Curselock

Chapter 58: Northward

Leaning against a wooden wall overlooking Shoutwell’s harbor, Leland took in the day. The sky had fallen back to muted overcast with streaks of golden sun filtering through the cracks. The waves were gentle and calming, crashing against the many docks and resting ships. There was chatter nearby, those getting back to their lives after the hell their city had endured.

Dockworkers rushed about, carrying large stacks of boxes or hauling thick fraying robes. Some smoked tobacco or chewed tar-like sludge, others sang jolly tunes and swigged amber liquids. The early morning hours didn’t matter to these people, only the freedom of returning to normal.

Jude, Glenny, and Isobel stood off to the side, speaking to a woman in a booth about tickets and locations. Their departure from Shoutwell, while expected, wasn’t something any of the boys really thought about. But with everything wrapped up, it was time to move on.

It was time to return to their roots, or rather, redefine their roots. Each boy was nearing their Legacy’s second rank, something in which none of them thought possible. It always felt like a far off dream, one filled with fatigue and trials. In a way, they each supposed Shoutwell was a part of that dream, but again, reaching rank two in only a few months felt impossible.

Especially for Leland, the youngest of the group. It had only been about a month since his nineteenth birthday, and frankly that scared him. But he guessed he was on the path of the Warlock. What that meant, he didn’t know, only that each step forward put him one step closer to something unimaginable.

Reviewing his grimoire’s pages, Leland checked just how close he was to ranking-up.

Name: Leland Silver

Legacy: Curses

Archetype: Initiate of the Curse Lord

You have assisted in killing Lector Abigail Jhon and a Monarch Avatar (Sightless King). An appropriate reward has been added to your Legacy.

Fracture has increased to rank 9.

Curse of Collapse has increased to rank 7.

Harbinger Halo has increased to rank 8.

Circle of Souls has increased to rank 9.

Fracture:

Type: Curse

Rank: 9 (C)

Call upon the Lord of Bone to shatter those in your way.

95% chance to break a random bone in a single target.

Curse of Collapse:

Type: Curse

Rank: 7 (C)

Pull the target towards the end, bringing them one step closer to the Lord of Death.

Exhaust the target for 140 seconds, lowering their speed by 35%

Harbinger Halo:

Type: Curse (Self)

Rank: 8 (B)

Strike a dark accord with a presiding Lord, calling their aid.

Contract lasts for 480 seconds.

Circle of Souls:

Type: Curse

Rank: 9 (B)

Call upon the souls of the Damned, channeling the power of the Lord of Souls into an area.

Encase the souls of those within 45 yards, siphoning their lifeforce while chaining them to this reality. Fully consume a soul to increase your magical potency by 9% for 1 minute.

While Crow Massacre failed to progress past rank seven, Leland thought it was rather expected. The spell was his least used in recent days, something he would need to rectify if he wanted to rank-up himself. On the other hand, Circle of Souls reaching rank nine was something of an anomaly. Last time he checked, the curse was only rank three.

A six-rank jump? he asked himself, thinking back on why that might have happened. He honestly blanked on a reason, only coming up with over using the souls he fully consumed. He leaned back, remembering the horrid headaches associated with the curse.

But with that, he was incredibly close to pushing all of his spells to rank ten where his Legacy would then rank-up. Unless there was still a primary curse that eluded him. But he didn’t think so. Most Legacies only held five primary spells or abilities. There were, of course, outliers but he figured they would have appeared by now.

With that in mind, Leland estimated he would be ranking-up within a few quests.

That is, unless they are like Shoutwell… he thought, shivering. Might be a single quest in that case…

A few minutes later, Jude, Glenny, and Isobel ventured over holding three ticket stubs. Leland raised an eye. “Not coming with us?” he asked. “Thought you’d want to kidnap one of us again.”

The Huntress gave him a tired look. “No. I’ve still got a job to do in this city, one that you three partially made worse.”

Glenny frowned at that. “How so?”

She deliberated for a long moment. “You three are anomalies. Ones that I can’t predict, at least not yet. Why do you think I’ve been so pushy to get you guys out of the city?”

Jude spoke for the group, “Because you don’t like us?”

Isobel’s face twitched at that. “Well yes. But no. It's been a few days since the Sightless Cult was vanquished from the city, and the other Inquisitor team is yet to get here. Meaning they should arrive by tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest.”

With a long sigh, Leland said, “You don’t want us to be around for an interview or interrogation.”

“Correct. I wanted you three to be long gone by now, but I know Onryo is still working on getting your payment together.”

Glenny locked eyes with his sort of mentor. “Why do you not want us to be interviewed?”

Isobel caught Leland’s eye, then scratched her cheek. “Because I may have broken some Inquisitor rules regarding soliciting help from adventurers.”

Leland squinted at that, noticing the subtle look from the Huntress. “Uh huh,” he said with a shrug. “Fine, we’ll leave. You’ve already bought us the tickets anyway.”

She smiled at that. “But don’t worry. I’ll find you once I’m done here.” Her eyes went cold and she scanned each boy’s face. “We’ve got some unfinished things to discuss.”

Taking the hint, Leland and Glenny went silent. Jude, however, became confused. “We do? Like what?”

Isobel stared at the Legacy of the Berserker. “Just like your mother, you are.”

Jude smiled.

Their ship departed in a few hours, giving them plenty of time to finish up with the city. First thing was first, however. Payment

House Onryo was looking worse for wear, a cultist invasion did that to a mansion. From a torn-up lawn to large scorch marks and sticky dried pools of blood, the building had seen better days. Some minor looting had also transpired, but mostly jewelry and art had been stolen. Not the true House’s treasures, which everyone was thankful for.

Lady Onryo, Lady Mavi, Master Alkin, and their butler, Boor, met them in the sitting room with tense air. They were served old tea and stale cookies as the markets were still overrun by those in desperate need of food and basic necessities. Simply having a pantry full of food, even if the food was old, gave the Onryos a step-up to reentering normalness.

“Were you able to purchase tickets?” Mavi asked.

Isobel scoffed at the question. “Yes, at incredible markup, might I add.”

“Makes sense,” Lady Onryo said. “Most want to leave still. They don’t trust me and I don’t blame them.”

Quietly munching down on cookies, Jude saw movement out of the corner of his eye and quietly excused himself. They all watched him go, Leland and Glenny slightly red.

“Animals seem to like him, don’t you think?” Alkin said, watching the goat headbutt into Jude.

“Everyone likes him,” Glenny said with a roll of his eyes.

“Well…” Isobel muttered.

“You don’t count. Are you even human?”

The Huntress laughed, straightening her posture and turning to the House matriarch. “Shall we begin? As a Royal Inquisitor, I have an obligation to oversee requests asked to me from nobles and adventurers alike. I have agreed to the request of these young men to sit in on this meeting.”

Glenny leaned into Leland. “Did we request for her to—” He stopped speaking when he saw the Huntress’ glare.

Lady Onryo raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “I understand, thank you.” She removed a small box and placed it on the coffee table and spoke to Leland and Glenny, “This is a simple monetary reward for the assistance you three provided to my city.”

The boys looked at each other, even Jude from across the room looked over.

The Huntress coughed.

Lady Onryo took that as a cue and added three more items to the table. The first was a ring blowing with faint blue light. The second, a stack of papers along with an inkwell and quill. The third was a harmonica.

Leland and Glenny groaned.

“For Glenny, a ring of underwater breathing. As the name implies, it shall allow you to breathe underwater for a short time. Six minutes, if my memory serves. I suggest you test that limit, however. I’d hate to lead you astray with something so important.”

Lady Onryo handed him the ring and moved on to Leland. “For the magically inclined, a stack of self-delivering paper. Just add the necessary mana and envision the recipient and off it will fly.”

Leland scrutinized the paper, honestly hesitant about such a prize. “Aren’t these papers usually reserved for the Post Guild?”

Lady Onryo gave him a wink and turned to the last item. At some point Jude had ventured back to the couch and sat quite impatiently.

“For Jude. A harmonica as requested. I had Boor pick it out, the seller boasted quite a bit about the make of such an instrument.”

His hands shot from the couch, grabbing the item and bringing it to his lips with ungodly speed. Soon a tune radiated the sitting room, one most listened to with cheerful ears despite the inexperienced player.

Except for Leland and Glenny. Once the song was over, they both muttered about “a new hell,” and “deafness potions.”

“Now then,” Lady Onryo said, eyeing the Huntress. “These items are a far reach from what I initially promised. If I remember correctly, I said you three would be paid based on your contribution to assisting Shoutwell. And well, frankly, these items do not reach such thresholds. So, with that in mind, I offer you three one future favor each.”

Leland smiled but shook his head. “Thank you for the offer but these—”

A hand abruptly shoved him off the couch. “They are honored for such a prestigious gift,” the Huntress said, glaring at the boy on the floor.

Leland dusted himself off. “Right, of course. Thank you.”

“Indeed, thank you.”

“Yeah thanks.”

Lady Onryo mutely shook her head. “I should be the one thanking you. I… I have a lot of making up to do, letters to write, lawyers to hire, people to make safe.”

Isobel mused over that. “I think I may be able to help with the lawyer aspect. Every Inquisitor team should have a Legacy of the Law in their ranks. I’ll talk with the team due to arrive soon.”

“We would be in your debt then.”

“A future favor as payment is fine.”

Lady Onryo’s face fell, along with Boor’s.

“Very well…”

With that, Isobel stood, brushing herself off and motioned to leave. The boys did the same, after grabbing their rewards. Final goodbyes were short and nice, the two Ladies simply saying farewell while Alkin and Boor’s were a bit more.

The young Master wasn’t afraid to show his feelings, hugging each of his saviors. “Come back anytime,” he said before turning to Leland. “Maybe we can work on magic together or something.”

Leland nodded along but Boor quickly stepped up. The butler set out his hand, a gentle smile upon his lips. They shook.

“It was an honor to meet your acquaintance.”

“Likewise,” Leland said, their grievances a thing of the past.

Soon after, the boys and the Huntress left House Onryo. Isobel led them through the city, ignoring their queries of direction and only stating they were heading toward a “surprise.” Eventually they entered a back-end alley, one that opened up into a cul-de-sac of small shops.

Signs depicting daggers or cowls met the group's eyes, along with sketchy clientele hiding in the shadows. They were being watched, cursorily stared at, just like in the underbelly. They passed a few “information sellers” and the odd peddler and came upon a bronze statue of a woman.

Upon recognition, Glenny instantly teared up, Jude and Leland following shortly after.

The Huntress stepped past them, reading the engraved plaque at the statue’s base. “’Here commemorates the Royal Inquisitor, Annie ‘The Chameleon’ Red, and her death in our humble city. Her deeds will never be forgotten as her legacy within the Umbra remains.’”

With his arm around Glenny, Leland asked, “What’s the Umbra?”

“Order of rogues. Invite only, very hush hush.”

“Doesn’t seem very secretive if they write the name on a plaque,” Jude said.

Isobel smiled softly at that. “Yes, but look at where the plaque is.” She motioned around the area. “The people who frequent this district know not to ask questions. Perfect place for a rogue, I’d say.”

Glenny felt his lips curl up. “I can’t believe she’s here. I, uh… can I have a minute alone?”

The others quickly nodded and stepped away. Leland said to the Huntress. “This was very nice of you.”

“I don’t have any idea what you are talking about,” she said in-kind.

Staring at the bronze recreation of his mother, something shifted in the back of Glenny’s mind. It was subtle, but something loosened. A tightness or a deep, deep throb. The difference was hardly noticeable, but nevertheless he was proud to say something had changed. He wasn’t quite sure why, but this pride was the right emotion.

“Goodbye mother,” he whispered before clearing off his tears and walking over to the others.

Soon the boys were on a ship heading north up the coast. Jude waved cheekily to the Huntress as their ship drifted away from Shoutwell, eventually growing bored of watching the waves and subtly he began to blow on his fancy new harmonica.

Glenny sat alone for the first few hours of the journey, eventually moving to sit with the others once his emotions settled. He bundled himself up in his speckled cloak, the cold wind blowing across the ocean waves chillier than he’d imagined.

Leland thought of the future and wondered about where his path would take him. But one thing was certain, he was glad he had friends to walk along with. With his gaze across the horizon, something bubbled in the back of his mind before a pain sparked along the back of his hand.

He grunted, finding a small bead of blood pooling from the skin below the beak of his crow tattoo.