Chapter Fifteen: The Blackwatch Throne

Aric stood still, dagger still clutched in his hand, eyes locked on the bizarre sight before him. Sir Gondwyck, a knight caked in mud and drenched in holy armor, was bowing, actually bowing, to a child! Around them, the heretic warriors had begun to gather, whispers threading through the crowd like fire on dry grass. Aric blinked, slowly sheathing his blade but not removing his hand from the grip.

"What in all the hells below is going on here?" he said, louder this time, brow furrowing with suspicion.

Trenn turned to him, a nervous but genuine smile spreading across his young face. "I can explain, Sir Knight," he began, his voice steady but soft. He motioned towards the bright light Aric had seen the survivors flocking to before he was eaten by Níðhöggr. "Follow us, and I'll tell you everything."

For a moment, Aric hesitated, eyes flicking to the crowd of heretics now circling around him and Gondwyck. Their eyes were tired, hollowed by hardship, yet filled with a faint glimmer of hope. As he watched their expressions, then turning to Gondwyck to find the man completely relaxed, his own stance softened. "Alright," he nodded. "Lead the way."

They moved together, trudging through the muck and sludge, heading toward the distant glow of light that Aric had seen earlier. The path was narrow, winding through mangrove roots that twisted and curled like skeletal fingers. Will-o'-wisps bobbed alongside them, casting eerie blue light on the gnarled trees, while tiny, horned beetles with glowing shells flitted about like living embers.

As they walked, Trenn fell into step beside Aric. "Uhhh, firstly, I guess I should introduce myself" The boy said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "My, um, my name is Trenn," he said, his voice small but earnest.

"Just Trenn." Aric raised an eyebrow. "No last name?"

Trenn shifted uncomfortably, shaking his head. "No... none." He looked away, clearly eager to change the subject.

"Well, Trenn, my name is Aric Duskborne. Glad to finally meet the person I died for." he said, a dry smile spreading across his face at the sheer absurdity of his own words. Trenn chuckled nervous but sincere. "Y-yeah... heh" he stammered, but then straightened suddenly as if snapped to attention. "I mean, Yes! Yes, Sir Aric Duskborne, the feeling is mutual!" His voice wavered, shoulders straightening as if expecting to be reprimanded.

Aric raised an eyebrow, bemused by the boy's shift in demeanor, but Trenn hurriedly pressed on, eager to escape the awkwardness. "When you rose from that monster... the snake... I was terrified," Trenn admitted, wringing his hands together. "I ran... I-I abandoned you." Trent said, gaze falling to the floor, "I'm sorry for that."

Aric merely shrugged, "You did nothing wrong, Trenn." Aric smiled warmly, clapping a hand on the boy's shoulder, "More people survived because of your actions. You should be proud." He said, glancing down at the divine brand still etched into his hand.

The mark glowed faintly, pulsating with esoteric energies. "Honestly, I can't say I blame you for being running away, part of me still wants to."

Trenn blushed, shoulder slouching forward. "I-I didn't do much, just what you said... got them to the tunnel."

Aric raised an eyebrow. "Tunnel?"

Trenn nodded eagerly, pointing ahead. "Yeah, up here..." he motioned to the winding path of mangrove roots. As they walked further, the light grew stronger, revealing a tunnel made entirely of interwoven branches and roots, thick and gnarled, curving over their heads like the ribcage of some ancient beast. The tunnel was about a wagons width wide and tall enough for the massive Sir Gondwyck to walk through with ease.

Aric's gaze traced the light of the wisps and beetles as they flitted about, casting eerie, flickering shadows on the tunnel walls. "Interesting place," he muttered. "Where does it lead?"

Trenn opened his mouth to respond, but Gondwyck spoke up instead, his voice booming and proud. "It connects The Maw to the heart of the Thronelands." He paused, then scratched his head. "Normally, patrolling the tunnel involves fighting a few errant ghosts, no one in my regiment has ever even seen a living human escape the Maw before. But this time..." he trailed off, his tone strangely contemplative.

Aric glanced sideways, confusion settling on his features. "Regiment? Patrol? You make it sound like you're still alive..." he remarked, eyes narrowing.

Gondwyck chuckled, before saluting a gauntleted hand to his chest with a loud, declarative clank! "Well good sir, so long as I'm still fighting the noble fight to protect mankind, then I'll always consider myself alive!"

Aric raised an eyebrow, skepticism plain on his face. "Fight for mankind?" he asked, incredulous. "Does that include leading a band of the people I saved, back into the swamp to try and kill me?" Aric continued, accusatory glare settling on Gondwyck, who seemed to shrink under the pressure.

"Ah well, you see, g-good sir." Gondwyck stammered, meekly raising a finger "The codex strictly-".

Trenn stepped in, hands waving as if to calm the tension. "It might make more sense when you get the full picture, Sir Aric." He gestured ahead, the light at the end of the tunnel growing stronger as they neared it's edge. "Once Gondwyck realized we weren't a threat, he had the women and children escorted to the city."

Aric's gaze snapped forward. "City?" he asked, confusion deepening.

Gondwyck laughed, the sound echoing off the twisted walls of the mangrove tunnel. "Of course! Although-" he began, but the words were cut off as they reached the end of the passage. 

A blinding light flared, forcing Aric to shield his eyes. When he lowered his hand, his breath caught in his throat.

They stood atop a ridge overlooking a massive, sprawling swamp. But it wasn't just muck and trees; rising from the center of the mire was a fortress-city perched atop a colossal stone, its spires and battlements towering into the air. In the heart of the city, stretching higher than the tallest tower, was a single colossal mushroom. The mushroom's cap glowed with a soft crimson light that pulsed like a gentle heartbeat, illuminating the entire cavern with an otherworldly, but oddly comforting glow.

Gondwyck stepped forward, his armor clanking as he spread his arms wide. "It's less a city," he announced grandly. "And more, a Citadel!"

A notification shimmered before Aric's eyes:

[New Location Discovered: Blackwatch Thronelands]

Aric's eyes drank in the sight, even at a distance, the massive stone towers, waving flags, and the unmistakable sense of order that radiated from the city's mighty walls was astounding. "How... how is this possible?" he asked, voice equal parts awe and disbelief.

Gondwyck only chuckled, throwing an arm around Aric's shoulders. "It's not just possible, good sir! ," he said, grinning under his helmet. "It's thriving. And the being responsible for such abundance wants to meet with you personally!"

Aric glanced sideways, eyebrow raised. "And who would that be?" he asked.

Gondwyck's grin only widened. "Why, the God who protects this city, of course!"