The Final Ashfield

Chapter 10: Accepting The Dwanivit

“They’ve gotta be around here somewhere!” Upo shouted. “Stop lazing around, ya layabouts!!” 

His 2 men ran around in a hurry, frantically dashing through the forest in fear.

“I get the captain wants to get back at those little kids but isn’t this taking it too far?” one of the guards murmured. 

“What do you mean?”

The guard stopped and put his back against a tree. “Stupid. Did you forget that we aren’t supposed to be leaving the city?! I know you’re new here but come on! Have some common sense!” 

The other guard scratched his head, apologizing. 

“Besides… out of all the places we’re not supposed to go, this is the most dangerous. Haven’t you heard the story of the missing dwarves who used to be sent here and banished?” 

“B-But I thought it was all just a children’s story!” the other guard exclaimed, looking around to his sides worried.

“Of course not! They say a dark presence lives here in the Weeping Forest. Any trespassing would disappear without a trace. But Captain Upo… Argh, he’s so hard headed!” 

A sound came from the bushes near them. 

They turned slowly, fearful.

“A-A-AHHHHHHHH!!”

................................................................................

“No.” 

Everyone was shocked in silence for a moment at Aleximus.

“No?” the entity asked, chuckling dryly. 

Aleximus stared at him coldly the same way he stared at Hidemi when making his deal. “I don’t want anything from you. No… I won’t accept anything from you. I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m not so easily fooled. Trust doesn’t come cheap, and trust me, where we’re concerned, the price is high.” 

“Aleximus!” Jace exclaimed. 

What was he doing? Wasn’t this interesting to him?

Jace asked himself these questions. 

“Hmm. I see. You are quite the wary one, fufufu. I suppose you still want my name, eh?”

“That’d be a start.” Aleximus crossed his arms. 

Hmmmm. The entity smiled. He was very interested in Aleximus. 

“You may think of me as an observer for now." The entity interrupted. 

“I’m interested in your growth… so I’ve taken it upon myself to educate you on what Sanctum energy is and how the world works before you leave my domain here… ” it offered.

"Am I seriously supposed to believe that?" Aleximus's eyes narrowed. 

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you.” the entity shrugged.

Aleximus raised an eyebrow in confusion and then it hit him.

 “Y-You! You were watching us?!” He speculated.

He remembered that he used those same words on Captain Upo back at Xastol’s gates. 

“Quite sharp. Nothing escapes my gaze. I see and know all. And yet, when it comes to you Ashfields… my vision seems quite clouded, fufufu.”

Jace dropped his head low, tired. “You’re still not making any sense!” 

“The fact of the matter is, regardless of whether you know my name or not, you still need something from me.” the entity’s eyes narrowed, as if peering through the depths of the boys’s souls.

Jace stepped back, slightly intimidated. “?” 

“Sanctum Pressure. You need me to teach you how to unlock your Sanctum Chambers, do you not?”

“How do you know about that…?” Jace asked. 

“As I said… I am all knowing. It is naught but a triviality after all.”

Aleximus weighed his options. Roam through an unknown land without the powers that everyone else had, or get the help of a mysterious being in forest.

Tch. Such a bothersome decision.

“Hey Aleximus, what do we do?”

He made up his mind.

“Fine. Teach us.”

He’s a sharp one. This may be more interesting than I thought. The entity mused.

“Astute decision. Now listen closely, for this will be your first task.”

................................................................................

Upo wandered the Weeping forest aimlessly, looking for his two men.

“Eli, Ernie, get your asses out here!!!” he hollered.

He walked through some trees and noticed footprints on the ground. 

“Huh?” He followed them. “You jerks better not be hiding from me, ya hear?!” he warned, nervously gripping his iron weapon and brandishing it side to side. 

“Tsk. How pitiful.” A voice said.

“Can’t even keep it together all alone in the forest, eh?” Another dissed.

Upo spun around, seeing Jacender and Aleximus stand with their backs against trees, wooden swords in hand. “I-It’s you two!” 

“That it is.” Aleximus smirked, coyly.

“What did you two do the Eli and Ernie?!” Upo shouted. 

He was obviously worried. His two soldiers had disappeared in this scary forest, leaving him with the same boys able to withstand Sanctum Pressure from Hisagi. His confidence came from the strength in numbers he had, but with that gone he had nothing.

Jace furrowed his brow. “Elie and Ernie? Who–”

“Never mind that!” Aleximus cut in. “Listen here, Lupo,” he said, standing up straight.

That’s not my name!!! Upo thought, heaving heavily.

“We want to strike a deal with your people.” Aleximus said. 

................................................................................

[Xastol City Underground Prison]

Banderd walked down the halls of a dark corridor, humming pleasantly to himself. 

Barely giving a thought to the empty cages prisoners would otherwise be in, he passed by happily. Instead of a prison, it was more a storage place for the few dastardly criminals who were ever to commit the crime of violence. They'd be held here and later banished into the Weeping Forest.

"Ah…" Banderd whistled, stopping by an iron lined cage. 

Sitting inside it was a man sprawled out on the floor. He had been that way for 2 months now. Unmoving if not for getting his meager meals.

"That sight isn't becoming on a Paragon, you know?" Banderd mocked, pressing his face closer to the cage. 

Ivan didn't answer. 

Banderd clenched his fist. "You still believe yourself to be better than me?! Even as you are now, locked in a cage, helpless?!" He roared. 

It was clear he still felt a sense of inferiority towards Ivan. Despite being his older brother, he could never match up to Ivan's talents. He despised him with an intense jealousy. 

It had been this way since they were children. 

Ivan still did not give a response. He remained staring at the ceiling, unbothered by Banderd's attempt at a jab. 

Bandred gritted his teeth and then inhaled and exhaled slowly. 

"Maybe…" 

"...I should kill your half-breed mutt. I hear he comes to the city gates often, asking to be let in and see his father." 

Ivan flashed up, grabbing Banderd's shirt through the bars. 

A red gleam of fury emminanted from his eye, roaring with his next words. 

"You…!”

“Urhhg!” Banderd struggled against his grip. 

“L-Let go of me!!” he yelled, kicking the gate, falling backwards. 

“Listen, Banderd… Lock me up, fine. But we had a deal. You would leave my son out of this if I take the fall for Donnovan’s murder. But you cross me… and I swear to Arsaes…" Ivan threatened.

" –You'll what? Heh." Banderd's stood. “Go on! Give them more of a reason to think of you as I’ve already framed you to be!”

“Teh!” Ivan spit in his face and stood back in his corner. 

A dark anger overtook Banderd at the insult. “You mother–”

“SIR!!” a voice cut through his train of thought.

Banderd turned around glaring at the guard who came in. 

“Eek! Uh, Sire…” the man shivered at Banderd’s glare, “I-It’s Captain Upo! He’s come back from the Weeping Forest with news!”

Hm? Banderd’s eyes narrowed. 

“The Weeping Forest? That is a forbidden area. Why was he out there and what did he find?” 

“It’s in regards to those brats who caused a commotion this morning at the gates. They approached him half an hour ago with strange material! It’s wood that doesn’t burn!!”

The guard said exhilarated. 

This was a fascinating find, especially for the dwarves who were expert blacksmiths. 

Doesn’t burn? Could it be…? Ivan thought. 

He turned to the guard. “You there. That wood… It’s called Ash Tree wood, isn’t it?”

The guard was reluctant to answer due to Banderd’s teeth sucking once Ivan spoke. 

“Y-Yes…” he said slowly. “How did you know?”

“ENOUGH!!” Banderd yelled. “No conversation with a prisoner! Or would you like to be punished?!” 

The guard flinched. “N-No! Not at all, sir!” he bowed. 

“Good! Show me to him, now.” Banderd commanded. Wood that doesn’t burn, eh? Interesting. Maybe I can boost my status if I can get my hand on some!

Banderd gave one last look at Ivan, who glared at him, then walked off with the guard.

Wood that doesn’t burn… It can only be that material he spoke of… Ivan pondered silently, remembering the man who had told him of the material. 

…

Huh? Father? Banderd noted, seeing his father standing besides Upo. 

In his hands was a small piece of wood, barely the size of his palm. Its color was of a red shade, seemingly without knots. 

Dammit. I had hoped to scoop it up before anyone else but it seems I’ll have to change that idea.

“Ah, Banderd, it’s good you’re here. We’ve made a glorious discovery.” Dwygrand smiles coarsely, handing Banderd the wood.

Sure enough it was as he noticed. No knots were visible but what did surprise him was that it remained fairly hard with barely any noticeable weight on it.

“And you said you got this in the Weeping Forest, correct?” Banderd asked. 

“Y-Yes sir!! The two human children from this morning tracked me down in the forest and handed it to me!” Upo thought back to his conversation with Jacender and Aleximus. 

◇"This here is called Ash Tree wood." Aleximus spoke, holding the wood out for Upo to see. 

He was still wary of the two but his curiosity got the better of him, propping him to see the wood closer. 

“We’ll give it to you!” Jace said. “For a price, fool.” Aleximus slapped his face at Jace’s naivetee. 

Upo gulped. “W-What is it?” 

Aleximus smiled.◇

“PREPOSTEROUS!!!” Dwygrand shouted. His face was riddled with veins and got redder by the second. 

The shout had shaken Upo to the point that he’d fell. 

“To allow that filthy half-breed to join the Dwanivit?! Is there no limit to the shame I must endure?!” Dwygrand stamped his cane down. 

“Not even Ivan could get that right from me!! Who are they to ask–”

“–The Lord of the Weeping Forest, sir…” Upo interrupted, afraid Dwygrand might strike him with the cane. 

A shiver of fear went through both Banderd and Dwygrand’s body. “But… H-He doesn’t interfere with us…!” Dwygrand stammered.

“It’s true, sir. The Lord helped the boys evade our detection and even seems to be helping them now…” Upo stood.

Banderd tried to back his father. 

“Regardless, he has no right to tell us how we dwarves operate! We will not be opening our gates to that Half-breed scum!” 

Dwygrand felt reassured slightly. “Y-Yes… Yes you are right.” 

Upo interrupted once again. “But sire,” he turned towards Banderd, “They have also told me to tell you something!” 

Banderd glared at him for his insolent backtalk.

“Spit it out!” 

“They know.” Upo expressed nonchalantly. 

Banderd reamined unmoving. Dwygrand noticed this and turned to look at his face. 

“!!” Upo gasped alarmed. 

All the color had left Banderd’s face. He grit his teeth in an effort to regain his composure. 

“Banderd? What does he mean, ‘they know’?” Dwygrand asked. 

Banderd exhaled slightly. 

“It’s nothing, father.” he smiled. 

Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Banderd was falling apart on the inside. 

The only question resounding throughout his mind was: “HOW?”

Dwygrand focused on Upo and smiled. “Upo, find out more about these human children and how much of this wood they have. We will not allow them to make demands on our territory! We shall–”

“–Wait, father!!” Banderd interrupted. He sweated profusely.

He couldn’t let his father push those kids away. He didn’t know what exactly they knew. If he here to somehow anger them…

Regardless, he couldn’t risk exposing what happened with Donnovan. 

“Maybe it’d be a bit too hasty to deny them entry? Haha… If we can extort them of that wood, there is nothing to fear! Besides, it isn’t like that half-breed knows anything regarding Sanctum-Smithing!” Banderd laughed dryly. 

Dwygrand fell quiet and got deep in thought before he answered. “Fine. But the moment we have that wood, both him and his father are being banished!!”

Upo was shocked to hear this. Dwygrand was never known for changing his mind about tradition. The wood must’ve been a very motivating factor. 

“Upo, go back to the forest and deliver this message!” Dwygrand shouted to him. 

Upo flinched, jumping up to give a hand salute. 

“We accept the proposition! In one month’s time, Hidemi shall join the Dwanivit Sanctum Smithing competition for pro dwarves in one months time!!” 

“If he is to lose, he shall have the humans send us all of their wood! Quickly!” Dwygrand shooed him off. 

Upo bowed quickly and ran off. 

I must find a way to get rid of this irksome problem… Banderd thought darkly.

“...Banderd!” Dwygrand addressed him after a moment of contemplation.

“Yes father?”

“Go to the prison and let the guards know to double Ivan’s bonds! He shall suffer for his son’s arrogance. Once the mutt loses, he will be banished alongside his father and I will cleanse myself of this dishonor!” He extended his hand, beckoning Banderd to go.

“....” 

“Yes, father.”

................................................................................

"Welcome back."

The entity remained sitting on his throne, smiling as he watched Jace and Aleximus come forward. 

“Good work on negotiations. You seem more natural at it then I had thought you to be.”

Jace furrowed his brow. “How did you even know? And that stuff you told us about Hidemi’s dad–Ivan…is that true?” 

“Yes. I believe I told you, did I not? I know and see all that is happening, fufufu.”

“Hey… Where is Hidemi?” Aleximus asked suspiciously.

The entity smiled faintly. “He has his own training to do. 1 month isn’t much time for him to surpass Hatagi. But I wouldn’t worry about him…”

The entity stood to his feet, exerting threatening pressure.

BVRR~OOM

“Urgh…!!” Aleximus and Jace blocked reflexily as a mass of wind pushed them.

“Worry more of yourselves… For my training will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Be sure not to die…”

It all starts now. Anna… I’ll avenge you soon. Aleximus thought, sweating slightly. 

“Tsk! Bring it on!!!”