plunged straight into a murky river filled with water lilies and waste materials. The chirping of birds from the surrounding tall trees and thickets would have been beautiful if not for the nasty smell.

"I hate Silas! I hate Sars!" Aildrin muttered. He swam his way to the bank where he removed the dregs from his body and suit. He almost forgot about Sisa. He looked around with caution and found no one. "Where is she?"

Then a rustle came from the bushes. A woman came out drenched in sweat. Her face was flustered. She was the one that Aildrin met, the mother of the two kids.

"Sir, we need to get out of here! Quick! We're compromised!"

"You're Sisa?"

The woman disappeared back into the thickets.

Aildrin did not mind the rubbish still tangled in his hair. He then ran after her while surveying the trees, but there were no strange movements. "Sisa?"

Hush! The woman gestured when Aildrin entered the dense growth of bushes. "Follow me," she said before pulling him in further.

"Who are you?" Aildrin said. They came out of a clearing. And further ahead, he saw the rows of stone slate roofs.

The woman flashed a red card. "My name is Sisa. We've met before. Time is running out, quick!"

"Where are we?"

"Behind my house."

They ducked their way across the clearing, and when they reached her house, they placed their backs against the wall.

"I thought no one knows about this. What happened?" Aildrin said. He peeked by the wall's corner and checked the situation of the cobblestone streets. It was quiet—no signs of any movement.

"They caught one of our members, and that fool might have revealed everything about the alliance at the threat of death! We must be prepared for the worst!"

Then the cry of the kids echoed from inside the house.

"No!" Sisa gasped. Horror filled her eyes. She was torn between her duty as a mother and a member of the alliance. She gulped. "Sir, here's the key to the portal. It's beneath the bridge across from here. Please save yourself; I'll distract them."

"No! We'll deal with them!" Aildrin said. "Sars! The sword!"