Chapter Fifty-Eight: Ajutoare, Part 2


    Zenyth looms over Jade, a growing darkness shadowing her. Staring up at the monstrous building, she wonders where Zade is staying.


    At the gate, a Guard looks at her, his helmet refusing to show her his expression. Through the eyeholes, Jade can almost see his eyes, but they’re shadowed, and the rest of his face is blocked.


    “Business?” The man asked.


    “I must speak to the High Mages,” Jade responds. “Also, I must see a friend of mine.”


    The man nods. “Who do you wish to see?”


    “Zade Helstrom. He’s a mage-in-training here.”


    “Purpose of visit?”


    “Just to catch up. I’m his best friend.”


    “I’ve heard that a lot recently,” The man tells her, stiffening. “How can I know you truly know him?”


    What is going on? Jade wonders.


    “I don’t know what there is I need to prove,” Jade admits. “As you can see from my armor, I am an Arcadian Guard. Zade himself is from Arcadia. He Awakened in Erenfeld, where I am from.”


    “And why must you see the High Mages?”


    “Arcadian business. It’s confidential for now,” Jade says. “But Magefell is in danger.”


    The man nods again. “Mage Luc here will lead you to Zade’s room. If he is not there, he will lead you to speak with the High Mages. If Zade is there, you are allowed to be with him, and he will lead you to the High Mages. If he doesn’t recognize you, you will be arrested. Is that clear?”


    “Yes, sir.”


    A blonde thirty year old man—Luc, Jade guesses—opens the gate and smiles at her.


    “Follow me.”


    She obeys him as they enter Zenyth. The blade-looking building is just as dark on the inside, and the light is coming from nowhere, apparently.


    “You say you know Helstrom?” Luc asks, raising one of his eyebrows.


    “Yes, we’ve been best friends basically since we were born.”


    “Of course,” Luc winks.


    “You don’t believe me? I’m telling the truth!”


    Luc sighs. “You can cut it out now, you know. I understand seeing Zade seems like such a privilege, but you will be arrested for this.”


    “I don’t understand,” Jade says. “I arrived in Magefell today. Why is wanting to see Zade so strange?”


    “You’re serious?” the mage asks, interest seeping into his voice now.


    “Yes,” Jade responds, exasperated.


    “Well, then I should let him explain. Suffice it to say, there was a battle and your best friend is a hero. The consequences of that are obvious.”


    Jade whistles. “Interesting. So Zade’s a hero now. I did not expect that.”


    “You are serious,” Luc breathes. “I can’t believe it. I was sure you were another fan! So, by best friend, do you mean—”


    “No,” Jade exclaims. “No, never.”


    “Good, because what with the Sterkona and all…”


    “What do you mean?”


    “Nothing,” the mage says. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually.”


    Jade frowns as she keeps walking; what Luc has said is too much for her to process for now. She’s sure Zade will explain everything in due time.


    Finally, after what seems like an eternal walk up flights of stairs and down them, twisting and turning through different hallways, they enter a big seating room that leads to another hallway where Mage Luc stops.


    “Time to see if you’re telling me the truth,” He smiles. “Go ahead, try it.” He points at a door, and Jade knocks immediately.


    “Zade?” She asks.


    For a second, there is nothing. Then the door swings open, and there he is! Zade stands, looking at her, trying to hide a smile.


    “Do you know this woman?” Luc asks.


    Zade shakes his head. “No, not at all. Must be another crazy obsessed girl.”


    “Zade, no!” Jade exclaims indignantly. “Don’t lie!”


    “Oh, I had such high hopes for you,” Luc grimaces. “Well, come with me.” He begins to drag her away, and she turns a pleading look at Zade.


    “Yes, take her away,” Zade groans. “I’m tired of this.”


    With a grunt, he closes the door to his room, and Jade hangs her head.


    Why would he do that?


    Mage Luc drags her down the hallway, shaking his head in disappointment. As they turn into the seating room again, a noise comes from Zade’s room.


    “Aw, hell, I can’t pretend anymore,” he says, running at her and embracing her. “It’s good to see you, Jay.” Pushing away from him, she frowns.


    “Why did you do that to me?” She asks. “Stupid! If I had a potato here…” Then she embraced him hard, lifting him. “It’s great to see you, too.”


    “So you do know her?” Luc asks, scratching his head.


    “Of course I do. Thank you for bringing her here, Luc.”


    “My pleasure,” he responds, shaking his head and walking away.


    “We have a lot to talk about,” Jade says.


    “That we do,” Zade agrees. “Come with me.”


    — — —


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    “So, you don’t think people will talk about us being in the same room?” Jade asks.


    “Oh, they’ll talk,” Zade smiles. “But they already talk anyway, so this won’t change anything.”


    “What do you mean, they talk?”


    “They know you exist, so of course, they assume we love each other,” Zade blushes.


    “Do you?”


    Zade stares at her, eyes widening. Jade mirrors his blush and looks down.


    “Sorry,” She says.


    “No problem,” He replies.


    “So…” Jade continues, trying to override some of the embarrassment of the situation. “What’s been going on with you?”


    “You first. I have a lot to say.”


    Over the next two hours, Jade and Zade tell their stories to each other. Both of them process the information as best they can, but with so much happening in the short time they’ve been apart, they are both having a hard time understanding everything.


    “So Demien and Chrome are both dead?” Zade asks. “And Guilia is here?”


    Jade nods. “You’ll see her eventually. And yes, both of them are dead, killed by the Horde.”


    “Who are coming here now.”


    “Exactly. It’s a lot, and I need to get the information to the High Mages as fast as I can.”


    “Soon,” Zade replies, sorrow in his face. “Chrome…”


    “I know, it’s horrible,” Jade replies. “And you lost Astil?”


    “You would’ve loved him,” Zade tells her. “He was the greatest. We all loved him like a little brother. I miss him every day. I fight for him.”


    Jade nods. “I’m sure I would’ve loved him, and I do wish I’d met him. And he was killed by this Cult, right?”


    “Exactly,” Zade says. “I’ve had to fight them ever since I got here. Their God wants to change this world, and we won’t let him.”


    “So you have your own God? I’m sorry, just a little confused here.”


    “Apparently, Dautha and Eva are intrinsically related, from the same place. Dautha cheated on their deal, and so Eva decided to choose people to become her champions in this war. I am one of those champions.”


    “So you have power others don’t have?” Jade asks. “And you said the world was bigger than just this continent?”


    “Yes. I can do things others can’t, and I can pass it on to others for a little time. And yeah, the world is bigger than we thought. Way bigger. The world we know is only a tiny portion of the size of the actual world.”


    “That’s hard to believe.”


    “I know. But it is the truth. I’ve seen it. We live in a big world, Jay, and the possibilities are endless.”


    “Well, now that I’m here, I can help you out.”


    “How long will you be here?”


    “As long as you all need us. We’re here to fight the Horde with you. They’ll arrive in a month or so.”


    “Good,” Zade smiles. “The more time you’re here, the better. We should go tell the High Mages.”


    Jade nods and lets him lead her out of the room. Outside, they are met by a jet-black haired boy who raises his eyebrows at Zade.


    “New fangirl?”


    “Ew, no,” Zade replies. “This is Jade.”


    The boy’s eyebrows widen. “Really? Hi, I’m Xavier. I’m sure he’s told you a lot about me.”


    “No,” Jade shakes her head. “He didn’t mention you. Are you like a friend or something?”


    Xavier groans and looks at Zade. “I don’t think I like her, mate. You made a bad decision here.”


    “You really did,” Jade smiles. “Befriending Xavier was the worst thing you could do.”


    “Hey, that’s uncalled for!” Xavier crosses his arms playfully.


    “Come on,” Zade says, pulling Jade along. “We need to reach the High Mages.”


    “What are you going to see the High Mages for?” Xavier asks.


    “Oh, there’s an army of man-eating nine-foot wolves coming to attack here, no biggie,” Jade smiles.


    Xavier’s jaw drops. “You’re serious?”


    Jade nods her head. “Yup. That’s why I’m here. To give you all the good news.”


    Xavier leans into Zade. “Is your girl here delusional? She seems a little…” He twirls a finger next to his head and whistles, indicating her craziness.


    “I can hear you,” Jade replies. “And I don’t know how you can call me delusional, considering Zade over here says he’s met a Goddess and inherited great power here.”


    “Hey, I think it’s cute,” Xavier laughs.


    “Don’t encourage him,” Jade says. “You’ll just make him more confident.” Zade breathes in and out, trying not to show his annoyance.


    “You’re right, he doesn’t need the confidence,” Xavier replies. “Any more and I’m sure his head will pop. Fame getting to him and all. He’s with a new fangirl every day.”


    “Not true!” Zade exclaims. “You’re lying and you know it. I’m not famous!”


    “See, delusional!” His friend exclaims. “He needs help, but we can’t give it to him, because—”


    “We’re delusional too,” Jade finishes. “But mostly it’s Zade.”


    “Yup, mostly it’s Zade. You know, I was wrong. I am glad you made her your friend. I’m starting to like her.”


    “And I’m starting to really hate this,” Zade grits his teeth. “You two are incurable.”


    “Look who’s talking!” Jade replies. “You’re the one who says he likes to be annoying. How are we incurable?”


    “At least I accept who I am!”


    “So you admit to being stupid?” Xavier guessed.


    “Cut it out, here we are,” Zade says, shushing him as he enters the room. There, he calls for a name, one Jade doesn’t understand, but she knows it started with High Mage.


    A man appears next to her and she jumps away, startled. He appears nice, fatherly, wise yet young enough to have the need to experience new things, although Jade can’t place his age. He could be anywhere from twenty to one hundred.


    “Hello, Zade. What do you want today? And who is this?” He smiles at Jade.


    “She’s the reason I’m here, High Mage Aegon. This is Zade.”


    “Ah, the girlfriend.”


    “Nope,” The mage-in-training responds. “Just friend.”


    “For now.”


    “For-ever.”


    “We’ll see about that, won’t we?” High Mage Aegon’s eyes twinkle, and he whispers in Jade’s ear. “He’s cute when he’s in denial, don’t you think?”


    “He’s right,” Jade replies.


    “Of course he is,” High Mage Aegon says wisely. “And I’m a pigeon. Now, what is your business?”


    “I need a Parliamentary hearing.”


    High Mage Aegon laughs, then stops as he looks at her. “What for? Did you commit a crime or something?” Seeing her armor, realization dawns on him. “You’re with that army that came over. What has happened in Arcadia? Is King Aeson mad at us?”


    “No,” Jade responds. “Worse.”


    “Worse than Aeson’s wrath? I didn’t think it was possible.”


    “I’ve never seen him mad.”


    “Exactly. Makes it all the more scarier, right?”


    Jade grins. “But yes, this is worse. I’ll explain more, or Captain will, during the hearing, but I can say the basics now. There is an army of massive humanoid, cannibalistic wolves with armor and weapons heading in this direction intent on destroying Magefell, led by a human who will stop at nothing and is ready to destroy anything to wipe out Magefell, and he’s wiped out a village, so we’re here to warn and help you.”


    High Mage Aegon starts. “That’s…impossible.”


    “I saw it with my own eyes and I had friends die by them. They are on their way and you need to be ready.”


    The High Mage looks shaken. “No, it can’t be. Killian…”


    “Who?”


    High Mage Aegon shakes his head. “No one. I’m glad you came to me about this. I will talk to the Parliament and I will get back to your Captain…”


    “Kanad,” She says. “He’ll be around. You can find him in one of the inns around the Market.”


    “I’ve got it covered, don’t worry,” He finishes. “Thank you. Gods rest us. Giant wolves…”


    He walks away, and Zade turns to his friends.


    “Well, that was strange. Did anyone else notice how scared High Mage Aegon looked?”


    “This is bigger than we thought,” Xavier says. “Whatever is happening, I think we’re in bigger danger than even you though Jade. Maybe this is the Cult’s doing.”


    “Then Aegon is right,” Zade declares. “Gods rest us all.”