Chapter 20

  The sight of the Cinzite Sword has taken Velophine by surprise, so much so she couldn't hide her reaction. Callan's expression shows that he was expecting that reaction. Satisfied and with a scheming grin he puts one hand in his pocket and picks up the ornate paper with the other.

  "Pretty cool, huh?", Callan says without really asking. "Say, do you know anything about this sword, Miss Velophine?" The way he pronounces her name feels more like an investigator interrogating her rather than a fellow scholarly colleague asking her opinion.

  Velophine quickly calms herself, clears her throat and meets Callan's expectant gaze. "Yes and no, Mister Callan." There is a small hint of unease in her voice, but this time she manages to contain herself. "I know of its existence because the old manuscripts I found mentioned this object. But given the lack of any more information I can't say too much else about it." She pauses for a moment to think. "All I know really is that it was somehow important to the old civilizations and the artifacts are connected to it." The golden handle of the sword gives off a small glow as it reflects the light inside the room.

  "And by extension to the Deity, right?", Callan interjects. Minot doesn't like agreeing with the man, but he too is thinking that. In paintings and statues of the Deity she is often depicted with a flaming sword or a flaming spear. And the size of those weapons is somewhat close to the size of the Cinzite Sword. But Minot finds it difficult to imagine that this rock slab of a weapon could really be used in combat. It appears more like a decorative piece. And despite its sturdiness, enough battle would eventually make the text and engravings on it wear off, but they look sharp, as if they had been chiseled recently.

  Maybe this sword was made as a memorial to the Deity's power or something, he concludes.

  Velophine stares at the text on the Sword for a while, deep in thought. She is keeping her face calm, but microexpressions like twitching eyebrows and her eyes looking diagonally up reveal some inner turmoil.

  Callan continues asking: "Have you ever seen text like on the Sword before?"

  "Hm?" She is ripped out of her thoughts. "Oh, yes. I have, but too little to really translate anything. Plus parts of the text is warped by those weird rounded cuts."

  Callan's expression towards her darkens a little, but he quickly catches himself and returns to his nonchalant demeanor. He scoffs and says: "You keep your cards close to your chest, eh?" Velophine jumps a little at those words. "But I can respect that. I mean, I wouldn't want anyone to steal my research and publish it themselves either."

  Velophine sighs softly, closes her eyes and rubs her temple with one hand. "Haha, yeah. The academic world is like a pit of hungry wolves."

  "Indeed."

  The air gets a little awkward. Callan and Velophine talking like colleagues doesn't feel right, especially Callan.

  "Anyway", he breaks the silence, "here is the offer I mentioned." He lifts the paper he is holding. "You study this sword in my stead. The Empire wants me to figure out the deal with this thing, but I have hit several walls by now and can't proceed with it. You, on the other hand, have information and access that I lack. Together with those two venturing inside the storm and collecting information about the artifacts I am sure you would reach a breakthrough far sooner than I would."

  "What, really?", Velophine is momentarily baffled by the proposition. Callan is causally offering to transfer an Imperial Mission to her. "A-are you sure about that?"

  Minot interjects: "Hold up, Velo. This man is a snake. He wouldn't be offering this if there wasn't something in it for him." Iv nods aggressively in agreement.

  "What I get is this headache of a mission off my back", Callan replies. "Also the Empire doesn't care who does their dirty work. All they want is the work done." Velophine contemplates. Callan quickly adds: "You don't even have to deal with me or anyone else. You'd only have to send me a report on your findings if there are any. Once a month should be good enough. I handle handing it to the right people."

  "The more he offers, the sketchier he gets", Minot tries to persuade her. "Also because of him we nearly died in the storm."

  "Oh, come on now, Minot. That is hardly my fault."

  Velophine ignores the two men arguing and thinks about the offer. She can't deny that it is very enticing. After a few moments she finally speaks: "I have decided. I accept your offer."

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  "I knew you'd listen to reason", Callan exclaims smiling. Minot and Iv look at her, still protesting, but accept her decision. "Let me prepare some paperwork for this." He fumbles around the shelves looking for documents. While he does he adds: "Also, I'll send the Sword to my old office in the Capital. You can use it while you work on this mission."

  The three guests look with confusion and suspicion at the man. The offer is getting way too good to be true. As if he can feel their looks he clarifies: "There ain't anything of worth in it anyway. It's just a decently sized room. Anything confidential or private has been removed when I transferred here like six years ago." He finally finds the document and dusts it off. "Also the office is inside the Grand Library. The books there might help."

  He turns around and is met with two sets of eyes squinted in suspicion and one set of eyes ripped wide open in disbelief. He ignores them and fills out the document. After that he hands it to Velophine to sign, she does so and is given the ornate paper that describes the mission. Callan informs her that to gain access to the office he just has to go to the reception desk at the main harbor of the Capital. The receptionist will be filled in.

  After finishing up the three leave the office. Minot's expression tells Velophine everything, and she wants to be more upfront with him. So she whispers to him and Iv that she'll explain the situation to them once they're far enough away. Minot appreciates that.

  "Remember when I was talking about a 'most important part'?", Velophine asks them after they have distanced themselves from any prying ears. They are standing in a back alley, removed from the bustling foot traffic of the workers in the Rosavento. "It is that very Sword."

  Minot and Iv have already guessed that, but hearing it surprises them all the same. Not only that they somehow ended up coming into contact with objects Velophine is looking for, but that the more important one is in Callan's custody. And since the artifact is loaded with magical potential, so too must the Cinzite Sword be powerful. Something feels very wrong about this.

  "I am very sure the Sword is what was placed in the earth mound inside the temple. The one on the island we went to", she adds.

  A bulb lights up in Minot's head. "Is this what the weird fish guy was after?", he concludes, a bit more energetically than he intended. He remembers how the Atlantean had yelled at them, asking where 'it' is.

  Velophine nods. She furrows her eyebrows into a worried look. "What confuses me is the 'why'. Why was it after the Cinzite Sword?"

  "Maybe the Deity's power, since it appears to be connected to the artifacts?", Iv proposes.

  Velophine thinks about it. "That looks to be the only reason. But still, the Deity's magic is like an antithesis to an Atlantean." The artifact turned out to be very effective in the fight against Vasso. "I'm drawing a blank here." Velophine sighs, frustrated at not knowing the connection.

  "Well", Minot speaks up, trying to cheer Velophine up, "maybe you'll figure it out when you translate the text on it. Now you can study it as much as you need. Maybe Iv 'n I find more about it inside the Storm."

  "Yeah, you're right. Thanks." Velophine's lips curl into a slight smile. "I look forward to working with you two again."

  "Pleasure's all ours!", Iv happily replies.

  Velophine and Iv go to the ship to fix the scratches the white bird left. In the meantime Minot goes to the reception desk to finish some documentation they need for the trip. He relates to Schalk's disdain for paperwork. And as if that wasn't enough, today Marlon is working at the desk. Minot's pulse rises just thinking about having to deal with that man.

  He approaches the reception at the center of the Rosavento and already sees Marlon there. He is wearing the same uniform as Lise, but not with the same grace or spotlessness as her. The way he stands is more feigned politeness than genuine effort. Even his black hair is just lazily thrown back and fixed with a very generous amount of gel. With half-closed eyes he looks around as if looking for an opportunity to make someone else's day worse. He can't even bother smiling when dealing with the other workers. This man exudes negative vibes. And today Minot has to deal with him again.

  Marlon notices Minot approaching and an ugly and greasy smile spreads across his face. Greasy just like his hair.

  "Greetings, honored sailor."

  "Go fuck yourself."

  Marlon's voice sounds like he looks. Unpleasant.

  "Tsk, how unprofessional. Even the rats in the sewers talk more pleasantly."

  "If ya gonna teach me about professionalism, Imma gonna teach you about aerodynamics when I throw you off the island."

  "Ouch." Marlon chuckles like a devil. "What can I do for you today?"

  "Punching yourself would be a start." Minot takes out a folded document. "Just sign this 'n shut up." He carelessly tosses the paper onto the desk.

  Without any attempt at politeness Marlon picks up the document and reads it. Then he lets out a malicious snicker. "Joinin' the Military on the General's orders? You really drew the worst lot. Hahaha!"

  Minot uses all his strength to not jump at the guy and rearrange his face.

  Marlon quickly signs and stamps the paper, then puts it away. He looks at Minot tauntingly. "I'll give you a week before the lieutenant kicks you out or orders you to scrub the toilets."

  "Around the time you go without showering."

  Minot turns around to remove himself from the annoying interaction, but Marlon calls for his attention. "Hold up, I got something for you."

  Minot looks back. "I don't need anything you touched. Don't want to catch an infection."

  Marlon doesn't reply and produces a parcel from under the table. It is neatly wrapped in brown paper and tied with several strings. On it is a sigil he doesn't recognize.

  "What's this? You sellin' drugs now?"

  "This is something I want you to deliver to customs at the capital. You know? Since you're already going." Marlon puts on the most unconvincing pleading face ever. Minot doesn't even bother replying and turns around again. Marlon doesn't let him: "Oh, I forgot. Star receptionist Lise is working at customs over there."

  Minot stops and stands still for a second. Then turns around and takes the parcel out of Marlon's hands. He makes sure to avoid the areas where Marlon was holding it. As Minot leaves all he hears is disgusting giggling.