The Asipu Ancestral Flame Form was among the Ocadule choices presented by Mehubanarath as a reward for the hidden achievement of killing a pack of Mirdabons solo. The other two were the Katinnu and my chosen Aritu Forms. Followers of the Asipu Form, Mehubanarath had explained, could mold their Ancestral Flames to call forth fire spirits. He even summoned a few of them to demonstrate.

I had considered going for Asipu but ultimately picked Aritu. I didn’t want my summons to tank for me. Herald Stone should be front and center—using Replicant Totems with [Enraging Call] was temporary until I was sufficiently tanky.

“Blue doggies…” I crisscrossed the chaotic battlefield, trying to keep my eyes on the fire spirits amid the many hefty Mardukryons.

I had seen the Asipu summons of Mehubanarath only briefly some time ago. But they were cool as hell—or cool as hell was hot—appealing to the child Herald in me, imprinting on my mind. Those blue doggies were undoubtedly among them.

I read the summoner’s name above his head—Paritor. A mixture of flowing cloth, padded armor, and chainmail covered his body, likely three sets mashed together with no care for fashion—a true gamer.

Paritor had a buckler, too small for effective Head-On Blocking, latched onto his left arm. The shield had crystals and glowing runes arranged in circular patterns on its face, making it look rather ceremonial. And in his right hand, he cradled a statue similar in design to those made by the Spirit Carvers, depicting a coiled snake-like creature.

A fresh batch of Blighted monsters emerged from crevices streaking the cliff wall. Paritor covered himself with a yellow barrier, its surface flecked with embers, before charging into battle, preceded by his pets.

Was that [Pyro Shell]? I couldn’t get a closer look because players surged to clash with the Blighted.

The next time I saw Paritor, his family had grown to six. Three fire spirit goblins—Mehubanarath had summoned those too—brandishing different weapons, teamed up with the hounds in attacking a tree-like tentacle of the Arcane Blighted Mardukryon.

“It’s an Ocadule,” I muttered. If it were only the fire doggies, there was the possibility that Paritor only had an Asipu Shard. SpartanDonkey had initially thought my [Healing Touch] was from a Shard and not part of a complete Ocadule when he viewed the battle log of our Zoar Elab fight.

Magic runes rotated around Paritor’s summons like the rings of Saturn. They attacked much faster, flaming claws and weapons flaring from blue to bright white. Paritor was buffing his pets, a standard setup for a summoner.

“He doesn’t have a party?” I stared at Paritor as he galloped out of the arena, his pets dissipating into the hazy air.

Checking over my shoulder, the world quest boss had a third of its health left. A barrage of explosions covered its decaying broadside.

Were those bottles getting thrown? My asshole detectors signaled that I didn’t want to meet some of the players putting the Blighted Mardukryon out of its misery. Better not dally here. Herald Stone, the Awesomest Friend, had a new friend to make.

Paritor might know some things about the Big M that I didn’t.

“Hello there, Par-Paritor? I hope I got that right,” I said, squinting my eyes at his name above his head as if I had a hard time reading it. I approached him right after the Blighted Mardukryon died and players were heading back to the village or the tunnels. “Is that Latin or some other language?” I asked, going with a basic conversation starter.

“It’s short for apparitor,” Paritor said with unexpected enthusiasm. He rapid-fired an explanation, accompanied by plenty of hand gestures as if explaining the discovery of the century. “Apparitors were civil servants in ancient Caput Mundi. Fast forward a few hundred years into the Middle Ages, and apparitors served as officers in ecclesiastical courts. They were essentially religious sheriffs, serving summons on people to appear in court. Get it?”

“Yes, I get—”

“Paritors summon people to court to stand trial.” He snapped his finger, conjuring a fire goblin spirit beside him. “And I’m summoning these guys! It’s a play on words! Summoning people to trial and summoning in a magical sense. A Paritor! See what I’m going for?”

I extended him a polite chuckle. “A fascinating play on words.” It lost its impact when he spelled it out to that extent, like explaining a joke. “It’s brilliant. Too bad not many will get it. I didn’t, at first.”

“Hard to expect the average player to be a fan of history,” he said with a dramatic sigh.

“By the way, I’m—”

“Herald Stone,” he interrupted, flicking his eyes to my floating name. “The guy who started this world quest, unless there are other Herald Stones in these parts. I express my gratitude for your deeds.”

Amusing to say that he expressed his gratitude instead of actually doing it. But I didn’t act tactlessly, pointing it out.

“Leave it to a new player to forge new paths,” he continued, putting away his buckler and statue to fold his arms across his chest. “A huge favor you did to me. This world quest rekindled my excitement for the game. I dearly want to continue my Mardukryon character—losing the fruits of my hard work was a prospect not acceptable—but the lack of story progress… sucks. Leaving all that aside, what can I assist you with?”

This Paritor was an odd fellow. Either he was truly like this, or he spoke in a language that became wonky when translated into something I could understand. I decided to play it straight. “I noticed your summons. They look familiar. You have an Ocadule from Mehub—”

Paritor raised a hand. Then he jabbed his thumb at a pile of boulders, away from other Mardukryon players. Figuring he wanted to keep our discussion safe from the ears of others, I followed him.

He turned around and pointed at the [Tongues of Flames] behind me. “I’ve never seen that effect before, and I’ve seen a lot here.”

Not surprising. SpartanDonkey had told me that the [Smoldering Hooves of Kaghao] was found by a veteran player who had long changed races. Only that guy and his circle of friends knew how to get this Relic Quality footgear, and they never wanted to sell the information to the Expeditionary Legion. The few pieces of it were quickly gone from market circulation.

“And I also haven’t seen this effect either,” Paritor added, swirling his finger as he nodded down at the miasma of the [Blight Cloud] about my hooves. “Expensive items given by SD, I imagine? Payments for Contracts?”

“SpartanDonkey gave me the—”

“No, I’m not willing to sell any information about Mehubanarath. Fourteen times I had told him that—I kept count. The answer will always be the same, no matter how many people he sends. You go tell him that.”

“This isn’t about that,” I said. Damn that SpartanDonkey being a public nuisance! And here I was, getting mistaken as his lackey. “Let me finish first. This footgear—” I stomped my feet to generate [Tongues of Flames] “—I indeed got from SpartanDonkey. But it was payment for something unrelated to the Ocadules of Mehubanarath.”

Half a lie, but better than explaining the whole thing with Zoar Elab. I didn’t want Paritor to be more suspicious of me. He should view us as on the same side.

“As for the Blight Cloud, this smoke right here, that’s the effect of my Blighted Vinereavers’ Revenge set.”

“Blighted Vinereaver?”

“That’s right. I got this item while unlocking the world quest. Not that I knew there’d be a world quest. SpartanDonkey doesn’t know anything about this set of my Ocadule from the Big M—that’s what I call Mehubanarath.” I added that line so I’d appear more amiable. Lastly, I said. “Don’t worry. Our secret is safe.”

“Our? I take it you have an Ocadule from… the Big M… as well?”

I cast [Penitent Fortune Healing], followed by [Healing Touch] as my reply. Fortunately, the double-heal procced, with giant ethereal horns sprouting above me like unfurled wings. Paritor’s eyes widened; I had him. For further proof, I opened the Aritu Ocadule in my Akashic Configuration and flipped the interface to share its details.

[ Aritu Ancestral Flame Form ]

Mardukryon Ocadule | Epic Quality

Practitioners of the Aritu Form are foremost in maintaining the purity of their Ancestral Flame. They have dedicated themselves to healing arts and barrier techniques that ensure the survival of the herd. Selfless and courageous, their Ancestral Flame resonates with others, allowing the transfer of life force to rejuvenate and bolster the strength and vitality of all allies.

(Requirement: Unarmed State; Non-Mardukryon Races will use Energy instead of Ancestral Shroud.)

Paritor closed his two upper eyes while his lower two stared at my screen. He jogged his head left and right as if rattling his brain. A few seconds later, he reciprocated my gesture, showing me his Asipu Ocadule.

[ Asipu Ancestral Flame Form ]

Mardukryon Ocadule | Epic Quality

Disciples of the Asipu Form manipulate their Ancestral Flames to provide vessels for fire spirits. They whisper to the denizens of the other world to borrow their powers, coaxing them with friendship, subduing them into servitude, or contracting with them as equals. The Ancestral Flames provide the fire spirits sustenance as they traverse the mortal plane, the power they wield dependent on their summoner’s mastery of the Asipu Form.

(Requirement: Unarmed State; Non-Mardukryon Races will use Energy instead of Ancestral Shroud.)

“I didn’t tell SpartanDonkey how a lone player could take out a pack of Mirdabons,” I said, “or that it’s the way to get the hidden achievement.” Paritor shifted his hooves, regarding me with a raised brow. I raised my foreleg. “I’m not dumb enough to trade that information for this item. Better give me an end-game full Relic set, or better, given that the Big M’s Ocadule led to this world quest.”

“It did?” Paritor warily asked though I could tell he held back many questions. “Are you referring to your Aritu Ocadule?”

“Yes. Some NPCs reacted differently to it, like Healer Gula, for example. You know what happened to her, right? That was part of the events preceding this world quest.” Dumping a secret onto Paritor showed that I trusted him, a much better tactic for friend-making than trying to prove I was trustworthy. A slight nuance with a vast difference. “I assume your Asipu also opened different paths to you?”

“It did,” he guardedly answered. He added in a low voice, “The Pathfinder’s quest, wherein I was—”

“I’m not asking about that. Your secrets are yours.” Another point for friendly Herald Stone. “I was just surprised someone else also discovered how to kill a Mirdabon pack solo. I thought I was the only one.” Bait, bait, bait.

“The puzzle comprising the rock formation by the fountain was difficult to decipher, to say the least,” Paritor said. “A few days of thinking it cost me until I stumbled upon the—”

“I’m stopping you right there,” I cut in. “We used different ways of completing the hidden achievement, and I’m not interested in prying with your secret. I’m just happy meeting another person with an Ancestral Flame Ocadule.” There was no need to find out how he did it—I was past that point. It was enough for me to know there was an actual correct path, more to satisfy my curiosity. And this was yet another friendship point.

“Is that so?” Paritor sported a smile, any suspicion in his eyes gone. “I have the same sentiments as to our meeting.”

“By the way, I was wondering… do you want to party up to farm Blight Tokens?”