The Hero’s Right Hand

It had been a long time since Aisha and I ventured alone. Vofric decided to visit old contacts in hopes of finding anything regarding the first Hero. Though Sariel had come to Dawncaster since losing her memory, she had no such connections. Instead she explored the city with Albert to gather whatever goods we needed that the Greycastle’s couldn’t provide. Avant would have joined us if not for the fact the library would not allow it. According to Louise, familiars were commonplace in Dawncaster. The infrastructure even accommodated larger creatures. But with the rare tomes available in the library, certain concessions had to be made. Instead, Avant stayed back to be pampered and welcome customers alongside Mia.

Albert provided a map for us to follow from the market to our destination. The drawing was messy with a crude trail marking where we should turn. Honestly, I couldn’t decipher it but it seems intent was all Aisha needed to understand the instructions. We followed main streets that weaved around the central castle like a web. Guards protected the citizenry with watchful eyes from alley entrances. They were polite when we requested assistance but I couldn’t help but be wary. We did our best not to linger around them for long.

We left Bamborough, crossed the central Dicoris district and arrived at Zeffari. Bridging it and the southern Ramhorn district was Library Raebkayd. Engraved legends decorated the massive walls that stretched multiple blocks. The entrance alone was wide enough to accommodate multiple carriages. The stone doors stood hundreds of feet tall and remained ajar during operational hours. Another identical door was on the opposite side of the building. The scent of leather binding and fresh pages permeated through the air and invited guests to enter. One step inside made it obvious why the smell was so potent.

A cursory glance didn’t provide a semblance of how many books lined the gargantuan walls. Five floors of floor to ceiling shelves were filled with millennia of written word. They glowed under gigantic chandeliers that emitted light which magically illuminated the darkest corners of the building. Platforms with built in railings floated in every direction, allowing guests to quickly traverse the many floors. Large spiral staircases wrapped around a number of beams that functioned as roof supports.

“Where do we even start?” I asked with mouth agape.

Aisha scanned the room and walked towards a table with two librarians quickly assisting anyone who approached. They stared upwards into the distance without moving to address their guests. Bright blue light emanated from their eyes as they concentrated on a spell. 

“How may I help you?” One asked slowly as we got close.

“We’re looking for information regarding the first Hero, Kharim,” Aisha replied.

The librarian’s eyes flashed and they replied, “All information regarding historical legends can be found in section six of the second floor. Utilizing the stairs near the west wall will place you closeby.”

We thanked the librarian and made our way to the stairs. Footsteps echoed through the giant hall. Guests grew quieter and more conscious as we traveled deeper. The soft sound of pages flipping carried through the hall. Hushed voices discussed myriad topics and paid us no mind. Quick glances made it obvious some people recognized Aisha. Thankfully no one acted on it and let us go about our business.

Section six was blocked off by one sided shelves pressed against each other. A magic seal trailed along the perimeter with the only break being the entrance to the enclosed area. Compared to the rest of the library, it was empty except for a Dawncaster guard keeping watch.

“Are we allowed to go in?” I asked.

“The librarian wouldn’t have sent us this way if we weren’t,” Aisha replied and approached the entrance. “I’m guessing the books can’t be taken from here.”

The guard grunted affirmatively while standing aside so we could enter.

Unlike the tightly packed shelves all over the library, section six spaced the books out. Each took up as much room as three would elsewhere. Most spines had little information except for the author of the notes inside. Some covers had a scrawled title or many attempts at one. The feelings of frustration and joy from each book were abundantly clear. I’d heard of sages writing their own findings but many records were lost. There were hundreds of reasons notes might go missing but what mattered is that Dawncaster retrieved many. Aisha began searching one side of the enclosure and I did the same at the opposite side.

Records were organized chronologically with many gaps. Histories of gods and legends dated back many thousands of years. The first discoveries of rare species of monsters and wildlife were far more exploratory than current books. Well-known information was presented differently by the original authors. Thousands of tomes packed with information lined the shelves. I was hoping the same could be said for the first Hero. Specifically because we only found two books about Kharim’s journey 1000 years ago.

“I’ll check one, you check the other,” Aisha said.

I noticed the cover of her book had “Skills of the Hero” written heavy-handedly on it. Mine, on the other hand, didn’t have a title. A note was lightly stuck to it that informed me that the book recollected notes of Kharim’s travels.

Unlike Aisha, Kharim did not acquire an existing legendary sword. He had it forged from orichalcum and dragon scales midway through his journey. Notes were scarce prior to the creation of Valefor. All that was reported were odd jobs and random quests. The first Hero was nothing more than an adventurer for decades. Helping someone in need was all that drove him and his party. Members came and went but some stuck with him from the beginning until their passing. Kharim accepted anyone to travel with him as long as they proved themselves to him. There were few notes regarding their own stories except when they intersected with the Hero’s journey.

Kharim’s adventure changed upon crafting Valefor. He encountered more demons and otherworldly beings. Of course their motives weren’t mentioned in the notes. Even wounds received by the Hero during battle were understated except when they caused permanent damage. According to the record, all that mattered was how the Hero defeated his adversaries. As his enemies grew in power and number, Kharim remained steadfast. When wielding a weapon there was nothing that could stand in his way. But there was little information about what he could do in my book.

As I approached the end of the notes I realized Kharim often ended fights in a draw. Specifically against a single demon. There was no name or indication that it was the same one each time but I had a hunch. The final battle Kharim fought during his journey resulted in many comrades giving their lives. Few remained standing but it was their victory over an unnamed demon. Then the notes abruptly jumped to a prophecy.

“Against almighty —-- one makes a stand

The fate of the realms rest in their hand”

No more notes existed. I checked the spine for remnants of a torn page but found nothing. I knew Kharim left Valefor in Neves but that wasn’t included in the history of his deeds. He had to have lived long after the end of his journey especially upon defeating whoever the final demon was. I ran to the shelves to check if there were any other records about Kharim’s life but the next book on the shelf was unrelated.

There wasn’t a single note regarding the identity of Kharim’s nemesis. No information on what plagued the realm and turned him from an average adventurer into the stuff of legend. Obviously he won battles but that wasn’t all there was to him. That couldn’t be it. I sat back down and scoured the book again until I heard Aisha shut hers.

“He was strong,” she said in awe. “The way this is written… It’s speculative instructions on how Kharim fought. His fighting style has no name or history beyond himself. When things got tough, he learned a new trick to face the hardship. Not to mention his arsenal. Everything was a weapon in his hands. He just preferred Valefor but it was no means his only option. I don’t think anyone could fight like him… Anything interesting on your side?”

I shrugged. “It’s all interesting but there’s nothing about what threat he was facing. If I guessed, it’s related to the Hells but I’m not sure what happened. And this prophecy is incomplete.”

Aisha skimmed the last few pages of the book. Upon reading the prophecy she also searched for torn pages. After finding nothing she sat back in her chair and sighed.

“I guess I’m not a Hero,” she muttered. “The Chosen One, sure. But Kharim was called a hero because of his deeds. He was called the Hero because of who he helped. What have I done?”

“Saved an elf, a small town, some marines, and defended half-breeds,” I replied. Aisha was obviously still depressed from what happened in Balur. Experience told me to have motivational words ready. 

I continued, “Your story is far from complete like Kharim’s yet you’ve done so much. The moniker of Hero will come naturally.”

Aisha let out a sharp breath and nodded. “Right. What’s more important is figuring out why the prophecy came true now. Clearly someone needs to be stood up to. I just wish we knew who.”

“It’s possible the enemy wasn’t originally related to Kharim,” I said and approached the shelves.

What needed to be done was obvious but I didn’t look forward to it. I grabbed the oldest record I could find and started reading. Not as thoroughly as before but enough to understand what the book was about. Battles between gods that had shaped the planet were retold through an objective lens. It wasn’t long before I put it back and moved to the next text. I couldn’t read the language and moved on. This one described major developments of lands I’d never heard of. Ancient settlements had once existed where our modern cities stood. But it wasn’t related to what I needed. Slowly I went through dozens of books. There wasn’t much to start with but the different writing styles and drawl exhausted me. I tried to focus on the dull book covers blended into muted shelves. Letters grew hazy with each book checked. Handwritten notes scrawled by mad historians were not intended to be scoured through. A pulsating rhythm pounded in my head until I shut my eyes tightly and stepped away.

“What if the notes are purposely hidden?” I said absentmindedly.

A sudden gasp told me Aisha figured something out. She shut the books she was simultaneously scanning. With a deep sigh she rose and shelved both of them. A simple gesture instructed me to follow her. Soft words repeated on her lips. As we walked back to the librarians, she never stopped. The closer we stepped, the louder Aisha’s voice got

Upon arriving she asked, “Where can I find the full prophecy that contains the phrase: Against almighty one makes a stand, The fate of the realms rest in their hand?” 

The librarian blinked and the glow faded. Discerning eyes examined us before letting out a slow breath. “Information regarding the history of Kharim the First Hero is protected by the Dicoris family.”

I recognized the name. Anyone would. Not only because of the district of the city but the history of Vethyea. Dicoris was the royal family. Their castle stood as a monument to the strength of Dawncaster. It was no wonder the number of guards in the central district was higher than any other. The stunned look on Aisha’s face told me she realized our next step.

“Thank you,” she said meekly and walked away. I followed close behind.

“How do we meet with the royal family?” I asked.

Aisha shook her head. “I think the only reason the librarian mentioned the Dicoris’s is because she recognized I’m the chosen one. A small hint as a test to see what I can do. We need to figure out how to actually reach the Dicoris’s.”

“Why not just ask for an audience?”

“It won’t work. One of my swordmasters is part of their family and I tried to meet them during that time. They said no.”

I hummed. “Did you ask why?”

“Master Victor said it was likely because I hadn’t proven myself yet. And I still haven’t,” Aisha grumbled. “If you’ve got any ideas I’d love to hear them.”

As we stepped back into the city I realized how much time had passed. The sun slowly descended toward the western horizon. The lights inside Library Raebkayd had allowed us to lose ourselves without a thought towards how long we’d spent researching.

We wandered back through the districts: Zeffari, Dicoris, Bamborough. From schools to smiths to government buildings back to the market. As we wandered about, trying to think of ideas, I couldn’t help but watch the city around us. Any business was expected to have slow days and busy days. But Greycastle Market never slowed. Every merchant on the street, regardless of size, made sales throughout the day.

“With how much business they get, do you think the Greycastles have ever met the Dicoris’s?” I asked. “I mean, they’re probably bringing a lot of people to the city, right?”

Aisha pondered my suggestion and said, “We’d be asking for quite a bit.”

“But, you can’t think of another way, can you?”

“No,” she grumbled. “Nothing that doesn’t involve us coming back years from now.”

“You’re already leaving?” a voice asked behind us. Albert wore a sad expression. “I wanted to learn more from you.”

Sariel patted the young man’s back and looked at us with a furrowed brow. “If you found what we need, I have no complaints.”

Aisha shook her head. “You misunderstood. I’ll explain once we get inside.”

We were near the Greycastle home and bypassed the line once again. Mia was collecting coins while Vofric explained goods to customers. A small group obsessed over a well-behaved Avant as he quietly ate a cookie out of someone’s hand. Upon seeing us return he hopped from his perch and ran over. Before I could reach him, Aisha picked him up and petted his head while walking upstairs. Sariel, Albert, and I followed while Vofric continued to assist Mia.

Louise was more prepared today with snacks already set as she sipped tea and waited to hear about our ventures. I sat next to her, knowing Aisha could explain alone. She paced through the hall, Avant in hand, at dizzying speed. It appeared absentminded but I recognized the habit. Whenever she wanted to ask others for a favor her legs carried her in a loop until the right words were found. The only time it didn’t happen was when she needed something from me. The pacing didn’t stop even after Mia and Vofric joined us. He had an announcement but remained silent when he saw our stressed leader.

Aisha walked into the living room and huffed. “Kargon, how would you ask?”

All eyes turned to me and I suddenly understood the pressure she’d put on herself.=

I hummed inquisitively then turned to Louise and Mia who’d sat on the other side of her. “Do you two have a way to contact the Dicoris family?”

Louise looked stunned and looked at her wife. Mia sighed and said, “You two need to explain a lot more before asking something like that.”

“Aisha?” I asked while turning to her.

She spent the next hour going over our findings. Rather than focusing on Kharim’s exploits, she spoke of what we couldn’t find. The little information regarding his allies and enemies clearly bothered her more than she let on. I chimed in every once in a while to elaborate on some of the battles I read about but doing so only emphasized how little was actually explained. Aisha slumped into a chair once she finished her explanation.

“And the librarian specifically told you the Dicoris’s have more information?” Mia asked.

“They specifically said the information is ‘protected by the Dicoris family.’ I assume that means yes,” Aisha replied.

Louise whispered something to her wife. Mia contemplated it and replied loud enough to hear. “But we can’t invite additional people.”

Albert understood what she meant and inquired, “Are you talking about the gala?”

Mia nodded and addressed our party. “Galas are often thrown by prominent figures of Dawncaster to collect charity for various city projects. As community leaders in Bamborough, we are expected to attend. Unfortunately, we are unable to bring additional guests on such short notice.”

“I may be able to help with that.” Vofric chimed in. “During my search today an old colleague mentioned the Ramshorn Gala. I was offered entry for myself and any party members. Shall I confirm our attendance?”

Aisha let out a sigh of relief. “Yes, Vofric. Thank you.”

Louise wore a face of concern but stopped herself from speaking.

“If we should be worried about something, please tell us,” I said.

Sariel grumbled, “It is unlikely the royal family will attend, correct?”

“No, not that. In fact, it’s one of the only times you can mingle with them easily,” Louise explained. “The issue is your goal of speaking about something not only important but likely private. Galas are for mingling but it’s not unheard of to schedule important meetings for later. The Dicoris family is very discerning with whom they humor with their time. To get their attention you’ll need to prove yourselves. It’s the very reason it took us many years of owning Greycastle Market before we were invited to such events. Vofric must know someone they are close with to get an invite so close to the event.”

While I wanted to question who our ally was close with, Aisha remained focused on the topic at hand.

She said, “So even if we don’t learn anything at the gala, we can talk to the Dicoris’s later.”

“If they permit, yes,” Mia answered.

“It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve had to impress someone on a clock,” I said.

“Not just her, however. We must prove to the royal family we are all worth their time,” Sariel scoffed. “Based on your findings Kharim’s allies were seen as unimportant. As though only he could be relied on. It would do us good to prove the chosen one is not only more powerful than her predecessor, but surrounded by more reliable allies.”

Vofric grunted. “Well said.”

Albert hopped up and said, “I think I can help with that. Lemme do some legwork the next couple days.”

“Are you sure, Al?” Aisha asked. “You’re all doing so much already.”

“Mom and Mama are. I haven’t done anything yet. I wanna be able to say I helped the Hero’s party.”

Aisha nodded. “Thank you.”

Louise clapped her hands and said, “Looks like you have a plan. We’ll continue to help however we can. Am I correct in assuming you don’t have anything to wear?” There was no need to answer the rhetorical question. “That just won’t do. There are many ways to garner attention. Let’s make sure what you receive is positive.”

Our host’s words were sweet but the smile on her face sent a shiver down my spine.