Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 677: Museum of Everything Gone

Argrave arrived at the top of the tree. He had been expecting some sort of vast field of golden leaves at the top, but instead, he found himself crawling through an open manhole. He rose up out of the sewer, looking around at the room he found himself in. In a few moments, he realized it was something like a museum. There were exhibits all around, many of which were directly related to his time here on Berendar and the world beyond it.

Argrave climbed up, coming to stand as he looked around further. There were antiquities from the Burnt Desert—miniature replicas of the metallic towers at Sethia and a recreation of the heart that had been created to replace his own. There was the Plague Jester’s scepter, and a small ring that Argrave knew once belonged to Induen. There was a scale from Vasquer’s body, a feathered hat from Relize, and a set of eyes clenched by a taxidermized bat.

The exhibits carried on, each of them highlighting some various aspect of his journey. He followed them down chronologically, paying attention as they became more and more recent. Finally, at the end, there was the final exhibit—it seemed to be the centerpiece, yet it was blocked away with yellow tape that read, ‘construction in progress’ in bold and bright letters. Beyond the yellow tape, there was a navy-blue curtain. From beneath the curtain, a gleaming golden light peeked out, dancing at the edge of the floor. He could see two orbs, each projecting a light that barely indicated their presence. Just beyond would be the suns, he was certain. He wasn’t clear on what to expect.

Argrave walked up to the unfinished exhibit, looking around. A door opened to his right, and from it came a cloud of smoke. Argrave braced, prepared to fight anything that might come. Moments after, Jaray walked out, shadowed by someone unrecognizable. Argrave narrowed his eyes as he looked at them, not entirely relaxing.

“What is this?” Argrave expressed his disdain openly.

“Congratulations on getting past the souls Gerechtigkeit sent after you,” Jaray commended. “I said that I’d be busy arranging a meeting with the Heralds. Well… I knew that you’d be coming here, given what you and Lorena intended. So, we came here in advance and waited. This is a fitting venue for conversation, I think,” he said, looking around at the place before his eyes narrowed at the ‘no smoking’ sign plastered on the wall. “Mostly.”

Argrave looked at the second figure warily, finally grasping things. “You’re a Herald?” He questioned. “How did you come here?”

“Piggybacking on a mortal soul, of course,” Jaray answered.

The man looked at Jaray, then at Argrave. “There is never a shortage of people willing and able to help us when we need it. Even those with undying souls.”

Hearing that the Heralds had already found a patsy to confront him with—and one so rare as to possess an undying soul—Griffin’s conversation echoed fiercely in Argrave’s head. His claims that the Heralds would do anything gained more and more credence. Argrave had largely said what he needed to pass the calamity by, but his foe’s words had rattled his cage and disturbed his mind.

There was no denying that Griffin had gotten into his head—at that, at least, he’d won. The man spoke well, spoke passionately, and treated Argrave with an amount of respect that was almost something to return… but that was provided he hadn’t killed Vasquer and billions of others over the years. As Griffin said, he may have been oppressed by the Heralds, but that still didn’t make him a good person.

“So, what is this?” Argrave looked between them, shaking his thoughts away. “Are you going to try and stop me?”

“Stop you?” The Herald raised a brow. “We’re only trying to make things even again. Balance the scale, so to speak. If you’re willing to be reasonable, we can offer you unreasonable things.”

at Argrave. “It was very difficult to get them to agree to come to the bargaining table. You’ve cost the Heralds a lot, and you’ve proven to be someone that’s rather uncompromising in

nose, looking back

the exhibit, into his field of view.

Argrave looked at him with contempt. “I want your exploitation of

the Herald responded without missing a beat. “What you’re asking… you’re decently-educated in the world you come from, correct? It would be akin to destroying the tectonic plates to stop earthquakes, or eliminating everything that created wind to stop cyclones and hurricanes. The cycle of judgment is but another natural disaster, just as an earthquake.” He gestured. “Come now—be mature. Surely you

Argrave responded, “Earthquakes aren’t engineered by an outside force. Your people, whoever they are, established this cycle of judgment. Your people came to this world, did something

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head. “I’m afraid it’s not that

it to me,” Argrave suggested. “Explain to me why this is necessary. Explain to me

“I don’t have the time, nor the clearance, to explain it

make time, and get clearance,” Argrave

have this conversation because he assured me you’d be open to discussing an alternate path. Were you wrong, Jaray, like I said would be

forward. “Argrave, you’ve seen what Lorena’s become. Despite everything, she lives a good life. A fulfilling life. You could have all of that—all

repeated, smiling. “Can I take that to

his

half the talent of those before you who’ve come just as far. You’re interfering with the business of very important people—and I number among them. Just because your soul was ferried in from somewhere else doesn’t mean you have the right

Argrave noted, wondering what he meant by ‘ferried in.’ “Very persuasive, denigrating all

all the miseries of this world. The troubles you fight against now would be out of sight, out of mind. This planet could become nothing more than a distant star as you live in peace, building the society of your dreams alongside those you love.” The Herald shook his head. “And yet you condescend, judge, complain, and bitch, bitch, bitch. Do you think I want to be here?” The Herald sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You’re pulling me away from other obligations—actually important matters. You’re fighting me as I try to make you happy. Can

dirt on his shoe, or a mustard stain on his shirt. Like there were thousands of other more important matters on his plate. He sounded like an overworked, arrogant businessman more than some arbiter of

not joking around with this. I don’t know much. But I know from past experience that they’ve been moving, frantically, to prepare for a more… final solution… to your Blackgard Union. They’re operating under the assumption that you’re unwilling to cooperate, driven by ideals before pragmatism.

“And

to gods. Setting the groundwork for…” he trailed off, saying nothing.