Aurora Scroll Chapter 23 - Excavation

“That went well.”

Inside the log house, Viers conversed with the girls while looking at rcer hugging with the Force Ghosts he called. “With this I’ve confird I can now make you three manifest in the real world as well.”

“Lord Viers, I don't understand. You can simply make the soul of the wife and child appear in front of the man. And yet you spoke sothing in tongues and reinforced rcer’s faith first, whatever for?” Farley asked.

“It was a prayer. As for your question… well, I don't want to be suspected of necromancy. So I tried to make it as holy as possible… did it work?”

“Only he can say,” Paina replied.

“A prayer you said... to whom?” Clarissa asked.

“Not to Estelle.” Viers answered.

“To the Devils!?” Paina was shocked.

“Hell no! Not to them either.”

“Who then? Stop dodging the question.” Clarissa was very curious.

“I’m precisely dodging the question. Let's leave it at that, shall we?"

There was a reason Viers never said 'goddess' with a G when speaking about Estelle.

"Now, this matter with rcer is done. A bit slower traveling ti in exchange for an elven token of friendship is a fair trade, if I say so myself.” Viers nodded, giving himself a pat on the back.

“It would be good if he didn't perceive you, Lord Viers, as a devil worshiper.” Farley, the short-haired brunette tactfully inford.

“Whaaat? Why?” Viers didn't understand.

“During my ti as Dumuzin’s cultist, I’ve heard other mbers helping other people for a price… just like you did. Although, you actually just asked for a trinket instead of a steep price such as a lifelong servitude. It’s actually common practice for all the cults, so the church warned their believers to be wary against it.”

“...Damn. It really is hard to do good deeds nowadays.” Viers scratched his head.

One hour in the future, while Viers was sitting cross-legged on the floor he sensed that the wife and the child were fading.

Mmm… this is all I can do for them.

What drew Viers here in the first place was the wife. She died with extre unwillingness, her spirit couldn't move on. Viers thought if he left it at that the wife might beco an evil spirit haunting this house in the years to co. The soul of the child also had not passed on to the other side. When Viers laid eyes on the graves for the first ti, he knew this.

May the both of you find peace in the next life. Viers wished them well as their form vanished, their soul no longer within his reach.

rcer stood still on the lawn, unmoving like a stone. Viers let him be alone with his thoughts.

About fifteen minutes later, rcer went inside. He saw Viers looking at him. Behind the boy’s deep gaze, lay sothing rcer didn't understand.

“How are you feeling?” Cain asked rcer who just went through the door.

“I need to think. Thank you, for giving a precious opportunity… Cain of Ur, was it?”

“Mmm,” the boy nodded.

“I don't have much but please stay for the night,” the man offered.

“I’ll be troubling you then.”

“It’s the least I can do. Please, make yourself at ho. I’ll excuse myself first, benefactor,” rcer bowed and went away.

He has a different look in his eyes now, the edge of Viers’ lips curled upwards. It doesn't change the fact that his family is dead but he’s no longer consud with despair.

The night was still young so it was far too early to sleep, Viers refused to let his ti slip away unproductively, not when he still had so many things to do.

***

It was dark, a dark room with candles burning with unnatural sinister crimson light.

“Do you swear to uphold the interest of the one and only Lord?” A cloaked man in the center of the room spoke to the figure kneeling before him.

“I swear.”

“Do you swear to never betray the order and forever strive to enact the holy mandate of our Lord?”

“I swear.”

The pair was circled by five more hooded figures, watching the ceremony whilst clasping their hands in front of their chest.

“Do you swear to continue the great work until the Lord called you to his side?”

“I swear.”

The leader presented a chalice to the kneeling man.

“Drink, and rise as one of us. As a Raven.”

The kneeling man pulled his hood back and respectfully sipped the red liquid in the chalice. The taste of iron spread from the mouth to the throat. He was filled with vitality and kneeled no longer.

“Ravens, let us welco our newest sibling, Detrus!”

Detrus was welcod by a round of applause. It was at this mont he felt the proudest mont in his life. All those training, pain, and sacrifice were all worth it.

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“Glory to Lord Banbenxi!”

“Glory to Lord Banbenxi!”

They chanted as the clapping continued.

“Detrus, go to Pale Shadow. He will be responsible for the next stage of your training,” the leader spoke.

“By your will, Elder.” Detrus bowed.

***

“...Hmm...”

Viers contemplated what he just saw deeply.

“Bone Ravens… Banbenxi… ”

He decided to consult with an expert.

“Farley, does the na Banbenxi ring any bell?”

The petite girl answered after a flash of surprise.

“Yeah. One of the seven Devils.”

Just as I thought.

He had an inkling about it and now confird it. The other two girls ca closer to join the conversation.

“What’s wrong?” Paina asked.

“Rember the guy that stabbed in the heart? Apparently, that guy is a mber of the Bone Ravens, AKA the Assassin’s Guild, which also doubles as a Devil Cult.”

“Interesting. I’ve heard rumors that the guild is related to a cult but don't know the specifics, perhaps my father knows more,” Farley shared.

“Cult, like yours and Farley’s?” Paina recalled the two of them had a history with a different cult.

“Yes, Dumuzin Cult, also one of the seven. But I’ve never served him, I was only employed. She on the other hand...” Viers looked in Farley's direction.

“I asked Lord Viers to kill my father, a high priest of the cult's branch at Luxore. My father was doing a ritual to Dumuzin before Lord Viers destroyed his sche and said ritual. I’m pretty sure Dumuzin does not see as an exemplary follower at the mont. Perhaps I am already excommunicated?” Farley explained.

“...So, you’re no longer Dumuzin’s cultist now?” The black-haired girl asked her friend.

“No Paina, I’m now in Lord Viers’ service. All that I am is his. I have already given him my everything.” Farley spoke as if it was a very normal thing.

“Viers… you,” Paina grimaced, with a hint of disgust.

“I didn't do anything! You already heard the rough gist of things, right? We’ve had an agreent, I broke the promise first. I felt guilty so I tried to make ands by binding her soul and her sister’s to and resurrect them in the future. I told her since I failed to uphold the end of my bargain she is no longer mine, I gave her a full refund! But as you can see yourself, despite my encouragent, Farley still calls Lord.” Viers tried to defend his image, unsuccessfully.

“Without you, my sister and I would just be corpses at this point. Just as mother said, you are our savior. Seeing you all this ti, I have no doubt. You will definitely find a way to resurrect us soti in the future. Until then, my whole self is at your disposal. Please allow to assist you in my full capability,” Farley bowed like an experienced English maid with impeccable etiquette.

“...Just don't take advantage of her,” Paina gave him an icy glare.

“I won’t! You three have been together the whole ti. Did you see taking advantage of her? Of you?”

“...I don't know. By your own words, you are a liar.” Paina remained skeptical.

“Oh I am a liar, no denying that. That’s why you should just watch my actions. Rissa, you have been quiet. Anything to add?” Viers flowed the conversation to the spectator.

“Mm? It’s okay. I’m perfectly content watching your show of friendly affection to each other. I’ve never seen anything like this in the lamia royal court, this is nice.” Clarissa mischievously smiled.

“Uh-huh… suit yourself. Anything to add on the Devil's topic?” Viers crossed his arms.

“Well, to begin with, I don't know Dumuzin, Banbenxi, and the rest of the seven. I didn’t exactly have the ans to monitor the world from my Bio.”

“Wait, that’s odd. The great war you participated in was between gods and devils, wasn't it?” Viers recalled the bits and pieces he knew about that ti of history.

“True but there were thousands of them, on both sides. A re Level 5 like , re mortals weren't able to participate in the important war theatres. I also don't know a goddess nad Estelle. She wasn't among the big nas… to think she beca the only one remaining from the god’s side… Who are the nas of the seven devils again?” Clarissa asked with a finger on her chin. It seed to be her pose while thinking.

“Oh, now that you ntioned it I don't know them either. The church doesn't exactly spread their nas to the masses. It was considered taboo,” Paina said.

“They are-”

“Stoppp!”

Viers interrupted Farley mid-sentence.

“Enough to be said for today. No info dumping!”

“Info dumping?” Clarissa parroted.

“Shelf this topic for another ti where it is more relevant. Now, go to sleep girls, you’re wasting Victa.” Viers berated the three of them as if they were three children wasting electricity.

“Yes nanny Viersss,” Clarissa answered.

“True, I feel a bit sleepy,” Paina felt her eyes a bit heavy.

“Good night, Lord Viers,” Farley the faithful maid said.

“Go to sleep, voices in my head,” Viers said half-jokingly. Then he returned to the Soul Prison for more 'reading'.

“Hey Mister D, missed ? Nonono, don't break down yet. I still need your next mories, I need the Arte that made you invisible. That is great stuff by the way, so I want it. Granted I didn't have super sight as I have now but you passed through my extensive check. Be a dear and cough it out will you?”

Viers saw the face on the ball of soul writhe in agony as if he was being tornted in the depth of Tartarus.

“Now, now, no need for such exaggeration. It can't be that bad,” Viers cussed.

Or is it?

***

Sowhere in a plain of yellow grass.

“Rmhm… Did I pass out?”

A human picked himself up from the ground. With great confusion, he scanned his surroundings.

“Where am I? I don't know this place…”

He summoned his weapon, a familiar instrunt of death. With it in his hands, he felt calr already.

[Welco Player, to the world of Dunias. First Mission: Follow the marker to obtain your next objective.]

A blue screen floated in front of him and there was a yellow mark on his HUD minimap.

“That’s new. Is this a new feature? Perhaps this is so kind of event. No point in staying here, I better get going then.”

After walking for fifteen minutes, he finally reached the marked place.

Ping.

His radar picked up sothing. A red dot, and another, and another. Tens popped up at the edge of his radar.

“Finally, sothing else other than walking! This better be good or I’ll complain to the dev.”

The youth broke into a run. When he was close enough, he slid towards a rock, automatically crouching to hide better behind it. Pointing his weapon behind cover, he saw the true visage of the red dots.

Height of children, poorly equipped, long ears, yellow eyes, bad teeth, green-skinned.

“What the hell? Goblins?”

The youth couldn't believe what he was seeing. There weren’t supposed to be goblins in this world. But he wasn't able to contemplate long.

There were a dozen goblins, three were far bigger than the others, signs of a different species. The band was carrying three unconscious young won but one of them started to wake up. Golden-haired and white-skinned, her temple was bloodied as if she was struck with a blunt weapon before she lost consciousness. As soon as she ca to, she looked surprised. Her hands and feet were bound but she thrashed around in a panic. The goblins were marching quietly before but now, they had beco rowdy. In an unknown language, they talked to each other, pointing fingers and hissing. One of the greenskins pulled out a rusty knife and bared it at the teary-eyed girl.

Suddenly, in front of the girl’s eyes, the goblin's head exploded and a thunderclap resounded at the sa ti.

The goblins were agitated, they all looked to where the sound ca from. They saw a youth with strange clothing and a black… thing emitting smoke.

The youth summarily aid his rifle to the head of the big goblin and pulled the trigger.

[New Objective: Defeat all the goblins and rescue the captives.]