The warehouse was isolated, in fact it seemed closer to a military base than a normal warehouse for storage. The mage identified himself at the entrance, and the gates swung open to allow us entry.

Signs of assault were still evident, scorch marks, newly repaired sections, even some parts of the earth seemed affected, some sections loose and barren of grass. Someone strode forward, purpose exuding from her actions. Upon seeing us she frowned, turning to the agent that had brought us. “Why did you bring them with you into the compound? We just dealt with a security breach.”

“The thieves made off with everything of value, considering that these people risked life and limb to retrieve them, I don’t see the need for paranoia.” The mage countered, drawing an exasperated gasp from her. “Oh come off it, you know Frejr would never have involved lowlifes.”

“Yeah yeah.” The woman replied half-heartedly, rubbing the back of her neck with her left hand. “As you no doubt realize, I’m the one in charge of security here. Don’t do anything stupid, we’re a little on edge considering how we were betrayed.” She looked into the cart. “Hello Yira, welcome back, we’re going to have a nice long chat after this.” Her lips tightening into a thin-lipped smile.

I arched an eyebrow. I wonder if they’ll tell us the results, she had some strange bedfellows.

[Considering how we’re only tangentially related to the case, I would really doubt it.]

I shrugged internally, conceding the point. Oh right, didn’t we have bandit prisoners from that fight? I thought to myself, my hazy recollections reminding me of a scene wherein the bandits surrendered to Frejr. I wonder what happened to them, did Frejr pass them to the town or something?

“What happened to Ollie?” The woman asked, looking through the people in the cart itself.

“Goblins. Goblins using metal weapons and armour.” One of others in the cart answered.

She blinked. “Goblins with… what?”

“Wish I was joking ma’am.” He continued. “Took a good look after they died. It’s good stuff, not yet on par with our stuff, but for iron? It’s good.”

“That could be a problem, but not for us directly…” She said, caressing the pommel of her sword. She whispered beneath her breath. “But where could they possibly…” Her voice trailed off.

“When you’re done interrogating Yira, I want to know what she tells you.” Frejr said. “I have reason to believe she’s tied to something we’re looking into.”

“You know, you could say please once in a while.” The woman said, rolling her eyes. “But sure, I’ll let you know anything that my superiors don’t decide to withhold.”

Frejr nodded. “Thank you.” She said. “Is it alright for me to talk to Gaven? We have something to discuss.” She pointed to me as she said this. Why do I get this bad feeling up my spine?

[You’re a pessimist.] Page helpfully supplied, and I scowled under the helm. Why thank you. [Anytime.] It answered cheerfully. It’s really learning to use sarcasm.

The woman waved Frejr on, nodding. Frejr motioned for me to follow, and with a slight hesitation, I did. Well it’s not like there’s anywhere to run…

I followed her towards the collection of buildings that clustered a while away from the warehouse. There was a lot of empty space between the warehouse itself and… well, anywhere. That was probably intentional, it was a lot harder to sneak over empty space.

She stopped me outside the building, releasing a breath skyward before turning to me. “I gather he already told you about the Aedolon. Gaven is its creator, and the only person to wield it and live… in known history at least.” She said, voice lowered. “I want to bring you to him, he will want to see you, but only if you are willing. Though I suppose I could have asked you beforehand.”

I looked to the building, thinking. “Did you tell the rest of them?” I asked, thinking back to when the mage had asked me about the Aedolon. Had he been fishing then? I frowned.

“No, I’m not sure what they would do. They are collectors of knowledge, but as long as I’ve known them I’ve never noticed them resort to thuggery or cruelty.” She said, arms folded as she turned to look at the Tower’s people opposite of us, playing cards at a table. “Gaven… doesn’t have long left for the world. You are someone he would cherish meeting.”

I Delved, staring into the building. There was a faint soul there, seeming to leak wisps into the air around them, like a punctured bottle. I nodded, expelling a breath through my mouth as I turned to face her. “Fine, but no one else can know.” I said, gesturing for her to lead the way. She smiled, leading the way. I removed my faceplate, putting it away, it would hardly be polite for me to walk into another’s home with my face hidden.

The lower levels were workshops and what seemed to be appraisals, papers were strewn about, scattered across several tables. Sometimes several others would straighten out their backs, rolling their shoulders, and others would leave their seats to take a look at the papers, deep in thought. None paid us mind, lost in their own worlds.

Stairs lay at the back, and we made our way up a flight of stairs to what seemed to be the living area. Frejr led me along one of the corridors, and we stopped in front of one of the doors. She knocked, her metal gauntlets amplifying the sound against the silent corridor.

It swung open with a creak, and a man stood in the doorway. I didn’t need to Delve to confirm that he was the one Frejr talked about, he didn’t seem pale, nor sickly, but there was this certain… lack of presence. His eyes looked at me, sometimes sliding behind me.

“Frejr.” He said. “You came to see me?” A smile came onto his face, small, weak, as though the emotion itself drained him. “It’s nice of you to come, not sure I’ll be able to last until the end of the year. It’s a crapshoot, I could lose it all a few weeks down the line or tomorrow just as easily.” He shrugged, as though it didn’t bother him. “Who’s the man in magical armour?”

Frejr cocked her head towards the interior, and he nodded, stepping aside to let us in. “He used the Aedolon.” She said once the door closed, and he snapped towards us, staring at me. “It’s been about four or five days and as you can see, he’s suffered nearly no debilitating effects.”

He walked over, looking me in the eyes. “That’s not possible…” He murmured to himself, walking to the side to grab a book from the table as he sat down and began to peruse it. We waited for several minutes, while he occasionally read to himself. Frejr cleared her throat, jolting him from whatever place he had drifted off to. “I’m sorry, it’s… difficult. How is that possible?”

“I don’t know.” Frejr replied. “If anyone is to know, it will be him, he’s different from us, possibly a result of the armour he wears. I’ve never seen anything like it.” She continued. “But only he can tell us about himself.” She turned to me, where I stood, leaning against a wall.

I stared at them for a moment. Should I? I asked, sighing.

[That’s a question you must answer yourself, it’s not like there’s a manual for soldiers lost in strange lands.] Page remarked. [Actually, knowing what I know of both my and your military, there might be one… But that’s not too important right now.]

I smirked. Seriously? I thought, shaking my head. “I have no soul.” I said finally, straightening from my position. “I doubt the Aedolon can take what doesn’t actually exist.” I continued, shrugging.

“… Are you even listening to yourself?” The man asked. “You’re telling me that you were born without the fundamental aspect of yourself that is needed for every, single, living being in this world. If it was possible for a person to survive without a damn soul, do you think that I would be as I am right now?” His face turned to one of anger, faint as it was.

I held out the armour, changing its colour before him, then tearing a hole in it as though it was wet tissue. “Where I come from there are no souls, and I have things like this.” I said, putting emphasis as I resealed the armour. “From what I can understand your magic can’t replicate these effects, and I couldn’t replicate yours even if I tried.” I replied. “I am not lying to you.”

He stared for a moment, his anger already fading, though it didn’t seem to be inspired by my words. “Frejr, do you believe him?” He asked, sighing as he went to take a seat. “Never mind, it makes sense, but it completely upends everything we know… A land with no souls? Different magic?”

“I’m trusting you to be discreet, I don’t want to be hunted. Besides, what you know of the world fits perfectly within it, and nowadays you’re unlikely to meet people like me.” I said.

“World… Not land? You mean, a place entirely removed from us? Like the magical plane to our own?” He asked, rocking in his chair. “I’ll have to accept your explanation, I’ve been pushing magic towards you, but there is nothing where you stand, there is nothing there. You could just be an immensely powerful mage capable of hiding your presence from both that and my senses, but everything else tells a different tale.” He sagged. “I never thought I’d be surprised again in my state.”

“When you use the Aedolon, it saps at your soul, peeling at it. It’s like having an Animus mage ten times stronger than any we’ve ever known try to tear your soul apart by brute strength. I had training, instinct kept me from dying there and then, instead I got to die slowly.”

He leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. “It’s a gradual thing, first you lose the small joys you get from music, or food, or just a nice day. Your memories give you no comfort, and even the most stimulating events become blips on your emotional scale. Some people enter a phase of risk-taking, trying to deny the fact that they’re dying or just to feel something before finally you settle into apathy and a complete loss of reason and conscience.” He looked at the back of his hand. “From the outside I sure don’t look like a dead man walking at least.” He smiled, but it was a mirthless expression.

“Sorry, but the fact that you managed to defy the Aedolon… It makes me a little depressed.” He said. “And yet, a different world… if this were before my accident I’d have so many burning questions. Now I’m left with dim wonder, which is impressive all things considered.” He perked up a little. “You know… Maybe…” He muttered to himself. “What did you think of the Aedolon?”

“I wasn’t exactly fully conscious nor did I use it long, all I got the impression of was that it was rather light, but I doubt momentum is a real issue.” I said.

“It isn’t, the blade disrupts magic, and scrambles things. Muscles fail, bones become brittle, so on. I think I could reappropriate one of the daggers, before we got confident enough to make swords.” He tapped his chin. “Yes, I think I could do that nicely.”

“Won’t you get in trouble with the Tower?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Only if they find out I made it. Besides, only you can use it. Just have to make sure you don’t kill your allies from the draw field.” He muttered, nodding to himself.