Chapter 4: A simple contract

"Trixx. TRIXX! Wake up!" Kai yells as he held her up. He Immediately sees the wild berries on the floor beside her and notices more of the same berries growing on a bush nearby. A creature resembling a monkey but with a falcon like beak, 4 arms and bluish fur plucked some of those berries but immediately threw them away after sniffing it and ran off.

"Damn it, those were poisonous wild berries you idiot." Frustrated, he gently lays her down and tries to think of a way to help her.

"The symptoms of these poisonous wild berries were a high fever in the first few hours, followed by loss of consciousness into a coma like state and if not treated within 29 hours, then it can lead to death." Kai recalls from an herbalist that had once entered the tavern and overheard a conversation he had with an adventurer who had lost his sister to the same type of berries.

He lifts her up bridal style and lays her back down safely in her sleeping bag safe, before he goes out to find a specific type of flower that glows a deep blue color under the moonlight. He grabbed a small sac and his sword before leaving for the woods to find an ailment for the poison.

One will hear many things when spending enough time at a tavern, from stories of monsters born from the ashes of flesh and bones to an assassination attempt on a king from a neighboring continent. Most would search elsewhere for more reliable sources of information. Do not misunderstand though, they are not wrong, rumors that spread in whispers in local and well know places may not always be viable. But only those who are experienced in interpreting and breaking down these rumors, know what's true or not. One such rumor was about a specific type of flower that grows in mountainous regions. The name of this flower is called The Mooncrest bloom, and it is a naturally growing plant that has the capability to cure most of the diseases brought by any other type of plant species in this world.

With this belief, Kai pressed forward and spent the next 5 hours trying to find it. Searching every corner and cliff face he could find. He kept on searching, trying to recollect what he had heard from the tavern, until he finally found them growing nearby a cave entrance and immediately rushed back to make the cure for her to drink.

She wasn't fully unconscious yet, so he quickly gave it to her, she drank it all till the last drop and laid back down. Before she went unconscious again, she gave him advice. "Kai....Keep going...North...You'll find an opening deep within the woods. The scholar.... lives there...." She lowers her head back down before suddenly grabbing Kai's cloak and pulling him towards her face eye to eye and threatened. "If you leave me.... I'll Chop your dick off." And with that final threat, she falls unconscious. Kai merely sighs in relief that she was already feeling better and opted to wait a while before moving.

A few minutes later, he noticed her fever was lowering. So, he decided to pack everything and carry her in his arms to the location. He spent the night walking without making any unnecessary stops unless it was to check if Trixx's condition. He crossed a few rivers, small caves and also narrowly missed triggering several defensive mechanisms from multiple snapshot weeds which would have bit his leg and injected poison into him, a local carnivorous plant with similar traits to that of a Venus flytrap. As he made his way through the thick woods, he didn't falter even once at the ominous sounds he was hearing from behind him and pressed on. Finally, he saw an opening leading out of these thick woods.

As he got closer and closer, he saw there was only a plain field. as he fully stepped out of the woods, he entered a giant invisible barrier and what was once a desolate looking field, soon was replaced by a giant castle.

"Illusion barrier? This scholar is getting more and more interesting by the minute. But this also makes them suspicious, they can't be a simple scholar to be able to cast a spell on this scale." Kai thinks before he looks down at Trixx and proceeds forward with her still in his arms.

The castle was tall and had a grim ambience to it with three towers and a massive wall surrounding the area. It looks old but was still firm and ready to handle a raid. It would seem impossible for something as massive as this to be hidden but once again, this doesn't surprise him as he realized he had finally reached his destination. As he arrived at the massive gate, they opened by themselves and allowed guests through. As he carried her on his arms bridal style, the gates begin closing, gears grinding against gears and chains clanging as they moved, they keep moving until the massive gate sealed shut.

-A few days later-

Trixx finally awakes from her coma and get up slowly. She was looking around the massive room she was in. There were massive windows to her left and two massive bookshelves in front of her, a fireplace besides the door to the hall. The fireplace was beside the door which kept the room warm from the harsh cold temperatures of the mountains. She got up and made her way to the door before stopping by a mirror to notice her outfit was changed. She didn't like it, not one bit. Instead of her old but well-designed survival outfit she had made herself, she found herself in a red corset dress with flowy ends, leather sleeves and mid-thigh high leather boots with a body rope. A rather tight-fitting but classy outfit one she shall rip to shreds once she finds out two things.

One would be the unfortunate souls that changed her and the other is where her outfit was. Despite her hesitation to be seen wearing this, she stepped into a massive hallway with dozens of other rooms. She could faintly hear voices from one end and reluctantly goes in that direction. Making her way down the hallway, she takes note of how fancy the place looks. With candles lit every few feet on both sides and a red carpet laid on the floor, this place seemed to be a pristine castle, not that she knew it was a castle yet.

She arrives at the end of the hallway and makes her way down a stairwell down till it opened up to another hallway. She reached a dark wooden door and entered the room. Much to her delight, she sees two familiar people.

"Ah welcome dear, glad you awoke from you little slumber. How do you feel?" The stranger asks as he turned away from the fireplace.

"Two things. One, I feel fine thanks! Two, who fucking changed me!" Trixx yelled, ready to pounce and claw her harasser to pieces.

"Rest assured child, that would be my assistant Loralai and your outlandish attire was going to be thrown away, but your good friend here recommended against it. However, it was not in a good condition, so I asked Loralai to fix it for you and might I say it does look quite ravishing on you." The stranger walks at a slow pace to the other side of the room to grab a map while Trixx made her way to a couch and plops down, placing her hand on the armrest and resting her head on her arm.

"Loralai, please do fetch her a drink, thank you." Atlas asked.

Loralai was standing in a corner silently watching the whole time. She wore a mask which concealed her face which Kai found was a bit odd but didn't voice the matter. She gracefully bowed and made her way out of the room.

"So, now that Trixx is awake let us discuss what you have summoned me for. What exactly did you have in mind to send someone to fetch me specifically?" Kai asked.

"I require both of you to help me get a power source, potentially powerful enough to destroy an entire city and both your records meet my criteria." The stranger answers straightforwardly.

Kai waited a few moments, his eyes still focused on the stranger. "I need more information if you expect me to accept your proposal."

"The item I need you to retrieve for me is a White shard. You have to go to the city of fools and win it by fighting in a massive Colosseum or you could try to steal it. I advise against the latter; the shard is being guarded by the ruler's personal guards. You'll get killed before you even reach the front door." The stranger informs.

A knock is heard from the door and Loralai enters with a tray holding a drink. She gave it to Trixx who simply nodded her head and took small sips from it.

Kai looks back at Atlas and strains his eyes at the mention of a shard. "So, you want a white shard in exchange for what exactly?"

"Anything." The stranger replies.

"Can you really afford that? The task you have given to me-*Cough cough*" Trixx interrupts before continuing to enjoy her refreshment.

"...to US, seems to be quite troublesome. I believe we still haven't properly introduced ourselves either." Kai finishes.

"You may call me Atlas and I am already acquainted with Trixx and I am aware of the fact that you keep your name to yourself, so I shall call you Harbinger, like the rest. It's just a simple contract. You get me the shard and I get you whatever you want."

The mysterious scholar who now identified himself as Atlas spoke before Trixx asked. "Don't they normally reward highly powerful, explosive and destructive items as a prize for beating the colosseum?" 

"Well yes darling. They call items of such power as Higher rarity items, and they are a bit tricky to find in this broken world of ours and are normally given to warriors who prove their strength in combat. A White Shard, however, is not a higher rarity item that these fools have labelled, but a Divine Tier item. There are various types of shards that shine a single color. Each possessing a special trait. The Dark shard and the White shard are two of the strongest Shards said to have ever existed. This white shard is proof that there is also a dark shard as well! But those fools think it's just a power cell for their primitive contraptions!" The stranger spoke with pride and energy.

Trixx got up from the couch still exhausted but spoke with concern. "A white shard? I've heard about other colored shards before, all I know is that they bring trouble. But...I've never heard of a White shard before, the same for a dark shard. Don't you think there's a reason for that?"

Kai picked up a book from the shelf and briefly flipped through some pages before closing it back. "Trixx is right, I've heard of many speak other types of shards. Red, blue, purple, pink...but I've never heard of a White or black Shard being mentioned by others even once. Sure, we've heard of users with an affinity to black or white based powers. Any reason why?"

Atlas's interest sparked. "You seem to know a few things on the subject.... Harbinger."

Kai smirks lightly. "And you seem to know about me as well...Atlas. But you didn't answer the question, do you believe they exist? what makes them so special?"

Atlas merely chuckles to himself before reaching for the table drawer and taking out a notebook filled to the brim with research regarding not only the white and dark shards, but every other shard that exists and hands it over to Kai. He then sits down on his chair and puts his hands together before he answered.

"From the research I have done, many ancient scriptures mention that these shards are said to have been fragmented from the dying bodies of ancient gods. Of course, I was caught off guard with such a claim as to the death of such beings. Which is exactly why I require you to help me retrieve this shard for my research so as to possibly find a clue to why they died or if they truly did exist. As for why no one else has mentioned about these two shards, well, from what I have researched, these two shards are exceptionally rare. They're only briefly mentioned even in the ancient scriptures. These cosmic being's we mortals have deemed as our gods, had massive physical or astral forms. An interesting theory I made myself, was that some gods functioned in a different manner from the rest. For instance, a god of power might find themselves to be bested by a god of greed. A simple explanation would be that The God of Power would do what was necessary to gain power in return for their hard endeavors, while The God of Greed, would be willing to do anything to become more powerful than they already were. The want for power would simply be overpowered by the lust for more power. Gods are not equal with each other in strength or wits. Do you perceive what I am Implying here?"

Trixx had gotten up at some point during Atlas's speech and was now busy walking around, eyeing all sorts of weapons he had on his study room walls but was intently listening on what he was saying. Kai sat on the other end of the table opposite of Atlas forming theories of his own at the information he was being given.

Kai finally looked at Atlas in the eyes. "So, the disappearance of these "Gods" was because of a power struggle between themselves, is what you are implying, and these shards are what remains from their dead bodies."

"Maybe. Another reason why my research is necessary. So, do you accept?" Atlas eagerly waited for his response.

Kai was in deep thought, he looked over to Trixx who was waiting for his answer. He thought for a few more seconds trying to see if it was a trap or not before inevitably, he made his decision. " very well."

"Wonderful! Stay for the night and leave at first light, it shall be a two-day journey in which you shall arrive the city of fools on the third. Rest, prepare and go. You'll find all the supplies you need in the front hall tomorrow morning. Take them as well. I expect good results from you two and you should expect a hefty reward in return if you commit to it. Loralai will escort you to your rooms, Good Night." Atlas generously informs while making his way out of the room. Kai realized Atlas didn't answer the question directly but decided to ask about it when they returned.

The next morning, Kai and Trixx wake up early and set off for the two-day journey to the City of Fools. This time they had food and medicinal herbs in case something went wrong.

As the two of them were leaving the compound, Atlas was watching from his window in his study, before he pulled a book partially out from a book shelve and the fireplace moved, revealing a hidden door.

"Soon, everything shall be revealed." He thought as he entered the secret chamber.

Kai and Trixx were making their way down the mountain and once again, Trixx wanted to engage in a conversation with Kai and know more about him since they were going to be working together for a while. She kept on glancing at him every now until he took notice.

"If you wish to speak then speak. What's on your mind." He spoke catching her off guard before she composed herself.

"Oh? So you noticed. Well, you seemed familiar with those shards Shardy was talking about and I was wondering why you would be so interested in that exactly. Are you a mage or a wizard or something?" Trixx asked.

"Shardy? Please don't tell me that's the scholars nickname." He deadpanned.

"Shardy is the perfect name for a geezer so interested in those shards. I know they're some strange powerful rocks and all, but I don't care. Besides, we get him that white shard and he'll pay us whatever we want." She replies with glee.

Kai sighs as he thinks of the challenges that lie ahead of him for the next few days while Trixx carries on smiling without a care in the world.

Our dynamic duo went through many challenges the past two days. They had to trek through unstable footbridges made of scrap and rusted cables once used by mountain villagers who have all but disappeared centuries ago, avoid and sneak past multiple territories of the Kentonix and there were times when Kai had to save Trixx....THRICE from falling off the edge of a cliff or into a massive crater. But despite all these challenging feats that seemed to have been set by God himself, they still pushed through and eventually after two days, they make it to an abandoned village by nightfall and decide to rest for the night. They set up a small camp inside a decently sized hut, it was slightly damaged but would provide enough shelter for the night. As they both sit down next to the fireplace together, the Kentonix's howl once again as the moon appears in the night sky.

"By mid-day tomorrow we'll reach the city, and we should probably find a local Inn and stay there for the day and rest up, wouldn't you agree?" Trixx asks.

"If that is what you wish, I do not require rest after only a mere day of walking on solid ground." Kai Replies while Trixx notices that he hasn't shed a single drop of sweat this whole time.

Trixx stares at Kai who was busy focusing on keeping the fire burning as she couldn't help but ask something that was stuck on her mind. "I don't get it. Why did you agree to come with me without making a fuss? Was it cause of the bounty hunters, or did it have something to do when you froze for a second when you looked at me in the eyes?"

Kai raised his gaze and met hers and briefly took a few breathes without changing his facial expression before he finally spoke. "You merely reminded me of a friend I knew a long time ago."

"Like a couple years or something?" She asks.

"Longer than that and I'd rather not speak more about this." He replies.

An awkward silence fills the air before Trixx breaks the tension. "How old are you?"

"Old enough to know that your one more question away from being thrown off that cliff edge." He replies starting to get annoyed.

"Alright Alright! Jeez, relax will ya! It's just you're a....." She stops before her eyes widen from a ridiculous idea that popped in her head. She immediately got up, leaped onto Kai and grabbed his cloak yelling.

"Are you a child that was cursed to stay young so that you're Illegal to do anything by law and that's one of the reasons why you murdered that whole group of people and ended up becoming a wanted criminal!?" She screams in panic with absolute belief that she had guessed his secret.

Kai stared absolutely god smacked at the most ridiculous guess he had ever heard while her eyes widened at the realization of her actions and what she had just blurted out before she let go of his cloak and slowly started backing away from him with her hands raised in the air. "Wait that wasn't on purpose! Forget I said any- HUH!!" Trixx was cut off as Kai grabbed her and threw her out of the hut and into a tree branch.

"Are you crazy you lunatic! I could have died if this branch hadn't caught me!" She yelled before the branch started creaking from the sudden weight and snapped and she fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"YAAAA-OOF! MY ASS! HOOOODYYYYYY!" Trixx screamed louder than even the Kentonix's did and scared every single creature surrounding them in a kilometer radius and drove them off. When she finally stops screaming, no other animal made a sound for the remainder of the night and nothing, but silence filled the air once more.