Welnar returns to the port city with a grim look on his face. He said little to Monarch on the two day return trip… She could tell having to kill Alyssa was causing him distress. When he returns, it doesn’t take long for him and that salesman to cross paths and once they do… “Oh, bounty hunter! You’re back!” The salesman says, looking happy until he notices Welnar’s expression… And the lack of a woman following him. “My sister… Is she..?”

  Welnar simply shakes his head, clenching a fist in frustration. “I’m sorry. It was too late. I don’t have her head, but I do have this as proof for the death of the leader of those thugs.” He opens a rift with the scarlet shortsword, pulling out the whip-axe. The salesman reaches for it, but Welnar pulls it away.

  “Proof of kill. If you want to keep the artifact, you’ll have to pay extra.” He says. The salesman grumbles… But seems to relent. “Fine. An additional forty gold coins on top of your original payment.”

  {“A hundred is a good deal. I’d take it.”} Monarch says. Welnar agrees… It’s a pretty crappy artifact anyways. “Deal.” He says, handing it to the salesman. “I wasn’t prepared for a higher payment, so I’ll have to get some more coins from my shop… Come along.” He says, striding through the streets as Welnar follows behind. For someone who just lost his sister, he seems to be rather unbothered… It’s strange. Maybe he’s just good at hiding it? Or is there something more malevolent at play?

  {“There is one good way to check y’know…”} Monarch says, implying the recently acquired Scarlet axe. She isn’t wrong… And so, as he follows behind Welnar would quietly grab the Scarlet axe, imbuing himself with the Lustful Heart… Piercing the man’s mind in swift order. And once he does, he feels a torrent of despair and rage, hidden underneath a veil of calm… It’s almost enough to halt Welnar in place. He quickly releases the axe, exiting the man’s mind… That felt wrong. He kind of regrets doing it just out of curiosity.

  It doesn’t take much longer for them to arrive at the salesman’s shop, stepping inside as he goes to collect his coins… Welnar takes a quick glance around, seeing a lot of potions for sale. Nothing he really needs anymore though… His mana can handle healing wounds on its own. “I have your coin, bounty hunter.” The man says, Welnar walking over. A hefty sack of coins is planted on the counter, and he swiftly takes it, glancing inside. Seems about right…

  “See you around.” Welnar says, turning to leave but pausing for a moment… “I… Hope things get better eventually.” He adds, now leaving. He wanders around aimlessly for a bit, before sitting down on a bench and closing his eyes… Listening to the last two heartbeats… He’s almost there. Just two more to go.

  {“Sounds like they’re north… Far north.”}

  {“Looks like our last stop will be the Northern Continent then! Look at us, travelling the world.”} Monarch says with a giggle.

  {“I’ve heard a bit about that place… They’re making crazy advancements, or something.”} Welnar says.

  {“Guess we’ll find some new discoveries then! Let’s not waste time.”} Monarch responds, prompting Welnar to get up and head back to the docks once more… He learns the next boat for the Northern Continent will be arriving late at night, so he’ll have to wait a bit…

  …

  The 2nd Archon sits on a swivel chair in their lab, spinning aimlessly as they wait for their reports to come back in… It’s been much easier to keep track of the boy since he’s arrived here, but he’s been working fast.

  A few moments later, a knock is heard on the door. With a swipe of their hand, the 2nd Archon forms a golden hand to open the door, a slim looking man stepping inside. He kneels before the 2nd Archon.

  “Sire. Welnar is already heading for the Northern Continent… It seems he has already dealt with the Heart here.” He reports. The 2nd Archon scratches their chin, standing up from their chair. Working fast indeed… How impressive. Looks like dealing with those Monks worked wonders!

  “Good, good! Keep following him to the Northern Continent, and keep me updated through the network… Oh, and while you’re there get some more of those knick knacks I like playing with.” The 2nd Archon says.

  “I… Uh… Knick knacks, sire? Could you elaborate?” The man says timidly. “You know, these things!” The 2nd Archon barks, pulling a small crystal from a table with a golden hand, showing it off.

  “Oh, of course. The Mana Crystallium… Understood, sire.” The man says with a nod, standing and leaving. The 2nd Archon returns to his chair, spinning as he inspects the crystal in his hand… A rare import from the Northern Continent, known as Mana Crystallium. Crystals found in a mine only in the North that contain mana… They were only discovered a year or so ago, and a lot of their properties are still a mystery… But what is known is very interesting.

  Mana Crystallium is capable of holding mana attuned to specific kinds of magic as well as basic unattuned mana, making it theoretically possible to discover a crystal containing the magic of anybody… How they form is unknown as of yet, and the majority of Crystallium charged with attuned mana just holds basic elemental magic… The one the 2nd Archon holds is imbued with flame magic, glowing a deep red.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  But more interesting than that, is their properties once the mana within has been discharged. When a Mana Crystallium is emptied of its mana, it seeks to absorb the surrounding mana to become charged once again. A majority of the time, it ends up absorbing mostly unattuned mana in the air all around it. But, if one can create an isolated environment where the only mana to absorb is your own… It’s possible to manually charge a Mana Crystallium with your own magic. Then, you could distribute your own magic for various uses. The people of the Northern Continent have already discovered a way to do this, but they’re holding their cards close to their chest and not allowing outsiders to use it… Only buy the Crystallium they produce.

  “Cheap bastards…” The 2nd Archon scoffs. “I don’t need you anyways! I’ll figure out how to do it on my own!” They yell into the air. The 2nd Archon has been experimenting plenty with Crystallium, trying to make a space where there’s a mana vacuum, but it’s more difficult than anticipated… Perhaps that servant will have something useful when he returns besides the experiment, the Archon thinks.

  …

  As the half moon rises into the air, Welnar notices a boat landing at the docks. He never did find a good way to occupy himself, mainly just wandering about aimlessly or lazing around, chatting with Monarch.

  He makes his way over, and after confirming it’s a boat to the Northern Continent… Has to do the same song and dance to get aboard because of his Scarlet armory, flexing his bounty hunter status just like last time… It’s starting to really get on his nerves. But once that’s sorted, he’s on the boat and soon enough sets sail! Once he’s gotten himself a room…

  {“Perhaps I’m just being paranoid, but I’ve noticed someone seems to be tracking you. A Sorcerer of some kind, since you’ve arrived back in town… They’ve been keeping their distance, but I’ve been watching them.”} Monarch informs.

  {“Huh… Did they get on the boat?”} Welnar asks.

  {“Sure did. Keep your wits about you.”} Monarch confirms. Welnar shrugs. It could just be a coincidence, but he’ll trust Monarch on this… If they want a fight, he’ll give it to them that’s for sure. For now though, he doesn’t concern himself too much with that and decides to rest up for a bit… He closes his eyes, feeling himself drift off into slumber.

  …

  Then, he’s awake in… A tent? He hears the crackle of a campfire outside, and what sounds like someone humming a tune… An eerie sense of deja vu. He remembers this… The last time he heard this humming.

  He considers simply trying to go back to sleep and hoping the dream will fade… But… He takes a deep breath. He won’t back down… Not even from a god. Welnar steps out of the tent, coming upon a woman sitting at the fire. He doesn’t question the circumstances this time… Instead, he walks around the fire, sitting across from her on a stump.

  “What do you want… Aceus?” He says, trying his best to remain calm. On the inside, he’s still unnerved. The god of Chaos and Order looks to Welnar with her regal form.

  “You who defy fate… You, who wish to slay the divine… Your quest will end here.” She says in her silky soft, yet unsettlingly monotone voice.

  “And what…” Welnar takes a deep breath in, calming himself. He won’t falter… “What makes you say that?”

  “We… Have prepared for you. I give you only one more warning… Turn your back on this quest. If you choose to slay another Heart…” She pauses, her body spinning to reveal the grotesque, fleshy form…

  “Youuuuu shall suffer! The wrath of our vaaaaassaaaaaal!” She shrieks. Vassal? What is she talking about now… “I won’t be afraid of you. Or any other god, or vassal or whatever… You’re all complacent in this disgusting world!” Welnar yells, standing. “A world that I’m going to fix! And if I have to kill you and every other god to do it then I will.”

  The god shifts once more, back to her regal form. “Your conviction is stronger now. But your words are still hollow. You are a naive fool if you believe you can change this world.”

  “Shut up!” Welnar’s rage boils over, and in a flash he’s throwing a punch toward the god. And in another flash…

  He jolts awake in his bed, head throbbing in pain. {“Monarch..?”} He calls. A few seconds later, she answers. {“Hey there sleepyhead.”}

  {“How long was I out?”}

  {“A couple hours or so. Not that long, still a while to go on the trip.”}

  {“Well… I had another dream. With Aceus.”}

  {“Oh! Do tell…”}

  After explaining his strange dream, Monarch would think for a few moments…

  {“A vassal to a god is usually a blessed person…”} Monarch concludes. {“Blessings come in various forms and at different strengths… I doubt she'll be spending a super powerful blessing, but we should still be cautious. Regardless of their level, blessings are dangerous and not handed out lightly.”}

  {“I see… Alright then, I’ll keep that in mind. For now though… I need some damn water.”} Welnar stands, making his way out of his room and to the bustling bar of the boat… Even late into the night, the people here seem to be playing games or drinking themselves into a stupor. A lot of them seem to be mercenaries and the like too… A bit strange. Why are so many headed for the North?

  He shakes his head as the bartender slides a glass of water to him after asking. It’s probably nothing he needs to care about, Welnar thinks. He can’t help but look around in suspicion though, scanning for this supposed follower… {“They aren’t in this room it seems.”} Monarch says, easing his suspicions. {“No, wait. Incoming.”} She then says a few seconds later, instantly putting him back on alert. Not even a second later, a cloaked figure steps into the bar, the cloak glowing faintly with runes… That thing must’ve cost a fortune. {“That’s the guy. Same mana as before…”} Monarch confirms. He glances in Welnar’s direction, letting him get a glimpse of the man’s face in return before he turns away and sits down in a quiet corner of the bar. How totally not suspicious.

  {“Hang on, I’m getting another signature of mana… I couldn’t detect it underneath that cloak.”} Monarch says. Welnar keeps watch as inconspicuously as he can as the man pulls out some sort of small crystal, inspecting it in his hand… {“Is it an artifact?”} Welnar asks. {“It’s the only thing I can think of… Looks strange though. Feels… Different.”}

  The man seems to mutter something to himself that Welnar doesn’t catch, then puts the crystal away. “Fancy tools ya got there Sorcerer.” Someone beside Welnar says, causing him to turn. It’s a ginger, bearded man who looks like a well seasoned mercenary… {“He’s a Normal.”} Monarch confirms just as Welnar was beginning to wonder. Then the smell of alcohol hits him, and Welnar quickly realizes this man is one of the more hammered people here…

  “Uh. Thanks, I guess.” Welnar responds, not entirely sure where this conversation is going…

  “You looking for a quick coin? Me and my boys are heading to the North for a job… Wouldn’t mind giving you a cut for some extra muscle.” As he says this, he gestures to another table where two other mercenaries sit, watching. Welnar shakes his head.

  “Nah. Don’t have the time.” He says plainly. “Oh, I get it. Don’t have time for some pathetic Normals that it?” The man says, starting to get angry. “That’s… Not what I was saying at all. I really don’t-” As Welnar is trying to defuse the situation the man cuts him off…

  “Yeah yeah, I get it. Fucking Sorcerers… Why do I even bother.” He grumbles, walking back to his buddies… Welnar shrugs to himself. Not his problem… A few minutes later, he decides to head up to the deck of the boat in the late night, watching the stars as he leans against the side of the boat. Looks pretty nice out… He hears some distant footsteps behind him, but doesn’t think much of it. Until a few seconds later…

  {“Welnar behind you!”} Monarch calls out. He whips around, just in time to see that ginger bearded mercenary slam into him…

  Sending him overboard.