The Runic Alchemist

Chapter 863: The Gamble of Belief

Sam glanced one last time at the frozen soldiers and Evrin and then guided Steelweaver to step inside the waygate along with him.

Damian broke the inscribed spell inside his runic gun with a flick of a finger and released the frozen individuals.

“Centuries of suffering on this land, and now you show yourself!” Landbreaker said with more venom than he probably intended.

A deep, rumbling, ancient voice came out of one of the guards with a golden mana-thread attached to his head,

“The gifts I have given can be taken away as well, faithless one.”

One of the blue mana-thread ones added, “Forget all that creature said, if you care for your lives.”

Then came the voice from one of the red mana-thread guards,

“Do not involve yourself in the business of gods.”

“Is that truly you? Goddess Astraea?” Vidalia asked.

“Do not believe everything you have heard from that coward, senile dwarf. Daughter.” The gold mana-thread guard replied.

“You can’t understand it, but there is a reason for our caution against that dwarf. Children of Sun.” The red mana-thread guard said.

The blue mana-thread ones said nothing.

’Figures.. There is no follower of Sea God present after all, other than Voidshaper.’

Voidshaper, being a Faerunian, was a surprise. He was of the Highswords though, and had forsaken his beliefs long ago, just like Landbreaker. It must be in their Highsword code or something, so as not to divide the organization with religion.

“Leave Evrin out of your twisted plans!” Einar shouted.

The golden mana-thread guard spared a glance towards Einar and then ignored her.

“There is no place in this world you can hide him, kid.” The blue mana-thread guard spoke up, looking towards Damian.

The Sea God’s spawns could reach the dungeon he had sent Steelweaver and Sam to. He knew that. Sam could use the waygate as well, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

“This precious land of yours can be wiped away from the face of the mainland in an instant.” The red mana-thread guard added.

Damian remained silent. The first meeting with the gods was not as grand as he had assumed. He could not mindlessly anger them though. This divine code of theirs that Steelweaver mentioned was shaky at best. They could indeed destroy Sanctuary any time they wished. Any powerful transcedent or fourth ranker could do it actually, and these were fifth rankers.

“Which one of us does he belong to? I can’t sense it.” The golden mana-thread guard said, raising his eyebrow slightly.

“Can never be mine,” The blue mana-thread guard replied in an instant.

“Not mine.. either.” The red mana-thread guard said with a hint of confusion. “There is no residue of chaos that I sense.”

“Another abomination! What is this age? My own question me, godless beings roam free, the whole of mainland has changed beyond recognition.” The golden mana-thread guard said.

The goddess of light, Astraea, seems less involved on the mainland. Damian had seen the red mana thread coming out of that Sun temple knight who attacked Reize and her sister. Clearly, that one was in the know and was plotting things in secret like the chaos god. And the reports of the Sea Snake leaving Faerunia to venture far in the ocean must be how the Sea God was more or less aware of the current age situation on the mainland.

If before they were just doing their own things, Steelweaver’s presence will redirect their focus onto the oddity that was him and the other things going on in Sanctuary.

Was Steelweaver truly worth the trouble?

The man wasn’t his responsibility. His friends, his people, the sanctuary would have to pay the price if he involved himself in this mess. He could not afford to just think like an independent, curious, consequence-less kid anymore. There were responsibilities, duties on his shoulders now.

If there was one thing he had learned from the story of the primordial age, then it was this. Even the smallest of actions can lead to heavy consequences.

Every fiber of his being screamed not to bow down before these all-powerful tyrants, still, when Damian opened his mouth, the words that came out were,

“You want him dead, right? If I do that myself, what will I get?”

He could tell by the sudden head movement of the three spokespersons of the gods that he had caught them off guard.

“That does not match what I am hearing about you, Runebreaker.” The guard, being controlled by the Sea God, said. “You took from my child without a fair fight. You used this non-believer lesser one.”

Is that what Sea Snake told the man? That he captured Hellstorm and others using Landbreaker’s strength? Even now? After knowing full well what he had done in the war against the demons.

“The kid has good relations with my children.. Dawnstar became whole again? Is that your doing, Aurelios? You two still meddle with the affairs of the mainland after what happened last time?” The one controlled by Astraea muttered in between, as if hearing it in real time from someone.

“Think twice before accusing me.” The Sun God’s voice through the guard replied. Then, looking towards Damian, he added,

“You want rewards for doing something we can do anytime with a flick of our finger?”

Damian smiled. “I am simply trying to extend a hand in good faith. You probably are gods or not, what would a mere transcedent like me would know? But I do know you are the highest power in this world. And that is enough for me, I can accept that. For my people, for my friends, and for myself. Some of us have crossed paths with the chaos god’s followers. At least I wish for you all to think I do not side with those evil of nature.”

“Just as good a schemer as a runesmith, huh?” The Sea God’s voice disdained.

The other two, however, remained silent. The Sun God was a bastard that he couldn’t trust anything from, but maybe the goddess of light had a trinkle of honor left, based on Steelweaver’s words and his own suspicion.

“What is it that you want from us?” The Goddess of light, Astraea, took the bait as he hoped.

“Don’t forget, he is the follower of that dwarf!” Sun God butted in, “As long as he lives, that coward can return.”

“There are ways other than killing for that.” Astraea added, “This age already has pitiful numbers of transcendents and believers. As long as this Sanctuary remains without a god of its own—we shouldn’t care much. Or have you two forgotten the oath of not interfering?”

“I was simply looking out for that bastard’s scion.” The Sea God made an excuse.

“Observing is not interfering.” Answered Sun God.

“Peace. I just want peace for my people.

Sun God, Sea God, and Goddess of light, you probably know this, but for the first time in history since that battle Steelweaver mentioned, the rulers of all nations are in active communication. There is a mana contract signed by us to have peace on the mainland for at least a century.

A time without conflict will give us a chance to produce many pathfinders. I have even opened my dungeons to the public, so anyone can reach their maximum potential using them. All of whom are followers of you three. My entire sanctuary is a follower of you three. We will even venture into new lands using my space-time spell so we can spread out more in the world’s habitable places and prosper even more.

The chaos god is an enemy to me and my people. I shall encourage my people to worship you since you are actively protecting us from him.”

“Enough.” The Goddess of light interrupted. Then added,

“We are no monsters, brat. You willingly put an end to Steelweaver’s echo, and we shall leave you alone. On the condition that you will become a follower of one of us and never teach these methods of golem creation to anyone. Youngest ever to become a transcedent, a skill to copy any spell seen just once, you and your flock indeed show promise.”

“I do not need him. I will spare him and his precious sanctuary on the condition that Faerunia will never lose land to this sanctuary.” The Sea God declared.

The possession of the Sun God looked at him, as if measuring him, then added,

“I will spare him. No conditions.”

The other two’s possessions showed slight hints of surprise, but it was barely noticeable.

“Very well then,” Astraea said, “It is decided.”

“He will kill Steelweaver standing before me.” The Sea God demanded suddenly.

“Yes, at least one of us should witness this.” Sun God agreed.

“Remain near the dungeon you sent Steelweaver and your friend. Wait till The Sea God arrives and then do it before him.” Goddess Astraea ordered.

Damian nodded, showing hints of making a hard decision as to appear to be conflicted before the three gods’ eyes.