The Quintessence: Crucible Book 1 - Awakened: (A LitRPG Western Cultivation Novel) by C.M. Carney

Author:C.M. Carney [Carney, C.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Book Room Press
Published: 2020-04-30T05:00:00+00:00

"He is the key," Martyn said, his eyes beginning to grow calm again. At first, Vyctor thought his mentor was still suffering from the ravages of Aether exposure, but then he realized it was the burden of responsibility that weighed upon him.

"To what?" Vyctor asked, his innards tightening.

"To everything."

"I do not understand."

"Neither do I. I just know what Xyrxes told me."

"Xyrxes? He is alive! Thank the Sovereign."

"No, he is not. What I saw was a mere echo of the man. I cannot explain it otherwise, but we are running out of time, and he was most insistent that you protect the boy."

"Me?" Vyctor's eyes snapped up to Martyn. "Why me? Why not you?"

"He did not say, but I suspect it is because I am unmarried, and you have a wife and new child in Isolation."

Vyctor looked down on the lad, whose bright eyes were unafraid. He brought a finger up to touch the boy's cheek. The boy cooed and grabbed the digit, drawing Vyctor's attention to the fact that he had not washed his hands since their evening meal. Vyctor wiped his hand on his cloak and looked at Martyn. "Who is he? I did not know Xerxes had a wife, much less a son."

"Neither did I, but the man loved …"

"His secrets," Vyctor finished and returned his gaze to the child.

"He said the boy was his second chance. Will you protect him?"

Vyctor looked back down upon the boy and stroked his cheek and decided. "Yes, we will. After all, my wife bore twins." Vyctor smiled at the boy. "And it is a wondrous blessing from the Sovereign gods." He looked at Martyn. "We will care for the boy as if he were our own. And you will be his godsfather."

Martyn smiled, fierce pride at his friend bubbling over. Then his eyes looked towards the Talon, and he frowned. "It would be an honor, but I cannot accept that role, at least not publicly." He stood and smiled darkly at Vyctor. "My role lies elsewhere."

"What do you mean?"

But Martyn's attention was on the horizon. He unfurled his glaive and walked past Vyctor. Vyctor stood and turned to see what had drawn his friend's attention. In the distance, a dozen dots flashed through the air, speeding toward them.

"The Vigilants," Vyctor said, smiling.

From this distance, he could see no faces, but he knew they were men and women he called friends, comrades in arms. He took a step from the shadow of the tree, but Martyn's steady hand pushed Vyctor further into the shadows, obscuring his view of the approaching force.

"You must take the boy and go," Martyn said, his voice tight and forceful.

"What? Why?"

"The Sovereign will say this was a Phage-incursion, that the citizens of Dyrnos were Phage-friends."

Vyctor looked down on the boy. "And they will say he is Phage-touched."

"Yes."

"Then we flee, together."

"No. They have already seen me as I walked from the ruins. But they have yet to see you, or the boy. We cannot let them find him."

"You mean to attack them.

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