The name escaped his lips in a soft whisper, without him even realizing it. Hex stared at the name on the page before him. Images of the town and its people flashed before his eyes. Memories of his childhood played out in his mind.
’...is it the same place? Or just a similar name?’ Nothing of the town he grew up in resembled it being a ruin of the past. No one, not even the haughty Glaciaborns had mentioned anything that hinted at their connection with such a legendary past. Not even once.
Yet, he believed it to be the same place.
’Master lived there after having lost everything. Like he was healing his wounds. The world would have welcomed him, no matter where he went, yet he chose to live in that isolated place. I never understood why. Perhaps, this is why.’
Unlike him, his master knew about the line of warriors they belonged to. Hex believed that living in the place that connected him to that lineage helped him connect with himself a bit better. Like a broken tree connecting with its roots.
’This is more reason to reclaim that place. It’s not just a place. It’s home to everyone who came before me.’ A burning desire to return erupted in his heart but he had to suppress it. He wasn’t ready to face off against the Divine Lord. That guy was too devious.
Hex remembered Ella offering the deed of Grindeston in exchange for his allegiance. Tempted as he was, he had declined. Luckily so. There was no way Hex would believe that the Divine Lord didn’t know about Grindeston and its past.
Either he would lure Hex under the pretense of giving the deed and kill him off or he might genuinely return the deed to Hex. Under his command. Hex was inclined to believe the latter.
’Grindeston represents my connection to the baron. And the connection to the baron makes me a legitimate heir of the North. With me as his underling, he would gain power over my lineage and the North.’
A chill passed over Hex. Once again, he learned how devious the Divine Lord could be. Despite Hex’s powers and advantages, he still lacked in wit against such an opponent. He might be played without even seeing the strings. Ever.
He checked what more he could find about Grindeston but the author never mentioned it again. To people unfamiliar with the place or with less interest in the ruin of a fallen empire, the name would lose all meaning.
Going through the list of names and memorable mentions about the past, Hex often saw notes of the author listing other books and passages he had referenced when writing. Now and then, Hex walked around and browsed those pieces.
The visit to the library had one fixed goal, to learn as much as he could about his master. This was a chance not many received. And those who did have the chance, had other interests. Hex concluded that based on the amount of dust gathered on every shelf and book he had picked so far.
Politics and cultivation related sections were less dusty. Geology and Maritime life were clear of dust but filled with stains. Smudges of dirt and water-damaged books were the norm. Several placards warning people not to damage books stood behind those that requested people to clean their hands and wipe their bodies. The faded text on those placards suggested that at some point the librarian had given up.
The finance section shined.
The fourth age wasn’t too interesting. Until he came across the emperor of the North, Ulric Godric.
’Another descendent?’ Indeed. The short description underneath the name mentioned him to be the last heir of the first warrior’s family that went into hiding at some point in time. Although the details were missing, Hex inferred from the text and the referred scroll that after the first warrior died, the family declined to a point they were easy prey for others.
’The sin of having treasures without the power to protect them,’ Hex nodded, knowing fully well how two-faced the world could be. ’I am sure they were revered and privileged till they had power, less but enough to defend themselves. Once they lost that, they became prey. I wouldn’t be surprised if the eyes that bowed before them also inspected the worth of the rug on the floor.’
Ulric Godric was unknown until his group of warriors freed a small city from its tyrant overlord. From that point he continued to enlist men and women willing to fight and united the loosely cities of Northern Plains. He became a king and then an emperor, calling his empire Avanti, the land of those striving for a better future. The name Godric ruled once again amidst men.
’That’s all? What happened after that?’ Engrossed by the man’s deed, Hex searched other books and scrolls, relying on the author’s note. Ulric Godric was a legend. But a forgotten one. Hex found the books and scrolls not only covered in dust but in corners even the librarians might have forgotten existed.
’What a man,’ Hex marveled after reading through the books. ’He created the empire and protected it from men, beasts, and gods. His age isn’t mentioned but seeing that he lived through the end of the fourth age and the beginning of the fifth age, he had to be a few thousand years old. A Saint, at least.’
It wasn’t hard to conclude that. Only Saints and Sages could live more than a thousand years, especially in a period filled with dying deities.
His son died before him. But he had a grandson, Elric Godric. The author called him the last true emperor and defender of the North. At the same time, the worst thing that happened to the North.
Hex read the section, feeling his heartbeat quicken. He had an inkling to where the text was heading toward. A part of him whispered to stop while he could but he ignored it. This was why he came.