Chapter 17: Soloman

Kurgren woke and looks to his watch, six in the morning, and goes to the training area upon dressing.

The area was mostly sparse, with only about twenty currently, when he saw Ardent, in full armor, stabbing and slashing a dummy with his sword before greeting him.

"Speaking of which do you want to spar?"

"Why?"

"Because we didn't have a chance before and to see your skills."

Kurgren looks reluctantly, confuse at such offer, before agreeing and enters the circle. When chi began to form into a replica of their weapons around their hands.

Ardent then gave a brief smile before donning his helmet. Where Kurgren and him goes into battle stance.

For a few seconds neither strike, gazing into each other's eyes as they circle, changing where they block, and waited moment to strike, before Kurgren charged when Ardent briefly lowered his shield and swung.

A loud thud echoes as Ardent swiftly deflects the strike and forced it to the ground and dashes through his reach.

A dull crack emanates as Kurgren pulls his staff back and parries, gritting with the blade only inches from his head, and knocks him back with the other end followed by striking to his left shoulder.

Ardent staggered back when Kurgren struck against his shield before he deflect it.

Kurgren steps back, briefly stumbling from the inertia, before regaining balance and follows up. Deliver a strike as the tip struck Ardent right shoulder.

Ardent sword arm briefly shook, nearly letting go, before tightening around the grip, and stares at him, like that of steel, without losing focus or wincing in pain, a sign of a veteran, then charges towards Kurgren right. Who retaliates by swing at his bruised shoulder.

But Ardent, to Kurgren surprise, parries with his sword followed by striking his face with the shield.

Lights burst in front of Kurgren vision as he staggers back, pain flaring from his nose like it was broken again, unable to concentrate as Ardent quickly thrust his sword through the armor gaps.

Intense pain flares from Kurgren stomach, even though it didn't damaged the armor or body.

Kurgren pulls out his pocket sand and throws it to Ardents face.

Ardent grunts in pain as most of the sand goes through his visor. Staggering back and briefly sweeps his sword with his shield is raised in front of his face.

Kurgren then nearly collapse, letting out a yell and feeling weaker as if he was bleeding, and pushed him further back with a kick followed by another swing, which didn't do much due to his armor, then swing to his head.

But Ardent then blocks the strike and retaliates with a slash to his head.

Kurgren quickly lets his right hand go and block the blade. The pain as he felt the cut, combine from the previous one, breaking his concentration

Ardent then follows it by another shield bash, pushing Kurgren back.

And, in part of panic and anger, Kurgren wildly swings his staff in front of Ardent, trying to use his reach advantage.

Another strike hit Ardent shin, with a loud cracking of bones, yet his gaze never faltered, only letting out a grunt. And slash at his neck.

Kurgren body then suddenly became paralyzed as Ardent delivered the killing blow.

He then hears some applause as the magic deactivates and he can move again.

He was then amazed that all his pain had disappeared and that his lamellar has no holes from the stabs. Now knowing how the circle works.

Ardent then removes his helmet, his head slicked with sweat, and smiles towards Kurgren.

"That was pretty impressive. If a little dirty with that blind attack."

"Thanks." Kurgren flatly replies.

The both of them then, after Kurgren inspected his armor, went to the bath, washing their bodies in the room next to the bath, a large pit filled with warm water and obscuring steam, like an elven bathhouse from what Kurgren heard back in the taverns.

They then begin to enter the pool when a figure calls them and stands up.

"GAH!" They both yelled in shock and reflexively covers their groin.

then see it was Solaina, clad with only a towel bundling her hair.

"We should go," Ardent quickly says, both feeling their face getting warmer, as Kurgren is astonished by how she's displaying her body without showing anger or shock. But a welcoming smile.

"Why? The waters nice and warm," she replies, sitting back down.

The both of them, after a few more minutes of convincing, then chose to join in.

Solaina then begin to sidle up to them, before Ardent quickly orders her to stay forty feet away, and she sighs.

"You know. I'll never understand why the both of you, the rest of the nine races and few half-Elves, get uncomfortable and cover yourselves when naked with the opposite sex. Or how your public toilets and baths separates gender."

"Don't you feel shame?" Kurgren asked.

Solaina gave them a confused look.

"Why should I feel shame for showing men what my goddess gifted me, frankly it's more shameful to wear such amounts of clothes outside of battles to hide your body and be afraid of judgement. What I also find weird is why all of you wear underwear outside of battles. Isn't it uncomfortable for a tight cloth to constantly hugs your privates? Unable to feel the nice breeze?"

Kurgren groans, now knowing the rumors that Elves lack of nudity taboo are true, and quickly changes the subject, his face as red as a ripe tomato.

"So. How old are you? I'm twenty-one."

"Twenty-two." Ardent replied.

"Twenty." Solaina followed.

Kurgren went bug-eyed, expecting her to say about a thousand, and began to reply when Solaina interrupts with a sigh.

"Yes. Elves live and mature just as long as humans and the nine races, we do not live as long or longer then a Vardskul, Yukione or dragon, we only physically age slower, like an Elf in their eighties would look like they're in the mid-twenties."

Kurgren then nods, recalling that half the rumors of Elves being immortal was said to be propaganda from Oberon's reign.

"So why did the both of you became a mercenary?"

"By duty as a knight." Ardent said, yet Kurgren sensed a bit of shame by his tone. And have a gut feeling it's linked to his scar.

"By necessity," he quickly growls, not wanting to go back on that memory.

Solaina then inch back, her wiggling ears, a sign of positive emotions, drooping.

"Oh. I'm sorry if I brought back bad memory. As for why I'm here. I wanted to explore the world," she says with slight unease, as if hiding something.

An indeterminant time then passed in awkward silence as they soak when Solaina stands up, taking the towel off her head to dry herself, and walks to the exit.

"While it would be nice to stay in the bath longer. We should probably get out before the rest comes in."

Kurgren and Ardent follows and found that the time is now nine and time for breakfast, and they go to the dining hall.

They then sat with their group as breakfast is served, coffee or tea with bacon, sausage and eggs, where Kurgren learns that most of their food comes from Wolfgang and other surface informants buying from the market before sending it down.

Piper then comes to them upon finishing their breakfast.

"You'll be shown the lab to meet our leader, Soloman, at one-thirty," he briskly said.

Kurgren then look at the watch, eleven-thirty, and goes back to the training area to train his archery.

After five shots, setting himself a new record as the last arrow was only six inches away from the bullseye, he looked around and see Erhardt polishing his dagger.

He then went and sit next to him, wanting to ask about what's a ui'gefideof.

"It means 'first-forged'." Erhardt replies.

"It's a traditional rite of passage where a Dwarf, upon reaching eighteen, would forge an item. Typically, a dagger like this, mainly from the men as all of us are conscripted at that age, but hammers, swords, rings and even revolvers or rifles are made. Without any guidance or help, only the lessons we learnt and saw from our elders and those they apprenticed under. And prayers to the forge sisters Gildre and Sandra."

"So it's only forging?"

Erhardt shrugs "Well. Technically it's a yes as it's tradition. But they are other ways depending on personal profession. Like a Dwarf from a clan of farmers might build or improve a fence. While another from brewers would make a lager which would be tested and sold if passed."

"Then do you mind if I see it?"

"Sure. Just try not to dirty it too much," and passed both the weapon and its sheath to him.

Kurgren looked to with awe. It's pommel and crossguard are made of shining steel, with a small diamond in the crossguard, the handle made of polished ivory while the blade had the same raindrop patterns like Erhardt's cestus. And upon the blade etched a word in dwarven. Volk'baidofgahez'van.

The sheath meanwhile is wrapped in yellow silk which embossed another diamond at the tip with gold and silver gilding from top to bottom. And oiled fur lining the inside.

Kurgren whistles in awe before passing it back.

"It's impressive. But isn't it too expensive to make a simple dagger with such items. You can sell it for at least two golds or so."

Erhardt then looks towards him with indignation.

"SIMPLE! A ui'gefideof is our first creation made without help. An extension of a user desire and work. No two ui'gefideof are the same. And I might as well lose my right arm then lose this!"

Kurgren was briefly taken aback, how can someone be dedicated to a simple weapon, before asking.

"But then how did you get such expensive items. Unless you're actually a noble."

Erhardt chuckles "I was born in the upper-class of a family of generals and jewelsmiths. The diamond represents the element my people are gifted with. But my goal was to explore the world outside the mountains," his last sentence carrying a tone of regret and resentment.

A few seconds of uncomfortable silence then passed before Kurgren leaves to the library. Wanting to read as books are rare for him.

He then grabs a book titled "Ages of the past: history of Arkalion".

He skipped the chapters on the first and second age, only reading about the rise of the Human empire, who were blessed with the blood of the dragons, which split to north and south, Remlia and Salhaim, and the birth of the dragon riders and dragonknight order, Humans who trained till they gained the powers and immortality of the dragons, and their first and current leader, Corissa the dragonborn.

He looks to the third age, the chapter with the most pages.

And on the first page he saw the rendition of the famous battle for Salem, where Nihalos first slayed one of Trajan's companion. William, the archer.

William was short. With yellow eyes that shine like gold and white, neatly combed, hair and a scar cutting across his right cheek. Armored in a red gambeson reinforced with chainmail, and a quiver on his back. And on his hands was his mighty bow aztia, with tales that his shots will seek the heart of his target no matter what, which is strangely black and white, looking like bone yet shine like metal, and etched with unknown runes.

Nihalos, on the other hand, stood tall, about the height of an Orc. Wearing a triangular chestplate, bearing a shattered sigil of Salhaim, over a white gambeson with his forearms and legs reinforced with leather and devil forged spaulder and tassets. With the most noticeable piece being a cape of dragon skin, its blue scales faded and dripping with blood, as if it was freshly flayed off. His face, which bore no scars, twisted in the snarl that rivals a Devil, with dark green eyes flecked by the mess of black hair. And where his legs would be were demonic, blood red, scaly, bent like dogs hindlegs, and clawed, said to be prosthetics crafted by the Devils after his battle against August crushing his original legs. Armed with his greataxe naoreth, etch in runic symbols of hell, in his hands. But, most of all, his body formed no shadow.

The artwork depicted the final moment of the battle. With William on the ground, his legs broken and cuts lacing his body. And Nihalos demonic foot planted upon his chest, his axe raised to bring the killing blow. Yet William aimed his bow towards Nihalos head. His eyes shone with defiance as he stared back.

The story starts with his rise, except for he was before as everything but him being a Human of Salhaim being lost to time, and his conquest of the south. Nearly exterminating the Gnomes and Goblins when they refused to join him and lost their homeland as they resided in the southlands and forming the Siltnum dominion. Ending with him taking Salhaim as the penitent empress, for she ignored the threat of Nihalos until it was too late, Myra Cadbir fled to the Remlia to ask it's emperor, August Cestrios, for help, doing what she could to atone. Before Nihalos continued to the north with his four commanders known as the broken.

Adolfus: A Dwarf commander and his second in command who led half of his forces.

Balgoun: An Orc soldier and his head general.

Mordriel: An Elf archmage and only female of the broken who handled all of the logistic, communication and transportation.

And Bryan: the cruellest of the broken and a monster reviled by all, even by his soldiers and fellow broken, with Nihalos only sparing him due to his knowledge of politics and spying. Supposed leader and founder of the black daggers, a hidden network of spies and assassins, known by his left silver forearm, said to be given as a punishment for trying to betray Nihalos.

But the conquest was stopped when Trajan, eldest of August sons, chose to fight against Nihalos, gaining eight companions. And with his charisma he rallied the ten races to work together and pushed Nihalos back south in a five years war. But as the war dragged on his father, Myra, then his companions slowly fell by Nihalos axe, the first being William. And the last being Reina, the Yukione shieldmaiden, and was particularly gruesome. As she was burnt at the stake, where her people natural resistance, and enhanced sensation, to heat meant she suffered longer, said that it took ten hours before death took her, her screams lasted an hour.

After this it was said that Trajan was struck by a divine vision from the gods, where he then planted his old sword into a stone on the borders between the north and south, which is now in the garden of Byzalem capital. And declared that only his descendent, with a pure heart, can take out the blade, who will be the beacon unite the ten races and the Vardskuls. But yet the most baffling part was that Trajan died unmarried and childless.

And afterwards, nearing the end, both forces fought one last time at the galagrim desert, where Trajan fought Nihalos in a duel and lost. And, knowing he will have a similar fate to Reina, stabbed himself with the remnant of his shattered sword. As the Dwarves formed the three walls, each named after August sons, to block Nihalos forces. Followed by the formation of Byzalem by Trajan's younger brother, Justinian, while their youngest brother, Hadrian, was voted the new emperor of Remlia. Followed by records of Nihalos failed attacks to breach it. Ending with Nihalos being captured and executed.

He then skimmed the the fourth age, Erhardt already telling most of it, with exception of the Elves creating a wind dome around Salkoy to block ships, and the Orcs apologizing and repaying the crimes they did, and continues to the fifth age.

It began with the Dwarves having a civil war, whether to enslave the races in vengeance or forgive them, with the slavers losing and fleeing south, joining the dominion and becoming the Duergar.

During which the Elves had their own civil war ending with the rise of Oberon, the last Elf king, who led the Elves with the belief that they were wronged and must wipe out the nine races. Leading to the creation of the first arcgun, based of the Dwarves musket design but utilized beams of chi. And led the Elves to attack after an age of isolation.

He struck the eastern nations, a lightning conquest that took the nations before they could muster, before being stopped by the Volksgard, leading to the great siege.

The Elves then began to lose, mainly by attacking the Vardskul and Yukione north to circumvent the mountains, whom they signed a treaty beforehand. To the coming of the Orc cavalry to relief the Dwarves, utilizing their new firearms which uses a strange oil called 'heveliduilo' which fired bolts of plasma and are more explosive then gunpowder.

It's then followed by the invasion, though others called it the rape, of Salkoy, where the armies of Dwarves attacked in avengeance with a support of Yukione and Vardskuls. Utilising new dwarven steelships powered by an oil called "diesel" and carriages of steel and cannon called tanks. Where a maiden of Oberon, known by her raven hair; for black-haired Elves are incredibly rare, ended the war when she assassinated Oberon and surrendered.

The sixth age then follows the aftermath, mainly the Elves switching from an egalitarian feudalism to matriarchal city states due to its histories of incompetent kings, followed by the second elven civil war, which led to the dominion nation of Drow.

The seventh age then tells of the Volko-Salka war, a decade of bloody warfare stemming from the Dwarves wanting disproportionately high reparations for Oberon's actions. Which ended with a treaty, the Volksgard surrendering when the nine races began to siege their borders, with the Elves only paying a quarter of the Dwarves reparation price.

Afterwards the Volksgard isolated itself, suffering a minor war that caused the westward mountain Dwarves to cut ties, forming a curtain of stone separating the only mountain passage between them. Restricting outside trades as they see the rest as unworthy of their innovations. But, by everyone else, was a way for them to avoid the confrontation of their crimes at the invasion of Salkoy, from pillaging and burning to murdering, torturing, or raping civilians and soldiers, both men and women, that surrendered.

He then sees Ardent walks up to him with a surprised look.

"I didn't know you could read."

Kurgren glares at him

"And why is that."

Ardent quickly raise his hands.

"I meant that it's impressive that you read. Being a farmer and all."

He then realized his folly and waves his hands in worry.

"Not that I mean all farmers are illiterate, but many are at first glance. I of course don't mean that all farmer look dumbs or so, but you know about education in villages. Not in that way of course-"

Kurgren began to drone out Ardent rapid apologies and explanation of his accidental insensitivity for a few seconds before stopping him.

"It's alright I understand," he said dryly.

Ardent then sighs in relief and sits down and ask.

"So. How did learn to read and how well can you do it?"

"It was my parents who taught me how. And I can read simple words but I can't read complex stuff like ambii-abidas-ambri-"

"Ambidextrous?"

Kurgren nods.

One and a half hours then past as Ardent teaches Kurgren on more complex words when Delilah meets them.

"It's time."

Both then left their seats and follow, the rest joining a minute or so later, before being shown an iron door.

Delilah then knocks the door in a sequence. Where it was open by Wolfgang who quickly ushers them in and, making sure no one follows, closes and locked the door.

"It's a secret that no one but me, Delilah, Ignatz, Ekon, Soloman, and now all of you knows," he said when Ardent asked.

They then stood in a large room with a table in the center, topped with strange items, with a man, Ignatz and an Orc.

"Thank you and the gods for getting the Obrilon before lord Brundol did."