Unveiling Shadows

"This is the urn of Summoner Arlaki's ashes, along with its robe," Nehari stated.

The smooth, dark blue wooden box rested on a silver pedestal at the center of the room, enclosed by a square glass cover, separating it from the outside. Candlelight from all around the room reflected on the surface of the box through the glass. Beneath the box, neatly folded but with multiple areas in tatters, lay the worn Lich's robe.

"Perhaps realizing that this battle was inevitable defeat, it carried the urn with it as a mimicry of heroic qualities," Nehari commented.

"Defeating a Lich is no easy feat, Bishop. I believe the contents within this glass cover demonstrate your accomplishments," Jorgen remarked.

"Yes, it was far from easy. But we managed to succeed," Nehari responded.

"So, is there still any danger posed by its ashes? Since you've isolated it from the outside..." Jorgen inquired.

"Generally, there isn't, but there is something you may not be aware of," Nehari explained. "Contact with Lich ashes can reactivate dying Scourge soldiers. However, within this room, it is entirely secure. We are currently waiting for representatives from the Holy Light Cathedral to retrieve it, as purification rituals cannot be performed in this location. Until the necessary rituals are conducted, if the urn were to fall into the hands of the Scourge, Arlaki could potentially be resurrected. So, it can indeed be considered highly dangerous."

Jorgen nodded, continuing to scrutinize the radiant glow that danced along the edges of the urn's surface. If it weren't for its contents, it could easily pass as a striking decoration in a noble's parlor.

"It's time for dinner," Nehari announced. "Please follow the servant to the dining hall. I have some matters to attend to here. And remember, this is not just a meal, but a meeting to discuss the matter of Jemar. I am eagerly anticipating your insights."

Once Jorgen and Elin exited, the servant closed the door to the urn chamber, leaving Nehari alone inside.

"What do you think he's doing in there by himself?" Elin asked.

"No one would do anything with the Lich's ashes. If you're curious, you can sneak a peek," Jorgen replied.

"I'll assume he's silently reveling in his own achievements. With us around, he probably doesn't want to be too obvious about it."

Although the dishes on the table were not extravagantly lavish, there were still many ingredients that would be impossible to find in the Western Plaguelands. Perhaps some were obtained through goblin merchants, Jorgen speculated.

"Jorgen, there are five sets of cutlery. Me, you, Nehari. Let's include Flint, that makes four. Who am I missing?"

"No one. It seems there's one more person yet to join us. We just have to wait."

After a moment, Flint entered and sat on the other side of the table, guided by the servant. He appeared tired and exchanged only brief greetings with the two, remaining silent and somewhat gloomy. Two minutes later, Nehari appeared and took his seat at the head.

"Are we still waiting for someone?" Nehari asked.

"We don't know who the fifth person is, Bishop," Elin replied.

"Flint, didn't you take the two agents to meet Lieutenant Colonel Renner this afternoon?"

"No, Lieutenant Colonel Renner was giving a speech at the recruit camp this afternoon, so I didn't want to disturb him."

"I was about to ask who this Lieutenant Colonel Renner is..." Jorgen said.

"Lieutenant Colonel Renner Marvin, a brave and respected young noble, as well as a talented strategist. If not for his tactical advice, we probably wouldn't have made progress against Arlaki. He is currently overseeing the overall reconstruction efforts in Andorhal, so I believe he has every right to participate in the discussion about Jemar. Do the two agents have any objections?"

"No, the more people contributing, the more effective the meeting will be," Jorgen said. Renner Maven? Where have I heard that name before? Jorgen immediately recalled as Lieutenant Colonel Renner walked into the dining room, his golden hair and smiling face triggering the memory.

That confident and elusive smile, detached from the man's emotions, how could he forget? Three years ago, stationed at Westfall Fortress, Renner had deceived Jorgen and Boesia twice, leading them into the hands of undertakers, but ultimately provided Jorgen with an opportunity to escape. Now he was Lieutenant Colonel Renner Maven, which surprised Jorgen. Back then, Jorgen had said, "I hope we'll meet again alive," and Renner had replied, "We definitely will." It was a conversation born not only out of camaraderie in extreme circumstances but also a dialogue of self-encouragement, reflecting the will to survive.

"Apologies for my tardiness," Renner said.

"No, we just sat down ourselves," Nehari replied, introducing them to each other.

"I'm pleased to be working with both of you as direct agents," Renner said. When Jorgen's gaze met his, Renner remained unfazed, and Jorgen couldn't even tell if he remembered him. Three years ago, Renner had been a master at hiding emotions, a skill Jorgen acknowledged he didn't possess. After three years, he had only become more skilled, yet the slight excitement Jorgen felt from the unexpected reunion was ultimately overshadowed by curiosity and wariness. Renner had been under the control of the Old Man before, but after releasing Jorgen against the Old Man's will, he not only ended up in the Western Plaguelands but also gained a higher military rank. Did this mean he was no longer a pawn of the Old Man? What did his presence here signify?

In any case, this was not a simple meeting. Jorgen sent a signal to Elin to "speak cautiously," leaving Elin somewhat perplexed. He simply closed his thumb and index finger together under the table, silently signaling "I'll stay quiet." Jorgen thought he would have to proceed one step at a time.

After a simple meal and some small talk, Nehari got down to business.

"Before we officially begin, I would like both of you to share the results of your interrogation this afternoon," Nehari said.

"The conclusion is quite simple," Jorgen said. "We have strong doubts about the rationale behind his leading the suicide attack. This is crucial in determining how to deal with him because no matter what we decide, we have to consider the Bloodscar Crusader's reaction to our actions. If he was indeed carrying out orders from the Crusade's superiors, then perhaps there is no other choice but to send him back to them..."

"Send him back? Why?" Flint questioned. "To be honest, the absence of one of the Bloodscar Crusader Guardians from the Blood Saint is not a significant problem."

"Are you advocating for his execution, then?" Renner interjected.

"Renner, is my line of thinking so strange? After all, he is a member of the Bloodscar Crusader, and he infiltrated our battlefield..."

"Your judgment is impractical, even somewhat irresponsible, Flint," Nehari interrupted. "Jorgen, please continue."

Flint, taken aback by the opposition he faced, leaned back in his chair, furrowing his brow as he stared at the point where his fork touched the steak.

To avoid unnecessary complications, Jorgen withheld the unsupported assumption that "Jemar might not be a member of the Bloodscar Crusader." "Here's my point: whether he is a guardian of the Blood Saint Demitria or not is not important because we don't understand the position of such a guardian within the Crusade. What truly matters is that the attack on Arlaki is a crucial operation, even one of the ultimate goals of the Crusade in the Western Plague. If we don't have significant trust and confidence in Jemar, we cannot assign him to such a task. From this perspective, his position is quite important, and executing him may signal an all-out war against the Crusade. I don't think anyone here wants to see that."

Except for Flint, who remained silent, both Nehari and Renner expressed their agreement.

"His ambush did provide us with great assistance in getting close to Arlaki. We can at least acknowledge that he is an exceptional warrior," Renner said.

Jorgen nodded. "However, let's return to my initial point: he may not necessarily have received such an important order to come to the battlefield. A true Bloodscar Crusader Crusader never hesitates to boast about their achievements or shy away from spreading their zealous beliefs. We don't see these traits in Jemar. From that perspective, his attack on Arlaki is likely driven by undisclosed personal reasons, which could explain why a Crusader who was originally patrolling the Eastern Plague lands ended up here."

"Is it possible that he was on a secret mission for the Crusade, hence the restraint in his behavior?" Renner asked.

"Colonel Renner, you experienced that war firsthand, so you should know better than I do: Jemar's subordinates were all annihilated, and he himself fell before Arlaki. These are the facts. Taking the risk of attacking Arlaki to conceal the true objective seems too high," Jorgen replied.

"I can vouch for that. When we found him, he had suffered severe frostbite and lacerations. This goes to show that we have very little knowledge about this man, making it difficult to make a decision, don't you think?" Nehari said.

"You're right."

"Well, then we should gather more information," Flint said. "What's so difficult about that? He's in our dungeon."

"Flint, have you actually taken a good look at Jemar's injuries?" Elin, who had been holding back for a while, finally found an opportunity to speak up. "He looks like he's been rolled back and forth on a rack covered in nails. When it comes to interrogation, you'll never outdo the Bloodscar Crusader, let alone the fact that if news of our interrogation methods gets out, the Crusade might use it against us. So, why don't you say something more helpful?"

"You..." Flint straightened his posture and leaned closer to the table.

"I don't advocate for torture either. As a devout follower of the Holy Light and the overall authority in the Andorhal region, I might have to exercise my power to prevent you from doing so," Nehari addressed Flint before turning to Jorgen and Elin. "I must say, we are incredibly fortunate to have both of you here. There are many perspectives I haven't considered before."

"Is it possible to send him back to Stormwind and await a decision from higher authorities?" Renner suggested.

"We can't afford that time, and it would involve greater risks," Nehari replied. "Jorgen, I'd like to hear your proposed solution."

"Relying solely on ourselves, it's difficult to gain further insight into him. We need outside assistance," Jorgen said. "Let our messenger officially inform the Bloodscar Crusader of Jemar's whereabouts and await their response. If this individual is truly important, they will undoubtedly react. If there is no response for a prolonged period of time... then perhaps we aren't worth convening this meeting for just one Bloodscar Crusader Crusader. In that case, it's up to all of you in Andorhal to decide whether to send him back to his country, coerce him for information, or execute him. Because once the resolution of internal disputes becomes insignificant, Elin and I will consider our work completed and make our way back to Stormwind."

"I find the proposal highly feasible," Nehari said after a brief contemplation. "Renner, do you have anything to add?"

"I think Investigator Jorgen's suggestion is excellent, and I don't have a better solution for now," Renner replied.

"What about you, Flint?"

"I have nothing to add."

"Very well, then it's decided. I will have the messenger depart tonight. Once again, I thank both of you for your assistance, and now we can enjoy our dessert without any worries."

Jorgen understood that no one was truly at ease. Flint's enraged expression aside, Renner seemed to have purposefully remained undecided throughout the entire process. His suggestion to "send Jemar back to Stormwind" was merely a perfunctory remark, but his speculation about Jemar being involved in a secret mission had some validity. And Nehari accepting the suggestion so easily was unexpected to Jorgen. In this covert struggle, perhaps even Arlaki, the Crimson Conjurer, was stirring within the sapphire-hued little box.