Chapter 113: The Secrets of an Organization
In silence he withdrew from Charles’s estate.
Around him threats existed; too many dangerous powers were enveloped conspiring in consonance. Trying to find the perfect moment to set their macabre plans in motion.
Or so they thought.
Those events were not directly connected with him—not in the form they should, of course. For a reason he did not know, the so fearsome and terrible ruins had not affected him to that point.
He was still ignorant about the amplitude and the impact of the ’Name,’ ’History,’ and ’Meaning.’ His connection with the divine had vanished as soon as it had been made.
But his will clamored to participate—to fight against the fire, to resurrect from death, opening his path with blood.
It was a dark desire. Very hidden inside him, behind the innumerable lessons during his youth and his knowledge about the dangers that abounded at the expense of the stupid.
He longed to have a name, not for fame or ego, but for the mere fact of existing.
Trampling all those dark and archaic concepts about the gods.
A myth? Innumerable of them existed. There were also many names throughout history that would end up being stained by dishonor, deceit, and contempt.
"Abyss, we can leave already. Your lord has already finished his discourse." Said Gabriel, directing himself to the nothing itself. He did not feel the presence of his comrade, but he knew that he would not abandon him lightly.
"I thought he would recruit you." Said a taciturn voice that came from an unknown place.
"He did."
***
The wind was more glacial than usual, windy and chilling. The northern lands were threatened by storms that would lash their fields with icy rains and little sun.
A beautiful pristine snake traversed at great speed extensive terrains, transporting itself with lightness and wisdom.
On its back went two individuals, who chatted with the intimacy of two good friends.
"From today you are part of the Frozen Court. You must learn many things, because in every place it is dangerous. As they would say anciently, these are stormy times." Said Abyss with patience, surprisingly extending himself in more than one sentence.
According to him it was necessary. Spending saliva to explain fundamental aspects to Gabriel only had a small price: that he would not behave like a son of a bitch.
A dog without a leash was always dangerous—spreading saliva and biting before the smallest threat. But when he finally found a warm home, he would need to learn to behave.
"These lands are consuming themselves from within. It is not a problem that only devastates Lárnac, but that extends through sea, land, and air; it is the quality of our era."
Gabriel observed deeply the strange behavior that had suddenly possessed his good blood brother, not at all dumb, Abyss.
His eloquence was slow, cheap, and devastatingly forced... But real.
"The Frozen Court is a faction founded in the lowest and most inferior circles of Bérsaic, gathering its brute men, by an enigmatic figure: the Lord. With its benefits and disadvantages, like everything." Said Abyss, looking seriously at his companion.
The threat was only one: he would not repeat any word.
"Enigmatic? I thought you were one of his most faithful men, Abyss." Interrupted Gabriel, with surprise in his voice.
It was the first time he heard firsthand the origins of the mysterious influence of Charles over the Frozen North.
"I speak, you shut up. I only do you this favor because we share blood in an unfortunate union." Answered Abyss without allowing objections. "The lord did it to take care of you. You are young and naïve, and it is not only the Despots who have paid you attention... You could be dead."
His words were a sentence. Like a totally impartial court, that dictated the facts with a supernatural capacity. He did not tell a story; instead he closed a conclusion.
Slowly raising the dark sleeves of his tunic, he allowed horrible and long scars to appear in the light of day—cuts and burns cicatrized who knows how long ago.
"For a time I belonged to the militia. I offended the incorrect persons..." Murmured Abyss, with his eyes lightly tormented and clouded by dark and ancient memories. "It was the lord who came to me, when I was half dead after a severe torture. I swore loyalty with my heart stopping."
For a second, both kept silence. Until for the first time a low laugh was heard from his cracked lips, like crystals breaking.
"Afterward I assassinated their families. Not even the pets survived. It was a chaos of fire, blood, and extremities." He pronounced with a chilling coldness. "But the times have changed. The ancient law has begun to disappear. Today the organization has more experience, temper, and power."
Suddenly, he remembered with whom he was dealing. A terrifying assassin who fulfilled his mission until the last consequence; it was not about a normal individual, nor was his mind very well.
For his safety he distanced himself two steps, with the spiritual snake hissing in discomfort.
"You will be protected, from the forces in the light and the darkness. You will receive temper and training, converting yourself into the man you must be. Your talent will be appreciated." He said looking toward the horizon, calculating the distance of their destination. "But you will also have to fulfill. You are no longer a dog abandoned to your mercy. Fulfill missions, do what you must do and share what you must share... Everything under the direction of the lord."
"Understood?"
"I got lost halfway."
There was no blow or reprimand before his sarcastic comment. Only the worst of the silences.
A silence that uncomfortably lasted quite some time, without either deigning to speak.
Until finally they arrived at the place desired by Abyss, who caressing the bald little head of his snake, let it rest.
"This was one of my fortuitous encounters during my youth. A very strange place that you will have to explore. Are you disposed?" He said looking directly at a cave, with distant memories. "You are still too weak, only an Awakened. You need experience to ascend."
Gabriel saw with attentive eyes the so familiar cave, one of the preferred elements by the developers for the dungeons. Their creativity was small, apparently.
His interface shone for a moment. It was a new mission.
____________________
[The Fortune of a Comrade]
[Description: An intimate comrade seeks to strengthen you, for that reason he has fortuitously delivered you information about a dungeon that you need to complete. In that way he will test you]
Status: [Accept] [Deny]
_______________________
"This book will also help you. You are not illiterate, right? It is an elemental introduction to the world."
A small book had appeared in the hands of Abyss, who rapidly delivered it to Gabriel. Without extensive explanations, questions.
Gabriel had not even accepted yet, shocked by his recent fortune.
Was this the benefit of belonging to an organization?
Have I won the damned lottery?
In defense of Gabriel, very few players really had the fortune of belonging to a local force inside the video game.