Chapter 33
So much has happened these past few weeks that it still has not truly caught up to Lupo's mind yet. The man with white wings, who he now knows goes by the name of Sariel, who now, strangely, resides at the top of the royal castle of Nocturnia, The familiarity of the Queen to his locket that still burns an icy chill on the skin of his chest when he thinks of her, and even Lady Acharil who seems to be more comfortable but still defensive around him as he has gotten more and more accustomed to hanging around the Queen's Guards as of late. Time still moves on, however, For Lupo each day always seems to be a new thing he has to go up against. This morning is something of an oddity as while he was roaming, doing his casual hunts within the forest of the outskirts of Nocturia's borders, a flash of red to yellow light bursts throughout the area then a gust of wind followed just after. Which caused all the animals and avians to disperse in the area, practically ruining his last hunt. Looking up and around, seeing the light, he curses to himself and puts away his bow.” Lupo thought to himself as he sighs and begins to return to the city. Though the odd jobs pay well and the nightly bartending gives him a free drink every night. Lupo feels as if he needs to do much more to remove and distract his mind from these past events. What better way to do it then a job from Wrough.
Wrough grumbled in dwarvish as Lupo casually strolled into his forge. Almost tripping on tools and ready-made gear at that. “For the love of- Lupo, Have you been drinkin' again, lad” Lupo caught a piece of gear before it fell onto the floor. “Only at night” Lupo carefully places the gear back onto the shelf, it tilts a bit, but stays put. “If I was, I must have had some hell of a night before.” Wrough sighs as he hammers away at a reddish, white-hot piece of metal and sparks fly everywhere. “You might want to cut down on it my boy, but I can't blame ya since you were in the thick of it and hanging around those damn Queen's Guard, They are a handful… especially that new Sergeant they got!” He waves his hammer around furiously, “Both that Captain and Sergeant seriously need to lay off all that sparring! Ebridite Metal isn't cheap to get ya know!“ He grumbles more and places the molded metal, which is a blade, into oil to quench it. “Which is why I'm sending you to go get me some more of it.” Lupo blinks a bit. Sure, he is used to fetching quests, but for Wrough to ask him specifically to get this type of metal, is a bit ridiculous. Wrough noticed the face Lupo makes and chuckles to himself. “Don't 'cha worry now, lad. My assistant 'ere will help ya bring it back. She goes to get it all the time, but because of those damn Guards, I'm already running low on supply and I know she can't haul all that metal in one sitting. So that is why you're going with her. You can find her outback with some walkers and a carriage, I'll pay ya handsomely for yer efforts. This metal is rare, so best be careful.“
Lupo nods and walks out to head towards the back of the forge shop where, as Wrough has said, his assistant is behind strapping the walkers into their positions onto the fairly large carriage. She again is hooded and only turns her head slightly as she hears Lupo the moment he turns the corner and then turns back to tend to the walker who nods its head and stomps twice, which makes her purse her lips in a shh motion to soothe the walker as Lupo approaches. “You are late.” She says in a monotone but soft voice. Lupo climbs up onto the carriage and leans back to stretch a bit. “Good morning to you too.” Though he and her do not speak much, this would be the first time she has spoken first to him. When they usually worked prior, it would be Lupo who would try to give small talk to not much of a response from her. Just the casual “”, or “”, “”, or “”. She may be just a bit smaller than Lupo at around five foot and ten inches, but she carries herself well, though she is fairly quiet around most people. The only person whom she seems to talk to the most is of course Wrough, but she is his assistant and all. Lupo can always see them conversing but can't really make out what they say as he has no intentions to pry on their conversations. After some time, she hops onto the carriage and sits right next to Lupo and grabs the reigns and slaps them to get the two walkers to move forward, leading them out to the main roads to the city entrance.
Lupo knows only small details of specialized metals of the world. Ebridite is the only metal that is used by the Queen's Guards. Hard to forge, heavily durable. It is said to absorb most to all incoming damage and has properties that enhance the user's abilities if worn to its full extent. There was a tale long ago that a mage talked a warrior into wearing it to see if it would kill him. It did not, but he wasn't able to wear it for long. Though the metal seems to look fairly heavy and bulky it is also said, though, it is the Queen's Guards that say this, Ebridite Armor is fairly light and flexible. Coming from them being the literal strongest and highly skilled beings in the Army, It is fairly doubtful that it is light to the common folk. Most soldiers of Nocturnia wear Steel, while the lower officers wear Regal Steel, Steel with Malachite infused into it. Strange, sure, but it seemingly gives them an edge in scuffles and fights. Where Lupo and Wrough's assistant are going, however, is a mystery to him. Obviously, most to all metals are natural by products of Terra. Just as stated before, most soldiers and even bounty hunters wear some sort of steel variant to their outfits. Steel comes from iron that has been purified to an extent. It is not too expensive depending on what you're using it for and comes in abundance. Followed by silver, which turns into Quicksilver. Though not used as much anymore, copper and bronze tools are still used by many who seemingly cannot afford iron or steel. Most raw ores are found in deep mines or even the ground you walk on. So Lupo's curiosity gets to him as he looks at the assistant once more, but before he can open his mouth, she speaks once again.
“You happen to stare at me quite a lot.” Taken aback from the response, Lupo is quick to defend himself. “I- It is hard to read you that is all… you always wear that hood over your head and garments that cover your entire body, It's hard to really you. Also, I was just about to ask you about the job we are currently doing, I wasn't just staring at you just to stare.“ She is silent for a bit but speaks up once more. “So you stare at my body as well?” Lupo nearly falls off the carriage as she says that, and the walkers huff and chort at the reaction. “What?! No! Is that what you got out of all that as to what I have just said…?“ He groans and places his thumb and index finger on the bridge of his nose. “Look, just, where are we going to get this metal your boss needs?” An audible tsk is heard from her as she tightens her grip on the reigns just slightly. “Father” Lupo tilts his head, he didn't quite hear what she had said. “What?” Lupo stares at the hooded woman, She again repeats. “Father, he is my father.” Lupo is appalled. “Wrough Tiron, the dwarf, Is father?” She nods as she slaps the reigns once more. Lupo leans back and looks at the midday sky. He is visually confused and also has more questions now. “So, uh, how did that happen? Wrough seems too tough and strong-willed to ever uh, you know.“ She sighs but doesn't react much to that response, “I am adopted.” Lupo sighs in relief, glad that he did not have to think too hard to understand her height compared to Wrough was just off by a margin and that he knew Wrough for a long time he has never seen him ever had a wife or even seen a ring on his finger. Wrough would never stop talking about it since he would have made it himself, knowing him. He was curious to know more but decides not to pry after seeing her being physically annoyed by the subject it seems. “So, what can you tell me about ebridite? Seems like this a lot of hassle just for the Queen's Guards to get their fancy armor.“
She responds quickly to the question and seemingly very enthusiastically. “Ebridite is a compound of metal meeting a parasitic bond. The parasite eats raw iron and malachite and forms a hard coating around itself. That is what we call Ebridite. Naturally Unstable when found, touching it causes extreme circumstances most people cannot withstand. But my father and I have found a way to forge it to create weapons and armor, that are purely, and can only currently, be wielded by the strong. The armor seems to consciously know it is being worn and can be symbiotic to the wearer or not.“ This is the most Lupo has ever heard her speak. Her voice wasn't as monotone as before and her soft-spoken voice is shown more as she speaks about the topic, though she is not his blood, she seems to know her stuff and Wrough has rubbed off on her mannerisms quite well. After what seems to be a long-drawn-out lesson on metals, they have arrived at their destination. A cave of sorts that doesn't have any signs or markings around it. It also seems to not be mapped as well, most likely courtesy of it being only known to a select few. For it being a parasitic amalgamation of two different metals, Lupo wonders what else it could be used for.
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As they step off and enter the cave, he goes to light a torch, but she stops him. Shaking her head through the cloak. Though he cannot truly see her face, as she turned her head to continue down the path, he was able to see just barely that her eyes seemingly glow red faintly in the dark. “Raw Ebridite is sensitive to light, and so are the creatures that feed upon it.“ Lupo frowns, “And you tell me this now?“. They venture deeper and deeper as the cave grows darker and darker. Wrough's daughter seems to be walking casually but Lupo can barely see a thing even if his eyes are slowly getting adjusted to the dark. Eventually they enter an opening within the cavern and Lupo notices the strange slightly glowing purplish goo that is plastered all over the walls. Wrough's daughter points and says quietly. “That is parasite that turns into ebridite. It will lead us to sources of iron and malachite. We must walk carefully and follow it to the source.“ Lupo is a bit speechless at the sight of the parasitic goo it seems to move and ripple as they walk passed it but doesnt move enough to seem sentient more like its just reacting to their presence like any sensitive plant would. He thinks to himself. She then extends a hand to halt Lupo before she points once more at the hardend like shard of purplish mass protruding out of the walls.“There, Ebridite shards. My father wants us to get at least two hundred and fifty kilos.“ Lupo stares at her. She then corrects herself. “Just get enough that we can fill the wagon with. But be mindful the creatures are drawn to the shards as well and any source of light bright enough can set them off.“ She then points a bit deeper to the many large cavities within the caves. Though no noise is being made, it is assume the creatures reside within those holes, Most likely made by them as well.
Lupo nods and carefully walks to the shards, they glow a small bioluminescence of light, bright enough to light the cavern feintly but not enough to draw the attention of the creatures. She said when the parasites have eaten too much raw ore they glow brighter and brighter and become unstable, the creatures come out of their holes and eat the shards too subdue it, and in turn, the parasite feeds on the ore more, a co-existence of strange creatures in perpetual feedings between each other. He grabs hold of the large shard and pulls with all his might trying snap off a piece of the shard. He only barely gets a small chunk of it no more than maybe a pound or two. He sighs knowing this is going to take some time. She also said that when she travels here she usually only get a few hundred pounds or so a year but this is an exception due to the new buying orders from the Queen. With time and small reluctance from Lupo he pushes on.
They have gathered about half the amount needed and Lupo seemingly is getting winded from the escavation of the shards he feels he's been stuck here forever and he want to try to find a way to get this done a bit quicker. He pulls out his knife and places it onto the large shard at an angle before he struck it with his fist Wrough's Daughter notices and gasp extending her hand and whispers sharply to lupo to stop but it was too late. As he hits it bright sparks fly from the impact and the shard begins to glow violently. The cave begin to rumble and lupo falls onto his butt with the sound of his knife clanking on the the stone floor. Wrough daughter curses in daevan another first for Lupo as she grabs his cloak and drags him to his feet. She unhoods herself revealing her angered face. She then grabs hold of his collar, with both of her fist and lifts him slightly. Her hair is silky black in the dim light and her skin is fair but lightly purplish pink in color. The Sclera in her eyes are black and her iris are bright red, her pupils are slit vertically like a cat, as she exclaims her frustrations to the man infront of her. “You absolute idiot!“ She looks around tossing him to the floor and grabbing the bag half way filled of ebridite shards with ease. “Come on! move your ass! We have to go, now!“ Lupo shakes his head from the fall and stands up looking behind him to see multiple glowing eyes all around the cavities and holes darted around the cave of the shard. Before he could truly make them out the creatures converge onto the shards quickly. Arachnids larger than any he has seen nearly the size of bowfallo calf they converge on the shard and start scratching and eating the shards and even the goo around it. Lupo stands and begins to back up and pick up his pace to follow picking up his blade with a audible scrap. He curses as a few of the arachnids heard the sound and hiss and begin to chase after the pair climbing the walls and are seemingly faster than the two.
Lupo pulls out his collapsible bow and begins to fire at them hitting a few causing them to fall and the others to crawl over the fallen to keep chasing. It is like there is no end to the hoard of bugs. “If we leave quickly the suns rays will keep them inside the cave” She exclaims as she runs. Lupo nods as he tries his best to thwart the ones that are getting way to close for comfort to them as they make their way to the entrance of the cave. It seems as though that they are just about to make it as the light of the entrance is prying out from the turn in tunnel but one of the arachnids sweep Lupo's leg and trips him causing him to tumble and slide dropping his bow in the process. The arachnids seem to surround him as Wrough's daughter yells to him. “Lupo!“ He gasps as he gets to one knee and tries to think quickly. Springing to action, he pulls out his flint and steel and torch and attempts to light it as the sparks fly the arachnids converge and pounce onto him he punches and kicks them away and the force of his blows hitting the chitin exoskeletons hurts but he has to do something, they are as hard as stone and he can't do this for long. Eventually he is able to light the torch and flail it around him. The arachnids stop trying to attack and just hiss and surround him at all sides. Lupo pants and tries to catch his breath as he notices that the arachnids are seeminlgy following the torch light but as they get close they back off seemingly to the heat. This gives Lupo an idea. “When I give you a signal grab my bow and shoot at the torch!“ He does not know if this plan will work or if she is even skilled with a bow but he has to try it. With all the effort he can, he yells, “NOW!“, and throws the torch with all his might towards the darkest part of the cave. The arachnids took the bait, and chased the torch, then a whistle of an arrow passes Lupo's ear as the arrow that was with his bow flys and hits the torch on target and slings the torch even farther down the cave. Lupo turns to see Wrough's daughter in a perfect archery stance. She tosses him his bow and he catches it as they run out the entrance to the carriage panting heavily. The sunlight bleeding through the trees as her face is out in the open. She quickly covers her face back up and walks over to Lupo kicking his boot but extends her hand. “Youre an idiot, you know that?“ Lupo sighs and smirks embarrassingly and clasp her hand and to be let up. “Yeah I get told that a lot.“
“Well we got half of what we need if we wait a few hours, we can go back in and get more” Lupo sighs at her response. he is reluctant but nods. She is persistant he can give her that. “Say, I saw uh…”. She holds her hand out to stop him and nods “Yeah I know. Just keep it between me and you okay?“ He then retorts, “Only if you tell me your name, I can't go around knowing that I know what you look like and calling you Wrough's assistant anymore. I think we have been through enough for you to at least give me that.“ She scowls, rolls her eyes, and then crosses her arms. “It's Morgan, keep that to yourself too.“ He holds his hands up defensively and nods. “you will not hear it out my mouth unless it's just us. Morgan.” Morgan nods and they wait till they can go back in to get more of the ore. As Lupo and Morgan converse the locket on his chest slowly fades its icy sensation, for the thoughts in his head are now seemingly distracted by what has transpired today. Another odd day in Lupo's life. Still, there are a lot of lose ends to tie, or cut.
