Zectas Volume V: The Sequestered Seminary of Sawtorn (10 page)

Smoke was now level 110, but he still could not decide what to do with his unused stat points.
"Status Window," called out Smoke.
 

'Maybe I should raise Int?' he wondered to himself, since he was mainly using his Earth Manipulation.
"Faux, Faux," called out Blaise, from on top of his dirus wolf. "There's your share of the loot," he said pointing out to a large pile of mauls, axes, hammers, and other various Ork items.
"Give it to my troops," said Smoke. "This will be my last campaign with you and Cynar, and most of our success is due to their hard-work."
"But didn't you hear what Cynar said? Wertlosvati isn't here," reasoned out Blaise. "You can't leave now."
"Wait, I thought you wanted me gone?" Smoke asked Blaise.
"I never said that," replied the Flame Knight. "I just said that I didn't like you pretending to take Ayert's place."
"Well, regardless, I've already spent too much time here. I must continue on my search for the Magietrois," Smoke explained to Blaise. "I'll just find another way to enter the tournament."
Just then, Cynar rode up next to the two of them.
Smoke carefully dismounted and offered the reins of his mount to Cynar.
"What's this?" asked a confused Cynar.
"Well, I'm leaving," began Smoke. "I'm sorry that we didn't catch Wertlosvati, but I really have to complete my own quest."
Cynar looked disheartened and intensely stared at Smoke.
"I can't let you do that," Cynar said with finality.
"I'm sorry, but I can't stay any longer," reasoned out Smoke. He readied himself to fight all of the OrkElves and escape. He had an inclination that something like this would happen.
"Before you go, take this," said Cynar, searching for a parchment inside his armor. He then gave it to Smoke.
 

"It's a document that should allow you to take part in the Magi Gagnant Tournament," explained Cynar.
"I'll really be able to join the tournament with these paper?" eagerly asked Smoke.
"Also, take that dirus wolf with you. I think it has grown accustomed to you," said Cynar, giving the reins back to Smoke.
 

'It's name is Freifahrt? What kind of name is that?' thought a surprised Smoke.
He then turned to Cynar and shook his head.
"Sorry, but I can't take him," refused Smoke, handing the reins back to Cynar. "You need it more than me."
"No, I insist," said Cynar. "From the loot we gathered today, we can afford to spare this one mount."
"Well, if you say so," said Smoke, and got up on his dirus wolf once more.
"I guess this is it, then," Smoke said to Cynar and Blaise.
"I may not like you, but you've earned my respect, Faux," suddenly blurted out Blaise.
"Til our paths cross again, Faux," said Cynar.
With that, Smoke rode his newly acquired dirus wolf and headed for Votl City.
After riding some distance away from Cynar and Blaise, Smoke let out Igniz from his metallic orb.
"Hey there," greeted Smoke.
Igniz excitedly orbited around him with tremendous speed.
"Sorry about keeping you in there for most of the time, but I think you might be in it for a lot longer," explained Smoke.
At once, Igniz's purple flames dimmed.
"Oh, come on. Don't be like that," cheered Smoke. "At least we finally rescued the children. We're headed to them now."
Grasping a clay mold with an imprint of an iron-key, Smoke remembered his conversation with Jack; before Blaise, Cynar, and himself went out to hunt Wertlosvati.
 

* * * * * * 

"Faux? Is it time?" eagerly asked an imprisoned Jack.
"Yeah, you ready?" urgently asked Smoke. He opened the young aristocrat's dungeon using the duplicate key he crafted. He secured a copy by imprinting Cynar's iron-key with a clay when the masked Assassin dropped it before.
"Take this," said Smoke, handing over the duplicate key to Jack. "You remember the plan, right?"
A conceited and excited Jack energetically nodded. "Of course!"
"Good, but remember not to bother with the OrkElf children. I think they're contented here," quickly added Smoke. "Despite making them work, I've seen that Cynar treats them well."
He then handed Jack a bag of dried up mandragora flowers, five specialized gas-masks, and an earth-mold of a large feet.
His supply of the mandragora flowers were extremely limited, but he did not hesitate to use them for the children's escape.
After observing Jack's conceited expression, Smoke decided to do a brief review. "Run the plan by me again," he said to the boy.
"First, I burn the mandragora flowers, and then wait until the entire den is filled with its smoke," began Jack.
"No, no, first you wear the mask before you burn the leaves," reminded Smoke, waving the mask in front of the boy. "Otherwise you'd fall victim to the mandragora's hallucinations."
"Right, right. Wear the mask, then burn the leaves," confirmed Jack.
"Alright, what's next?" queried Smoke.
"After that, I'll go looking for the other captured children and put the masks on them," continued Jack. "Next, I take them back to your special-room, and go to the corner where there is an entrance to a tunnel that will lead us to safety."
"That's right, but you're missing one important part," sternly reprimanded Smoke. "You forgot to use the Ork's feet that I made. You have to imprint that everywhere, and scream Ork Attack! Ork Attack! Especially near the cave's entrance. Cynar and Blaise have to think that it was the Orks that abducted you."
"Right, right," said an edgy Jack. "I got this, don't worry about it."
A nervous Smoke studied Jack, it looked like the boy knew what he was doing. Yet, he could not stop himself and give him some more reminders, as he truly wish to accompany them on their escape.
"It took me almost two full weeks to finish that tunnel. So, it's going to be a very long walk," explained Smoke. "But don't worry. I lined the walls with light stones, and I also made several breathing holes, so all of you will have an unlimited supply of fresh air."
"I am sure none of us would mine what condition the tunnel is in. As long as it will take us to freedom," pointed out Jack.
Smoke took a deep breath and smiled at the boy. "And once all of you are out, don't forget to pull the earth-beam sticking out on the ceiling. It will collapse the entire tunnel, destroying all evidence of your escape."
Jack made his usual imaginary cross over his heart. "I will not forget, promise."
"Great! I wish you good luck, Jack, and I'll see you with Daniel soon," encouraged Smoke and left to join Cynar and Blaise.
As Smoke was about to walk away, he caught a glimpse of Jack. The boy was slightly shaking. Smoke doubled back and placed the specialized gas-mask on the young boy. He patted Jack's shoulder before leaving the lair for good.

* * * * * * 

After two days of travel, Smoke finally saw the pomegranate forest of Souer Settlement. He patted his dirus wolf's head.
"Good job, Freifahrt, but we really should think of a new name for you soon," he said to his mount, as the dirus wolf would not recognize any other name.
"Igniz, time to get back inside," he said to his symbiote.
Reluctantly, Igniz returned to his metallic orb on Smoke's chest.
When he entered the settlement proper, Smoke was immediately swarmed by OrkElves. Esper and Colere had lookouts stationed, and they prepared for his arrival.
"Welcome back, Faux," greeted Colere, giving him a hug.
After her husband, Esper hugged him as well.
"Thanks, it's good to be back," replied Smoke. "Did Jack and the rest of children arrive, okay?"
"Yeah. They're over there," answered a cheerful Esper, pointing to a group of six young aristocrats, next to a pile of assorted loot.
As Smoke walked towards them, he was stopped by a young girl and boy.
Daniel suddenly hugged him.
"Thank you so much, Faux," said a grateful Daniel. "You really freed my sister and everyone else."
Then, an updated Quest window popped up.
 

Before Smoke could close the completed Quest window, Geisel hugged him tightly.
"I really thought you were another scumbag Sonstwelter, just out to get rich," said Geisel.
"Sorry for not sharing the plan with you," said Smoke. "I thought it best to just keep it between Jack and myself."
Geisel let go of Smoke, and she casually shrugged. "That's alright, the important thing is you got us out."
Suddenly, Jack called out Smoke. "So, what do you think, Faux?" said the smug aristocrat, pointing to the piled up treasure.
"Jack? Where in the world did this come from?!" yelled out Smoke.
"Relax, Faux, I was just following through with your plan," grinned Jack, giving him an all-knowing look.
"I never told you to steal from Cynar," argued Smoke.
"Right, but you told me to make it look like Orks did it," countered the young aristocrat. "And we all know that Orks love to pillage. It would be unnatural if they didn't loot the lair."
An opened mouth Smoke stared at Jack with disbelief.
"I tell you it is more convincing this way," assured Jack. "Besides, because of what I did, I got you these back."
Jack took a familiar looking bag from the small mountain of valuables, and he threw it over to Smoke.
When Smoke grabbed the bag and heard its content, he knew he had gotten his bag of gems back.
"I think Cynar might have spent half of it. Sorry about that," apologized Jack.
"It's alright," said Smoke, carefully hiding his bag of gems while looking at Jack.
"So, what do you plan to do now?" Smoke ask Jack.
"Well, Daniel, Geisel, and I have something to ask you." solemnly said Jack.
"In behalf of the other nobles, we were hoping that you could take us to Votl City," said the three royal children in unison.
"Ah, I see... Wait, what?" asked a stunned Smoke.
Then, a Quest notification popped up.