Rising god
Chapter 59: Two Things

Chapter 59: Two Things

The Dragon’s Pit echoed with the distant roars of its denizens, the air thick with heat and the faint tang of sulfur. Baines stood at the entrance of Lady Darka’s lair, his piercing gaze fixed on Smallfoot, who trembled under the weight of his threat.

"You," he said, pointing a finger at her, his voice cold and unyielding. "If you come to me again to waste my time, I’ll kill you." He turned sharply, his scarf fluttering as he strode toward the pit’s exit, his silhouette swallowed by the cavern’s shadows.

Smallfoot stood frozen, her human eyes wide with fear. She knew Baines meant every word; the lethal edge in his voice was unmistakable.

As the only dragon with bargaining power, her failure to secure a deal left her vulnerable. She glanced desperately at the larger dragons, their massive forms looming like ancient sentinels, but even they remained still, wary of the unseen presence Baines commanded.

Wick’s invisible menace hung in the air, a silent threat that kept them rooted until Baines’s figure faded into a distant blur.

Even then, they dared not speak. Smallfoot recounted the failed negotiation, her voice heavy with defeat.

The dragons’ shared question lingered unspoken: What now?

...

Baines emerged from the pit after ensuring the teleportation tablet to return when the time was right.

He made his way to his quarters in the Darkan stronghold, the bustling streets of Darkos alive with tournament preparations.

Crimson banners fluttered overhead, and the clamor of hammering and shouted orders filled the air.

At his lodging, he found the servant and Sir Dolik waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

Without sparing them a glance, Baines entered his room, emerging moments later with a leather bag slung over his shoulder and his sword strapped to his waist.

The servant bowed slightly, his voice measured. "The family has granted you twenty days. Please return by then." His mind churned, unable to fathom Baines’s choice.

The tournament was a golden opportunity to cement his legend, especially given the rumors tying it to his name. The servant knew Baines sought his family, his achievements a means to that end, yet leaving now seemed incomprehensible.

As they approached the family’s gate, a familiar figure blocked their path, Tasha, her red hair catching the sunlight, her expression a mix of frustration and disbelief.

"I heard you’re using your vacation now," she said, crossing her arms. "Why won’t you participate? We can send people to find whoever you’re looking for."

Baines ignored her, his steps unwavering.

At that moment, Tasha’s patience snapped. "You can’t keep ignoring me!" she snapped, her voice sharp with irritation.

His steps stopped abruptly, turning to face her, his eyes cold.

"My relationship with Darkan is PURELY business," he said, emphasizing each word. "What I do with my rewards from it is no one’s business." His tone drew a stark line, severing any notion of camaraderie Tasha might have harbored.

Her jaw dropped, shock mirrored by the servant and Dolik.

Baines’s words were a brutal reminder of his detachment. Despite his contributions to the family, he held no loyalty, no attachment.

It was as if he were saying that if a better opportunity arose, he would abandon Darkan without a second thought. The realization stung, shattering the illusion of his allegiance.

Without another word, Baines resumed his march, leaving Tasha rooted in place.

Sir Dolik exchanged a nod with the servant, a silent promise to uncover more during their journey, and followed Baines.

At the gate, a carriage awaited, its dark wood polished to a gleam.

They set off on a familiar route to the same destination.

Harper Hawks.

There, the whispers of the tournament echoed as fervently as in Darkos. The townsfolk spoke endlessly of "Jin," unaware that the man himself sat among them, his scarf concealing his identity.

"I’ll go," Baines said, volunteering under Dolik’s watchful gaze. The knight’s eyes narrowed, recalling their last visit when the family’s investigation of Harper Hawks had yielded nothing.

This time, Dolik vowed to stay vigilant.

At a crowded tavern, Baines locked eyes with the bartender, a nudged his head saying, Someone’s watching.

With a snap of the bartender’s fingers, and,

"Hey, why’d you pour my drink?" A burly man approached another man menacingly.

"And what are you going to do about it?" The second man slammed the table and stood to face the bulking man.

Their shouts escalated into a brawl as chaos ensued. Tables overturned, mugs shattered, and patrons scattered.

Dolik glanced at the commotion, but when he turned back,

Baines had vanished, and the bartender was standing alone at the counter.

"Damn it," Dolik cursed under his breath.

...

Baines slipped into the hidden chambers of the Harper hawks, and arrived at the same dimly lit room he’d visited before.

The same feminine voice, smooth and measured, greeted him. "What can we do for you again, Sir Jin?"

"I want two things," Baines said, his voice steady. The first stemmed from the old man’s cryptic words: Things have changed.

The phrase gnawed at him, and it was a variable he needed to account for in his plans. "Have you heard rumors from beyond this continent?" he asked.

"What sort of rumors?" the voice replied, cautiously.

"A fallen family, perhaps."

Silence followed, thick with unspoken questions.

The woman’s thoughts raced. ’How does he know? Is he just here to confirm?’ She couldn’t decipher his intent but answered carefully.

"The ashes have risen stronger than ever. Such rumors are spreading across the other continent."

Baines’s mind reeled. ’Risen?’ But they haven’t chosen a successor.

The old man would have informed him of such a development. So, what changed?

Then a memory flashed, the Ashenfall ruins now shrouded in a violet veil.

’Could they have abandoned secrecy because no one can breach it?’ The pieces didn’t fully align, but he had a lead.

He sighed, "Second," he continued, pulling a heavy sack of gold from his bag and setting it on the table. "I need a place to stay for the next twenty days."

The woman’s surprise was palpable, even through the partition.

The empire awaited Jin’s performance in the tournament, yet here he was, seeking refuge far from the spotlight. She had assumed he’d come to scout his rivals, know of their weaknesses and strengths, yet here he was, to vanish.

"Alright," she said with a sigh, unable to unravel his motives.

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