Jackal Among Snakes

It wasn’t too much trouble to find Anneliese and all with her after taking care of Good King Norman. Despite the barriers in their way, Argrave was again connected to Elenore. That enabled their speedy communication and reunition. They were holed up in a grove far outside of town, likely because it was far away from the army of golems blocking the exit to Sandelabara.

As Orion and Argrave travelled, a haunting call echoed throughout the city. It was soon followed by the screams of crowds as all hell broke loose. When Argrave looked over, he saw one of the dreaded Shadowlanders emerge from a gaping abyss above the town. It looked like a whale that had been blacked out entirely, yet it had an elongated obese human face lined with rows of teeth where a beard might’ve been. Uncountable mouths hidden in that jungle of teeth created a choir of voices singing joyously as they descended upon the city. It confirmed what Argrave had feared—Traugott’s time had been dedicated on perfecting the trouble that he’d caused on Dirracha. This portal, it seemed, was larger and more stable than the brief foray in Dirracha.

But Argrave and Orion could not waste time focusing on that. They found Anneliese and the rest soon enough in a low-lying grove, precisely as had been conveyed to Elenore.

“Alright. I found them, sis. Thanks,” Argrave communicated back home.

“Be safe. I don’t ever want to feel you go dark like that again,” Elenore told him, moments before their communication ended.

The Alchemist had long ago spotted Argrave’s return, and told the others. They waited on him as they passed into the place.

Anneliese still held Sophia, precisely as Argrave had asked her to do. Anneliese got the young girl’s attention, and when her red eyes fell upon Argrave, they widened in disbelief. “What did I tell you?” Anneliese said to the princess.

The Alchemist held out his hand as Argrave walked up. “My lens.”

Argrave had intended to say something to Sophia, but he begrudgingly pulled it free from beneath his eye and flicked it like a coin. The glass faded into the Alchemist’s flesh, and Argrave’s eyes flickered between him and Sophia. He had hoped the item in Sandelabara related to Gerechtigkeit might be… well, an item, and not a person. Having Sophia here would be a burden, regardless of his feelings on the matter. He put his hand on her head while she stared at him in total shock.

“Told you I’d be back, Sophia. These are the friends I told you about. We’re here to get you to safety—and that means we can’t talk much right now. Is that alright?”

Sophia nodded, and Anneliese gently set her down. The princess walked up to his leg at once, touching him to be sure he was real before standing behind him, sheltered from all the others. It was awkward at first, but Argrave adjusted. She didn’t seem to want to say anything at all.

girl does. She doesn’t fear for herself. She was more scared for you—and she

words, but more pressing matters deserved his attention. “I certainly hope we’ve come up with something

capable of neutralizing all supernatural energies, be it magic or divine blessing. I detected the same energy coming from the ones protecting Good King Norman.

the dust, they started to disappear

similarly to Dario. That’s a lead, at the very least.” The tower

table.” Argrave looked at his party. Onychinusa, Castro, Anneliese, himself, and the Alchemist—these golems were perfect counters to their magic. And from what Durran said of his fight against the creature, they weren’t exactly easy pickings physically, either. They were hardy enough

Sophia clung to his leg anxiously. “As much as I love playing my enemies against each other, I suspect the Shadowlanders will come without an end. Thousands of creatures the likes of which could have levelled Dirracha will spread out across this land, until Traugott finally sees the opportunity he’s been looking for.” He put his hand on Sophia’s head, almost to assure himself that she was still here. “The longer we wait, the worse

pilfered from Royal Road.

puppets. He’s merely letting loose wild animals to take advantage of the chaos. Only Traugott himself that will come for us. That gives us some

come down here, get

Sophia.” She looked up at him when her name was called. “I can’t predict what they’ll try and do with

suspect it’s a matter of distance. This is only my conjecture, but I don’t believe magic and divine nullification will be as absolute

politely. “The golems will stand watch, but the Shadowlanders will flush us out, like water slowly filling a

her head in

way one could approach either the Shadowlanders

kingsmen and the king himself to show up throughout town. But given how dangerous the Shadowlanders are—given they might cause the whole thing to collapse at any time—I wouldn’t recommend

bright eyes, hoping that there was something that the wise old man would think

through the Shadowlanders and the golems both. And through that hole, you

shot down

wastes as we—” Castro continued, but Argrave interrupted him

A-rank ascension, and you’ll tear through them all like a knife through butter. But I won’t let you, because I know how that ends. And it