Chapter 45 - The Peak

“Remember,” said Olfric, as they walked down the carriage. “I’m the Asukan, and you, a vagrant. A second-class citizen. Your job is to guard me, no matter the cost. You can be a little temperamental but if you are hostile to them by any means, they are within their right to execute you.”

“Sweet,” said Lukas.

“There’s a fifty-fifty chance that you’ll not be allowed in,” said Olfric. “Don’t fight. Just wait patiently. I’ll try to bring you in as my guard, but even then, you’ll have to be quiet.”

“Quiet is my middle name.”

“What’s a middle…” Olfric paused. “Whatever. Remember, in case the negotiations fail, Elena and I will walk back to the carriage, and you’ll join us. The wards will open temporarily, sealing right after the carriage exits.”

“So my only chance would be to drop out of the carriage during that moment.”

“Yes…. if that’s what you want.”

They passed through the outer checkpoints, where the guards checked his and Olfric’s fractals for proof. His original pair had gotten damaged during the fight with Meynte, Solana had gotten him a fresh pair. It wasn’t the same as the ones Zuken had gifted him, but it did increase his mana production by thirty percent. Not that he needed it, given his capacity, but not having a fractal would likely attract attention. Make it too expensive, and it would attract a different kind of attention.

Just as planned, Lukas registered himself as a metamancer, and even had to display some basic conjuration to satisfy the curious guards, while Olfric had to display minor aquamancy. Both of them were made to wait for an excruciating ten minutes, while a whole range of enchantments did all kinds of cursory scans of their bodies and for all he knew, souls.

But that was alright.

He had altered himself to the ‘bremetan’ prototype for that exact same reason.

The moment they were inside, half a dozen guards accosted them, their swords pointed at vital points of their bodies, while one of them approached them, spine rigid, shoulders squared, and manners relaxed with the lean athleticism of youth and weather-beaten edges of experience. A quick analysis pointed out some strong enchantments on those blades, increasing their sharpness and strength by a magnitude. He was sure each of those swords could easily deflect a Level-2 elemental attack with ease.

And now that he had analyzed them, he couldn’t wait to study their properties in the future.

“Can I help you, sirs, and lady?”

He didn’t even bother with a friendly smile or the kowtowing reserved for noblemen, not that any of them counted for one.

“Swordsmen,” Lukas commented, a thin smile spreading across his face as the swords in question shifted slightly in his direction. “Inside a mana-disruptive ward no less. Someone sure is paranoid.”

The man shrugged. “Can I help you?”

Lukas sighed and turned to Olfric.

“I’m here to visit Lord Ultaf Shimizu.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

Lukas could have rolled his eyes. If any of them didn’t know about their appointment, he’d eat his arm. He watched as Olfric handed the man the letter he had gotten from Ultaf, who passed it through what looked like a letterbox, before the letter came out on the other side with a nice ‘Ding!’. Confirmed, he gave them a nod.

But the swords did not move away.

Instead the man pulled out a small vial from the pocket and uncorked it.

“Your names?”

Lukas stayed silent here, happy to let Olfric do the talking. It was probably safer that way,for the swordsmen.

“I’m Olfric Bergott, and this is my manservant and guard Lukas Aguilar, and my associate Elena.”

“Your palm please?”

Lukas eyed the vial, but said nothing.

“This is Okuninushi’s Resolver,” said the man. “We need to confirm that you are you, and not some imposter under enchantment. Security protocols, I’m afraid.”

Tanya was right, thought Lukas, as he gauged the soldiers. Nobody can tell if they’re enthralled, Charmed or otherwise. Not even a quick analysis of their souls showed any difference, which was more than mildly annoying.

“I’ve already passed through the other checkpoints,” said Olfric, aping the part of an Asukan nobleman. “Does your Lord know that you put his guests through his annoyance?”

“Standard protocol, sir,” said the man. “The Lord entertains very few guests at the Peak. You can deny taking this, but then we’d have to deny you entrance. Alternatively, you can set up appointment at the Lord’s office back in Cyffnar.”

What a load of crap. If they resisted, it would automatically raise flags and they’d be all over them before Lukas could cry unfair.

“Alright,” said Olfric, “we consent.”

“I’ll pour a single drop of this elixir into your mouth. Kindly remain still, for another ten seconds. I wouldn’t want any of my men to become alarmed at some furtive movement and slice your head off. We do not follow the Empire’s rules here.”

The guard poured a single drop of the resolver on Olfric’s tongue, while looking up at a pocketwatch. Olfric stood perfectly still save for bitter shivering before the man finally put his watch away.

“All clear,” said the guard into what looked like a receiver. “Initiating interrogation.”

Olfric swallowed.

“Who are you?”

“Olfric Bergott.”

“What is your reason for coming here?”

Lukas observed how Olfric had gone all stiff, his throat constricting, and when he spoke next, it felt like someone had forced an answer out of his mouth.

“Negotiate with Ultaf Shimizu and…. Get Zuken Banksi OUT!”

Lukas exhaled. Softly. They had prepared for this. Okuninnushi’s Resolver was an elixir that enforced a compulsion upon the drinker to speak the truth. It was standard procedure to drink one drop of the elixir before finalizing deals between kingdoms, high-net-worth individuals and corporations. Unless he was woefully wrong, their conversation was being observed by personnel in the other rooms. He didn’t have the slightest doubt that the ‘All clear’ and ‘Initiating Interrogation’ were key phrases without hidden commands within them. Had the guard said anything else, a force of aeromancers and more would be upon them.

For that reason, Lukas had to play his cards really close to his chest. It had been funny, seeing Olfric work on believing that his sole job was to meet Ultaf Shimizu, negotiate with him, and do his utmost to get Banksi out. He would not be taking part in the infiltration, nor physically or magically try to harm anyone within the compound. In fact, he was supposed to surrender just in case Ultaf tried to imprison him. Knowing what they knew about the man, the chances of that were at least sixty percent.

Turns out that one of Joey’s myriad powers included the ability to obscure one’s memories and implant false ones, a nifty trick that Zuken Banksi often employed to conduct his business, in complete secrecy of course. The Empire had banned all research into memory-altering psionic abilities some four hundred and seventy years ago, but later developed improved versions of memory-alterations for official government use. From the way Solana had described it, it was quite common for the people working in the upper echelons of the Empire to learn something they shouldn’t and have their memory obscured, if not erased, for their own protection or that of others. The psions that were capable of this art were called Obscurors, and they were one of the most prestigious jobs in the entire Asukan empire. You had to be a practicing Level-3 psion for at least five years, and get a clearance certificate from the Cobalt Army, before you were eligible for a license to serve as an Obscuror for the Empire, and you had to swear vows limiting your ability to use them to making it nearly impossible for you to teach them to others who were not licensed. No doubt Mujin had gotten his hands on an Obscuror, though how he tricked his way through the stringent vows was anybody’s guess.

It was no doubt similar to Inanna’s Veil of Ignorance, or the way Solana had sealed away the knowledge of the yokai legend from her conscious thoughts.

Not for the first time, Lukas was reminded of what a strange world he had entered, one where people sometimes felt the need to give themselves amnesia in order to forget dangerous truths.

On the flip side, it guaranteed that he had no fear of the Shimizu knowing his status as an Outsider, or about his unique powers for that matter.

It was Elena’s turn next. She was perfectly capable of obscuring her own memories for this step, and once it was over, Lukas would tell her a mnemonic password that would undo the obscuration, and restore her true memories. Once that was done, she could easily restore Olfric’s memories and they could get things rolling.

It made him wonder. If Elena could self-obscure her mind to this extent, then who was to say that her bubbly, somewhat air-headed personality was also not a result of some self-obscuration? And if that was the case, just what sort of person was Elena truly beneath all of that?

And finally it was Lukas’s turn.

The guard poured one drop upon his tongue, and Lukas felt it burn his insides for like a second and then —

Living Anomaly Active!

Alien Truth Resisted!

He couldn’t afford to smile, so he just waited for the customary ten seconds, before the guard put his watch away.

“Name?”

“Lukas Aguilar.”

“Where are you from?”

Lukas remembered the cold, impersonal manner in which Olfric had answered the questions. “Maluscion.”

“Objective?”

“To stand in defense for my employer, even in the face of death.”

That raised some eyes. Contracts between Maluscian vagrants and Asukan noblemen weren’t uncommon, but they were almost always open-ended, with the vagrant choosing to ditch the job and the mezals to save his life if it came to that.

“He’s under an Eztli contract,” Olfric explained. “Cost a fortune, but his loyalty was worth it.”

“Who is your employer?”

Tricky question. If Ultaf Shimizu had looked into the official records, he’d know the truth. Well, the official truth. It was best not to take any chances.

“Zuken Banksi.”

All eyes turned to Olfric.

“Never said it cost me a fortune. He’s Zuken’s hire, and guarding me in Zuken’s absence.”

Good save.

“Is what he is saying the truth?”

That one was easy. “Yes.”

And that was that.

“All clear,” said the main guard again into the receiver. “No signs of enchantments. No immediate signs of mental resistance, no immediate signs of hostility. One security personnel and three approved visitors will accompany me to the fourth floor. No action until ordered otherwise, or unless there is a Level-3 or higher deviation from protocol. Security code SINK - FIVE - ORDEAL - SEVEN - BLACK! CONFIRM!”

The man turned to them. “Mr. Bergott, you shall go in and talk to the Lord. Your manservant can accompany you, but the lady has to remain outside the room under our supervision.”

Olfric shook his head. “I can’t do that. She’s Zuken Banksi’s second-in-command and the one with the information. It is imperative that she’s the one that gets to talk with him.”

“She’s a changeling.”

“Exactly, a changeling, not a ljósálfar or dökkálfar. Unless your Lord is afraid of someone like her, in which case, we might as well walk away right now.”

The guard bristled. “Fine. But in that case, both you and your guard will have to leave your fractals with us before entering Lord Ultaf’s office.” He smirked at Olfric’s look of crafted dismay. “Security protocols. I’m sure you understand?”

They did, for they had been studying the Peak’s defenses thoroughly over the last two weeks. Their plans demanded it.

....

....

....

Tanya had described the Peak as a war garrison and prison fused in one, a gargantuan fortress that was home to many secrets. The castle was infinitely old, and infinitely horrible, full of passages and high ceilings and cobwebs. That it was so brightly lit with not a single shadow to be seen only brought forth the utter alienness of the edifice. Between the sigil-carved stones, and the rotting smell of corpses from the other side of the walls, this was precisely the kind of place where all kinds of gothic nightmares came to life.

Only, a tad more bright.

Lukas and crew had followed the guard into a lift, slowly descending into the heart of the castle and the festering madness within it. And by lift, he meant a single stone slab, an eight by eight square, that slid down to the lower levels, friction manipulation at work. There were no sudden stoppages from the structure, their descent occasionally punctuated by the occasional scream or plea for mercy from beyond the lift doors, which only made it feel longer. It was like walking through a murder scene, while said murder was being committed.

His fingers twitched, an urge to burn this place to the ground surging within.

Finally, they were down to the fifth floor, and this one had several rooms filled with enough weaponry to win a minor war. Racks of metal spears stood side by side with long, double-handed greatswords, quivers filled with sharp arrows, and other items of assault. Lukas mentally reminded himself to do a quick scan of this place before he went back on his plan of burning it down.

“Guess your Lord Shimizu likes being prepared for an attack.”

The guard gave him an eye-smile. “This is the fortress of a Warlord. You would be foolish to attack this bastion.”

“Oh you know,” said Lukas as casually as possible. “Just curious.”

“Don’t be. It will get you killed.”

He snorted. “I agree. Back where I’m from, we’ve a saying, "Curiosity killed the cat…”

He noticed Elena stiffening from the corner of his eye.

“And satisfaction brought it back.”

Elena opened her mouth to say something. But then, she paused suddenly, blinked her eyes repeatedly, and slowly closed her mouth.

Neither of them looked at each other after that.

Finally, they were led down through a winding, almost serpentine tunnel that further led to an open, spacious foyer, with a humongous chandelier hanging above, and large, arched doorways marking the periphery of a massive, circular hall. Lukas counted twelve guards, all of them wearing different shades of fractals. Lukas had no doubt they were trained combatants, and they’d all barge into the room the moment they sensed the slightest hostility inside.

Silently, he and Olfric handed over his own pair of fractals to the guards. Luckily, they didn’t register Blob as a threat. Wearing armor was actually quite common among adventurers, and that was exactly what Blob was being right now. A metallic undershirt.

“This way,” said the guard, and opened the door to the north, and stepped in. In front of them was a massive desk behind which was seated a brown-haired male with caucasian looks, wearing expensive robes and an attitude that screamed that the world was his to command. Lukas had expected something with the raw ferality of Solana, or the silent strength of Zuken Banksi.

Instead what he found was… disappointing.

He was a rather uninspiring sight. Late twenties, with medium-length wavy brown hair. He looked more like a politician than a warrior, though he certainly carried himself like the latter. Lukas would wager he was a nightmare at office meetings.

A brief Analyze indicated that he was an aeromancer, with power levels barely around Olfric’s own, while his clothes concealed a handful of enchantments and artifacts. Petty offensive and defensive tools that paled in comparison to what he could conjure with pure ether, while being blind drunk at four in the morning. It wasn’t an analogy either. Ever since his return from the Haze, he had been having sleeping problems and had resorted to abusing his Metaforge function at night.

“I hope you have something worthwhile to speak of, Bergott,” said the man in a tone so dismissive that he absolutely had to have practiced it. “My guards will be most displeased if I find you’ve wasted my time.”

“Hmph,” Elena frowned at his tone. “How rude,” she murmured.

Ultaf sneered, and Lukas couldn’t help but wonder at the source of his confidence. True, he was in a room surrounded by guards outside and the people standing inside didn’t have fractals, but still, he couldn’t have been moronic enough to think that it meant he was safe from all harm.

Right?

Putting his hands inside his pocket, he focussed on creating a tiny orb of lifeforce. Nothing useful, just to serve a test.

Instead, nothing happened.

He wished he could say he was surprised. But at least, it proved that Ultaf was more than just an arrogant moron.

Let’s see. What exactly does the ward inside his office interfere with?

Starting from the beginning, the passive flux of lifeforce within his body was still there. He had half-expected these guys to chain them up in lifeforce-restraining manacles, or at least interfere with him using lifeforce actively. Then again, such direct interference was easy to detect, and was more likely to piss off potential clients that came to meet him here.

So if his inner functions weren’t being hindered, then there must be something that was hampering the execution of a lifeforce-based skill or attack. His lifeforce must be being disrupted somehow while casting, preventing it from taking proper form and concept. Normally this would be an easy workaround for him, since it did nothing to keep him from using mana or just raw anomalous energy, but that was neither here nor there.

At the same time, this ward acted like a double-edged sword, for this would also prevent Ultaf from using any lifeforce-based attack either. Which was why Ultaf had those enchanted tools and weapons, just in case things went messy. Objects with a physical medium to enact their enchantments.

Amateur.

Oh well. It wasn’t like he was going to call him out on it like a brash idiot.

“I have information that you want,” said Olfric without wasting time. It was one of the things Lukas liked about the guy. The best part was that he recognized his own lack of diplomacy and never claimed otherwise. From someone with a stick so far up his ass, Olfric was surprisingly genuine in that sort of way.

No wonder Banksi kept him around. Finding hard working employees was difficult. But hardworking employees that weren’t yes-men? Rare.

“Ah, yes,” said Ultaf, not even asking them to sit down. “Well go on, time is precious.”

“I have information on Tanya’s whereabouts. But I need you to let Zuken Banksi leave in exchange.”

Ultaf threw his head back and laughed. “Your bluntness is refreshing, if a bit crude. I was surprised by your letter. Bold of you to walk into my garrison and demand things of me. I still haven’t determined if it’s bravery or stupidity.”

Lukas agreed with the sentiment. Well, mostly. He too couldn’t determine if Ultaf Shimizu was being brave or stupid. So far, the more he spoke the more Lukas leant towards ‘stupidity’.

He glanced at Elena, and found an obvious look of hostility in her features, a narrow eyed glare leveled at the person before her. Her expression was a trap, an illusion to keep Ultaf from noticing what she was really doing.

Lukas himself, on the other hand, was perfectly at peace, resting his back against the wall as he stood behind Olfric, hands-crossed, playing the role of a bodyguard to a tee. Given the way Ultaf had purposefully ignored him so far, he suspected that either he had no idea of who he was, or most likely had dismissed him as a mere vagrant.

Either was good.

“Unfortunately for you,” said Ultaf. “I cannot let Banksi escape until I have Tanya captured. Tell me,” he pressed. “Where is she?”

“Not happening,” said Olfric. “I need to see that Zuken is alive and in health.”

“It seems you don’t understand the situation you’ve found yourself in,” Ultaf noted, sniffing in disdain. His smile turned smug as he continued. “You are at the Peak, not in my office. Just a gesture, and my men will relieve you of all of your heads.”

“I’m hoping that your men know how to extract memories from a decapitated head then,” Olfric retorted. “For I ain’t saying anything until I see Zuken. We had a deal, Shimizu. You release Banksi, and I tell you where Tanya’s hiding. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“A lot many people say this,” said Ultaf. “Before the pain hits. Do not test my restraint, Bergott. You do not want me to be angry.”

Lukas snorted at the presumptuous claim.

Ultaf arched an eyebrow. “And who might you be?”

“Lukas Aguilar,” he said tonelessly. “I work for Zuken Banksi.”

“Lukas… Aguilar…” Ultaf repeated. “Strange. I haven’t heard the Aguilar name before.”

“I’m from Maluscion.”

And just like that, every trace of curiosity vanished from the man’s eyes. Before Lukas knew it, a blast of wind smacked him in the face. It was a little less effective than scolding him, but he decided to keep that little titbit to himself. Instead he took on a disgruntled expression. Appearance was key, after all.

“A vagrant!” the man sneered. He seemed to like doing that a lot. “Who gave you permission to look up at me? Much less laugh at my words?”

“Lukas!” Olfric snapped. “Do nothing!”

Lukas aped the role of an irritated but compliant servant and did.

“My apologies,” said Olfric. “But he’s not really my servant. Banksi employed him, and his capture has left him a bit… testy. That said, the terms do not change. I need Zuken here, before we can even continue negotiations.”

“You are standing in my castle, Bergott. My place of power. A little humility will do you good.”

“It’s easy to talk of humility when surrounded by guards and facing a weaponless spiritist. But I suppose that’s the only way the Shimizu have been taught to behave.”

“You dare…” Ultaf began to stand up.

“I’m sorry I simply cannot admire people that stand on other shoulders and call themselves tall,” Olfric retorted. “I’m not Zuken Banksi. I say it like I see it. You brought your entire army, in the dead of the night, to attack my friend by surprise. That’s the coward’s way.”

Ultaf bristled.

“But I’m not here for that. I want nothing to do with you or this woman Zuken’s so intent on protecting. Let Zuken walk away with me, and I’ll give you Tanya’s location. As promised. For once in your life, try being a little honorable.”

Ultaf took a moment to regain his voice, still slightly caught off-guard from Olfric’s outburst. No doubt the aquamancer had gone from the ‘current focus’ of the meeting to the ‘most interesting person in the room’. The significance and attention he held over Ultaf’s attention was now unquestioned.

“Honorable?” spat Ultaf. “Banksi has lied and kept information from me.”

“And you’ve destroyed his mansion, slaughtered his people, and imprisoned him,” Olfric shot back. “I think as far as felonies go, yours is much worse.”

“Have care how you speak to me, Banksi’s dog!”

“I’m no one’s dog. I just have a short temper for cowards and backstabbers.”

“Big words for a man without his fractals.”

“Better to be confident in one’s power and trapped, than play a king while clearly being a jester.”

Okay. Despite how placid Lukas kept his face, his mind was frantically scrabbling since the moment the altercation between the two spiritists began. Olfric’s bluntness was a natural counter to Ultaf’s arrogance. It was one of the reasons why he was chosen to do the deal. That he had passed Okuninushi’s Resolver before getting here only made it further confusing for Ultaf, because he clearly knew that Bergott was not planning some kind of surprise attack.

What better time to launch an ambush when the other is least expecting it? He glanced at Elena from the corner of his eyes, and found her softly stroking her thigh with her fingers. She was already done allaying the guards. They weren’t asleep or anything, merely distracted. Which meant he could go ahead with the rest of it.

Perfect.

“Sir,” He interrupted. “Please, get to the point.”

Olfric blinked, hesitated for a second and nodded briefly. Ultaf on the other hand seemed to catch himself and returned to a more poised expression.

“Yes, that would be for the best.”

That he took Lukas’s words at face value told him quite a bit about the man. If he had really understood the hidden meaning behind his words, he suspected he might not have continued the conversation in the manner he did.

A ghost of a smile flickered on his lips.

“Forgive my impertinence,” said Lukas. “But this is going nowhere. You know Mr. Bergott will keep on denying you Miss Tanya’s location, and it’s obvious you’re trying to piss him enough to make him attack you. Then you can imprison him and all of us as well and force us to reveal her location.”

Ultaf arched an eyebrow.

Olfric coughed and adjusted his collar while Elena looked stricken, and moved towards Olfric. The entire thing was so seamlessly done that even he wouldn’t doubt her actions as that of a scared woman, and not someone trying to get to Olfric to undo his memory modifications.

She needed a distraction, and Lukas was willing to give her one.

“What I cannot understand is why play this charade?” Lukas took a step forward, and assumed center-role in the negotiations. “We are defenseless, and you clearly have the entire army waiting for your commands. You could imprison us right off the bat, but you haven’t. Why? Clearly there is something else you want us to do. Some concessions, some tasks. So why don’t you cut the bullshit and jump to the main point?”

“Indeed,” said Ultaf, smirking. “I have a number of tasks that I find need of accomplishing, and quite recently, the number of assets at my disposal has decreased drastically. Luckily, it seems like I have just gained three new ones.”

Lukas crossed his arms and wasted some time, pretending to think over his words, while giving Elena the time she needed. Finally, he met Ultaf’s eyes.

“And what kind of tasks are these?”

“Well to start, the changeling will remain in my custody,” Ultaf’s smile was equal parts triumphant as it was sinister. “I know how much Banksi cares for her. So long as she remains with me, Banksi will not think twice about playing his mind games.”

Which meant that Zuken would be leaving with them. This meant that Ultaf really didn’t have any information about Lukas. Good.

“And after that?”

With a triumphant smile that he assumed was Lukas’s capitulation, Ultaf stood up, and walked towards Lukas. “I need Tanya’s location as well as the names of those that are protecting her. I want it all. I’m not interested in having her trapped by my men and brought here. I want to do that with my own hands.”

Lukas slowly reached for the chair next to Olfric and casually sat down, before forging a piece of paper with ether, and grabbing a pen to write on it.

“And after that?” he prompted, pushing the now written piece of paper next to him, making sure that it was just far enough away for the man to reach for it.

“I’m most interested in learning just how the svartalfars….” Ultaf began, reaching for the piece of paper, leaning forward from the table side, only for Lukas to grab his hand.

His eyes flashed green.

Ultaf’s body spasmed, as his entire nervous system went haywire. It was a blunt application of kinetomancy, all things considered, but not an entirely useless one. After all, the human body, or bremetan for that matter, was run by electrical impulses traversing through countless nerves connecting every end of the body. Manipulating that electricity into acting oddly was enough to paralyze the man within two seconds of contact. The man opened his mouth to scream…

But no sound escaped his lips. Instead, when Lukas let his hand go, Ultaf collapsed back into his chair, vainly opening his mouth, but nothing save gurgles escaped his throat.

“Yeah, don’t bother,” said Lukas, as he pushed the chair back and slowly walked over to the fallen man.

“Aguilar!” Olfric hissed. “What are you doing? This wasn’t the plan.”

“Just accelerating some parts. That’s all.”

“Yub—sss—tard!” Ultaf tried to speak, only for the pain to overwhelm him. He paused as he felt Lukas’s steel-like gaze crushing his windpipe, as he looked up and met his furious eyes.

“Now then,” said a furious Lukas Aguilar. “What were you saying?”