(Second Book Complete!) Runeblade: A Delving & Skill Merging LitRPG

It was a picturesque spot, his fathers final resting place.

Maybe a twenty minute walk from Three Fields, along one of the dirt trails that wound their way through the farms that flanked the village.

There was a hill there, one of many that graced the rolling grasslands and meadows of the frontier. It rose above the rest, but it was gentle. An easy walk over soft grass that wound its way through the many boulders that dotted the hill’s face.

A tree was at its peak. A venerable oak, tall, stout, and thick of limb. He knew the tree well, having visited it many-a-time in the past.

The hill was isolated and private, but provided enough open sightlines of the surrounding area that it was almost impossible to approach without getting spotted.

It was where his father used to take him for a few hours each day on their varying trips to the village. While in recent years, ever since he had unlocked the use of his general skills, their visits had grown more infrequent, when he had been younger they’d often visited once a month or so.

His lessons wouldn’t stop just for a simple trip into town, so every morning he had been carted out to the hill with the lonely tree, and he had listened and learned and trained as Father had taught him yet another intricacy of survival, or sword fighting, or any other facet he would need to acquire his skills.

Before then, he’d lived here. Young enough that it was only hazy memories, but most of them were by this tree.

Kaius kneeled in front of the gnarled oak, staring at the stone slab that now jutted out from the soil under its canopy. It was simple, but lovingly carved from the local stone. A rough block, stout enough to weather the indifference of time.

Thick letters were carved deeply into its surface, equally as enduring.

‘Hastur. A father, survivor, and one of our own. Died as he lived, valiant and fearless.’

Kaius stared at the words, a panicky clawing sob stabbing its way out of his chest as fat tears burned their way down his cheeks.

He kneeled, and stared, as reality collapsed around him.

It wasn’t fair. Wasn’t right. He’d done everything. Survived the impossible, seized victory from certain death, and attained forgotten power. Hells, he’d met with a god. Yet still, it mattered not. Father was dead and there was nothing he could do.

The deep, crushing, weight of it all settled on him like a stone, making him fight for every breath.

Porkchop let out a low, soothing rumble to his right, his bond-brother laying down next to him and providing what comfort he could. A rasping gasp left his throat, and Kaius threw his arms around his brother’s neck, weeping openly.

“How could this be right, Porkchop? How could the gods take him from me, even after we have done their bidding. Where is the supposed fairness of the scales of fate? The good fortune to the victors? How could I have earned this, after everything we have done?” he begged, desperate for an answer.

Porkchop let out another rumble, leaning deeply into him. “Death is a cruel master, Kaius. One that strikes down newborn babes and Patriarchs with the same uncaring swipe of its claws. There need not be sense to it, it simply is.” his bond-brother crooned, acknowledging the senseless pain of it all.

Kaius sobbed, choking through a hiccup. “I knew… I knew the chances weren’t good. Not after the first few months. I’d hoped that Father had simply needed time to recover before he could come after me, but when he never returned… I knew, deep down. Still, I hoped. Hoped that we would stride into Three Fields, valiant and victorious. That Father would be waiting, pride, fury, and relief on his face. That he would embrace me, overwhelmed by my unexpected return, and that he would question me. That I could introduce you to him.” he murmured, his face buried into the snow white scruff that surrounded his brother’s neck.

He squeezed tighter, fighting back the torrent of grief that beset him from all sides.

“It’s just so cruel.” Kaius whispered. “How am I supposed to live? To continue, knowing that he is gone.”

He pulled back, staring Porkchop in the eyes with a desperate expression. It was a genuine question. How in the hells could he push on, knowing that Father wouldn’t be there at the end of his journey?

Porkchop’s gold-flecked-green eyes softened. “You need time, Kaius. The loss will always bite, but not always so keenly. In days and weeks and months, the crushing weight fades. The sadness retreats. Eventually, you will be able to remember the fond times, and cherish them, without them crushing you.”

More thick tears welled up, blurring his vision, only for something warm and wet to slide across his face. Kaius froze.

“Did you just lick me?” he asked, deeply confused. Porkchop had never done that.

Porkchop chuffed. “I had to do something to snap you out of the spiral. It worked, didn’t it?”

Kaius laughed, deep and with all of his chest, until his mirth bordered on mania.

He hugged Porkchop once more, absentmindedly noticing the way the stumps of his fingers caught on his brother’s fur. “Thank you. I just don’t see a way out, a way to not feel so…defeated.”

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“Like I said, it comes with time. There was a member of my den, a distant cousin, though as close as I had ever gotten to anyone before you. He taught me many things, and was a kindred spirit. I loved him, still do. One day, he went out on the hunt, pursuing some beast. He never returned. I still remember the day, how it felt like my heart would stop beating from the sheer agonising lethargy of the pain. How it felt like I had a gaping wound that would never heal. It did, eventually.” Porkchop said softly.

Kaius paused. “I’m sorry, I never knew.”

“Because I never said. With the fate of your father unknown, it would have been a cruel story to share. I tell it now because I want you to know that I did heal, and the sun shone bright once more. It just took time.” Porkchop pressed, waves of reassurance and support crossing their bond.

Kaius turned, looking at his father’s headstone. The sun shone through the canopy above, alighting the stone with a soft and warm glow.

How could he? When Father’s killer was still at large. When Art in Motion had been stolen. When his history had been stripped from him, and the sworn enemies of his dynasty celebrated without his knowledge of their identities.

Hot rage welled up. Primed with the fuel of his grief, it ignited like a pyre. How could he rest when he had a blood debt.

“I’m going to find that rat-bastard.” Kaius growled.

Porkchop chuckled throatily, a hard edge hidden within. “Not the take away I was going for, but it’ll do.”

“Him, the Onyx Temple, the people who destroyed my dynasty and hired the bounty hunter. They have to pay.” Kaius clenched his fist, feeling the power of his reforged body as the tension made his knuckles go white. Even if it took years of careful investigation and planning, he would have his satisfaction.

“And I will help you. We are sworn brothers, your pain is my pain, your oaths are my oaths.” Porkchop said solemnly, fixing him with a serious stare.

“Then let us swear. To having our vengeance.” Kaius whispered.

“To our vengeance.” Porkchop echoed him, sealing the pact.

As their whispered words drifted under the burroughs of the oak tree, something small thrummed within Kaius’s soul. A single pillar, echoing his call ever so slightly. The sensation went unnoticed, washed away in the emotional tide of the moment.

“Thank you, it feels less like an insurmountable cliff, knowing that you will be by my side.” Kaius whispered, genuine gratitude plain in his voice.

“Don’t be silly, Kaius. We are bonded, we live as one, and die as one. I do want to know though, what of the Onyx Temple? They must be a fearsome beast to have rattled your elders so.” Porkchop asked.

Kaius winced. Learning that he would be going up against them had certainly put into perspective the magnitude of the task ahead of him.

“They’re…something of a guild. Mostly only whispered about in tavern talk. Shadows in the night, the antagonists of every good story. They’re supposed to be a league of criminals, anything profitable that flies against society and law is their bread and butter. Theft, smuggling, assassination, trafficking. No job too low, or too soulless. I genuinely thought they were a myth, and I don’t even know how to go about finding them, let alone getting the information we need out of them.” Kaius explained.

If they were to go against the Onyx Temple, it meant that getting backing had become all the more important. That, and growing strong. There was no way some shadowy organisation like that had managed to persist under the noses of nobility and law without some serious power and resources.

Plus, who knew how much truth there was to the stories of their origins. Apparently, they had once been a shadowy sect of worshipers of Gyl, the god of shadows and dishonest dealings. He had no idea how much truth there was to that, but if they did have a history of a cult, then there was the chance that they still had a religious powerbase. That would be a risk, it would be far harder to extract information or concessions from a devout cultist than a simple rogue.

“Then we will need to be cautious, not the least because whoever lies behind them, those that destroyed your dynasty, might be even more resourceful if they are from beyond the continent as Hurrin suggested.” Porkchop said.

Kaius nodded. Travelling across the oceans was almost unheard of, and entirely the domain of the powerful or exceedingly rich. The open seas were full of legions of terrifying abyssal creatures that could crush a ship as easily as turning a hand was to him. For a group, or entity, to extend their reach to Vaastivar from across the ocean? They would need to be powerful and resourceful in equal measure.

“At least it’s a direction, something to look into. Before I had nothing to go off, knowing that Unterstern most likely comes from across the sea gives me a lot to work with, even if knowledge of the lands beyond the shore are scant and rare.” Kaius mused.

“So our plans remain unchanged?” Porkchop asked.

Kaius nodded. It would be a search that would take them all across Vaastivar, chasing shadows and hunting men unseen, but two things remained constant. They would need power, and they would need backing.

“We need to get to Deadacre. Joining the delving guild there is our best bet to grow our strength, and to start making a name for ourselves. We will need that influence if we are to truly stand a chance of finding anything about the Onyx Temple. Deadacre is likely too small, but it is rumoured they host hidden markets, perhaps if we grow strong and rich enough, we will be able to get ourselves an invitation.” Kaius said.

Porkchop nodded. “That, and the guild is probably our best bet for finding others who have the potential to keep up with us. I remember what Ekum said, we still need to find ourselves some allies.”

Kaius raised his brow. “In Deadacre? Unlikely, but I suppose we’ll need to keep an eye out.”

“We’re already a rock solid frontline, so all we really need are some competent supportive style classers. If they are trustworthy, and good enough, I’m sure we’ll be able to help them close the gap, and secure a few Honours. No doubt we’ll discover more and be able to guide them.” Porkchop suggested.

It could work, now that he thought about it. If he and Porkchop were the primary front line threats, any team members they found would be far less at risk than they would be otherwise. That said, Kaius still thought that it would be unlikely. They would still need to be delvers of a rare calibre, and Deadacre was a bit of a provincial backwater.

Kaius looked at his bond-brother. Thank the gods he had him, because without Porkchop he would be drowning. As it was, it was only the simmering anger and his brother’s support that gave him the energy to keep moving.

He only hoped that he wasn’t forcing Porkchop to give up too much in his quest for vengeance.

Kaius turned back to his fathers grave stone, watching it with silent intensity as he leaned a little further into Porkchop’s shoulder.