Chapter 109: Dagger

Following the guard, he guides me through a small door. Quickly coming to a reinforced room.

“Please enter.”

Complying, I have only respect for law enforcement. Although, being pulled aside so often is making me question it. He seats me down in a wooden chair opposite a desk. He sits on the other side, his chair a hair taller than mine.

Allowing him a moment to get comfortable, he speaks. “Hello; you are likely wondering why you have been pulled aside.”

Nodding, “Yes.”

“Non-humans recently have been causing some issues in the middle district. So, we must pull them aside and access them before allowing access.”

I can’t help but think, “Racist.” But I hold my tongue, “okay, ask away.” Pushing my annoyance away.

“Full name?”

“Aeternum. I have no middle or surname.”

“I guessed you weren’t a noble, but good to know.” Rude. “Okay, the reason for the visit?”

“I have a meeting with the Dagger family.”

He looks at me, a look of confusion. He thinks I am lying.

“Okay… can you verify that?”

“Yes.” Handing him the letter with their signature. Making sure to cover up sensitive information.

“This isn’t enough; it could be fake.”

Is this man serious.

“Well, call one of the Dagger family members here. They can verify it.” This whole conversation, at least having verified they live in the third ring.

“I will do no such thing. Disrupting a noble family for a fraud.” He tuts while shaking his head.

“Well, how are we going to verify it then?”

“Let’s put that aside. What’s your race; I can’t tell.”

“I refuse to tell you.”

“You can’t refuse a guard.”

“Yes, I can. I can’t lie to you. Am I under arrest for a crime where you could wave such a right?”

He creases his brows in annoyance at my response. Serves him right, the racist twat.

“You are currently under suspicion of lying to a guard.”

“A lie you could easily verify by contacting a Dagger!” I shout in annoyance. Standing up slightly.

He places his hand on the sword at his hip. “Please settle down, sir.”

Sitting back down with my arms crossed. “So, what now?”

“Please place your hands where I can see them.”

“You can literally see them, see.” Lifting my crossed arms slightly.

He stands up slightly in alarm. “Hands where I can see them.”

“Fine, fine.” Placing my hands on the table a distance apart.

He settles down slightly at the motion.

I hear an eerie tinkle as a bell rings. Seeing a hand under the table, I think I know what’s up.

“Ringing for backup; you are going to try and arrest me, aren’t you?”

He tenses at my words.

“You know what, screw this. I tried to be reasonable. But no, you chose to put me in this position for trumped-up charges. Your racist; I can see that clearly. I can guess the only requirement to enter is money.” Standing up with vigor.

He quickly stands up, drawing his sword in a threatening motion. “Sit back down immediately! Or I will be forced to use lethal force.”

My plan was to teleport away and enter under invisibility. But now? “Try me!” I say to the guard. I walk towards him nonchalantly.

“I am warning you, last chance.”

I just ignore him, continuing to approach. He attempts to strike my chest, a lethal strike. A clang rings through the room. Of course, I am wearing armor. “See, you can’t hurt me.”

He is visibly startled by his swords uselessness. Falling back towards the wall as I approach. Wildly swinging with every step. A nervous trickle drips down his brows. “You know why I am here?” He doesn’t respond; his mind clouded in fear. “I am here to enter a dangerous dimension. To slay a dragon. I am wearing some of the best armor for the job. You pissed me off. I cannot be arsed to deal with this bullshit while you tremble in fright at the slightest aggression.

Dismissing the pitiful man in front of me. I teleport away to the second ring. Glad I set a teleport point there. Chugging an invisibility potion, I begin flying over the wall. Finding myself quickly in the third ring. Descending back down to the ground in a huff. What an arsehole.

Watching as I return to visibility. Still in a huff about that prick. I guess not all guards are reasonable. Putting it out of my mind, I walk further into the ring. Finding the place populated, but no density. A distinct lack of food stalls and an increase in restaurants. Spotting a lot of high-quality shops. Magic shops, which I place on my visit list. Along with a lot of buildings without sighs.

I think they are likely private residences; Might be offices or administrative buildings; who knows? Walking further into the ring, I see small parks. Nothing special just trees with benches, decorations; I find them aesthetically pleasing nonetheless.

Eventually, I find a bank of some kind. I assume so, given the coin sign and high foot traffic. Entering, I address the clerk.

“Hello,’ I was wondering if I could ask some questions.”

She looks at me with an odd gaze before steeling her face into a customer service façade. A blinding smile, fake as her teeth; whatever, at least I can ask some questions. “Certainly, what would you like to ask?”

“First, what is this place?”

“This is the third ring, Orien bank.”

“I see. Do you know where I can find the dagger family?”

“Yes, their family residence is 2 streets over that way.” Pointing to opposite the bank. “Look for the building with lots of stone.”

“Thank you,” I say, slipping her silver for a tip.

She smiles lightly, making the coin disappear.

Leaving the Origen bank, I follow the direction she pointed me in. Quickly coming across a stone mansion, sticks out like a sore thumb. “Guess this is the place.”

Walking up to the door, I knock. Feeling anxiety rise slightly. I push it down, “Just a meeting.” I murmur in an attempt to calm my mind. Eventually, the door opens. A youthful woman addresses me. A bodyguard off to her side, watching me with a scrutinizing gaze. “Hello, what do you need?”

“I am here for a meeting. My name is Aeternum. Flor will know of me.”

She nods in acceptance. “One moment, please.” She says, closing the door softly. I hear light footsteps leave the door.

Several minutes later, the door opens again. I see 2 figures, the same guard and a familiar face.

“Flor, hello, how are you?”

“Good, good. Please, do come in.”

I follow. Being lead through a small hallway to a living room, clearly a guest room. A warm hearth ablaze on the wall, warming the room. Several sofas dotted around the room, along with several dark bookcases; full of books, I am in love already.

Taking a seat, we sit opposite each other.

Flor opens, “Hello, I hope your journey was smooth.”

“Mostly,” I say with a slight smile.

“I take it you’re here for the portal.”

“Yes, of course.”

“No chance I can talk you out of it?”

“Sadly, no.”

“Worth a try.” He says with fake sadness.

“Okay, let’s move onto your will.”

“Wait, what?”

“Your will? Were you going to jump into the portal without one? It has a 100% no return rate.”

“I see, that makes sense.”

We spent over an hour writing a will. It was painful, writing one without revealing sensitive information.

Hello, if you are reading this, I am dead.

How? I don’t know. It should be possible, but alas, if you are reading this? It is so. So, with careful consideration, I am writing this will.

First, if I died inside the end portal. The Dagger family is in no way responsible for my death. They are not liable for anything I do.

Jengal, Cassie, I leave you my estate. Both my private one and the public one. You both can step through its defenses; you are the only logical ones to receive it. Take care of my pets, Sling and Chic. A slime and spider, respectively. The farms require diamond hoes occasionally. Aside from that, the other maintenance can be allowed to peter out. Inside the chest next to my genetic machines contains an enhancer with your name on it, Jengal. If you choose to use it, that’s your choice. It’s irreversible, given I am too dead to reverse it.

Jengal, you have been a dear friend. Thank you for the help in gathering materials.

Cassie, love you to bits. Thanks for being my comfort.

Yours sincerely, Aeternum.”

Bla, this sucked. The whole thing is a sham; it’s damned hard to kill me. And worst-case scenario, and I do die? Well, I am on Felixes good side; there is a good chance I will be reborn. Not something I am gambling on, but hey ho, it exists.

The whole point of this trip is to get the best armor, like ever. Awakened draconium is no joke. It will be even harder to kill after using it.

Flor looks over the document carefully. This is like the 5th draft. He finally nods, accepting it. “Acceptable.” He says.

“I’ve got to ask. Why the consideration of if I die?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time family demands both an explanation and compensation. This will gives the explanation, kind of. And gives us just cause to say no to family and friends demanding money for ‘emotional damages.’” He says with a sour tone.

“Why the will, though? You could have achieved the same with a contract.”

“Consider it a favor from us. It’s much nicer to receive a message from a loved one. And anyone willing to jump into that death trap; they deserve that at least.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Would you like and refreshments?”

“Sure, some tea and biscuits would be ideal.”

He rings a bell on the table next to him. A well-dressed butler quickly enters through a side door.

“You Rang, sir.” He says in a bow. A black suit; a dagger pin on his breast; a tea towel over his arm as he leans into his bow. A textbook butler, I’ve never met one personally.

“Some tea and biscuits for our guest, please.”

“Certainly, sir.” He says before turning to me. “What variety of tea do you require? And what biscuits would you like?”

“Fruit tea with ginger biscuits.”

“One moment, please.” He says before disappearing back through the door.

I wait patiently. My patience was rewarded, as within a few minutes he returns. A silver disk in his hand, on top? A tea kettle with a cup, sugar, and some assorted biscuits.

Setting it down, he bowed his head to Flor. “Anything else, sir?”

“No, thank you, Ubica.”

He bowed once more before leaving.

I politely tuck into the snack. Enjoying the biscuits and tea.

I speak to Flor in a joking tone. “You know, you are far friendlier today than when I first met you.”

“Yeah, I thought you a fool. Now, I know you’re a fool with a plan. You deserve a minimum of respect.”

“Thanks.”

“How did the Dagger family come into ownership of the End portal?”

“It’s a hotly disputed topic, but the general consensus? Seng, one of our ancestors. Spent his life exploring dimensions. He used every resource at his disposal to find the End portal. Using myth and lore, he tracked it down. Like an undisturbed tome, it was quickly found to be desolate and uninhabited. We simply laid claim to prevent people dying.”

“Interesting. I am sorry, I haven’t heard of him.”

“That’s okay; he authored only a single book after all.”

“Which one?”

“Dimensions.” He says, quickly retrieving a large tome from the bookshelf. Dusting it off, he hands it to me. In elegant calligraphy, dimensions is written over the front. Small pictures are carved into the leather. One clearly the nether, the other Aether, and a whole host of others.

“Can I buy this book? It looks interesting?”

“Sure, 10 silvers.” I gawk at the price. Thieves. Passing the silver to him, I quickly store the book away.

“I suppose it’s time I head to the portal.”

“Very well, I will guide you to the tunnel.”