Back at the academy, they hid their finds in the abandoned scriptorium. The sword, the book, the ringâall too dangerous to carry openly.
Seris examined Oblivion's Edge while Varyan read the family chronicle.
The book was dense. Handwritten in elegant script, it told the story of the Roverc fragment-bearersâgeneration after generation of Order-aligned warriors who had fought Chaos creatures and Harvesters in secret.
But the entries grew shorter over time. More desperate. The last entry, from Varyan's great-grandmother, read:
*"The Harvesters know our bloodline carries the fragment. They are coming. I have hidden the sword. I have hidden the keys. May my descendants be stronger than I."*
She had died on an expedition into the Chaos Wastesâofficially a hero's death fighting demons. But the chronicle suggested otherwise.
*"I go to draw them away from the family. If I do not return, know that I loved you. Know that I died fighting."*
Varyan closed the book.
"She sacrificed herself," he said quietly. "To protect us."
Seris looked up from the sword. "That's what families do. Or what they're supposed to do."
"You wouldn't know. Orphan, remember?"
"Ouch."
"Sorry. That came out wrong."
"It came out true." Seris shrugged. "I don't remember my parents. The orphanage wasn't cruel, but it wasn't kind either. I was alone until I woke the fragment. Then I was alone and hunted."
"You're not alone now."
Seris stared at him. Her mismatched eyes were unreadable. "Neither are you."
[ăECHOă: Bond strength increased. Alliance stability: 78%.]
They spent the afternoon training. Seris taught Varyan how to channel his Order fragment into the sword. The blade glowed faintly when he focused.
"Try the Order Slash," she said.
Varyan swung at a broken chair. A crescent of white light shot from the blade and cut the chair in half.
[Ability used: Order Slash. Damage: moderate. Energy cost: 10% of fragment reserve. Reserve currently at 34%.]
"That was..." Varyan stared at the smoking remains of the chair.
"Awesome," Seris finished. "It was awesome. Admit it."
"Fine. Awesome."
She grinned. It was the first genuine smile he had seen from her.
Then the scriptorium door creaked.
Both spun.
A boy stood in the doorway. Thin, mousy brown hair, wide eyes. He couldn't have been older than twelve. He was trembling.
"IâI saw the light," he stammered. "From the window. Are you... are you fragment-bearers too?"
[Order fragment detected: 10 feet. Order Fragment 11. Bearer: Tobin Moss. Status: frightened.]
Varyan lowered his sword. "Who are you?"
"Tobin. Tobin Moss. House Mossâit's a minor house, nobody important." He swallowed hard. "I woke up three weeks ago. I've been hiding. But the HarvestersâI think they know. I saw a man watching me. He had frost on his hands."
Varyan and Seris exchanged glances.
"The Harvesters are already looking for new bearers," Seris said. "Venn is dead, but the Lord Harvest probably has others."
"We can't leave him alone," Varyan said.
"I know."
Tobin looked between them, terrified. "You'll help me?"
Varyan sighed. "We'll try. But you do what we say, when we say it. No arguments."
"Okay. Okay, yes. Thank you."
[New ally: Tobin Moss â Order Fragment 11. Level: 2. Abilities: unknown.]
Three fragment-bearers now. Two Order, one Chaos.
The Lord Harvest would notice.