Chapter 89

Ajimal the Great

Catacomb Mysteries

Ajimal looked on at his resplendent throne made of ivory, gold, and jade, the three rare materials that any magi need to show their superiority above others. Ivory to be the initial grounding rod for all mana. Through ivory all mana can flow one direction, a perfect insulator for beginners and experts alike. Gold, used to let mana flow through conduits to their destination. Then jade, a gem that can act as both a repository for mana, or for a final focus depending on the cut of the particular gems being used. All this is to say that a throne made of all three was either the height of opulence, or a true seat of power to be wielded only by the most powerful of shamans and magi.

For Ajimal the throne served as a conduit for him to test out his reserves of newfound strength. Before it took weeks to fill the chair’s reserves of energy. Now he could do so in a day if he paced himself, or in half that time if he was determined enough. From his throne he could do most things, except for the grandest scale of lightning assaults. When he tried to use the chair to direct his largest of attacks the jade focal points shattered from the stress of energy that was sent coursing through them. This was no good as it effectively made his throne little more than a broken instrument of war. To sit in such a throne now would signify that he had nothing better. This was true of course; even broken and unusable the throne was better than anything else available.

But Ajimal could not dare to lessen himself to sit in the broken throne. First his body was so conducive to conducting electricity that he now seeped the energy naturally. Many of his servants and attendants had taken to approaching him without any metals, lest they be zapped upon approach. Still, he needed to find a way to fix his thrones. As such he had many of his men search the various catacombs that were spotted throughout the lands of Tython. In fact, nearly every major city, town, or village seemed to have been built upon catacombs.

These catacombs to the chagrin of both Ajimal and his advisers were an unknown. No records existed of their being built, no records existed of what they held, and worst of all they were now being touted for being cursed.

“Another group dead?” Ajimal asked Khanion his second in command and chief military adviser. The time since his transformation into the fifth echelon had been breathtaking to perceive. First his dark chestnut colored hair turned blond like the lightning bolts he now held within his body. His eyes also took on a lighter shade going to a more storm cloud white than the previous blue they once held. Also, his muscles and overall frame had grown taught with being compacted on his lithe frame. By all accounts he looked ready to strike at any moment, even while fully rested his taught muscles could spring to life and strike at foes and allies alike with ruthless proficiency.

“Yes, my lord. Another group ventured down to the second layer of the catacombs. Then like before they ventured forth into the static field. The group made it a total of ten paces before their bodies started convulsing with pain. Then just like the others they burst into flames.”

“Is that all?” Ajimal asked, knowing the look that his most trusted adviser now bore on his face.

Sighing a bit, Khanion lowered his face for a second before shaking his head.

“We have put up help wanted adds all over the place but none of our requests seem to be accepted. It seems that we have a less than favorable impression from the locals.” Khanion finally said.

Hearing this Ajimal only nodded, they had been hard on the locals, but that was needed to instill fear. Now he had to wonder if he had been a little too harsh with his initial dealings with the locals. Too much fear led to rebellion, for now he had enough trusted advisers from his homelands that he was sure of his immediate safety. But he didn’t know how long this would last. How long until he had too much land and had to send out even more of his trusted staff to oversee the various projects he had initiated.

Just as he was contemplating these events and more a runner came into the chamber.

“Lord Khanion. I have a message from the expedition team.” The runner began, his voice in a jagged cadence as he both tried to catch his breath while talking at the same time.

Khanion with a come out with it gesture said nothing but turned his attention away from his lord to address this runner who looked like he had come straight from the dig site.

“Sir.” The runner began, but then paused as he took in a deep breath to continue. “The head foreman wishes to tell you that they have hired a local who was able to retrieve the bodies of the first expeditionary teams. What’s more they seem to be immune to the poison-air of the lower chambers.”

Hearing this, something inside Ajimal began to roll and simmer, the way a storm cloud would before a chaotic maelstrom.

“Bring him to me.” Ajimal cut in.

There was an abrupt pause as the two that had been addressing each other turned their attention to their leader. Their leader whose eyes were now glowing with signs of the very storm he was working to contain within his body.

“Her, sir.” The Runner said, with barely a whisper. His voice was so low in fact that Ajimal for a second wondered if he had heard the runner correctly.

“What?”

“The explorer she is a female.” The runner began, fear filling him, before he added on “sir” to end his awkward tension.

Hearing this Ajimal just nodded in understanding. “Well then fetch her and bring her before me. I want to know what makes her so special.”

“Yes sir. Right away sir.” The Runner began then quickly turned to leave the audience chamber.

No sooner had the runner left and the doors behind him closed with a loud bang did the two old friends stop and look at each other for a long moment, before both began laughing uncontrollably.

“Hahaha! That never gets old.” Khanion said, as he was the first to regain his composure of the two.

“No, no it doesn’t.” Ajimal agreed. Then with a moment’s pause he decided to sit in the broken throne. He wanted to rest his head, but the spot where he would fall into the indentation left by the now empty jade socket.

“We really need to get this fixed.” Ajimal said turning about to look at the offending hole once more.

“We are working on it, though good materials are hard to find in these parts.”

“Still no luck on finding the royal treasuries?” Ajimal asked.

“Oh, we found them. Remember the boxes, we might be able to make multiple foci items that when combined could fill that, but to find one piece of jade that size would be a feat in and of itself.” Khanion said.

Looking at the large socket that was almost the size of his head Ajimal just nodded in understanding. There were only so many truly exceptional gems in the world that fit both the size, quality, and durability needed to repair his throne. As it was, he was lucky to have already had one such gemstone, even if it didn’t survive its initial use with his new degree of powers.

With that the two had a few more idle conversations to pass the time, while they waited for their new explorer to arrive.

***

Finally, after some time the runner returned, this time panting and wheezing as he clutched his hands to his legs. It appears he had run to the catacombs and back to guide this every explorer to them. The explorer for her part looked young, attractive, with no sign of being tired. Though her wind-swept clothes denoted that she too likely ran as well. Though rather than being winded, the female explorer merely seemed slightly tired from the pace.

By all measures the speed the two must have traveled must have been quick as it was less than half an hour that the runner left. So, for him to have run back, retrieved the explorer and then made it here so quickly must have meant they ran the entire way back.

“Your eminence.” The runner said bowing to one knee. The explorer quickly followed suit, as she too dropped to one knee and bowed her head in reverence.

“Rise and come forward explorer.” Ajimal said, while he didn’t care much for politics, he felt it was always good to meet new people with them, so he could get a measure of their personality.

As she approached Khanion’s eyes flashed brightly for a second, a sign that he was using his inspection skill on the newcomer. That was part of why Khanion was Ajimal’s right hand, he not only had the inspection skill, but he had the improved version of the inspection skill that showed details even if people tried to hide their name and attributes with defensive skills.

“I am told that you can enter into the catacombs?” Ajimal began.

“It appears I can, sir.” The female answered. She looked Ajimal in the eyes, no sign of hesitation. Most people would be cowed by the very power that seemed to radiate from him, but not this person before him. That alone intrigued him. Then there was the fact that she had an exotic look to her, pale skin, raven-dark hair, and ice-blue eyes. She was the spitting image of what one would call a Cerusian, if one took time to believe in the old wives’ tale about the slayers of corrupted rulers.

“Is it because you are a null?” Khanion cut in, his words harsh and accusatory.

The woman however seemed to have no fear of such an accusation. “Indeed, it might be, your honor.” The woman said turning her head and bowing slightly before Khanion before locking eyes with him as well.

She did not back down, not even a little. That much alone caused her to stand out in Ajimal’s eyes.

“And what prey tell is the name of such an accomplished explorer.” Ajimal said, directing the gaze of the woman back to him. As she turned her head, and their eyes locked a slight shiver ran down his spine. She was deadly, a coiled viper ready to strike, at least that was the impression that Ajimal got from her. Still vipers were quite handy, when dealt with properly, their venom alone could be milked for his assassins’ blades. So, what venom can you offer me? Ajimal thought as he looked at the explorer before him.

“Aren. Aren Avensa your eminence.” The female explorer Aren said, with a bow again. Quite an impressive feat as she never rose from her kneeling position before Ajimal. Yet despite her stature, she seemed to wield as much power as the two men who towered above her in stature.

“How did you survive in the city with a null status. Surely Tython exiles its nulls just like all others.” Khanion said, once again drawing attention to the deadly viper in the room. It was clear from his tone that he was ready to strike down the woman where she stood, for little more than being a null.

“I am not originally from these lands. I came from Sidhertha, but as tales of war and profits came about, I found my way here. Then I saw the job postings with claims of prizes and riches just for entering the catacombs here and I couldn’t resist trying my luck.” The explorer, Aren said.

“So then, what can you tell us about the catacombs?” Ajimal said, once again distracting her attention away from Khanion.

“They are deep, larger than many likely understand. They are also old in design, likely well before the fall in design.”

“What can you tell us about the seal that seems to kill all our men. Well, all our men, except for you? Is that it, do you think it is the fact that you are a female that saved you?” Ajimal asked.

Aren shook her head. “No. There were the bodies of at least two females who had been sent. One a child and one an adult. I had managed to get both out before I was summoned here.”

“You dragged the bodies?” Khanion asked.

“I did at first. When it became clear that that was tougher than expected I just started attaching ropes to the different bodies and the other workers then pulled the bodies free while I went deeper.”

Hearing this Ajimal nodded. It was only proper to give a true Azani a proper burial. “You have done my soldiers and me a great service. As was originally noted I am willing to reward you handsomely. There is of course just one catch that I would like to address first.”

“Yes, my lord?” Aren asked.

“Are you now, or have you ever been wed?” Ajimal asked, a look of avarice in his eyes as he looked at the woman before him.