045 Colwyn's plan

Watching in confusion as a smiling man practically ran from Gryphons store with a heavy cloak draped around his shoulders, Colwyn stepped through the door. Gryphon seemed to be extremely stressed. And Azel was playing with a mana construct when his eyes looked up to see Colwyn.

"Welcome back," Said the ashen haired zombie, his usual plain visage not betraying any signs of emotion. "Did you find the behemoth?"

Colwyn had to admit, he was jealous of Azel's natural poker face, even if it wasn't something that he could switch back and forth on easily. Not having to worry about your expression giving away your thoughts would be a huge boon any politician worth their salt would pay for. Of course, the drake knights unique helm did a good job as well.

Colwyn pulled out a chair next to the desk that was typically reserved for when Gryphon received an in-depth commission that needed a drawn out conversation with customers. "Better that that... I killed it."

Azel frowned, which was seemingly the only convincing face he could make other than a smug smirk, and tilted his head. The zombie doubted Colwyn would of been able to slay a behemoth, that was a job for templars. If it was a fiend, then sure, but that nebulous vulture? It was a very tall tale. Gryphon, who had sat up straighter after seeing the drake knight, was more used to Colwyn's miraculous feats and seemingly had an easier time accepting it.

The old mage ran a wrinkled hand through his short grey hair and groaned. "Wonderful. Another impossible feat casually checked off your list. Do tell, how did you manage that? Did it just keel over out of sheer disbelief that you were the one facing it?"

Colwyn smiled under his helmet. Gryphon knew about many of the escapades that the drake knight had the displeasure of finding himself in, but killing a behemoth must of shaken the mage, even if it was only slightly.

Azel narrowed his eyes, still doubtful. "You don't look too injured. Shouldn't something that powerful have, I don't know, taken at least an arm with it?"

Colwyn smirked, leaning back in the chair with an air of casual arrogance. "What can I say? Luck was on my side. It was already half-dead when I got there. All I had to do was finish the job."

Gryphon muttered something under his breath about ridiculous knights and their ridiculous luck, but he finally straightened up, rubbing his temples. "Alright, fine. You survived. Congratulations. Now, I assume you didn't just come here to brag?"

Colwyn's smirk faded slightly as he leaned forward, his tone turning serious. "No. We need to talk. The behemoth spoke before it died. It told me about an ancient city, far in the south. It promised great power to those who go there."

Azel blinked. "Sounds like a trap."

Gryphon nodded, "For once I am in agreement with the corpse, why would a monster try to help its killer?"

Colwyn waved a dismissive hand. "Which is why I'm discussing it with you two. You're my only real allies in this mess, and we're already walking on thin ice with Rio as it is. If we go forward with this, we'll need to be careful."

Colwyn waved a dismissive hand. "Which is why I'm discussing it with you two. You're my only real allies in this mess, and we're already walking on thin ice with Rio as it is. If we go forward with this, we'll need to be careful. The city's name was Draken Loch."

The moment the words left Colwyn's mouth, Gryphon, who had previously been suspicious, suddenly straightened up. His eyes narrowed as he muttered, "Draken Loch... I've heard that name before. If that's what the behemoth spoke of, then maybe it wasn't just spewing nonsense. There are old records—ancient, even—talking about Draken Loch as a place of power. Buried deep, long forgotten, but very real."

Azel raised an eyebrow. "And you just happen to know about this?"

Gryphon scoffed. "I wasn't always just an old man, corpse, in fact I was once one of the greatest mages to ever roam the Subsist."

Azel closed his eyes in thought, trying to recall what exactly the 'Subsist' was. But as always, his lack of memories held him back from fully understanding the conversation. Instead the zombie had to rely on his natural intelligence. Using the context of Gryphons statement he assumed that it must be some kind alliance between the kingdoms spread about the four continents.

Turning towards the zombie, Colwyn said "You'll need to officially join the Sunchaser's, tomorrow I'll take you with me when I report about the behemoth and then you can become my squire."

Azel exhaled through his nose, glancing at the mana construct still resting in his palm. The thought of officially joining the Sunchaser's didn't sit well with him. He had no interest in their ideals, their camaraderie, or their ridiculous sense of honour. But at the same time, staying close to Colwyn was too beneficial to pass up. He needed information, protection, and a clear path forward. If that meant playing the role of a squire, then so be it.

The second he got the chance to dump him and reach the monks in fireplume mountain, Azel had no doubt he would go for it without a second thought. The zombie just couldn't bear living on a time limit, and he needed to free himself of his plight as soon as he could.

Azel flicked his gaze back to the old man. "You're taking this Draken Loch business seriously. What do you actually know?"

Gryphon drummed his fingers against the desk, frowning. "Not enough. Most of what I've read is fragmented, buried under layers of myth and speculation. But one thing is consistent—Draken Loch wasn't just a city. It was a stronghold. A place where powerful beings, mages and warriors alike, gathered for something… important. The details are lost, but whatever was there, it was enough for them to erase it from history."

Colwyn leaned in. "Erase it?"

Gryphon nodded. "Not just forgotten. Deliberately buried. There are no maps, no surviving first-hand accounts. Just whispers in ancient texts. And if a behemoth—a creature that old and powerful—knew about it? Then whatever lies in Draken Loch is far from gone."

Azel hummed in thought. "So, a forgotten city of power, lost to time, yet still known to monsters that have no reason to care for history?"

"Exactly," Gryphon said, eyes dark with thought. "Which means if you're going there, you'd best be prepared for whatever still lingers."

The conversation settled into a thoughtful silence. Outside, the night deepened, the city streets quieting as the weight of their next steps pressed down on them. Tomorrow, Azel would become a squire. And soon, they would set their sights on Draken Loch.