Chapter 461 – The One Good Thing About Being Trapped In A Vault

Long chapter today! I'm on holiday this weekend and haven't had a chance to edit it as thoroughly as normal. I think it's a clean draft.

One change - Prince Gregory is now a Chosen of Light rather than Ordana. Should have been that way from the start as it makes sense for the royal family to be her Chosen.

Hump backed slowly away from the vault door, his eyes fixed on the metal as he gathered his essence to his staff, ready to be unleashed at the first sign of failure. Another boom sounded, louder than before—the entire chamber shook with the violent tremor, the stone rattling underfoot. Dust poured from the ceiling; a thin crack spread from the edges of the steel doorway. The bottom edge of the door groaned, shuddering slightly—just enough to make him nervous. Warlock Anthony was going to make it through, and from the look of things, sooner rather than later.

Nishari let out a deep, rumbling snarl. Smoke rose from either side of her jaws. She was hunched forward, anger and energy pouring through their bond. Her scales shimmered slightly, the gold flakes a little brighter than usual.

Easy, Hump urged her. They’re not in yet. It’s okay, Nisha.

She looked at him, her purple eyes shimmering with gold flakes. Her jaws closed, and the gold diminished, a sort of calmness coming over her… kind of. At least she didn’t seem like she’d bellow any fire at the door for a few minutes.

“It’s not going to hold,” Bud said grimly.

“No argument here,” Hump replied. “But we’ve bought ourselves a little more time, and we happen to be standing in the most well-stocked vault in Alveron. I say we make the most of it.”

“These are royal artifacts,” Higrid interjected sharply, clearly scandalised. “Most of what’s stored here can only be taken out with a written seal of approval from the king himself. Much of this is owned by the highest orders of nobility—they can’t be handed out like trinkets.”

“With Prince Gregory’s permission, of course,” Hump said, giving a nod towards the prince.

“You have it,” he said without hesitation. “Pillage what you can from the vault. Better we make use of the artifacts than leave them to be claimed by the warlocks.”

Hump and the rest of his party started walking into the room, leaving a very disturbed Higrid standing by the vault door, frowning. When another boom struck, the poor steward let out a startled yelp and scrambled to keep up with them.

Emilia stopped and turned back to him as if nothing had happened.

“We should also consider securing anything particularly dangerous. It’s best that we assume anything in here is going to be used by Anthony or his warlocks—or demons. They can’t be allowed access to tools that might strengthen their position or compromise the Seal of Elenvine.”

“I’m sorry, the what now?” Higrid asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Prince Gregory said. “What we need from you right now, Higrid, is your experience. I’m sorry to put you into this position, but you’re the one that knows these vaults best. Please guide us. And if we survive this, I’ll ensure that my father is well aware of your service today. We are at war. The time for worrying about the rules has passed.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Higrid said. He turned to Emilia. “Where would you like to start, Miss…”

“Emilia Rike. Why don’t we start with spatial storage artifacts? Is there anything here that can contain a large quantity of power magical items? Something we can bring with us or lock away out of reach of the warlocks?”

“Before that,” Hump said, “Higrid, do you have any suggestions for artifacts designed to counter wizards?”

The steward appeared as though he’d bitten into something bitter.

“Those explosions… they’re being caused by a wizard?”

“A warlock,” Hump said, “and a particularly nasty one.”

“Weapons suited for killing demons would also be helpful,” Celaine said.

“Leave that with me, Higrid,” Prince Gregory said. “I’m quite informed on some of our more prominent weapons.”

“Of course, Your Highness. Though I might have a few suggestions. Let me see to this spatial artifact for Emilia, and I’ll be over right away. If there’s anything you need, just call.”

Hump watched the man go, moving with the confidence of someone who knew the rows of cabinets and displays as well as he would his own home, Emilia close at his side.

With time against them, they couldn’t do much more than a cursory search. Prince Gregory pointed to a few useful pieces as they went, Bud took a helmet blessed by Yurthan—a lesser god of light that Hump had never heard of—to grant the user immunity to enchantments of the mind and the ability to see through veils and illusions.

Prince Gregory seemed to have his mind already set on an item as they made their way quickly through the hall. When they reached the large ornate shield, Hump understood why.

“This one is particularly special,” Prince Gregory said. “I saw it once in my youth, and often wondered at its effectiveness. It has the unique capability to reflect a spell back at the user. At the time, I didn’t realise quite what atrocities it had been used to carry out.”

Studying the shield, Hump wondered how he would even attempt to face a foe that could send his own spells straight back at him. He supposed the shield was still just a front facing defence and wouldn’t do much against an attack to the rear. Looking around, Hump took in the names of the many artifacts—Wizard’s Bane, Cleansing Fire, Spellbreaker Blade. It seemed this section followed a theme—killing wizards.

“These items are from the Time of Purge,” Hump said, referring to the centuries where burning wizard was common. It was rather eerie to think of all the weapons used against people just like him.

“Yes,” Prince Gregory. “Not for two hundred years has it been carried, but today I shall wield it once more, only this time for a truly righteous purpose.”

Celaine claimed a quiver of ten Barrier Breaker Arrows, designed to shatter a variety of standardised Shield spells that relied on a combination of runes and channels. Most likely, they would pierce straight through Hump’s defences—and with any luck, Warlock Anthony’s too.

There were a few things that Hump thought might come in handy, but with such limited time and only his own person to carry things on, he was limited. In the end he added a few powerful Potions of Bodily Healing and Essence Elixirs to his stock, along with some others that he thought might come in handy—treatments for essence sickness, poison, bloodloss, and a Potion of Purify Air. As for items, there was little here that would increase his attacking prowess. Most artifacts simply weren’t designed with wizard use in mind. Instead, he replaced the Lifesaver Charm he’d used up in the battle with Warlock Minos with a Talisman of Spell Defence—a bracelet with three charms that could disrupt enemy spells. He wasn’t sure how effective it would be against a warlock as powerful as Anthony, but it might keep him alive.

Dylan had wondered off at some point, but soon returned with what looked like woven grass draped over his shoulders.

“What’s that?” Hump asked.

“The Mantle of Krioc,” Dylan said with a smile. “I don’t know how I didn’t find it when we were last here, but I felt it calling to me. It was crafted by one of my predecessors and will intensify my blessings.”

Higrid and Emilia rejoined them quickly. The steward carried a large wooden chest in both arms, reinforced with brass. They had already gathered a number of particularly powerful items inside.

“Pass them out, Emilia,” Higrid said.

Emilia handed them each a glass vial of shimmering red liquid with a crystal stopper. Hump sensed a familiar warmth from them. No, not just warmth. This was divine. A feeling he couldn’t get enough of at a time like this.

“These are made from the first dew of Emirai,” Higrid said. “A divine blessing used to harvest dew from the high mountain groves, and then distilled by the hands of Chosen into elixirs capable of healing almost any wound. There are only four of them, so I insist Prince Gregory be given one.”

“There’s no need for special treatment, Higrid,” Prince Gregory said. “We are all here for the same reason.”

Bud shook his head and held out his elixir to the prince. “Take it. You’re more likely to need it than I am. It’s my job to take the hits.”

“Robert, there’s no need for this. You’re going to be in front of all of us.”

“Then if I’m hurt, give me the potion when I need it.” Bud turned from the prince to Emilia. “I’ve found the perfect weapon for you.”

Emilia claimed the long, thin blade that must have been a precursor to the modern rapier, labelled as the Spellbreaker Blade, adding it to her belt beside her own sword. It could disrupt the makeup of spells, turning them straight back into essence without the typical explosive backlash.

After the next great crash, Hump knew it was time for them to move on. Voices carried through whatever damage Anthony had done to the vault door. It was no longer a matter of if, but when. They were breaking through. He was breaking through.

As they moved to the rear of the vault, Hump’s eyes went to a familiar sight—the amulet he’d retrieved from the Remnant Realm. It was mounted in a glass container, almost as if it were on display. He wondered if that was what they usually did with new items. A way for people entering the vault to see the latest selection.

He wasn’t sure why, but he decided this was another one he wasn’t willing to leave behind. He took the amulet but didn’t pass it over to Higrid, instead giving it to Celaine to add to her own belt of storage.

Soon they entered the small room containing the Shrine of Lady Light. The secret passage beneath the shrine was closed now. While they didn’t have High Priest Alagthar with them, they had an excellent alternative.

“Best of luck,” Dylan said to the prince, as he walked toward the shrine.

“He doesn’t need luck,” Bud said. “Just faith. You have this, Prince.”

Prince Gregory gave a nod, and then laid his hand upon the shrine, just as the High Priest had done before. He paused for a few seconds. Hump sensed his blessings gathering—the room stirred with divinity.

“Lady Light, I, Prince Gregory, seek passage to the Seal of Elenvine. Our kingdom is under invasion, and the enemy are at the door. My companions and I are prepared to lay down our lives to keep the seal safe. I beseech you—allow us through!”

There was a pause, and then the gears began to grind.

Bud clapped the prince on the shoulder. “Faith is always rewarded.”

“That’s what you took away from what he said?” Hump asked. “What about how we’re prepared to lay down our lives? I wasn’t planning to die down there.”

Everyone looked at him, and Hump gave a shrug.

“What?”

Celaine nudged him in the side. “He’s just trying to be funny. He was the first one to warn us that we might be going to our deaths.”

“We’re not going to die,” Hump insisted. “If I thought going down there was the equivalent of throwing our lives away for nothing, do you really think I’d do it? Do you think I’d force Nisha down here with us? No! If the enemy come, we’ll defeat them. If Warlock Anthony comes, we’ll just need to find a way to kill him too.”

“Well said,” Prince Gregory said. “You’re right. I have no intention of failing here. The seal needs its defenders.”

“What if Godfrey comes?” Dylan asked, a hint of humour to his voice.

“He’s got his hands full,” Hump said. “We can’t be expected to handle everything.”

They descended the stairs at a jog, this time closing the shrine behind them.  Hump sent Nisha ahead of him, relieved that the dragon could just about squeeze through. She was as thick at the hips as Bud was in his armour now, though sometimes it felt like more than that. With any luck, Warlock Anthony wouldn’t know the way down. Though it seemed that Kassius had been informing the warlocks of his progress for a while now. All that effort, only for him to receive a fate far worse than death.

With the passage closed, the booms of the vault door were almost silent. But with each beat of Anthony’s magic, the secret passage would shudder. Even as they proceeded further underground, the noise followed them like a drumbeat. With each boom, Hump’s heart raced. But he focused on what was ahead, throwing his nerves to the River and Waves as best he could.

“What is this place?” Higrid asked. “How have I never heard of it?”

“A recent discovery,” Prince Gregory said. “And something I wish you didn’t need to be a part of, Higrid. But you’ll be safer with us than up here. Come—your questions will be answered once you see it for yourself.”

Soon, they reached the round chamber, filled with doors. The passageway leading to the Seal of Elenvine was still open. He hadn’t noticed before, but there was blood on the ground from their skirmish.

“We need to clean that up,” Celaine said.

“Do you have any suggestions for cleaning blood off pure white stone?” Dylan asked. “Because I don’t know any.”

“If you’d mentioned it before, I might have been able to find some sort of elixir that could have done the job,” Higrid said.

Nisha approached, sniffing it.

“Don’t lick it!” Hump snapped.

Celaine gave him a look, brow raised.

“There’s no way licking it will work,” Hump said defensively. “If it was that easy, I’d conjure some water. That could be demon blood. Who knows what’s in it.”

“Obviously I wouldn’t suggest Nisha lick it up.” Celaine scoffed.

“We’ll just have to leave it,” Prince Gregory said. “Chances are they know the way anyway. Better we descend and prepare as much as we can. I’d like to see the door for myself.”

“So, what is this seal?” Higrid asked. “Why is it so important?”

“All you need to know is that it’s something left behind by Lady Light to protect Alveron. And it’s something that the warlocks are here to destroy.”

“I take it bad things will happen if they succeed?”

“Yes,” Prince Gregory said. “The kingdom itself may not survive it.”

Higrid drew a deep breath, then stood a little taller. “I am no warrior, but I am a third circle Chosen. I’ll do my best to fight at your side.”

Soon, the constant boom of the attack on the vault door fell out of reach. Hump wasn’t sure if he preferred the silence or not. On the one hand, he no longer had to deal with the jarring of the sound, on the other, it left him wondering if the warlocks had already broken through.

The chamber containing the Seal of Elenvine was a long way down. Hump had wondered how it was that Kassius had identified it—if the door was shut, how could anyone know what lay beyond? But as he stood before it, he understood. There was no doubt. Radiating from the room was more divinity than he had ever sensed from anything. It was as if they stood before a god pillar. Lady Light’s power was erupting with such force that it left his skin tingling.

“Have you ever felt something so spectacular?” Higrid asked.

“It’s breathtaking,” Prince Gregory said.

“And not good news,” Hump said. “The Seal of Elenvine may be of divine creation, but at the end of the day, it’s still a magical artifact. When an artifact radiates this much power, what do you think?”

They turned to him. It was Dylan that answered.

“There’s a leak.”

Hump gave a nod. “If I was to guess, the fact that the other eleven seals have already fallen has left the Seal of Elenvine working even harder to keep the Veil closed. Even if we stop the warlocks destroying it today, I’m not convinced it will matter.”

“The gods are with us,” Bud said. “All we need to do is trust in them.”

Hump almost snapped at him. He controlled himself. Convincing Bud otherwise would do no good for them today. It would only sow discord in their own ranks. If they managed to save the seal, he supposed they’d deal with that problem then. It wasn’t like they could change their mind now.

A sound like thunder boomed through the cavern, the very world shaking around them. They all turned to look back up the way they’d come. Had that been the vault door? Or was it the Shrine of Lady Light, destroyed? How much time did they have left?

Either way, only one idea came to mind.

“I have a suggestion,” Hump said.

He glanced at his party.

“I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

“Oh, I know that look,” Celaine said. “You want to bring the roof down again, don’t you?”

Hump nodded. “We’re underground. It’ll buy us some time.”

“Or it’s going to crush us,” Celaine said. “It really might crush us.”