Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos

Vespes Prince (Part 3)

'What will you use my knowledge for?' Edvard asked, wondering how many of his thoughts had already been read. It was impossible for him to know when his thoughts were private and when they were open to Ilvisar, unless the vespes commented on them.

'I will try to understand them… While I will be getting your memories, I will only be able to get those you yourself remember. The most recent will be the strongest and easiest to read. The most precious, second easiest. Third, the abstract and conscious knowledge which you know of, but do not focus on.'

'I will try and find a way to use your knowledge for the greater good of the Vespes. I'll be honest, I will not do anything for the humans of Ethos. Only for my empire and citizens.'

'Does that mean I will be a traitor?' Edvard wondered, having no clue about the social structure of this world. He did not know how bad this rivalry was, if sharing his knowledge would get him killed soon after.

'How can I be sure you won't kill me to keep it a secret?' Edvard asked, wishing he could see Ilvisar's thoughts as Ilvisar could see his. Or even just read his facial expressions. He was unable to read anything from the handsome Vespes's blemishless face.

'Everything I say will be my word, so I do not know how to comfort you. But I will tell you that you were not the only dimensional instability. We detected two others, yours was the nearest. Another was further west nearly five thousand kilometers. The other is over ten thousand North.'

'Does that mean, Yawen… Are you alive?' Edvard felt his heart racing as he thought of his wife and the possibility. Though the sheer distances the Vespes mentioned caused him to falter a little as he had no idea how he would ever survive to cross it.

'I'll share the details with you. On one condition.' This caused Ilvisar to raise an eyebrow in surprise, not having expected the human to demand something more.

What he had promised was already the epitome of what most humans would wish for. A sword of the Vespes was one of the most magnificent things in this world, far stronger than any dwarven sword. It was something even kings would highly covet, willingly offering their daughters or even a town.

'Oh?'

'Can you confirm if my wife is here?' Edvard asked, pleadingly.

'No, I am sorry but it is simply impossible. My range of influence is limited to a thousand kilometers from my forest. Even those two others we detected are outside our influence. But I can promise to help, in a different way.'

'If ever I find that one of you are in plight, and as long as it would not hurt the Vespes, I will go and save them, personally.'

Edvard nodded, this was already a great relief to him. Even if it was not Yawen who was saved, Edvard would not feel cheated. At the least it would be a colleague, yet it could also be a close friend.

'Alright, I will share with you what I know… How do we do it?'

'Just don't fight when you start feeling pain, doing so will cause more and hurt both your mind and body. You might even die if you do... I will do my best to forgo personal memories.'

'Okay.' Edvard nodded, took a deep breath and prepared for the pain to start. Almost laughing when he felt only a small headache, only slightly throbbing. If that could be called pain then he felt the Vespes definition of it was terrible.

It took close to an hour before Ilvisar abruptly opened his eyes again, looking at Edvard as if he was looking at a dragon. His gaze contained true fear as he passed out.

{"Sire! Sire!"} Shouted one of the nearest Vespes as soon as he saw the prince fall unconscious. Rushing over he quickly lifted the prince up, summoned a bed and placed Ilvisar on it.

Edvard looked on in amazement as he saw the bed forming from roots and leaves, like slithering snakes a web quickly became a comfy bed, blankets even appearing as the leaves changed form.

{"What have you done!"} The Vespes shouted, placing his sword against Edvard's neck and pushing him against a tree. Blood flowing down the blade, slowly. Drip by drip.

Seeing his blood coating the blade, Edvard felt coldness rush through his body. He felt angry that this was how he was being treated after being cooperative. But he could not explain what had happened, he did not even understand what was going on.

The Vespes kept him against the tree, only not ending Edvard's life due to the fact that his lord was still breathing. The prince having seemingly only fallen unconscious due to a magical overload.

This was the only thing that the Vespes could think of which caused similar symptoms. Yet it was not completely correct, and it was nearly impossible for anyone to cause Ilvisar to experience magical overload.

As time went on, Edvard started wondering if this was how he was going to die. Slowly bleeding to death as he was pushed up against a tree. He could no longer feel his feet and his hands were starting to follow. Realizing this a fiery instinct to fight and die fighting ignited in him.

Not knowing what he was doing, Edvard moved while his body still could move. Using all his strength, he used the tree as a foothold and tried to push the Vespes from him. All his efforts did nothing, the Vespes did not even feel anything. Not budging even a hair's breadth.

{"Ayred, let him go,"} Ilvisar said as he sat up from his bed, far paler than before.

There was blood coming from his ears, nose, and eyes. Slowly dripping down his face and staining his white and light blue clothing. The red clearly stood out from both the clothing and Ilvisar's skin.

{"But… My lord."}

{"He did not do this to me! I did… Through my greed."} Ilvisar shouted, standing up and pulling the other Vespes shoulder back.

Edvard fell to the ground, his legs no longer able to hold his weight. Coughing for breath he realized how nice it was to not struggle to take simple breaths. How great it felt to not have a blade against his neck, to not be bled to death in the slowest manner possible.

{"Go back to your post, I am fine,"} Ilvisar said, clasping Ayred's shoulder to assure him.

'Sorry about that.' Ilvisar said to Edvard, who was now sitting against the tree. Feeling the cut up and down, shocked that the blood was still flowing as if the wound was just seconds old.

'I got too greedy with your memories, trying to understand them while still uncovering others. It caused my mind to overload, similar to when one interferes with spell casting. Hence why Ayred was so aggressive, he feared you had tried to kill me.' Ilvisar replied, moving his hand to Edvard's throat. The latter recoiling in fright.

'It's fine!' Edvard replied in a hurry, worried that Ilvisar wanted to strangle him. While he was comforted by being able to breathe freely and still being alive, along with having gotten an explanation. The fear and despair he had just gone through were still fresh.