Side Story - Candrial 2: In the Shades of Ardynshaide

Candrial stepped closer to the edge of the floating island and leaned forward slightly. Looking down at the swirling vortex in the ocean below certainly felt more menacing when you were aware that the ground you were standing on was only held aloft by the power of ancient runes. Ones that might or might not be in desperate need of repair.

"Do people really go into that dungeon?" Ziek asked as he stepped up next to his wife. That they were alone lent support to his question, but they both knew that most of the Adventurers simply took a boat from the nearby village. "Seems risky, considering most of the city is flooded and the average person can't breathe underwater."

"It is true that parts of the city are flooded," Candrial replied, "but both the dungeon and the people who made it prepared for that." She gestured towards the various pillars that floated just above the water at varying intervals all around the island. "As far as I understand it, these will from time to time build a formation which removes the water from the dungeon. At that point, it has to be cleared, otherwise the dungeon itself tries to expand its influence."

Ziek raised a brow as he looked at her. "I thought the pillars had stopped working centuries ago."

"They did, but after her return they, as well as some other things, seemed to come back to life as well."

"Of course," Ziek replied. "Makes enough sense to me."

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, marveling at the pillars that, despite their age, still looked pristine. They gleamed in the sun, turning the normal yellow light of their star into refractions of silver and blue that almost seemed to flow as it connected them all. Perhaps it’s a sign that the formation will be read soon?

Candrial was about to ask what they should do first when her husband turned around. She followed suit shortly after, Ziek undoubtedly also having noticed the presence approaching the two of them. And, just like her, he paused as his eyes landed on a skeleton walking towards them.

No, Candrial corrected herself, a Lich. She recognised the flickering flames in his eyes and the very subtle glow of the core that floated between his ribs, just beneath his robes. Usually their kind did not wander far from their city, much less the desert itself.

Eziekiel took a step back, standing a little behind and to the side of Candrial to hide from the approaching Lich the rune-covered dagger he had pulled from his robes. Normally, Liches behaved like any other person, but if you found one far away from their home chances were good that it had done something despicable. Bad enough to be exiled, but not quite bad enough for their leader to actually un-alive them again.

"Greetings," the Lich said as he came to a stop a few steps in front of them. "We have been informed that we should expect a few guests, though I have to admit, we did not expect people of your stature."

"Who is we?" Eziekiel asked.

"Ah, how rude of me," the Lich replied and offered a bow. "My name Moric, and I have come to speak on behalf of the people of Ardynshaide. What is left of them, anyway."

Candrial could not help but blink in bewilderment at the Lich's words. "The people that built this city perished millennia ago."

"Indeed, but dying is not always final." He gestured to himself. "I brought a few of them back, even if that was an accident of sorts. In any case, they heard some whispers of a few [Guides] that passed by and wish to help."

"How can they help us if they don't even know what we want?" Candrial asked as she began to channel a bit of her mana, just in case. It would not be the first time she had needed to put the dead back where they belonged.

"There are only a few reasons why someone would come here aside from trying their hand at the dungeon," a new voice said from her side. "And knowing Ferio, she would not send someone so close to her merely to fight in a dungeon."

Candrial turned to look at the man who had spoken and narrowed her eyes. "And you are?"

"Beilo," the man replied and bowed with a flourish. "Beilo of Ardynshaide, at your service. Both my wife and I are in service of the esteemed Creator." He paused for a moment and shook his head. "We were, before we died, but we fully intend of serving the Lady again. She might not have much use for priests, but in the past she did not shy away from using us if it was required."

"Wonderful," Eziekiel replied, his voice only slightly filled with sarcasm. "Who knew that we would find long-dead followers of the All-Mother here. I sure didn't."

"Neither did I," Candrial echoed as she squinted at the man.

Even if he was telling a lie, he had done his research. The robes he wore were indeed the ones the followers of Aperio had used millennia ago. Their condition was all too good, but she also knew that the enchantments on them — if real — were not something that could be reproduced without the help of either Mayeia or her own Goddess.

She took a step towards the man. "May I perform a test?"

"If that is what needs to happen for you to trust me," he replied, spreading his arms, "I welcome any challenge you may have."

Candrial raised a brow at his words. "No challenge," she said. "Just a test of your robes."

Before the man could speak again, the Elf invoked a skill granted to her by Ferio and encased the man in a pillar of white and red flames. As soon as her [Tribulation of Fire] had appeared it vanished again, the only sign that Beilo had been inside of it a faint silver shimmer on his slightly dishevelled robes.

Candrial nodded at that. "That will suffice, for now."

"How novel," Beilo commented as he patted down the robes. "To see such ancient magics still around. Luckily, our Goddess did see it fit to protect us from these rather crude imitations of a proper skill."

"That's why I did what I did," she replied. "Ferio had mentioned that her mother had given a few of her followers something that protected them from practically all divine intervention. No matter the outcome, it would have been the correct one."

"Indeed," the man agreed. "Now, how may we help the servants of Ferio?"

"Servant," Eziekiel corrected. "I am a priest of Edisicio, not Ferio."

Beilo offered a smile at the words. "I do apologise, I am not familiar with a God of that name. They must be new."

"New is relative," Eziekiel replied. "But it does not matter, our goal is the same. We have come here to learn about a language – the very same one that your enchantments seem to be written in, in fact."

"I see," the man replied. "My wife can help better than I can with that. Please, follow me."

Candrial looked at her husband, waiting for him to nod before starting to follow the man and the Lich. She could judge someone’s character fairly well, but Eziekiel had, thanks to Ediscio, a few more tricks up his sleeve that were helpful in situations like these. Should one of them have ill intent, he would know; and if he knew, Candrial would act.

"Does your wife specialise in languages?" Eziekiel asked, falling into step beside his wife.

Beilo shook his head as he led Candrial and Eziekiel into one of the few intact buildings. "Not the language you seek, but she knows the runes better than anyone else." He stopped for a moment before he shook his head and continued. "Not that there are other people still living who know them. Besides the Lady, of course, but I doubt she would explain any of this to a mortal. She rarely talked to anyone that could not at least raise a world."

Well, that's not true anymore. Aperio very much talked to mortals, even taking one as her partner though, truth be told, it was only a matter of time before Caethya would have her own ascension. The woman was already plenty strong, and being with the All-Mother probably only advanced that.

"I think you should re-acquaint yourself with the Goddess you follow," Candrial said as she followed Beilo into the building. "She is a very different person now."

"And how do you know that?" a new, higher voice asked. "Have you, perhaps, talked to her?"

"I met her, yes," she replied as she turned to look at the newcomer. "She most certainly did not match any description I have ever received. Aperio has also taken to a mortal that can not yet raise a planet." At least I don't think so…

"Perhaps we do have to try and arrange a meeting," Beilo said before he took the hand of the woman who had spoken, pulling her a little closer. "This is Haiwa, my wife. She knows a lot more than myself about the magic that keeps our city afloat and the crops growing."

"We would have fewer problems if the central spire was operational," Haiwa said. "At least the rest of the city seems to still work; I had fully expected it to fail during her absence."

"Why is that?" Candrial asked, taking the seat Beilo offered.

Figuring out that the enchantments somehow reacted to Aperio's presence on the world had been easy enough, but Candrial still wanted to know why that was. It clearly did not hold true for every enchantment placed onto this city, as the important parts had remained operational with neither the All-Mother nor the city's caretakers present. The same was also true for Lightfray, the ancient tower had protected Verenier a great many times throughout the ages.

Haiwa sat herself down across from both Eziekiel and Candrial before taking out a stack of scrolls that she placed onto the table that separated them. "Well, the most obvious reason is because the runes are powered by her magic; they rely on it." She unfurled one of the scrolls, squinting at it for a moment before continuing. "If she withdraws herself from this world, they will fail. After all, if she is not here, how could a physical form of her will work?"

"I'd guess they wouldn't," Eziekiel replied. "But I know of a few more that still did regardless. Does that mean the All-Mother never fully left? Or are the runes simply more powerful than expected?"

The woman shrugged and grabbed another scroll. "Perhaps a little bit of both. Our Goddess is the foundation of reality, and therefore will always be at least a little present. My current theory is that a small amount of her attention is enough for the vital enchantments to continue working. Not surprising, really; her power is infinite, so even the tiniest sliver of it should be able to power something as trivial as this city."

Candrial would not have called a gigantic floating city trivial, but her own Goddess was already powerful enough to displace armies between worlds. Of course, Ferio had never told her where they came from, but it was obvious when one thought about it for a moment.

"So you are trying to tell me that Lightfray is something mortals built to channel the power of the Creator?" Eziekiel asked. Her husband had always been interested in the tower, but the wizard who had claimed it was most unwelcoming of guests, disliking there mere idea of telling people what went on inside the structure.

Perhaps we should go there next, Candrial thought to herself as she looked at Beilo. The man offered her a smile as a set of cups appeared on the table, and a moment later he held a can in his hand. "Some tea?" he asked before either Eziekiel or Haiwa could speak again. "I have the feeling we will be here for a while longer."

"Indeed," Candrial agreed, taking the cup and letting a bit of her magic run through it. Their hosts might be nice, but it always paid to be careful.

A bony hand taking hold of one of the cups caused Candrial to raise an eyebrow. “Can you even drink?” she asked, shifting slightly in her seat just in case the undead tried something unbecoming.

“No,” the Lich replied as it held the cup up to its skull. “But it would be rude of me to not at least attempt to partake in the first part of the ceremony.” It let out a rattle, likely trying to imitate a sigh. “I also like to remember the time in which I could enjoy these little pleasures.”

“The smell is as much a part of the experience as the taste.” Beilo offered a smile to both Candrial and Eziekiel. “To some, it means even more than the rest,” he added, pouring a measure into the last cup and pushing it towards Eziekiel. “Please, have a taste. You are the first outsiders in aeons to be a guest in Ardynshaide.”

Candrial did, the hot liquid running down her throat and filling her with an energy she had come to associate with mana potions, not tea. Perhaps she would have to investigate the civilization that used to live here a little more. They certainly seemed to know more than either Ferio or the [Guides] had let on.