Judicator Jane 2: A LitRPG Adventure, page 19
Jane snapped out of her thoughts and replied, “Oh, yes, of course. Thanks for accompanying me out here. I’m not sure how I would have explained myself otherwise…”
He gave her a slight bow before turning and striding away. Belgoth’s gaze followed him briefly, and then he spoke, “The commander has experienced quite a shift in perspective since your arrival,” he mused, shaking off the thought as he turned back to Jane. “Well, we all have, I suppose. Now, tell me, how have you gained four levels since we last met? More unsuspecting encounters with Sargor?”
Jane took a deep breath and began recounting the trials and tribulations she had faced in Grandia to a bewildered Belgoth.
The two of them had ended up sitting near a pleasant pond in the gardens of the castle. Belgoth could hardly believe that such a force had existed this entire time in Grandia without him being aware of it. The Melkit family had been a fixture of Grandia and Arcadia all of his life. Certainly there had been speculations about the governor, who was always referred to as Lord Melkit, but the reclusive nature of the castle occupants and the competent administration of the city had made it a matter not worth investigating.
He tried to recall what his old master had told him, long ago when he had inquired about the reclusive Lord and his family.
Turn your attention away from the Melkits. The Faceless Dark is building its power in the Netherrealm, and will find a way to return in time. You must be ready, Belgoth.
Had he known? Belgoth tried to recall any other instances where Lord Melkit had been mentioned in history. The impregnable castle had always kept out any intruders. The kings of the past that had attempted to entertain or visit with the rulers there were always cordially rebuffed.
“Well anyway, I stopped him from needing to use his blood suckin’ powers on people anymore. So, now at least, if he stays in his castle, he’s totally harmless,” Jane told him, finishing her tale.
“Yes, indeed. Well, I suppose only a Legendary class such as yours could have confronted him and survived,” Belgoth remarked thoughtfully.
Jane glanced around nervously, her fingers absently tracing the lines of her arms and neck. “I don’t know, Belgoth. I feel like I barely escaped from that place alive. He was crazy strong. The problem is, if people know about my Luck, they can find ways to exploit it, especially if they’re smart enough. I think it only defends me from immediate death.”
Belgoth shook his head, his expression earnest. “No, Jane, don’t underestimate your Luck. It possesses abilities beyond just saving your life. While preventing your demise is the most noticeable aspect, those around you often find themselves unconsciously acting in ways that benefit you. Didn’t you say it was Erzael who found you in the solarium? Wasn’t it precisely at the moment when your need was most dire?”
Jane nodded, recalling the encounter. “Yeah, I mean he said he was going to look at the bloom of some flower though.”
“Precisely,” Belgoth affirmed. “You can’t attribute things to mere chance when you’re present, Jane. Or perhaps, a better way to put it is that, thanks to your Luck, everything that can occur by chance will occur if it favors you.”
A thought seemed to flash across Jane’s face and her cheeks flushed. “Yeah, I guess even Gareth bringing me to Dawnskeep was just my Luck doing its thing.”
Belgoth rose from his seat and walked around her two spectral guardians. He extended his staff towards one of them, watching as it passed effortlessly through the apparition. Bringing his face close to the ghostly figure, he attempted to peer beneath its robes, but the shadows concealed its features.
“Remarkable,” Belgoth murmured. “So, you mentioned that the creatures within Lord Melkit’s castle were also Companions?”
Belgoth was not unfamiliar with Companions, having a small crow as his own, perpetually circling above and granting him enhanced vision at will. However, he hadn’t gained this skill until reaching level 200. Legendary classes seemed to operate on an entirely different level of power. Witnessing one firsthand fascinated him.
Jane nodded, her expression filled with concern. “Yes, although his Companions were much more extensive than what I have... at least for now.”
Before Belgoth could respond, a melodious voice interrupted their conversation.
“There you are, Jane! What are you doing all the way out here?” Jasmine approached, resting her hands on her hips. “Come on, if you’re going to stay here, you’ve at least got to make a proper introduction!”
TWENTY-EIGHT
HIGH SOCIETY
Jane followed Jasmine through the corridors of Dawnskeep, where the chatter from the Princess was filled with stories and gossip about everything from scandalous lords to the latest fashion trends. After a while, Jane found herself tuning out the conversation, but Jasmine appeared more than happy to do all the talking. However, one topic was conspicuously absent from their discussion. The end of the demonic threat in Arcadia. Jane had expected it to be the first thing on her lips, and its absence made her wonder if news hadn’t yet reached Dawnskeep for some reason.
Inside the castle, the hustle and bustle were just as Jane remembered from her last visit. As Jasmine led her down a hallway towards the guestrooms, something she said caught Jane’s attention.
“So you can probably imagine, I was quite upset that they didn’t even bother to stop and say hello. The Diamondfield sisters always had such juicy stories from Grandia!” Jasmine complained, a disgruntled look crossing her face. The Diamondfields were the family Eli’va had scandalized into fleeing the city, and it sounded like they had passed through Dawnskeep on their way to wherever they were going.
Jane attempted to steer the conversation towards a direction that might prompt a reaction from the Princess. “Ah, yeah. Well, maybe they just wanted to get away from the demons, right?”
Jasmine’s response was nonchalant. “But, why ever would that be? Didn’t you take care of that nasty demon business with Belgoth?”
Jane’s eyes widened slightly, realizing that Jasmine did know about the events but hadn’t deemed them worthy of discussion. “Oh, yeah, you’re right. I guess that wouldn’t be it…”
Jasmine nodded. “Yes, well—thank you for that, by the way. I swear, if I had to hear that old wizard moping about with his doom-and-gloom demon invasion talk one more day, I was going to go mad.” She glanced back towards the two Enforcers trailing Jane with an irritated look. “Are those two always with you?”
“Er, yeah, sorry about that. Nothing I can do about it, unfortunately,” Jane replied, still processing Jasmine’s flippant comments towards Belgoth. It seemed as though the struggle against the demons and the near-end of the world were just minor inconveniences to her.
“Annoying,” Jasmine responded before pushing open a set of large double doors. “Now, you can stay here during your time in Dawnskeep.” Stepping inside, she gestured towards an exquisitely carved bed frame that looked like a continuous piece of wood. “Iridane the Treeshaper created this piece over seven hundred years ago. Marvelous, isn’t it?” She glanced back at Jane, looking for a reaction.
“Yeah, it’s a nice-looking bed. Thanks for putting me up,” Jane replied, looking around and noticing the room’s opulence with countless other fancy items.
“Of course. You’ll be staying in Dawnskeep for a while, won’t you?” Jasmine asked expectantly.
“I think so. I have some research to do at the Great Library before I plan my next steps,” Jane replied.
“The library? Why, whatever for? Never mind that. We have a grand event occurring here at the castle, celebrating the defeat of the demons. You simply must attend!” Jasmine looked at Jane with hopeful eyes.
Jane turned to Jasmine in surprise. “Defeat of the demons? What do you mean? The demons weren’t defeated; everyone just made peace.”
Jasmine laughed. “Oh, semantics! The demons aren’t a threat anymore, right? And aren’t you, a human, controlling them? That’s close enough, and it sounds so much better that way, don’t you think?”
“No, but I mean, it’s just misleading—“ Jane began.
Jasmine interrupted her, “Jane! Don’t dwell on it too much; it’s all in good fun.” Moving to exit the room, she turned back and glanced at Jane’s guardians. “I assume one bed will be enough for the three of you?”
Still frazzled, Jane responded, “Oh, no, yeah, one bed is fine.”
“Good. The chef prepares dinner at seven; see you then!” With that, she closed the door, leaving Jane in disarray.
A few moments passed before she could move. Her mind was racing with the deluge of information she had just unintentionally obtained. No, no, don’t think about it too much. You’re here to learn more about your skills and the elves. Don’t get embroiled in every little decision people make here, she berated herself. With her newfound power, it was hard to resist the urge to fix everything. But realistically, these people had lived this way for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Anyway, if she learned the intricacies of the System or how to control it with her own powers, she could affect things on a far larger scale, if that’s what she wanted.
She lay down on the bed, intending to close her eyes for just a few moments before heading to the Great Library. However, before she knew it, she had drifted into a deep sleep.
Serous paced anxiously, grappling with his next course of action. He had briefly felt the Demon Lord’s ominous pull towards Grandia before it abruptly reversed—undoubtedly a reminder to all demons that she was ever present. The mistress had just returned to the capital, surely intent on gauging his progress in unifying the human kingdom and ‘reforming the young king.’ The consequences of her discovering Serous’s failures were too terrible to consider. Establishing unity was proving far more challenging than causing disruption. In his previous attempts to ensure adherence to the Sacred Oath by the Lords, he had exhausted nearly all his resources and goodwill.
With the withdrawal of the demonic threat, the power-hungry Lords were jostling for control. His once-ally, Lord Tygal, had intensified his disruptive tactics. Intelligence from operatives indicated Lord Emir from the south had his significant forces on high alert. Reports also suggested Lord Renthin had clandestine operations underway, with mercenaries and bandits moving towards Dawnskeep. Lord Duncan seemed to be the only one not vying for the throne, but given the sadistic behavior of the young King, it was only a matter of time.
High King Jeric had been increasingly yielding to his volatile and cruel tendencies, much to Serous’s dismay. What once made guiding the young King to destabilize Arcadia straightforward, was now proving equally challenging to counteract. The situation was exacerbated by Jeric’s incessant demand for the leveling chamber. Serous struggled to keep it functional, and the strain was attracting unwanted attention.
Resolute, Serous decided transparency was the only path forward. He hoped for leniency. With a determined stride, he headed towards the wing where the mistress was lodged in the castle. As he walked past the King’s Chamber, a voice shrieked with fury, “No! I hate onions! Guards, take him to my dungeons!”
Serous shook his head; the boy King wielded a mighty power over these humans, even without soulbinding. He took solace in the fact that the young mistress appeared immune to it. Even Belgoth, the wizard, seemed uncertain about how best to approach the boy. Given the way he had failed though, it might soon become irrelevant to Serous. The odds of him surviving this meeting were slim. Drawing a deep breath, he closed his eyes and resigned himself to the possible outcomes. Then, he knocked on the Demon Lord’s door.
Jane was roused from her nap by a tapping on the door. Stretching out, she momentarily forgot where she was. But the sight of the intricate wooden bedframe brought her back to the present. She slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Just a minute!” she called out. “You think you could get that?” she asked the black specter, then shook her head and made her way to the door. There’s got to be a way to make these guys more useful, she thought to herself. How was she supposed to live a normal life with these two Enforcers constantly following her? Every interaction was overshadowed by this new Judicator skill, and if Lord Melkit was any indication, it was only going to get worse.
Opening the door, she saw Serous standing at attention, and he appeared to be trembling slightly. Jane was planning to stop in and see the old demon Infiltrator at some point while she was here, and it looked like she had just been saved a trip.
“Oh, hey there! Come on in, I was meaning to talk with you,” Jane told him, as she invited him inside. Serous gave a wary glance to Jane’s two specters before hurrying past. “Now, what brings you here? Just come to say hello?”
Serous stood tall and responded, “Ah, yes… hello. I have heard of your victory in the wastelands. As expected, the human armies were no match for your formidable powers. I’ve come to report on the progress with the young King and the efforts to maintain order here in Dawnskeep.”
Jane perked up. “Oh? It seems like everything is going pretty good. Actually, I was meaning to talk to you about coming with me when I leave Dawnskeep. I don’t think it’s really right for you to be advising the King, what with your history and all.” Regardless of what she decided to do after Dawnskeep she wanted Serous to accompany her. Hopefully this notice would give him time to prepare before they eventually left.
Serous looked momentarily confused, but then recovered. “...Leave the city? Might I ask, where?”
“Could be to the forest to the north, where the elves supposedly lived,” Jane responded casually. “You wouldn’t know anything about them, would you?”
Serous wrung his hands anxiously. “No, no, I’ve never heard mention of elves since arriving in Alur. Supposedly they were part of the conflict during the Great War, long ago. But that was before my time, I’m afraid.” He paused briefly, then continued, “So… you don’t need me to handle matters here in the capital anymore? There is a great deal of unfinished work, in fact, if I may–“
Jane interjected, “No, no no– we can’t be responsible for all of Arcadia. Belgoth is here now and so is Gareth. The demonic invasion is over and these people need to start taking care of their own business, without our interference.” Jane turned away and walked towards a window. “Besides, there are more important things we need to look into, like the System itself. You may not be aware, but it’s not a natural thing. I don’t know who made it, or why they brought me here, but I’m going to find out.”
Serous composed himself, and nodded. “Of course. I will prepare my work for the handoff to Belgoth then.”
“Now,” Jane said as she turned to him, “I should probably give you a warning, if we do end up going to that forest, the only thing I know about it so far is that it’s very dangerous. Supposedly no one who goes in ever comes out.” Tilting her head she asked hesitantly, “I know it’s a lot to ask, but would you be willing to come with me?”
“Certainly,” Serous responded, straightening. “I would be honored to travel alongside you, and provide whatever assistance I am able.”
Jane moved towards the ornate marble fireplace that was starting to burn out. This room was even more fancy than the nice inn she had stayed at last time. Just more signs of this Luck inequity it seemed. “Good, then it’s settled. I still need to learn what I can about my class and skills at this Great Library, and Jasmine seems intent on me attending her big party. But after that, we should leave straight away.”
A loud bell started ringing, and Jane noticed that there was a tall grandfather clock reporting that it was now seven o’clock. She did a double-take on the clock though, as the seven didn’t appear where she expected it to be. The clock had ten numbers in total, but Jane didn’t have time to think about it further. Shoot, Jasmine isn’t going to like that I’m late, and I still need to change out of these travel clothes…
“I’ve gotta get ready for dinner. Let’s talk later, okay?” She shooed Serous out of the room and began digging around in the clothes that Eli’va had packed, now glad that there were some more elegant things packed after all.
The door slammed behind Serous and he stood in shock for a moment. It appeared that he had overestimated the worth of what he was doing, yet again. Of course the matters of the human kingdom would be of trivial concern to the Demon Lord now that she had so unequivocally rebutted them in the wastelands. If Arcadia tore itself to pieces with infighting, what concern of it was hers, as she said?
Moreover, she had her sights set on far grander conquests. Intending to challenge the Querl’Qai? One of the foundational pillars of reality? The mere idea of it sent a shiver down his spine. The young mistress’s ambitions far outstripped what the previous Demon Lord, Ur, had spent his many years planning. Shaking his head, he began moving briskly down the hallway. Accompanying the mistress on this expedition into the dangerous forest sounded like a well-earned rest after the scrambling he had been doing lately.
With a smirk, he admitted to a certain amount of satisfaction over the idea of dumping this mess into Belgoth’s lap. The old wizard may be powerful and wise, but there was a limit to how much that would help him when confronted with the crumbling mess that Arcadia had become. He passed another servant with a downcast expression in the hands of two guards. No doubt some misplaced word with the King had sealed his fate. He smiled, and was relieved to feel that the weight on his shoulders since his arrival in Alur was much lighter. Witnessing catastrophe was much more interesting when you weren’t directly in its path.
TWENTY-NINE
THE COOL CLUB
Walking at a brisk pace down the hallway, Jane continued in the direction that the guard had pointed her. It wasn’t easy running in the clothes that Eli’va had provided, but at least she looked somewhat presentable. Putting the formal clothes on had been much harder than she thought, all the laces and ties needed to be adjusted just so. Now she was over thirty minutes late, but hopefully her food would still be warm.
