Ententes, p.6
Ententes, page 6
part #7 of Eternal Dominion Series
“I give you your path.”
“What the hell!”
“How do they expect anyone to find this?”
“Had you two spent enough time in the town like a normal player would when they first start, you might have found a few clues if you were lucky. Still, the information is only worthwhile for twins and once it leaks, this village will see a massive increase in twins starting here.”
“Really, you still haven’t shared just what class we are getting.”
“Selene, the class is special as it is more of a alteration of any class, your class will simply add the word twin to the front of whatever class you choose. That is why I am here. Welcome to becoming my squires.”
“Wait, what?”
“I am a member of the royal knights of this kingdom. Since I reached tier 4, I have been able to have a few squires, I just haven’t.”
“Hold on, aren’t we supposed to have done a service to the kingdom first?”
“Luna, you two have agreed to become Princess Enye’s personal swords, haven’t you?”
“What, you want us to play bodyguard for your NPC fiancée?”
“No, I want you two to fight alongside her and Lady Dyllis as they go through my plan to ensure that they are able to take care of themselves.”
“Xeal, we are not babysitters.”
“We are adventurers who want to go out into the world and explore the unknown.”
“I am well aware, yet you both need to play catch-up first. Once Gale and Aalin are done with their tier 5 trial, you will be joining them, Enye and Dyllis to level. You two will be the front line for Enye and Dyllis while Gale makes sure you all stay alive and Aalin provides support.”
“Oh, okay.”
“That might work.”
Xeal didn’t like the smiles that Luna and Selene now wore as he started his shimmy along the cliff as the twins followed him with Bula taking up the rear. It was slow going and the twins weren’t going to pass up an opportunity to have Xeal almost to themselves without getting him to talk. So, they asked him more and more about FAE and ED in general, and now that they were both under contract, Xeal didn’t feel the need to hold back, so he shared what he knew with them. A good bit of the conversation revolved around what they were now calling a class enhancement and what it changed. Xeal explained that he didn’t know all the details as he had yet to meet anyone who had the class enhancement. He did tell them that from what he had gathered, it gave them access to skills that would allow them to use telepathy with each other and know where the other was at all times. However, he also warned that if one of them took massive damage, or died, the other would be heavily affected as well. Even in Xeal’s last life he had only known a few pairs of twins that had the enhancement and it had done different things for each, making it hard to predict just what the effects would be. Finally, they reached the bottom of the cliff where there was a bend in the river that created a calmer area with a small beachhead. That beach was where the village above got its namesake as it was Geminate Cove. The scenery was beautiful with a pair of waterfalls emptying in to the river as two small rivers emptied into the larger one below, framing the cave in the center of the bend.
“Bula, you and Midnight should stay out here as it is best if only the pair accepting the class, and the one giving it, move forward.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Now, once we enter the cave, there will be three paths to take. I will walk the center while the two of you will need to pick right or left. Expect a few tests along the way to make sure you two are truly in sync and a fit for the enhancement.”
“Wait, you never said anything about a test.”
“Yeah, what if we fail because we didn’t prep?”
“It’s not that kind of test. It will simply examine how you approach a few situations. So long as you both treat them the same way you will be fine.”
Luna and Selene both looked a bit worried but Xeal simply moved forward and quickly arrived at the end of his path as it was a simple straight shot to the end. Meanwhile, Luna and Selene arrived at their first test. It was a simple one where they were given the three primary and secondary colors to choose from and they needed to pick two. With the first one they needed to put a dot of it in the center of their forehead and the second needed to be smeared in a line on both cheeks. Next, they came to a room that had three cups, each with a drink of water and they were told to drink one and put on the necklaces in the bottom of the cup. As they looked in each cup it was impossible to get a clear idea of the design on each of the necklaces, so they each just picked one and moved on. The third and last test gave them both pause as all it said is choose one and in front of them was four charm bracelets with a single charm; a wand, a dagger, a shield and a bow. They both picked one and moved forward as they exited into an opening where they saw Xeal waiting.
Xeal watched as Luna and Selene both emerged at the exact same time from adjacent paths, such that they could see him but not each other until they stepped out. Xeal had to smile as he took them in. Both of them had a blue dot on their forehead and orange lines on their cheeks. Around their necks hung a crescent moon pendant and each had a bracelet with a dagger on it worn on their left wrists. Both had made the same selections, as Xeal had expected. There were multiple results from the test that could be achieved, yet it was taboo to talk about it as knowledge of any details about the tests beforehand could disqualify you from being accepted. Before Xeal could speak, a pair of doors opened behind him and a pair of silver-haired ladies stepped out into the room. The pair gave Xeal a short appraising look before turning to Luna and Selene and speaking in unison.
“The test has been undertaken and you have both shown to be synchronized with each other. Know that you are to never share the tests or the results with another. Doing so will result in their disqualification.”
Both Luna and Selene looked like they wished to ask a question but Xeal gave them a look that kept them quiet before the two ladies continued.
“Blue on the forehead shows that you are loyal to those who you call family. The orange on your cheeks show you are unfazed by the worries of the world. Choosing the center cup tells of your ability to compromise and come together as one. The dagger shows that you prefer to be close to your enemy, whether that means stabbing them in the back, or facing them head on. Now step forward and receive your marks signifying your choices.”
Selene and Luna stepped forward and quickly found themselves being turned around by the ladies, who each took out a blue and orange stick the size of a pencil and went to work at just below the base of each of Luna’s and Selene’s necks. Both screamed as smoke rose from where the sticks touched them, but neither could move as they were held in place by a spell. A minute later, the pair of ladies stepped back revealing an orange dagger in front of a blue crescent moon forming an X on each of them as the magic that had held them in place ended and they each caught themselves with their hands as they fell to the floor. As Luna and Selene both caught their breath, Xeal became the focus of the silver-haired twins, as they spoke in unison.
“You knew far more than an outsider should have known. We will ignore it this time as you shared nothing but where to find us and how to proceed. However, in return we expect a favor. Ensure they walk their path in complete synchronicity.”
“You needn’t have asked. I fully intend to nurture them to their fullest potential.”
“Good, and know that we will be connected to them through those marks and will know if they falter.”
The pair left just like that and Xeal could see the same mark at the base of their necks as the ones that they just made. The only thought he had as the doors shut was that was the celestial twins, one of three pairs of twins that could administer the marks, depending on the result of synchronicity, complementary or divergent. Even with that knowledge, Xeal was shocked to learn that of the 360 combinations that the twins could have chosen, they matched perfectly to the celestial twins exactly. Part of him believed that their marks shifted to match the twins they were marking each time, but the favor they asked for made him think otherwise. With that thought, he turned to Luna and Selene as he looked at them closely while imagining their path moving forward. One of the major differences for them would be that each of their tier ups would be undertaken together. As Xeal was lost in thought, both Luna and Selene recovered and turned to Xeal as they spoke in unison.
“You could have warned us that it would feel like our skin was going to peel off.”
“It seems that you are already feeling the differences, and no, I couldn’t. Doing anything more than showing you the paths would have made what you just did nothing more than painting your face and getting some new jewelry.”
It was only then that the pair realized the necklaces and bracelets they had been wearing were gone. Before they could speak, Xeal quieted them as he continued.
“You should both ensure your marks are kept covered and not speak of the details of what just happened, outside of leading another set of twins here. Unlike you who received both their class and mark at the same time, most who come will only receive their mark. This will always be less effective and will lead to slight issues as their tier ups will have not been synced as yours have been.”
“So, what now? Damn, if Gale found us finishing our thoughts weird, this is going to completely weird her out.”
“Yes, though that should fade if you let it. Right now, your minds have been synced. It is part of your skills. It will let you two coordinate perfectly. Still, you should soon get a nasty headache; ah, there it is.”
Luna and Selene both clutched their heads in pain just as Xeal brought up the backlash from their new skill.
“What you just experienced is the effects of the first skill that your new path has bestowed on you for free. You will need to spend skill points to get more like any other class would, though. Don’t worry, the headache will pass soon and the higher your level gets, the longer you will be able to hold it. You should also notice that your display screens have merged and you now share a skill and magic point pool equal to double what you would have alone. Now, any more questions?”
Luna was the first to speak as they both stood up after the headache passed.
“Just one.”
“How are we supposed to get to the area to work with your princess before level 40?”
“Ah, that is simple. FAE has access to the garrison portals. The moment you reach an outpost, simply show your guild badge to a guard and ask to use the portal to head to the border fort town. Once you are there, walk around for a few hours and ask to be sent to Dragon's Eye.”
Xeal and the twins made their way out of the cave still discussing the differences they were noticing after being marked. While it was still extremely weak, both could feel the other’s general position and it was both weird and comforting to them. When they exited the cave, Bula and Midnight were there waiting and they all used a return scroll to return to the top of the cliff. Xeal returned a quarter of Luna’s and Selene’s funds as neither of them wanted that much gold on them at this point. With the first banks not showing up until a player reached a city, a single death could see them lose a fair bit. It was one thing when Xeal had been running around with large sums of gold shortly after launch as he out leveled everyone, but now PKers were all around and new players were prime targets. As Xeal readied to leave, Ivy Cutefreeze, the player who was currently in charge of recruiting for FAE in this area, approached.
“Guild leader, it is nice to finally have a chance to talk to you, I trust everything went well with whatever you needed to do with Luna and Selene.”
Ivy was a level 30 player with dark-green hair that had ice-blue highlights at its tips and she was wearing a pleasant smile as she greeted Xeal.
“Ivy, yes, both completed the task perfectly. I must thank you for focusing on these two the last few sessions.”
“Oh, it’s no problem. Most of the new faces have all been teenagers on fall break who have extra time to play. So it’s been hard to identify good targets at the outpost the last week anyways. Besides, it was a nice break to do some light fighting. Though I am curious where you found these two as they are clearly above average skill-wise.”
“They are both restarts I recruited. Beyond that, just know that they are poached from a competitor.”
“Excellent. I do hope they will share some of their skills with me before they reach tier 3 and move on.”
“Ivy, I apologize, but they will be heading to Dragon's Eye, where I have connections, before then.”
“Oh, I see. Very well, I can see you have plans for them. I’ll just get ready to find the next promising group to recruit.”
Xeal could feel the awkwardness as Ivy tried to find a way to extend the conversation. She was one of Taya’s admin staff players who focused more on their crafting skills than combat. At this stage of the game, it meant that she was way behind on levels and from what Xeal could see, she was nervous about her position as she held one of the few paid slots that didn’t require top combat skills and recruitment was always slow. Most prospects just didn’t pan out and the longer anyone stayed in the starting areas, the more their level suffered.
“Ivy, relax. Just focus on your crafting and keeping an eye out for any decent talents.”
“Guild leader?”
Xeal smiled as he and Bula set off, making it to the nearest outpost and using it to return to the capital where Xeal went straight to bed before awaking early the next morning. Once awake, he headed straight to the palace to meet with Prince Victor before he left for the Huáng empire. Bula knew she would need to stay behind for this trip and Midnight would only join him through the summoning companion feature, which luckily didn’t have a limit on distance. Xeal bid Maxwell farewell as he left his mansion and it wasn’t long before he was seated across from Victor, as they discussed the finer points of the trip, and handed Xeal the needed items to prove he was a diplomat. On his way out, Dyllis and Enye cut him off to give him hugs before he could leave. He gave them each a kiss, promising to be back in ten days, if only for a short bit. When Xeal stepped out of the teleportation gate, he could tell that he had traveled a fair distance as it had been around 7:00 in the morning when Xeal had left, but it was clearly late at night now. This worked well for Xeal’s plan as he stepped right back into the gate and transferred to a smaller town in the empire and headed out while wearing a cloak, to a secluded safe point and used an advanced return scroll. Xeal would have preferred to set his escape point to somewhere in Nium, but the scrolls could not be used to cross a border. No, he would have to rely on his escape plan if things went south fast. Once he was back in the small town, Xeal went about investigating the current situation of how the NPCs and players were interacting with one another to verify that his approach would work. Xeal had based much of his plans off of what he had read on the forums about the situation in the Huáng empire, but seeing it with his own eyes was the best option. When the sun rose, Xeal made his way back to the capital and headed for the gates of the imperial palace, knowing that he only had until 4:00 in the afternoon to be done with the initial meeting that would happen today. When Xeal approached the palace guards to speak, he was quickly met with spears in his face as he smiled fearlessly.
“Turn back, your kind is not welcomed inside the imperial court.”
Xeal simply withdrew his first letter as he removed his cloak exposing his crest of knighthood as well as the royal crest of Nium that Victor had placed on his armor for this trip.
“I, Viscount Xeal Bluefire, have come as an envoy of the kingdom of Nium with a proposal for his imperial majesty.”
The guards looked at a loss for how to respond. They both could clearly tell he was a player, yet Xeal was clearly representing an NPC nation. They were saved from making a decision when a female voice was heard from behind the gate.
“Let him through. I am sure my brother will want to hear what he has to say.”
Xeal watched as both guards instantly tensed up at the sound of the voice. They nodded to each other before opening the gate. When Xeal got a look at the other side, he was greeted by a jade beauty that looked to be in her early 20’s, with long black hair in stark contrast to her pale skin, and green eyes. She was dressed in a light-blue Hanfu dress and holding a paper umbrella with a golden dragon and phoenix on it. Xeal didn’t waste any time as he approached and knelt when he was ten feet from her.
“Thank you, your highness, for welcoming me.”
“Viscount Bluefire of Nium, the first adventurer to come to our lands from another, future consort to Princess Enye of Nium. You may address me as Princess Lingxin. I dare say even we have heard of you. I must say I am quite interested in what made you decide to grace us with your presence.”
“Princess Lingxin, I have traveled here with a proposal and request which is best heard by his imperial majesty first.”
“Very good. You know how things work. Now please stand and walk with me for a bit. I will send a message, but it will be a few hours at least before my brother will be able to meet with you and I would love to hear your tale.”
“You are too kind, Princess Lingxin. I will do my best to answer what I am able to while I wait.”
Princess Lingxin smiled as Xeal stood and accepted her hand as the gates closed, and she motioned one of her guards to let her brother know of Xeal’s presence. She then led Xeal to a pavilion in the middle of a picturesque Chinese-style garden where they sat as servants appeared with tea. The next few hours were spent as Xeal told much of his story to Princess Lingxin as she seemed keen on hearing as much as she could. Xeal could tell that he was the first player she had any contact with from the things that she found fascinating. When a message arrived stating that his imperial majesty would see him, Xeal could see the sadness in Princess Lingxin’s eyes at the end of their conversation.
“Princess Lingxin, I must thank you for keeping me company while I awaited his imperial majesty’s summons. I do hope that my business with him goes well and you will be willing to pick up where we left off when I return several times over the next few weeks.”
