Rot Heart: A LitRPG of Rot Magic in an Ancient World (Book 1 completed)

Div stared at the elder who had just appeared on the deck, at a loss for words. He couldn't sense his presence through skills or mana. It was like the old man was invisible.

An Ascended Rank, and clearly not a newly risen one. He didn't need to be told the man was in a different league compared to the elders of the northern Lien reaches.

"So? Are you not going to answer?"

Div gulped. "We are from Camboaci, the northernmost Lienien village."

The elder chuckled. "Really? That's not exactly true, is it? What a suspicious bunch."

He looked at them one by one. "A Kheironite explorer, an exile with unusual powers, a druid with a bonded earth spirit, and something close to a mind reader. All traveling with one of the artifacts responsible for the curse plaguing the land."

Lugsellos quickly spoke up. "Elder, we stole the artifact from the mountaineers and have been evading their pursuit for days. We want to bring it to Trabine so more competent hands can examine it."

The old man didn't let go of his smile, but the intensity of his presence prevented them from relaxing.

"We met Dana on the way," Gennorina added. "Without her, we wouldn't have made it this far."

Lugsellos continued. "Div was indeed exiled from Kheiron, but he was adopted into our village years ago."

The elder tapped his cane on the wooden deck.

"You'll get a chance to explain yourselves to the council. Be quiet."

In the blink of an eye, they weren't on the boat anymore.

Disoriented, the four of them stumbled forward, struggling to recover their balance. They were in a large, rectangular wooden hall, standing in front of seven people seated in line at a long table.

The central seat was occupied by the old man.

Div glanced at each of them. One of the faces was familiar. The Trabinite elder that had overseen their delegation to Bavacium.

They had reached their destination.

It wasn't the first time Div ended up in such a setting, and it didn't bring back any good memories.

The old man spoke. "There we are. Apologies for the rough treatment, but you won't have missed that we are at war. Some precautions are necessary. Our people have confirmed your identities Gennorina and Lugsellos."

He paused and looked directly at Div. "I believe you are Div, we saw your counterpart some time ago."

Div was surprised, but in hindsight, it made sense En had passed through Trabine. It was on the way. Furthermore, this elder seemed to have powerful observation skills. At least, his Inspect had completely broken through his and his friends' Conceal.

"As for you," he addressed Dana. "Dana Opheo, we'll see."

"Terebus," a woman sitting directly to the old man's left said. "Let's move on to the important point. We are all more busy than we'd like."

The old man, apparently named Terebus, hummed. "Right."

Silence.

Div took a quick look at his friends. They were uncomfortable under the stare of so many foreign Ascended Ranks. Even Lugsellos didn't look good.

Terebus coughed. "Well, we'd like to hear what you have to say. How does a bunch of Camboacians end up so far south, with an explorer and a cursed artifact? Gennorina, you explain."

Gennorina was startled by her name being called. For a moment, Div wondered where Suce was, but he spotted the pebble hosting the spirit on the ground before them.

Gennorina took a deep breath and recounted everything, starting from her bond with Suce that had forced her to leave home, to them meeting Dana, finding the crystal, and their flight. The only thing she omitted was the fight with the Thesios clan's hoplite squad.

Nothing good would come out of it. Not for them, and especially not for Dana.

"And you thought it was a good idea to bring this cursed instrument of death inside Trabine's walls?"

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"Terebus," another elder spoke. "I doubt this is what they had in mind. Getting our hands on an artifact is an unexpected boon. You already have it under control, there's no need to rattle the children."

The old man huffed but relented. Muttering under his breath, he said, "Fine, Panos. Can't even spook children anymore. The younger generations are growing soft."

Hearing this, Div relaxed.

"Don't think you're out of trouble just yet," Terebus said, a glint in his eyes. "I'm guessing you want asylum in Trabine? I'm going to make you work for it."

"Naturally," Lugsellos said. "It's expected that we would work to earn our share."

"Terebus," Elder Panos said, letting his voice hang. "I believe they deserve a reward. A service is a service. Furthermore, we cannot make a druid with a bonded spirit pay. Her presence would be a boon for Trabine."

"Ah," Terebus spat. "Panus, you really know how to ruin my fun. But that's right, you are all allowed to peruse our library. It's not as fancy as Hyepshut's, but in the Lien basin, everyone knows it's the best."

He laughed, almost giggling.

"I'll still make you work before I allow you to stay. Except for you, little druid. Although I guess being a druid is work in itself."

Even the assembled Ascended Ranks looked tired from Terebus' antics. It was plain on their face that they wanted the meeting to end soon.

"Yes, that includes the Kheironites, explorer and exile," he added.

Panos sighed. "Terebus, the exile can do whatever he wants, but I don't think the Kheironite army will be happy about one of theirs not being returned."

The door slammed open.

"Well said, Panos," a man dressed in the formal outfit of the Leios clan entered the room. An elder, as evidenced by his embroidered toga. Div didn't recognize him, but he hadn't met every elder of the clan. Some had been deployed in the Wildlands before he was even born.

"Emerios… I would suggest you do not let yourself into our council chamber uninvited," Panos said, dryly.

The rest of the council nodded in agreement. Div didn't miss a few of them stealing a glance at Terebus. It seemed that, despite his temper, the old man was recognized as a leader among the elders.

"Or what?" Elder Emerios laughed. "Anyway, I'll be taking the girl, and I want access to the artifact. Do you think you can take one of mine without me knowing it? She's even in uniform, your stasis skill has its limits, old man."

Terebus scoffed and willed the door to shut with a simple hand gesture. "You'll take who I allow you to take. We are in Trabine. Do I need to remind you who rules here?"

Elder Emerios didn't spare a glance for Lugsellos and Gennorina. More importantly, he didn't even look at Div. It was very possible he hadn't recognized him. That, or he was too preoccupied by the seven Lienien Ascended Ranks to care.

Either way, the less attention he received, the better.

He didn't know how an elder of his old clan would respond to him being here. Elder Secuda hadn't been too hostile, back in Bavacium, but she didn't represent every elder, and the situation had changed.

If Secuda didn't want to make waves over him in Bavacium, this Emerios didn't seem so reserved.

"Terebus, Terebus, Terebus," Emerios intonated. "Watch who you are speaking to. A word from me, and the city will pull its support from your pitiful people."

"Empty threats."

"Nonsense. The barbarian lord would never dare to touch an Ameian city. Even if he succeeded in his foolish attempt at transcendence."

Terebus laughed. "Emerios, you're a few centuries too young to pull that one on me. Since when have the core Ameian cities cared about small, distant colonies like Kheiron? They might send support occasionally, but you're not worth offending a Transcendent Rank over."

"Believe what you will, old man. My position hasn't changed. I want access to the artifact. You will grant my request as it is in your best interest. Our mages will be happy to lead the research."

Terebus looked at Emerios, an amused light shining in his eyes. "Fine, send your men over. A few extra pairs of eyes won't hurt."

"Very well," Emerios turned to Dana. "Follow me. You'll be reporting to me."

Div frowned. He could see in Dana's gaze that she felt conflicted. It was her duty, and nothing bad should come out of it. Truth be told, she had done nothing wrong. If the encounter with the Thesios clan stayed secret—which it would—She could claim they had been intercepted by Elder Terebus. She wanted to bring the artifact to the Kheironite command, but there was nothing she could do.

Still, he didn't like seeing her taken away like that.

Just as he was about to intervene, Terebus clasped his hands unleashing a pressure so strong that Div hadn't thought it possible. It was strong, but restrained, wild, but precise. It seemed as if everyone was feeling the strain up to the level of their ability.

If not for how uncomfortable it was, Div would have gasped at the elder's mastery over mana.

Even Emerios and the other elders staggered under the weight of it. The Kheironite looked angry, while the Trabinite elders were clearly tired, but not surprised.

The old man spoke. "I don't remember agreeing to this."

Emerios ground his teeth. "She is under my authority."

"This young explorer isn't of your clan."

"I'm here as a general of the Kheironite army. Any soldier in the area answers to me."

"And she will," Terebus nodded. "But not before she receives her reward for bringing an artifact back to Trabine. In fact, you should reward those four from your coffers as well. After all, you're going to benefit from their efforts. Or does your Leios clan have something against it? I know you can be needlessly vindictive."

Without a hint of subtlety, Terebus winked in Div's direction. The latter froze. So much for keeping a low profile. Hopefully, Elder Emerios wouldn't notice—

"An exile? From my clan, I suppose."

A pause.

"Oh, wouldn't that be Basil's nephew? Div… yes, I remember your name was something like that. Fancy seeing you here."

Div sighed. That was exactly what he wanted to avoid.

Emerios smiled. "Well, I'll see what kind of reward I can scrounge up."