MEMORIES OF AN OVERLORD
by Victar (vctr113062 [at] aol [dot] com)
Victar's Archive: https://www.vicfanfic.com
"For someone who claims to value honesty, I sure told a lot of lies.
"'I hardly knew them,' 'I never had any idea they'd do that,' 'Stop worrying about me, I'm fine.'
"I lied, and I lied, and I lied, just to get everyone off my case."
Chapter Fifteen
Memories of a Savior: Determination of a Savior
When Kreisia's most unlikely Savior awakened to the revelation that the world he sought to protect was real, he resolved to become a Savior more worthy of his companions' support.
I'm the worst pick for 'Savior', Yusis darkly thought to himself. Cynthia's summon spell shouldn't have chosen me, but it did. There's no other off-worlder who can wield the Holy Brand Aldea against the Overlord. A whole world full of people is at stake.
At least I'm not doing this alone. I have three friends who believe I can be Kreisia's 'Savior'. I'm not sure why, but they believe.
They said that they need my help. This time, I know I'm being asked for help.
I have to try as hard as I can to help them. I have to get better at this any way I can. I've been a slacker all my life; how do I even start?
Yusis searched through his memories of family, friends, and school.
Can I really make myself more like students who study for straight A's? Like athletes who train themselves to win competitions? Like career professionals who push themselves to be the best at their jobs?
Like... Dad?
On that day, and the weeks that followed, Yusis worked to improve himself both physically and mentally.
He stopped asking for extra breaks to rest during the long hikes of his travels, although he gratefully accepted Cynthia's holy magic to soothe his blisters and aches from fatigue. Her magic also helped him recover after battles against undead monsters; even though his companions skillfully shielded him from harm, monster skirmishes often drained his stamina.
Although Cynthia's 'Savior gift' granted him rudimentary skill with a sword, he asked Laminah to teach him how to fight monsters more effectively. She obliged, but stated that she would limit his warrior training to a maximum of two hours a day. This restriction turned out to be a blessing; her lessons always left him exhausted, and sometimes in need of more holy healing magic to make his bruises disappear.
On most days, Laminah divided Yusis' training into a morning and an evening lesson. Anemos usually assisted Yusis' morning lessons, by playing bardic magic that increased resistance to physical attacks or enhanced celerity. During Yusis' evening lessons, Anemos sometimes disappeared for a while, ostensibly to practice music and bardic magic in private. Anemos always returned between late evening and deepest night.
Cynthia also practiced her own skills in crossbow archery and holy magic; unlike Anemos, she never strayed far from Yusis and Laminah. Sometimes she watched Yusis during his battle training, and cheered him on. Yusis wasn't entirely sure whether he felt encouraged or embarrassed, yet her goodwill was deeply heartwarming.
Yusis' efforts to improve his mental fortitude began with trying to learn more about Kreisia, both by conversing with his companions, and by browsing books when the group rested for the night at inns. The first time Yusis opened a Kreisian book, he donned the reading glasses that he wore on a cord around his neck. His companions appeared bemused when they witnessed the true purpose of the "talisman" he carried.
Laminah evaluated, "Your talisman is ill-suited for shielding your eyes in battle. What benefit do you gain from wearing it on your face?"
Anemos mused, "I knew your talisman was not magical, but I presumed it was a cultural adornment. Is it entirely utilitarian?"
Yusis answered their questions as best he could.
"It's called 'glasses'?" Cynthia quizzically trilled. "Aren't you worried that its glass could break?" She leaned very close to where he was sitting, and squinted at her own reflection in the lenses. He felt a light puff of her breath on his face.
Yusis blinked several times, and managed to stammer a tongue-tied response.
Cynthia said, "I don't know what 'hard plastic' is, but it looks a little fragile. Hold still; I'll cast a ward to protect it from damage, and keep it from being accidentally lost." She half-closed her eyes and raised one hand. Her fingers nearly touched his nose. He tried very hard not to blush, or look at her ears too much.
Cynthia stepped back, opened her eyes, and clasped her hands together. "I think I'm getting better at defensive wards! That might be the strongest one I've ever cast." She smiled happily at Yusis, then wrinkled her brow with a trace of concern. "Um, are you okay? You look a little dazed."
As Yusis attempted to regain his composure, he glanced upon the open book in his hands, and saw that its contents were indecipherable. He was utterly unable to read the Kreisian language, although he could speak it as naturally as his native tongue from his own world.
Yusis was further bewildered to suddenly realize that he had been talking in a different language since the day he had been summoned. Cynthia explained that his fluency was a gift from the summon spell.
"The summon spell always enables the Savior to speak with us, even if that involves modifying their bodies to give them a voice we can hear," she cheerfully elaborated. "A few Saviors have belonged to species that don't naturally use sound to communicate."
Anemos added, "You do occasionally speak strange off-world words or phrases. Your meaning is usually not difficult to interpret from context."
Yusis humbly asked his friends to teach him how to read and write the Kreisian language. Cynthia happily undertook the task of instructing him, with light assistance from the others. They started by demonstrating how to write their names; Cynthia also showed how to write the names of her parents. In response to her curious questions, Yusis shared a little knowledge of his native language, and showed his friends a rendition of his first name in its writing system.
Fortunately, Kreisian was entirely phonic, with a simple alphabet, and did not have a complex or ideographic writing system. There were a limited number of rules for pronunciation, and no written words that defied those rules. Yusis' crash course in Kreisian literacy required only a minimum of memorization and practice.
On the night that Yusis learned enough to page through a Kreisian book on his own, he stayed up a while later than his companions, reading by candlelight. A stray thought fluttered through his head.
I wonder what Mom would say, if see could see me studying like this.
Not all of the things Yusis tried to learn were as straightforward as basic literacy. Even though he had no ability to cast spells, he questioned Cynthia and Anemos about how magic worked in Kreisia. Yusis' inquiry into magic began during the slow phase of the group's daily hike; while Anemos often used bardic magic to enhance celerity, the bard could not sustain their increased rapidity all of the time.
"No, Yusis," Cynthia patiently said, in response to one of his questions. "A fire magic attack spell isn't the same as shaping fire magic into a crossbow and shooting bolts."
"Aren't 'stun bolts' a real thing, though? You've mentioned them before," Yusis pressed.
"Stun bolts aren't made of magic. They're blunt physical bolts enhanced with an Altean paralysis chant. The chant is so strongly concentrated that a stun bolt's impact will temporarily override most chant wards, or the natural resistance of most Alteans. Stun bolts only paralyze for a short time, and they don't work well on monsters. Weak monsters can sometimes be paralyzed by stun bolts; stronger monsters are immune."
"Okay, but your crossbow bolts are shaped out of fire magic, aren't they?"
"Only because I'm not carrying any physical crossbow bolts. Physical bolts can be more powerful, especially if they're enchanted. It's just, we're traveling a lot, and a quiver full of crossbow bolts is kind of heavy, and you know I'm not good at enchanting weapons. I have been trying to improve, though. Laminah gave me a few tips she learned from her uncle."
Yusis looked to the warrior. She shook her head and said, "My uncle is a highly skilled enchanter; I am not. I know only a modicum about the discipline."
Anemos remarked, "Enchanting weapons is substantially more difficult than other forms of enchanting. I also lack experience in the subtleties of that specialty."
Yusis glanced at Anemos and asked, "Can you shape bardic magic?"
"No one can," Anemos amiably refuted. "While bardic magic may entangle an opponent's body and mind in an immaterial manner, it cannot be shaped into material objects."
"What about slowing-beads? Aren't those shaped from bardic magic?"
"Ah, the creation of magic beads is a fundamentally different undertaking. A bead is essentially a spell stored for invocation at a later time; in contrast, magic shaped into objects akin to the aforementioned crossbow cannot store spells. I would also note that monsters are believed to be incapable of creating beads, even though some monsters can shape dark magic - particularly the Overlord, the legendary wielder of miasma."
"Wait. Dark magic can be shaped?"
"Only by the undead. The living cannot wield miasma in any capacity."
"What about other types of magic?"
"Elemental magic and holy magic can be shaped into material creations; minor magic is too unstable for such an endeavor. Mind-related magic can theoretically be shaped, but legends recount that only Yumarac himself was ever powerful enough to do so."
"You've mentioned Yumarac before. He's the off-world ancestor of the Alteans, right?"
"And the creator of the Holy Brand Aldea, yes," Anemos affirmed. "Legends say he also shaped intelligent beings out of elemental magic, but the last of those beings perished long ago, in the cycle's battles against the Overlord. My understanding is that all attempts to replicate Yumarac's living creations have been unsuccessful. Dark magic has proliferated immensely since Yumarac's era, and its malevolent influence has weakened other types; shaping another living being out of magic, let alone shaping another Holy Brand, would likely be impossible today."
Yusis' eyes darted back and forth. He glimpsed a faint whisper of light, evidence of Aldea's watchful presence, but the holy sword did not contribute to the discussion. Yusis decided not to question Aldea; its attitude toward him tended to range from disdain to outright contempt.
"Okay, let's do a quick review of the different types of magic," Yusis suggested. "There's dark magic, holy magic, elemental magic, bardic magic, mind-related magic, and minor magic. Are there any others?"
Anemos mused, "There is a type that does not belong to any of those categories. Yumarac's power was once so great that his magic had dominion over time itself. He could even bring the flow of time to a complete halt. He never disseminated his knowledge of true Chronomancy, although he did teach bardic magic that has a less potent influence upon time. No one knows why he kept Chronomancy a secret, even from his own children. Perhaps Chronomancy is simply too powerful for mortals to wield."
"'Too powerful for mortals'... does that mean Yumarac wasn't mortal?"
The bard turned his eyes toward the clear blue sky. A wistful, almost reverent tone affected his voice. "I do not have a definitive answer to that, as there are conflicting philosophies concerning how or in what form Yumarac watches over us to this day. Personally, I believe that Yumarac's love for our world is immortal, regardless of all else."
"Uh, okay." The way Anemos talks about Yumarac...
...I'd better not make any snap judgments, but one thing is clear. Yumarac is important to him. Really important.
The bard returned his gaze to the road ahead, and his speech adopted a rhythmic cadence. "Legend has it that long ago, before Orzand was the Overlord Orzand, Yumarac led a great army of loyal followers. They fought Orzand fiercely, in a desperate war to save our world. Yumarac's entire army was lost, but their heroic sacrifice was not in vain. Yumarac made Orzand fall into a deep slumber."
Laminah starkly said, "It is not known how Yumarac put Orzand to sleep, when undead monsters are immune to sleep spells. Neither is it known why Yumarac, for all his legendary power, could not destroy Orzand."
Anemos resumed his storytelling as if no interruption had taken place. "The war greatly sapped Yumarac's strength. He never personally wielded powerful magic again.
"Decades of peace and harmony elapsed, yet Yumarac and his Lunarl priestess wife worried that Orzand could one day awaken. Together, they resolved to create an eternal protector that loved our world as much as they did.
"Yumarac used Altean chanting to guide his wife through the necessary steps to shape the Holy Brand Aldea, out of the holy power that naturally shines within our world. Tragically, an accident during the Holy Brand's genesis cost the life of Yumarac's beloved.
"Yumarac was heartbroken with grief. His resolve to protect our world remained steadfast. He invented the spell to summon an off-world Savior. The final tales of Yumarac say that he traveled far and wide, teaching the summon spell to priestesses, and passing on his wisdom to scholars. Yumarac particularly emphasized that should Orzand ever awaken, then only an off-world Savior wielding the Holy Brand Aldea could stop it."
Anemos smiled warmly at the off-worlder walking alongside him.
Yusis tried to suppress an uncomfortable flinch. Then he ventured, "Uh, I guess this story is..."
"The origin of the cycle," Anemos smoothly finished. "It pertains to your line of inquiry in that the spell to summon a Savior is reputed to draw upon both holy magic and a smattering of true Chronomancy. To my knowledge, the summon spell is the only remnant of true Chronomancy practiced within Kreisia today."
Yusis looked to Cynthia. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I think maybe the summon spell really does include a little Chronomancy? I'm just going by how the spell felt when I cast it. When Anemos uses bardic magic to make us travel faster, that has the same feeling."
Yusis muttered, "If the summon spell has time magic in it, could that have something to do with why it chose me?" Maybe the time magic didn't work right. Maybe the spell was supposed to summon a Savior from my world's past or future.
Cynthia let out an exasperated puff of breath. "Yusis..."
Yusis blinked and hastily said, "I was just wondering."
"No, you weren't," she firmly denied. "You were doubting yourself."
You really can see right through me, can't you?
Anemos gently clarified, "Yumarac designed the summon spell to have certain selection criteria. Yusis, you did not come to us by chance. Holy magic possesses the inherent drive to protect life, and the summon spell determined that you could fulfill its drive."
"I know little of magic," Laminah stated. Her steadfast expression did not change, nor did she turn her head. "What I do know is that we need you, Yusis. It is possible that another off-world Savior could be summoned in the days ahead, but for the present, the fact that you have awakened the Holy Brand inhibits the Overlord from committing more large-scale atrocities."
Yusis swallowed, nervously. "'Large-scale'..."
"The war against Orzand follows a pattern each cycle. The Overlord temporarily reduces his assaults after the Holy Brand departs from its shrine, although lesser scale attacks often continue. In the previous cycle, the Overlord inflicted significant casualties after Savior Clize claimed the Holy Brand, yet I would stress that the Overlord's assaults were vastly reduced in scope. The most severe massacre only slaughtered a single village, albeit one with military protection."
'Only' slaughtered a single village...
...I never liked learning about wars in high school history class. It made me feel sick inside.
I never liked hearing news about wars, either. It made me feel even more sick.
But now, how I feel doesn't matter. I just have to deal with it. I have to learn as much as I can about this world, and about the Overlord.
The Overlord who keeps coming back every ten years...
Laminah calmly continued, "In this cycle's war, the Overlord has recently expended a great deal of power and lost many strong monsters. I expect that he will hold true to his pattern, and conserve his strength for a time. Let us vanquish him before that time comes to a close."
You really do believe that I can be Kreisia's 'Savior', don't you? All three of you believe in me.
Is that because I'm the only off-worlder you have?
I hope another priestess summons a better Savior than me, but I can't count on it. For everyone's sake, I have to keep trying as hard as I can. I have to learn as much as I can.
Yusis humbly cleared his throat. "So, uh, getting back to how magic works... what's the difference between a fire magic attack spell and a crossbow bolt shaped out of fire magic?"
A thoughtful expression supplanted the lingering exasperation on Cynthia's face. "Umm... magic attack spells require more time and concentration to cast, but they're also much easier to aim."
"Oh, I see. It's a trade-off."
"And, a shaped fire magic bolt doesn't burn as hot as a fire magic attack spell does. The spell is more powerful, and takes more out of me."
"Shaped magic sounds like it could be really powerful, too. If you can shape magic into any object, then could you shape a spiked trap underneath a monster? Or a cage around a monster? Or an arrow speeding toward a monster?"
"I can't shape magic in any of those ways," the priestess replied, shaking her head. "There are strict limits to shaping magic, especially in combat. I can't make anything with sharp points or edges unless I'm holding it. I can shape other objects a little further away from me, but I can't shape objects that are in the air or about to fall. I can't shape magic around or touching an unwilling target; only a true binding spell can do that. I can't shape a crossbow bolt that's flying toward a monster; I have to shape a crossbow and use it to shoot the bolt. The maximum size of a shaped object depends on my own strength, the maximum weight can't be really heavy, and I can shape a crossbow only because I know how crossbows are made and how they work."
"Huh. That's a lot of restrictions." For something that's not a video game, Kreisia sure has a lot of stuff to preserve game balance.
"I should mention," Anemos interjected, "that there is lore of powerful monsters - especially the Overlord - that can defy at least one of these restrictions, and attack with shaped dark magic as surely as if hurling a blunt weapon. This may be a special power unique to the undead."
Laminah contemplated, "It is unknown whether the Overlord can transcend other limitations upon shaped magic, yet I suspect that he cannot use all the battle tactics you describe, Yusis. If he could, then military history would surely have a record of it."
Yusis plied his friends with more questions about magic. They explained what they could; he internalized some of their knowledge, but many of the concepts slipped through his mental grasp like cold water through bare fingers. Laminah reassured him that most Vargs were also incapable of understanding more than the fundamentals of spellcasting.
"So you can't use magic at all, just like I can't?" Yusis asked the warrior.
Laminah calmly replied, "Your assumption is not predicated upon what I said."
"Uhh..."
"I am committed to the war against Orzand. My strength is that of a warrior. Magic is not my strength. I leave it to those for whom it is a strength."
Cynthia clarified, "Nearly all Vargs can learn minor magic, like cleaning spells, illusions, divinations, or enchanting. Some Vargs don't study minor magic, though. Especially Varg warriors, since minor magic can't help them in battle."
"Wait, what? Why can't minor magic help in a fight?" Yusis questioned.
"Umm, I think minor magic is so unstable that feelings of conflict overwhelm it. Or something like that."
"Hold on. You mentioned illusions. Couldn't a warrior use minor magic to turn invisible, or make an illusion appear in a different place from where they really are?"
Cynthia shook her head. "Illusions can't do anything like that in battle. Mages have tried. Minor magic can't even blind monsters with a flash of light, or make a sound loud enough to deafen them. Monsters are sensitive to light and don't like spells that generate it, but light spells won't harm them."
Laminah noted, "To claim that minor magic cannot help a warrior in battle is an oversimplification. Minor magic is used to support the war against Orzand. My king has expanded the ranks of the Royal Mages to include minor magic specialists; they enchant equipment, and aid the Royal Guards with divinations and illusions."
"Oh, that's right," Cynthia self-corrected. "My parents use divinations to track down dangerous monsters. I've tried to learn divinations myself, but, um, I have a lot of room for improvement."
Laminah continued, "Illusions that conceal can hide scouts, or disguise warriors before a battle begins. Illusions may also make a warrior seem more fearsome, or a leader seem more inspiring. What illusions cannot do is obfuscate the size, position, identity, or actions of a combatant in the heat of battle."
Anemos remarked, "Divinations can acquire the subtle advantage of knowledge, whether one is enmeshed in conflict or not. Laminah's armor possesses certain permanent enhancements in that regard, among its extraordinary array of minor magic capabilities."
The warrior spared a narrow-eyed glance to the bard and returned, "Your vest is also impressive, especially if you enchanted it yourself. Did you?"
"Why, yes."
"What other hidden talents might you have neglected to divulge?"
Yusis sensed a backwash of rising tension. He hastily tried to defuse the charged atmosphere by saying, "Let's see if I understand something else right. Magic spells don't actually require anything special to cast? No specific words, actions, or spell components at all?"
"Magic is a matter of the mind," Cynthia answered, helpfully. "Speaking a name for a spell, making gestures, or even dancing can all help with concentration, but none of that is really needed. Except for bardic magic, I think. Anemos, you also need music to cast it, don't you?"
"That is correct," the bard affirmed. "I must play my lute to invoke bardic magic. My limited skill with other instruments is not sufficiently conducive to the undertaking."
Yusis thought about this, then asked, "What if a monster took away your lute?"
"That would be akin to disarming a warrior. To prevent such a calamitous situation, I have cast certain enchantments on my lute, similar to the defensive augmentations on your talisman, your sword, and Laminah's halberd. These protections render my lute resistant to physical or magical damage, and reduce the likelihood of its dispossession."
"What about singing?" Yusis wondered. "Could you cast bardic magic that way?"
Anemos raised both eyebrows. "Vocalized bardic magic was once the purview of jongleurs, as was bardic magic that invoked holy power to heal or cure. Such knowledge has regrettably been lost to the living."
"Oh, yeah. Cynthia's told me something about that. Although, do you think that knowledge could be rediscovered?"
"Who can say?" The bard shrugged. "I have never ascribed much thought to the prospect, yet the possibility surely exists. The greatest limits upon what magic can do are power and imagination."
"And the limit on power can vary," Cynthia added. "Especially with spells that target a person. The strength of magic is strongly affected by the true feelings of both the spell's caster and the spell's target. If the target resists the spell, then the magic is weakened; if the target accepts the spell with their whole heart, then the upper limit of the magic's power can be incredibly magnified."
Does that apply to the summon spell, too? Yusis silently wondered. Maybe your spell chose me because I wanted to come to Kreisia.
Or... did I just want to get away from my old life?
Was I really that miserable? I was close to flunking out of high school, and I didn't like the prospect of having to work some awful retail job, but too many people on my world have a much worse life than I did. My life was way better than I deserved to have, that's for sure.
I didn't deserve what I had there, and I don't deserve the friends I have here. I'm a useless screw-up who doesn't deserve to be alive at all-
-wait, I'm thinking bad thoughts again. I need to block them out right now.
Yusis closed his eyes and concentrated on pushing his harrowing inner feelings into the back of his mind. His focus was interrupted when he tripped over a loose stone in his path.
In addition to learning about magic, Yusis attempted to better understand Altean chants. Laminah stated that she left such matters to the Royal Chanters, Altean chant experts who served her king in the Royal Capital. Cynthia could explain only a little. Anemos gave reluctant answers to some of Yusis' questions.
"Even though they're called 'chants', you don't have to literally keep chanting to maintain them, right?" Yusis asked. "At least, not for something like the 'Savior gift' Cynthia put on me."
"Much like magic, chanting is a matter of the mind," the bard sighed. "Spoken syllables are an aid, not a necessity."
"'A matter of the mind'... Cynthia, you don't have to concentrate twenty-four-seven to keep my chant going, do you?"
Cynthia shook her head. "No, your 'Savior gift' will stay entirely on its own, as long as you don't resist it or wear a chant ward. I can only use weak chants that affect the subconscious mind. I can't use anything strong enough to need constant focus, and my chants can't affect either the conscious mind or the body."
"But your chants can, Anemos," Yusis reasoned. "You've used chants to paralyze some of the monsters we've fought."
"Those were lesser monsters," the bard replied, in a hollow tone. "The undead resist chants more than the living do. My chants are unlikely to hinder strong monsters."
"Sometimes you've kept a monster paralyzed for a whole battle. Does that take so much concentration you can't do anything else?"
The bard half-closed his eyes and spoke as if reading a written lecture aloud. "The amount of concentration required depends partly upon the talent of the chanter, partly upon the resistance of the target or targets, and more heavily upon the purpose of the chant."
It's not worth trying to learn any more about Altean chants. Anemos clearly doesn't want to talk about it, and the details would probably go right over my head anyway.
Yusis also learned about Kreisia's history and culture from his three companions, while they traveled the roads together. Sometimes Anemos related legends, with the flair of a born showman. Sometimes Laminah recounted military history of the war against Orzand, with the austerity of a stern instructor. Sometimes Cynthia shared happy memories of everyday life in her home village.
Cynthia also told adventurous stories about learning to hunt monsters with her parents. Anemos occasionally waxed loquacious about philosophical topics. Laminah was the most taciturn of the group, although she contributed when their discussions touched upon military history or battle strategy.
Yusis enjoyed talking to his companions so much that it never felt like an impromptu cram school. It felt more like gossiping with friends at the arcade, the mall, or the high school lunch table.
One of their first conversations took an unusual turn when they asked him curious questions about his home world. He shared a few things, before an unexpected reproach interrupted him.
*Caution, off-worlder. Do not say too much about where you are from.* Yusis saw a whisper of golden light before his eyes, and the soundless communication of the Holy Brand Aldea rang sharply in his mind. *I am only speaking to you, at present. Do not use your voice to respond. Answer me with your thoughts alone.*
Uh, okay.
Yusis' eyes darted to his friends. All three of them had fallen quiet and turned their gaze away from him.
*Your discussion with the others is ended, for now. I have informed them that I must confer with you privately.*
So what's the problem?
*The problem is you, off-worlder. You must not contaminate Kreisia with your corruption.*
What exactly do you mean by-
*The living people of your world wage deadly wars against one another, do they not?*
Uh, well, it's pretty peaceful where I grew up. I didn't have to do any military service, but yeah, there's war. Big wars in history, and smaller wars between certain countries, I guess.
*The living people of your world commit atrocities worse than war, do they not?*
Are you talking about... genocide?
*You must never speak that word aloud. Kreisians would likely not understand what it means, but do not take the chance.*
Wait - are you saying that Kreisia doesn't have war, or genocide?
*'War' in Kreisia means 'campaigns against monsters or the Overlord'. Only the undead seek to commit 'genocide', in the sense of destroying all life. Kreisians do not wage war against one another, let alone commit mass exterminations. Do not give them harmful ideas, you corrupt off-worlder.*
I wasn't planning to talk about such horrible stuff anyway.
*Neither should you speak of your world's other evils. Corruption scarcely exists here. You must not introduce any more.*
When you say 'other evils', you mean...
*Theft is uncommon in Kreisia, and its infrequent episodes are typically induced by starvation or similarly desperate circumstances. Violence is rare, and usually caused by uncontrolled emotional turmoil when it does happen. The concept of murder is understood, but monsters and the Overlord are responsible for almost all killing. In the anomalous cases where living Kreisians slay one another, the tragedy is nearly always due to fallout from the war against Orzand.*
'Corruption scarcely exists here.' Is that why Cynthia didn't understand me when I speculated that a monster hunter could lie about killing monsters, in order to pocket a bounty?
*You should not have spoken such a corrupt thought aloud!*
Okay, I get it. I have to be careful about what I say; Kreisia's culture can't handle bad stuff from my world.
*This extends beyond what you consider to be 'bad stuff'. Your memories confirm that slaying animals for food and clothing is common on your world, as is using animals to perform strenuous or dangerous labor. I will not pass judgment on what your world's people do to survive, but you need to understand that Kreisian animal husbandry is limited to practices such as harvesting milk or shearing wool. Intentionally risking harm to a living animal, let alone killing an animal for any reason other than merciful euthanasia, is unthinkable to natives of Kreisia.*
But not to you?
*I am a native of Kreisia only in the sense that I was shaped from Kreisia's holy power. My creator designed me to be capable of comprehending what other Kreisians cannot. He taught me about the corruption of other worlds.*
Huh. Okay.
*Off-worlder, your memories reveal that you have witlessly asked whether the people of Kreisia 'ride horses', or worse, 'eat meat'. You must not speak openly of such things. If you have any other perilous questions, then direct them to me with your thoughts.*
I knew I made a bad impression on Cynthia's parents.
*The priestess and her family have assumed that your world's people are similar to wolves or hawks. Their belief is not entirely wrong.*
Wait a minute. How do you know what Cynthia's parents think of me? Can you read the minds of people who are far away?
*No, my range is limited. The priestess informed me of your unusual dinner conversation. Furthermore, she has noticed that a few of your teeth are pointed, like the teeth of a wolf... or a monster.*
Wait, what?
*She correctly assumed that what your mind terms 'canine teeth' are a natural feature of people on your world. This has terrifying implications, to her.*
She hasn't been acting like she's scared of me.
*Casting the summon spell requires great courage. Many Saviors in history have appeared quite fearsome; she was prepared for that possibility.*
Wait, I remember; she did get a little spooked once, when we were hiking to her village. Seeing me smile made her nervous. That's the only time I can think of, though.
*Familiarity with you has evaporated her fear of you.*
Does Cynthia really see me as some kind of living monster?
*All Saviors are 'living monsters'. All of Kreisia knows that off-worlders have inherent corruption. This does not make the heroic deeds of Kreisia's Saviors any less virtuous, or Kreisians any less grateful. Saviors are always less corrupt than what is typical for their home world; at first, I thought something might have gone wrong with the spell that summoned you. Now, I have concluded that the invocation functioned within its parameters. Your world is simply more corrupt than any other world touched by the summon spell.*
So you're saying I'm...
*The most corrupt candidate for Savior I have ever encountered. If a better Savior is summoned, then I will immediately require the priestess to reverse her summon spell.*
Beats being executed, I guess.
*I do not execute superfluous candidates for Savior. Not even if they trespass in my shrine, or endanger Kreisia with their corruption. They are always sent back to their home worlds.*
Good to know.
*Your sentence for trespass and what your mind would term 'reckless endangerment' was pain, not death. That sentence has been suspended, for now. I will be monitoring you, and I will not need to sleep again until after the Overlord is defeated.*
Are you threatening me?
*I am protecting Kreisia.*
Whatever. At least it's possible to reason with you. Sort of.
*I have interrogated the warrior and the priestess at length. My conclusion is that you have not significantly contaminated either your companions or Kreisia with your corruption, so far. Choose your words more carefully, going forward.*
You interrogated Laminah and Cynthia? With telepathy?
*That word is not used on Kreisia. Your mind's concept of 'telepathy' is a crude approximation of the holy magic that enables me to communicate, and garner information as needed.*
It's holy magic? Does that mean Cynthia can read minds, too?
*No. Mortals cannot use holy magic to read minds or mentally communicate. A few, highly skilled mortal specialists can weakly mimic my abilities with mind-related magic; the priestess is not one such mortal. Neither is that Altean throwback. He can wield only bardic magic and minor magic, but he can also invoke Altean chants with a wide variety of effects. His talent for chants and his expertise in their subtle application are both far greater than what most present-day Alteans are capable of.*
Did you interrogate Anemos about what he can do?
*I have granted that Altean throwback a stay of execution, at your request. I will not destroy him unless there is no other alternative.*
That doesn't exactly answer my question, but maybe I'd better not push it.
*Heed this warning, off-worlder. Choosing him for a travel companion may result in consequences. Kreisians are not the same as you, but they can still be dangerous. Especially Altean throwbacks such as that bard. Altean throwbacks are rare; unlike Vargs, Lunarls, and most Alteans, they do possess some capacity to hate, or to commit selfish misdeeds. Even though that capacity is only a shadow of yours.*
'Only a shadow of mine'...
Aldea, can Kreisians tell lies at all? Do they even know what a lie is?
*Yes and no. Kreisians are capable of omitting details from the truth, or outright lying. Kreisians also know that monsters and the Overlord will freely use lies or deception to ensnare the living for slaughter. However, the possibility that one living person could intentionally mislead another solely for selfish enrichment is nearly unthinkable to most Kreisians. Altean throwbacks may comprehend the concept more easily, but not to the extent that you do.*
Kreisians must know what crime is, though. Cynthia and Laminah both understand the concept of it, don't they?
*While the concept of crime is understood, crime itself is so unusual in Kreisia that there is very little need for a system of justice. Any incident significant enough to require deliberation can be brought directly to a village magistrate, a city mayor, or in the most serious cases, to the king.*
The 'democratically elected king' - I still don't get that.
*You do not need to. All you need to know is that Kreisia is an innocent world, and you must not corrupt it.*
Wait. There's prejudice and bigotry in Kreisia, especially toward Alteans. The Alteans suffered from laws that banned them from certain jobs; there were even forced population transfers!
*As deplorable as all of that has been, it was not conducted with the cruelty that, according to horrific knowledge within your own mind, is endemic to your corrupt world. Kreisians do not brutalize or murder one another, even when enforcing unjust laws. Exceptions to this are almost unknown, and the greatest risk of more exceptions comes from exposure to off-world corruption.*
Was 'off-world corruption' responsible for those disgusting laws?
*Admittedly, no. Vargs and Lunarls committed those wrongs in response to a tragedy. Forty years ago, a single Altean was derelict in his duty; he refused to protect Kreisia, and there were only six years of peace instead of ten. The Overlord slaughtered half the world's population before I recovered enough strength for the Savior to wield me. I will tell you more about this at a later time.*
An entire race of people was blamed for the screw-up of one person?
*Do you dare claim such attitudes do not exist in your world?*
No. I wish I could make that claim.
*The warrior and the priestess have informed me that, during my last ten years of sleep, the current king has labored to promote equality and unify Kreisia's three races against the common threat of the Overlord. However, I must stress that even the worst mistreatment of the Alteans cannot remotely compare to the unspeakable horrors of your corrupt world.*
I guess the history of my world does have way too much killing and bad stuff.
*That does not only characterize your world's history. Hatred of life also devastates your present-day world, even if your particular locality was 'peaceful'. Do you deny this?*
No, I can't deny it. I really wish I could.
*Do you now understand why you must not-*
Aldea, I get it already! I won't talk about bad stuff from my world. Kreisia has enough problems; I don't want to cause any more.
*Good. At least your corruption does not extend to downplaying the threat you pose.*
Yeah, okay.
*Your resolve is sincere, but I do not expect you to have flawless control over your corruption. I will intervene if your self-discipline falters.*
Whatever works.
Despite his determination to become a Savior capable of protecting Kreisia, Yusis expressly refused to accept any leadership role for the group. He did not select their path of travel. Instead, he delegated all navigational duties to the Holy Brand Aldea, since only it knew where the shrines with its pommel stones were hidden.
The Holy Brand's route traced an irregular, winding course. Their compass direction varied from day to day, occasionally from hour to hour. Yusis and his friends often skirmished with undead monsters, especially ones so threatening that destroying them fulfilled the reward bounties posted by nearby settlements.
Yusis was nominally tasked with determining how to spend the group's earnings, a responsibility traditionally expected of the Savior. He decided that they should set aside a specific amount of funds to pay for their travel rations and lodging at inns. The rest would be evenly divided between the four of them for autonomous personal expenditure.
Yusis was dismayed to learn that the Savior was also traditionally expected to assume full battle command of his team.
"Yeah, no. I'm not doing that," he denied, with a firm shake of his head.
Yusis' companions questioned his refusal.
"Not happening," he stressed, adamantly.
His companions could not budge his conviction that he had no skill, talent, or right to dictate the actions of others, particularly in life-or-death combat. His steadfast self-depreciation sparked a moderately serious group discussion, which continued all the way to their arrival at a bustling village.
Their negotiations culminated in a multi-part agreement, hashed out within the village square. Yusis entrusted Laminah with devising and calling out battle strategies. He explained to Cynthia that he was completely relying on her to determine when and how she should use holy magic to shield, ward, or heal the group. He told Anemos to use his own best judgement when aiding the team with bardic magic, chants, or magic beads.
Laminah eyed Anemos with the observation, "The enchantments enhancing your vest render it capable of holding far more supplies than an ordinary physical garment could. You are carrying a high amount of magic items. Some of those items are quite rare and potent."
"One can never be too careful," the bard replied.
"No traveling musician could afford what you have."
"I sometimes create and sell enchanted satchels with similar properties to my vest, slowing-beads distilled from bardic magic, wards against Altean chants, or handcrafted hair dye."
"You 'sometimes' do all of this?"
"You must certainly know that crafting enchantments or beads is a physically exhausting endeavor. I can assure you that the other undertakings require substantial effort as well. I have temporarily suspended assorted commercial ventures, to conserve my stamina and support the Savior's journey."
"No matter how many wares you usually sell, it cannot possibly explain-"
"I also happen to have outlived all of my close blood relatives. I sold my inheritance, and have been a wanderer ever since. Nearly all the wealth I possess is in a form ideal for preserving my own life, or the lives of others."
"Precisely how much wealth is that?"
"Would you like to search me and find out?" Anemos warmly offered, leaning forward and snapping a wink.
A look of revulsion descended on Laminah's features. For a moment, she seemed like she wanted to spit; then she turned on her heel and stormed away.
"She is a challenge," the bard remarked, with a dreamy smile.
Yusis raised an eyebrow. "Anemos, you're acting weird. And a little creepy. Besides, I thought you said charity rescued you from starving to death."
"Ah, I did say that," the bard acknowledged. "It is a complicated story, and not a particularly happy one."
"Sorry," Yusis apologized. "Didn't mean to get in your personal space."
"You would also be most welcome to search me," Anemos pressed, leaning toward Yusis with an exaggeratedly charming grin.
Yusis took a fidgety step back, raised both hands palm out, and shook his head. "No. Just no. Don't get weird on me, and don't send the creepy this way."
Cynthia giggled. Anemos straightened, and laughed with her.
"No, seriously," Yusis stressed, lowering his hands. "Acting weird and creepy is not cool. It's harassment, and it ends right here, right now. No more unwanted advances on Laminah, me, or anyone else. If it's wanted, that's fine; if you don't know, asking once is fine; if it's unwanted, stop."
"Duly noted. Although, I will keep the offers I have made open," the bard wryly replied, snapping another wink.
Cynthia appeared to be stifling further giggles.
"Remember when I lectured Laminah about bigotry?" Yusis sighed to the bard. "I meant what I said, but I was harsh with her because I thought I was dreaming about a role-playing game. So I played the role of a super-strict party leader. I don't have to role-play like that for you, do I?"
"You certainly do not have to, but you are most welcome to if it gives you any pleasure," Anemos suggested, with a sly smirk.
Cynthia's giggles subsided into a mirthful smile.
Yusis cleared his throat. "Anyway, Laminah has reminded me of something important." And I would really like to change the subject now. "I need to learn more about magic items, and how to use them quickly in battle. You're so fast with them when we fight monsters, Anemos. Since we're in a village with a supply shop, I should buy some more stuff for myself, and can you teach me some of your tricks?"
"Me too," Cynthia piped up. "Holy magic is powerful, but it's good to have a backup plan."
Anemos beamed, "I relish the thought of personally training such lovely and adorable students!"
"Without getting weird," Yusis hastily added. "Can we do this without getting weird?"
The keeper of the village supply shop was a middle-aged Lunarl woman with deep lines on her face. The moment her eyes alighted on Yusis, a fascinated smile danced on her lips. She kept her gaze relentlessly riveted on the off-worlder, while he and Cynthia browsed the shop's wares.
When Cynthia reached for her personal funds, Yusis stopped her with a light wave, saying, "Let me pay for it, this time. I'm kind of glad that you'll be learning with me. Kind of really glad. It's not that I don't trust Anemos, I do trust him, it's just... uh, did I mention I'm really glad you'll be with me?"
Yusis set down a sum of Kreisian currency before the shopkeeper and told her, "Okay, we've got everything picked out for purchase. Here, this should cover all of it."
"Aren't you just the cutest thing?" she lasciviously purred.
"Don't talk to me like that, it's weird and creepy," he immediately replied, taking meticulous care not to look at her ears or tail. "And stop staring at me. Maybe you've never seen an off-worlder before, but enough is enough."
She leaned forward and flapped her furry ears several times. "Perhaps you could persuade me to give you a 'quality time' discount."
"Quit it right now. You're way too old for me." He spun in place and swiftly walked out of the shop.
Cynthia followed Yusis out and trilled, "That was kind of blunt, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, and I meant it that way," he agreed. "Direct honesty is best, for situations like that."
"You couldn't let her down gently?"
"There's no such thing as 'let down gently'. Unwanted advances are unwanted. Giving a person any sort of false hope isn't good for them; it only sets them up for more pain." His eyes drifted to one side, and his voice softened. "A few months ago, back on my world, I asked a girl I liked if she wanted to go out on a date. She said, 'Not with a lazy slacker like you.'"
"That also sounds kind of blunt."
"What was the alternative? Not telling me why she turned me down, or worse, lying about why? I appreciated her honesty. We became friends, sort of."
"I think what she said doesn't describe you anymore."
"Don't be so sure." He lowered his gaze to the ground. "Why did your summon spell choose me?"
"Yusis, not this again. I understand you're not good at battle strategy - maybe it really is for the best if we all share responsibility for that - but you're doubting yourself way too much."
"Yeah, okay."
As the two of them approached Anemos, the bard enthusiastically prompted, "Our first lesson concerns float gossamers. In addition to their more obvious applications, they are quite useful for warding against or dispelling binding spells. While binding spells may be evaded through swift movement, another wise countermeasure is to keep float gossamers pinned to one's garments, ready for immediate invocation. Would you like to try some of my pins, my beautiful and darling students?"
Yusis rolled his eyes. "Anemos, if you're still feeling weird then maybe you should offer the local shopkeeper some 'quality time'. I'm pretty sure she won't turn you down; I owe both of you an apology if she does."
End of Chapter Fifteen: Determination of a Savior